New to Ernie Ball

[Multiversal]

Hi there, everyone.

I've been playing guitar for about 6 years and I'm from a small town in the south heading up to Berklee College of Music in a few weeks and I've got some fresh student loan money just waiting to be spent on a new and beautiful Ernie Ball Music Man. I have just enough set aside to be able to survive for this year and be able to get a new axe.

I have no idea where to look in Boston, though.. and I have no idea what I should get. I'm thinking either a Morse or a Petrucci.

I don't know.. so many beautiful choices. I primarily play Ibanez 7 strings, though.. so I'm thinking the 7 string Petrucci would be the best route.

What do you guys think?

 

[fogman]

Hey welcome to the forum!
Congrats on going to Berkley!

I would say the JP7 sounds great if you're talking 7 string!

 

[Jodizzle]

Welcome!!
I'd say go for the JP7 aswell

 

[meenahga]

Hello! Welcome. You really can't go wrong with any EBMM guitar. And what really is incredible, is the OUTSTANDING customer service!

 

[Jimmyb]

Welcome

There is a GC in Boston, which I think is on Massachusetts Avenue. I don't think they have any 7 strings in though. There are also a couple of music shops very near to Berklee, but I don't know if they carry EBMM or not.

I think that Dubaldo Music is accessible from Boston, although I'm the last person to be giving directions

Pete is a forumite here and people speak very highly of him.

 

[Bass Control]

Congrats on Berklee! Being accepted to that school now-a-days means a lot more than a few years ago when I was accepted. I ended up not going. I was originally accepted for jazz voice and composition.

On the topic of instruments, I always suggest that you start with the most basic form of your instrument. Yes, you may have mastered your instrument, but there are always things that you must learn. If you feel compelled to go with a JP7, go for it (more power to you). But I would suggest a Silo or Axis in any form. First, (if you know who this person is yet) get in touch with your studio instructor and ask them if they would prefer you bring a 7 or 6 string. Maybe your teacher would like to stick with the 6 string for the first year of instruction and move you up as he sees fit.

Second, remember that if you spend your loan/scholarship money on a new instrument, you have to report that money on your taxes this year as income. Sure you used it for school, but any money given to you for the purposes of school that isn't used for tuition/room and board/direct supplies has to be reported as income. Now, if you happen to get paid gigs in Boston and use the instrument for those (and if they are your main source of income), then you can use the instrument as a standard cost on your taxes and actually deduct it (we performing artists are taken care of for the costs of our line of work).

Good luck! I wish I had gone when I had the chance. And welcome to the forum!

 

[lock-ny]

the only thing that would steer me clear of the petrucci is the floating trem, I would go with a silo special HSS, you can get stratty tones and humbucking tones as well and the trem sits flat on the body, if you drop D tune with the pet all the other strings go out of tune, if you like the axis supersport is pretty versatile as well with pickup splitting and a trem that sits on the body - I went to GIT and everything we learned was on a six string, seven string stuff was for the elective classes as was tuned down stuff but I had a guitar at the time that could handle it all -

 

[DT1607]

Hey welcome, congrats on Berklee!

If your looking for a 7 stringer, the JP7 is the way to go. If the budget is low you can always try to find a JP7 with no options(Inlays, Piezo, Matching Headstock).

 

[Chewie]

Sure you used it for school, but any money given to you for the purposes of school that isn't used for tuition/room and board/direct supplies has to be reported as income.

Wouldn't a JP7 fall under the direct supplies category? Seems to me a guitar at a music school would be like school books at a traditional university. Of course don't listen to me cause I'm no tax lawyer or cpa, just your run of the mill computer geek.

 

[Multiversal]

Wow, this is one of the friendliest forums I've ever been to! Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

I've got a few 6 strings that I was going to take to private instruction and things like that.

Also, because I'll be living in an apartment, that cut my living expenses in half.. and I found a great cheap place.

I prefer floating trems to any other trem systems, honestly.. and I don't really use too many odd tunings.. and if I do I tend to use my guitars without floating bridges.

This is going to be the guitar that will mark the beginning of a big chapter of my life, so I want it to be extremely special. I'm thinking about all the features.. piezo, matching headstock, and inlays if I get the Petrucci.

Bass Control.. I had no idea about that tax stuff. Jesus, it really shows how young I am.

I remember my first experience with an EBMM.. I went to Guitar Center in New Orleans with my father 3 or 4 years ago and I picked up a Petrucci.. mystic dream finish with matching headstock. I couldn't believe it. It was the sweetest guitar I had ever played. The first thing I played was a few licks from Overture 1928 on Scenes from a Memory.. and Good Lord, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I begged my father for an hour to to buy it. I told him I would do anything.

Needless to say, he didn't budge.. and I don't own one, but that experience stuck with me.

Now, I'm finally at a point in my life when I can get one.. and damn it I'm going to do it.

I'm going to check out Dubaldo Music right now.

Thanks guys.

 

[wired]

Hey - Welcome to New England! Check out the Guitar Center in Boston, I'm pretty sure they usually have a few 'Balls in stock.

Another option is Dubaldo's Music in Manchester, CT (a few hrs from Boston). They can definitely hook you up.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Welcome aboard! I think with it being your first ball, you should check out the Morse, since they rule in the versatility department. Either way, we want pics when you get it

 

[Meedleyx10]

Maybe this was already mentioned (in reference to the tax thing), instrument purchases can be deducted if you are a full time music student. I'm a music student myself (I turned down Berklee myself, and go to McNally Smith. Since you're already going and are happy with that, I'll spare you from my anti-Berklee rant). Everything from picks and strings up to guitars and amps can be deducted.

As far as your guitar decision goes, from what I'm gathering you already have your 7string/floating trem bases well covered. I admit that I too would prefer the petrucci over the ibanezes (if nothing else, then just for the piezo). I wouldn't make it a priority though. As a music student you are going to be put in a very wide array of musical situations. You'll find it very valuable to have one guitar that'll have you covered in almost every situation. It's too much of a hassle to stare at a bunch of guitar cases before going to class in the morning thinking "hmmm....which guitar do I need today...maybe I should bring both of those, but maybe that one too....no wait, didn't we decide we're not doing that song in rehearsal today....well ....might as well take all of them". Even if it isn't your #1 axe, I really think you'd be wise to get something like a morse or a silo special....something that can get you through pretty much any situation without too much trouble.

I'd also seriously consider hitting up the used market so you can stretch your dollar a bit further. I don't know off-hand what the new prices are of the guitars you might be looking (not supposed to be posted here anyway)....but let's suppose you've got 2 grand set aside for whatever it is you choose to buy. Just browsing ebay really quickly, I'm seeing a new-condition silhouette for 780. That'd leave you a little over 1200 bucks, which I'm guessing (under the right conditions/timing) could get you a used JP7. Just some food for thought.

Good luck in school btw

 

[Colin]

First of all welcome and congrats. I'm going to go against all advice here and recommend you don't get the JP6. I recommend you get a BFR JP6 instead...

 

[Eilif]

Yes, get the BFR!

(Does it come in a 7-string version?)

 

[Phrat]

Yes, get the BFR!

(Does it come in a 7-string version?)

It sure does!

 

[Multiversal]

Meedley, that's some great advice. I'm seriously considering the Morse. I'm a huge Steve Morse fan anyway... Hmm.

I've got a couple of months to think about it.

The BFR? Good Lord, I don't know if I could afford that! Looks beautiful though.

Thanks again, guys.

I really want the piezo. I've always loved the way it sounds.

I went to sleep last night watching the Live Budokan dvd dreaming about my future ball.

 

[pjc812]

JP7!! Pete, myself and about a half a dozen other dealers here can help you get matched up with the right one.

 

[Multiversal]

Oh man!

Yeah.. I'm thinking JP7.

What color, though?

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Yeh a JP7. sell an ibanez or 2 and get another EBMM!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just 1 is not enough!!!


Good luck,


J