New here - JP6&7 questions

[PBGas]

Hi Folks,

I am new here! Didn't even realize there was an EBMM forum! I've had a pile of MM guitars over the years and have pretty much narrowed that collection down to 2. I'd love to have kept them all but that wasn't possible. This seems like a great place and it's just amazing that you have several great artists posting here. To me, that shows that they care about brand and that the brand is of the finest quality! Pretty cool stuff!

Anywhooo.....I have a couple of questions for everyone with the knowledge. I did search but didn't come up with the info that I needed.

I'm in the process of changing out my Steve's Special in my JP6 and I was wondering...do I need to pick up an F-spaced D-Sonic pickup or the regular spaced one?

My JP7 is due for arrival on Friday. Would that guitar also come with a D-Sonic in the 7 string version or is it just the regular SS 7 string pickup.

Please let me know when you have a moment!

Paul G.

 

[Raz]

Welcome to the forum, someone with way more knowledge than me will answer...I will say that the JP7 will put a HUGE smile on your face...just look at me!

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I would get the F-spaced D-sonic.

Your JP7 will have the D-sonic in the bridge, with the bar facing the bridge.

Here's some wiring info for ya!

No wiring changes are necessary if the D Sonic will be installed with the solid bar towards the bridge. The wires from the pickup will be soldered to the PC board terminals exactly as labeled. We’re sorry for the complications, but there are a number of changes required if the D Sonic is going to be installed with the bar towards the neck, and the same changes will need to be made to the wiring of both pickups in order to maintain hum cancellation in the middle position. The changes are:



The red wire from the pickup is soldered to the white solder pad on the PC board.

The black pickup wire is soldered to green on the PC.

The green pickup wire is soldered to black on the PC.

The white pickup wire is soldered to red on the PC.



In addition, the installation direction of the neck pickup will have to be reversed if you want both pickups’ inner coils to remain on in the middle position. We don’t feel this is absolutely necessary, because the sonic difference isn’t very large. The difference is more obvious with the bridge pickup, but less so with the neck pickup because it’s closer to the middle of the strings, where the tone change isn’t as dramatic.



Before doing any of the above, you might want to consider the following: Most of John Petrucci’s guitars with the D Sonic blade towards the neck are in standard tuning or tuned to Eb. Most of his lower-tuned guitars have the blade towards the bridge. This is a matter of personal taste, and was arrived at by trying his guitars both ways with his amp setup. Your setup (and your taste) may not be the same as John’s, and you might want to try the D Sonic with the blade towards the bridge first. It would save you some extra work if you like it that way. One way isn’t better than the other - it really comes down to what works best for you.

Good luck!

 

[koogie2k]

Welcome to the Addiction!

 

[PBGas]

Thx for the help, friends! It is much appreciated!
Picked up an F-space D-sonic today. Surgery starts tomorrow!

That should give them a bit of distinction in sound as well. With the bar facing the bridge, it should have a nice bottom grab to it.
GREAT!

I tell you....the EBMM guitars have always been an addiction for me.
I've had a few too many though....2xEBMM VH models, 2xAxis, 1xSilhouette, 1xLuke...

These two guitars that I have now are going to be staying, that is for certain!

 

[Raz]

Thx for the help, friends! It is much appreciated!
Picked up an F-space D-sonic today. Surgery starts tomorrow!

That should give them a bit of distinction in sound as well. With the bar facing the bridge, it should have a nice bottom grab to it.
GREAT!

I tell you....the EBMM guitars have always been an addiction for me.
I've had a few too many though....2xEBMM VH models, 2xAxis, 1xSilhouette, 1xLuke...

These two guitars that I have now are going to be staying, that is for certain!

You may want to make room for this...

 

[PBGas]

You may want to make room for this...

I know....I saw that as well! It is a stunning instrument! However, I'll take and enjoy what I have. The one area that I don't like as much on the prototype is the pickup rings. I've always liked the fact that EBMM usually screws them right down into the wood. It just looks so much nicer without them.

The finish on that prototype though is to die for. I mean, the binding on the neck is just killer on that! Amazing stuff. The other great thing is, how many companies will show it's end users a new potential product? Not many. To me it seems like they really care about their customers and that is why I returned and will be staying with the EBMM stuff for a long time to come. I've tried this that and the other over the past years and I keep coming back to it. Now I know why.

 

[gduquette]

F Spaced D Sonic - The Ultimate Installation

I set up my JP6 like the instructions from Dimarzio (See Pete's Posting) I have the bar turned away from the bridge to face the neck. It was a little tedious and turning the neck pickup required an extension due to the short lead - However, it was well worth the trouble. I have never been happier with a pickup set-up. It throws rags on the original. This guitar sings!
All pickup selections are useful and distinctive. My tones are tight and well defined. IMO this is the ULTIMATE!

 

[Trev]

Hello Peeps - as my JP6 is (as I type) on the tech's bench getting a set up and the D-Sonic fitted - could someone clarify:-

The wiring on the D-Sonic needs to be changed as per the previous threads - that part I understand - so the inner coil is working in the middle position.

But - as it's a stock JP6 do I still need to change the wiring and orientation of the neck pick up? Surely it's wired already so that it's the inner coil that's active in the middle toggle position? If I wire the D Sonic as discussed and leave the neck as is, all will be as required, no?

I'm no wiring specialist - maybe it's a question of phase or something - my heads hurting...

If someone could clarify I'd be really grateful!

Cheers,
Trev

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Trev,

The wiring change has to do with hum/phase cancellation from what I understand.

About reversing the neck pickup:

In addition, the installation direction of the neck pickup will have to be reversed if you want both pickups’ inner coils to remain on in the middle position. We don’t feel this is absolutely necessary, because the sonic difference isn’t very large. The difference is more obvious with the bridge pickup, but less so with the neck pickup because it’s closer to the middle of the strings, where the tone change isn’t as dramatic.

 

[Lou]

I installed one in my JP6 about a week or so ago. Flip the neck pup and wire it with the wires reversed like you did with the DSonic (blade towarsd neck).

+1 with what pete just said.

 

[Trev]

Thanks gents - much appreciated with the info!

Trev