Petrucci Music Man --Help needed!

[tm21]

Hey everyone,
This is my first post on these forums and I desperately need some information on a guitar I am thinking of buying. It is a petrucci music man made in 2003. I have attached a picture of of it. Any information you could provide me on this guitar would be greatly appreciated. The owner doesn't seem to know much about it. If you guys could tell me what kind of pickups are installed, what kind of bridge it has, type of neck, etc etc, just the basic specs is what I'm looking for. Also, I was wondering if any of you had played a petrucci music man from 2003. Are they generally considered good or bad? Opinions would be much appreciated. Thanks you!

 

[metalmarty]

Welcome to the forum!

How about checking out the specs at the manufacturers site?

Anyway: basswood body, relatively thin and wide maple neck (oiled & waxed) with locking tuners, pretty flat 24-fret rosewood fretboard, dimarzio custom bridge-pu and custom neck pu and an amazing petrucci custom floating trem.

Awesome guitars, one of the best playing guitars you can buy on the planet. Have never encountered a non-awesome EBMM to date for that matter

 

[tm21]

hey thanks for your reply...so it does not have a piezo pickup? also how do the 2003 models stack up to the current models?

 

[YtseJam92]

They have always been great guitars as far as i'm concerned. I do know that

the pickups in the older models are indeed different than the ones you would

buy today or last year. The neck is ridiculously smooth, nice and thin. It can

produce a wide variety of tones, mainly in the hard rock and metal genres. Also good

for blues too depending on what your playing it through.


Point being, you can't go wrong with this guitar. If you like a thin neck built

for speed/precision playing, a guitar that fits your body, and a monster tone,

I'd certainly purchase it.

I'm sure someone else can give you their input on the guitar as well.

Here are a few specs you can check out.

Size: 12-1/2" wide, 1-3/4" thick, 37" long (31.8 cm wide, 4.5 cm thick, 94.0 cm long)
Weight: 7 lbs, 4 oz (3.29 kg) - varies slightly
Body Wood: Basswood
Body Finish: High gloss polyester
Bridge: Standard - Custom John Petrucci Music Man® floating tremolo of chrome plated, hardened steel with solid steel saddles Optional - Piezo bridge with solid steel saddles
Scale Length: 25-1/2" (64.8 cm)
Neck Radius: 15" (38.1 cm)
Headstock Size: Only 5-7/8" (14.9 cm) long
Frets: 24 - High profile, wide
Neck Width: 1-11/16" (43.0 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (57.2 mm) at last fret
Neck Wood: Select maple neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fret Markers: Standard-Dots; Optional-Custom JP Shields
Neck Finish: Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
Neck Colors: Standard - Natural Optional - Matching painted headstock

 

[brasco68]

If the JP has 3 knob controls, it has a piezo...if it has 2 knob controls...no piezo.

 

[JP7Nomad]

If it has a toggle switch on the upper horn AND a toggle switch near the knobs, it has piezo.

 

[tm21]

thanks...does anyone know what kind of pickups are in the 2003 models?

 

[JP7Nomad]

Custom winds made for Petrucci. They're Dimarzios. Based off of the Steve's Special and Air Norton pickups.

They were never sold anywhere except for on the Petruccis, so there's no official name for them.

 

[tm21]

hey nomad, thanks for replying. is everything else about the 2003 model the same as the current model? is it only the pickups that are different?

 

[JP7Nomad]

Yep, that's the only difference.

 

[tm21]

hey nomad, how would u say those 2003 pickups compare to the current pickups (i play mainly metal, rock and blues)...also, how difficult is it to change strings with the petrucci floating trem?

 

[MikeVt]

Yep, that's the only difference.

There are a few other minor differences. For example, it won't have the compensated nut which was introduced a couple of years later, and the pickups have actually gone through a couple of iterations now. Changing strings couldn't be easier - MUCH easier than any floyd or non-locking system.

The differences are just that - differences. They're not negatives. It's a stellar guitar in all respects.

Mike

 

[kneeoh]

If it means anything to you, I still consider my 2002 Black Sparkle JP (no piezo) my main baby. It just feels perfect and has the tone I've always looked for. In all honesty I don't take it anywhere anymore because I would be heartbroken if anything ever happened to it.

 

[JP7Nomad]

For example, it won't have the compensated nut which was introduced a couple of years later, and the pickups have actually gone through a couple of iterations now.

Yep, I addressed the pickups issue, but the compensated nut slipped my mind. It's such a small change, it's easy to overlook.

OP, the pickups you have are pretty cool. I've never A/B'd the differences between them, but here's someone that has:

Crunch Lab / LiquiFire SOUND CLIPS (with old pickup comparison clips!) - John Petrucci Forums

 

[joe web]

@tm21:

you should know, that you can order the JP with a few options:
1) JP inlays (extra charge) or dot inlays
2) matching headstock (extra charge) or natural headstock
3) piezo (extra charge) or no piezo
4) custom color like mystic dream, redburst (extra charge) or standart colors

in 2006 EBMM changed the nut from the regular one to the compensated nut and John changed the bridge PUP for the dimarzio D-Sonic. a few weeks after john did it, the production line got changed too.
since a few months now, they ship the JP with the new dimarzio PUPs.

 

[Colin]

how about posting some better photos?