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Help! Need opinions. JP15 sound as compared to BFR Koa and Majesty

Exodus5

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Messages
129
So I have been toying with the idea of selling off my PRS and getting another Petrucci. I went to GC last night and played a Majesty (Polar, I think) and a BFR Koa. Neither were my cup of tea. The Majesty just didn't feel right and sounded a little thin. The Koa was very dense..even in comparison to my Custom 24. How much different is the tone of the JP15 to say the Koa BFR? Is it the same as a JP13? JPX?
 
Yup. Koa is fatter sounding as Pete said. When playing the majesty artisan vs JP15. The maj was brighter and louder. 15 has more mids.
 
Yup. Koa is fatter sounding as Pete said. When playing the majesty artisan vs JP15. The maj was brighter and louder. 15 has more mids.
Well I had Pete put in on hold for me. I guess I'll see.
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the BFR KOA come with Crunch Lab/Liquifire pickups where as the JP15 and Majesty comes with Illuminator pickups? Does that not contribute to a difference in tone as well? Just wondering...
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the BFR KOA come with Crunch Lab/Liquifire pickups where as the JP15 and Majesty comes with Illuminator pickups? Does that not contribute to a difference in tone as well? Just wondering...

Not sure about the one Pete has, but the BFR Koa I played definitely came with CL\LF. Never have liked those pickups, to be honest
 
I had Dimarzio make me a super 3 to fit my jp15. Made a huge difference. Pick ups definitely matter in the tone.


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Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the BFR KOA come with Crunch Lab/Liquifire pickups where as the JP15 and Majesty comes with Illuminator pickups? Does that not contribute to a difference in tone as well? Just wondering...

Correct! CL/LF on the Koa & Illuminators on the JP15
 
Absolutely love the CL/LF combo in my JP koa. Amazing tone with those pickups and wood. Very unique.
 
While I am not a believer in tonewood, I will say that I sold my Maj because overall, as you've noted, it felt and sounded a little thin compared to the anniversary models. Thus my collection now consisting of a JPXI, JP13, and JP15 (plus a couple other EBMMs and SBMMs).

Another thing to keep in mind is that the tone is not going to be dramatically different - perhaps a little, but there'll be variations from two JPXIs made one right after the other. Get what inspires you. You can't go wrong either way.

And despite me selling off my orignal Maj, I'm THIiiiiiis close to buying another :)
 
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