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RCh

Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2011
Messages
14
Hello!

A long-time reader first-time poster here )

Yesterday got my first Music Man - a Mystic Dream JP6 (w/o piezzo, no inlays, matching headstock). Pics and proper review will follow soon.

I have to say that the guitar is marvelous, completely meeting and exceeding expectations. I plugged it into my Engl Gigmaster and was completely blown away by the sheer raw power of the duo.

However, I was a little surprised when the retailer said that it is loaded with D-sonic/Air Norton. I thought that MM switched to Crunch Lab/Liquifire quite a while ago. I suggested that maybe the guitar is from an older batch, but the guy said no, it is made in 2011, but these p-ups are installed only in BFR's :confused:
Regular JP6/7s still get D-sonics.

Don't get me wrong - i LOVE the sound of this JP, but I've read enough rave reviews of new p-ups and if I can improve the sound even more by swapping the pickups I'd happily do so. Also I suspect that the guy was just trying to push me to buy the more expensive BFR and used the p-ups thing as an additional sales argument...

So my question is: are all Petrucci models equipped with same p-ups or they do differ from model to model? Is there any way I can identify which pickups are installed in mine? Just in case - serial no. is G52207.

Thanks in advance for the feedback!
 

PeteDuBaldo

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2004
Messages
10,206
Location
Central Connecticut (Manchester) USA
Welcome!

If your guitar was made in 2011 it has the CrunchLab/LiquiFire

The switch was made back in mid 2009 (June/July)and since then all JP guitars come with the CrunchLab/LiquiFire pickups. These pickups visually look the same as the D-sonic/custom

2001-2006/7ish were the custom wound pickups (similar to Air Norton/Steve's Special)

2006/7 brought in the D-sonic in the bridge position with the original custom wound neck pickup remaining.
 

RCh

Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2011
Messages
14
Thanks for reply. That's what I more or less expected :)

The salesman in the shop was hilarious. Apart from the pickups stuff he was telling me for good 20 minutes how great a BFR case is. Eventually I had to tell him that my ability to play a case is very limited and I normally play the guitar itself...
He ended up insisting that regular JP are entry level guitars and are not 'real' MusicMans as opposed to BFR :)
Luckily I left soon afterwards...
 

Roubster

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Messages
2,639
Location
Crooklyn, NY
Congrats on a GREAT guitar that JP himself used and uses for 10 years! I find misinformed sales people hilarious...I had a lot of run ins with these kind of guys where they seemed convinced of something I KNEW was not true. Anyway, welcome to the forum and post some pics of that "entry level" guitar hahaha :D.
 

RCh

Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2011
Messages
14
congrats to a cool shredding machine!
the regular JPs are highquality guitars and not the "entry line" as the guy told you....but yes, if you ever get the chance to check out a BFR - do it! they sound awesome and totally different from the JP.

for the serial number, use this thread:
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/3830-important-my-ernie-balls-serial-384.html

Thanks! Yes, JP6 is definitely a great axe. I had to sell my Fender 50th Anniversary Deluxe Strat to fund this purchase and so far have no regrets whatsoever. BFR is also on my wish list.

P.S. Nurenberg is one of my Germany favorites. Whenever I'm in my company's headquarter (which is really really close to Nurenberg :) ) I take the opportunity to spend some time in La Casa Del Habano...
 
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