Petrucci joining EBMM...

[learningtolive]

In a similar vein to the EVH topic below, was there any special reason Petrucci left Ibanez other than wanting a high quality guitar made to his exact spec? There are so many differences between his EBMM model and his Ibanez JPMs that it makes you wonder how a guy like him could play the wrong guitar for him for so long.

 

[Bassplyr]

He must've saw the light.

 

[koogie2k]

Wish I knew the story.....but, I love the guitars!!

 

[sfd]

Think I read somewhere that he changed due to Ibanez not bending over backwards for him - or at least, thats how I interpret things. But they must've been stupid not to!

Maybe it says something on jpmsite.com

I can't wait til I go to America next year to buy my JP 7 String with piezo! (its what student loans are for!

 

[learningtolive]

I heard somewhere on jemsite the other day that they weren't that close to begin with. Obviously wasn't a productive relationship so he washed his hands of them. Maybe they didn't give him the vai treatment - just tossed him to the side like any other endorsee? A reason I came up with based on my personal preference is maybe he couldn't be bothered with the fuss of a floyd rose when he doesn't use the trem a whole lot anyway. Or he wanted the piezo - did ibanez have the double-edge trem out when he left?

 

[OrangeChannel]

There was an LA Custom Ibanez (might've been the last one they built him) in Desert Camo that had a Wilkinson/ Fishman powerbridge on it which didn't lock like the edge (looks to be the extreme precursor to the EBMM setup). He used it for Home (off scenes live and in the studio) apparently...

 

[learningtolive]

Ah yes. Now Rich Harris has it. Wish I could afford to take it off his hands but a)I'm a paperboy and I'd be saving for years just to watch some rich collector get it first and b)I'm trying to save for either a silo or a petrucci.
Still a top guitar, that desert camo finish is awesome.

 

[OrangeChannel]

That's the one.

 

[dwf1004]

Just so you know, I have an "official" release of information particular to this topic on the way from the webmaster of johnpetrucci.com and related affiliates. I have the information myself, but at his request and my suggestion, I am withholding this info until I get the official release to do so.

I'll just give you fair warning, so as not to stir up anything...there's no drama.

 

[dwf1004]

Alright, here you go...hope you didn't get your hopes up.

---
From Paul, webmaster of johnpetrucci.com:

"John's contract came to an end at Ibanez and Ernie Ball approached him with a really nice offer to build 6 and 7 string signature guitars from the ground up. Ernie Ball is a great company to work with, is much smaller, and able to be more hands on when developing a signature guitar like John's. John decided that the timing for a change was good and decided not to renew his contract with Ibanez.

Despite all of the baseless internet rumors John has nothing against Ibanez, its guitars or anybody he worked with there and has always spoken highly of his experiences with them. This was simply a change of which company made his guitars and Ernie Ball became the next company with which he decided to work.

Ernie Ball has supported John and his signature line 100% and John couldn't be happier with what they have done for him and his fans."

 

[mesavox]

I have both the Eb and the Ibanez JPM models. Referring to the comment that they are "so different." They are not that different at all. The body shape and the arm scoop are the single biggest differences in overall design philosophy. They have very similar neck profiles, the same switching system, and definately sound very similar.

Sure, the EB quality is quite a bit better, but the MM is basically a reworking of the previous with added bells and whistles. EBMM was willing to take a few more steps in marketting and with what they built than Ibanez was at the time which made thier offer very attractive to John. How many people besides myself have wondered if the Ibanez Piezo equipped Edge trem was devoloped with John in mind? From everything I have read, be it Paul's comments, John's comments, or even people who have talked to him backstage, Ibanez and John were working well together up to the end and EB stepped up. Hense the two years in a row of the camo JPM4.... I felt then that there was something big in the works and as history unfolded, it seems EB just beat Ibanez to the punch.

 

[JFRICK]

How many people besides myself have wondered if the Ibanez Piezo equipped Edge trem was devoloped with John in mind?

The owner of a local music store in Columbia S.C. told me that the Ibanez Piezo Edge Trem was to be the next Petrucci model, but he went with EBMM so they changed the name. A pretty reliable sorce, but it's not proof.

 

[drkluscious]

I asked Scott Ball when he came to Chuck Levin's Music Center in Maryland. He simply said that Petrucci's contract ran up with Ibanez and also that John envied music man guitars.