Petrucci - to buy...or not to buy...

[EightmanVT]

Hi - all - was reading this thread closely...and wondering if the problems had been resolved. I'm debating whether or not to get a Petrucci model ....unfortunately ...I haven't been able to find one locally to play...but I've been reading great things about them. I do have several concerns however.....

One is - I read the thread closely that was started by...Zophixan - and I have that same concern. I worry that when I bend strings...playing blues...or bluesy rock...that I'll hear other strings detune for the duration of the bend. I have the Ibanez JPM...and it gets almost no playing time because of that. Can anyone comment on this???

Next concern is the bridge...when I look at pictures...I see what looks to be a metal cap...over the bridge...by the tremolo...that looks like it could really get in the way of my palm.... Does it?? Or are the pictures deceiving....are palm mutes as easy to play...???

Last concern...would be the pickups... I wasn't terribly impressed with the pickups on the Ibanez JPM...although the split tones are pretty cool...especially considering the guitar they're coming out of...but the signal sags bigtime...

How do the MM pups compare??? Has anyone swapped them out?? Recommendations???

I read great things about the guitar in general...especially the neck and fretboard....I'm tempted to buy one online...because...most likely...I can resell it with minimal loss...but thought I should ping the experts first.

Thanks
8

 

[CudBucket]

Hey 8man.

I've got a Pearl Redburst 6 stringer. The string bending issue is found on all floating trems. I never even notice the de-tuning. But, if this is problem for you, you should beware. It's not a flaw in the design of the Petrucci. Just the nature of floaters.

There is no cap on the trem. That's just the rounded heel just past the saddles. Super comfortable and definitely doesn't impede palm muting.

I've never played an Ibanez JPM so I can't compare but I really love everything about the Petrucci pickups. I describe them as biting, edgey and thick sounding. Clean, they have great clarity and bell-like tone.

 

[Raz]

Hi - all - was reading this thread closely...and wondering if the problems had been resolved. I'm debating whether or not to get a Petrucci model ....unfortunately ...I haven't been able to find one locally to play...but I've been reading great things about them. I do have several concerns however.....

One is - I read the thread closely that was started by...Zophixan - and I have that same concern. I worry that when I bend strings...playing blues...or bluesy rock...that I'll hear other strings detune for the duration of the bend. I have the Ibanez JPM...and it gets almost no playing time because of that. Can anyone comment on this???

Next concern is the bridge...when I look at pictures...I see what looks to be a metal cap...over the bridge...by the tremolo...that looks like it could really get in the way of my palm.... Does it?? Or are the pictures deceiving....are palm mutes as easy to play...???

Last concern...would be the pickups... I wasn't terribly impressed with the pickups on the Ibanez JPM...although the split tones are pretty cool...especially considering the guitar they're coming out of...but the signal sags bigtime...

How do the MM pups compare??? Has anyone swapped them out?? Recommendations???

I read great things about the guitar in general...especially the neck and fretboard....I'm tempted to buy one online...because...most likely...I can resell it with minimal loss...but thought I should ping the experts first.

Thanks
8

Well if you read the thread then you should have read my comments about my insane bending and all kinds of crazy stuff I do on the trem...and I have no issues. The trem on the JP is the best trem I have ever played. If you are concerned then just install a Tremsetter or Tremelo-No, but I wouldn't...honestly I don't understand what the fuss is about...that guitar stays in tune no matter what you throw at it...as far as the pups are concerned, they're the EXACT same pups John himself uses...NUFF said...

Get the JP you will not regret it, in fact I gurantee you will not only be unable to put it down, but your other guitars will grow mold for lack of use

 

[SteveB]

My 0.02

I'll chime in here.

I have a loaded JP6 in Pearl Redburst. I don't notice the detuning thing you mention, but I generally don't play notes on other strings while I'm bending another. You could always block the tremolo and see if that works for you.

The bridge is exactly as Cudbucket described. It's a thing of beauty and will definitely not impede palm muting. In fact, it makes it more comfortable. (I do a lot of palm muting on the JP with no problem.)

The pickups aren't my favorite aspect of the instrument. To my ears they don't have quite enough of a clear 'edge' to the sound.. they sound a just a tad muddy to me. The middle position of the pickup switch produces a great clean sound, though. Of course, you can always swap pickups, too. I haven't done that to mine because it doesn't bother me enough to go to the trouble.

I don't see any of the things that we're discussing as problems that need to be 'resolved', though. The guitar was made to JP's liking, and we all know that no 2 guitarists like the exact same things.

The fretwork is great, the guitar feels as solid as a baseball bat, the finish is stunning, the cutaways are really comfortable, the knobs have a great rubber grip ring around them which I like, and the electronics are very quiet.

You really ought to try one.

 

[bluebullet]

with all floating trems if you do a double stop bend the unbent string will detune slightly while you are bending. it is because the spring tension and string tension is balanced that is why the tremelo floats but its minor and when you release the bend it all goes back in tune. raz is right you can put in a tremsetter if it bothers you but i would get the pet you will love it and the detuning thing is minor. and ask raz about the crazy low action you can get on the pet i think he is down to less than a 32nd on his.

 

[Zophixan]

My guitar is completely fixed now... and its the best guitar I've ever played on... if you for exampe, play a low e then bend on the high e, then it will detune the low e, but double stop bends are fine! Palm muting is fine as well... The guitar is really easy to play on... the piezo sounds... heavenly, I can't find much wrong with this guitar!

 

[EightmanVT]

Thanks folks - I sure wish I could get my hands on one to try...can't seem to find any locally. I'm not sure I"m into the floating tremelo...I don't use it enough to justify it....that is...I rarely ...bend up...with the trem...just down. My Clapton Strat...does a great job of holding all strings in tune during individual bends. The tremsetter might just be the thing for me - I"m looking to add one more guitar to the fold...one with 24frets...rosewood...and extreme playability...and by all accounts, the JP is that guitar...

 

[Raz]

Thanks folks - I sure wish I could get my hands on one to try...can't seem to find any locally. I'm not sure I"m into the floating tremelo...I don't use it enough to justify it....that is...I rarely ...bend up...with the trem...just down. My Clapton Strat...does a great job of holding all strings in tune during individual bends. The tremsetter might just be the thing for me - I"m looking to add one more guitar to the fold...one with 24frets...rosewood...and extreme playability...and by all accounts, the JP is that guitar...

Well I don't pull up on the whammy either, but what I can do on my JP trem that I can't do on a non-floating trem is flutter or the purring cat, if you will...that alone is worth the price of admission

Purring Cat

 

[bluebullet]

that is the one thing i dont like about my axis with the bridge flat against the body you cant get the flutter or the subtle vibrato stuff. and the floyd is a heavy tremelo by design its not as resonsive as the pet tremelo.

 

[Raz]

that is the one thing i dont like about my axis with the bridge flat against the body you cant get the flutter or the subtle vibrato stuff. and the floyd is a heavy tremelo by design its not as resonsive as the pet tremelo.

Amen, but you can set your Axis up to float can't you, like the Luke? One of my other guitars has a Floyd, and I set it to float just a hair...just enough to flutter...however the Pet RULES...

 

[GWDavis28]

EightManVT, are you located in Vermont? I'm guessing by the VT at the end there. MikeVT is located in the lovely state of Vermont and owns a JP6.

Glenn |B)

 

[bluebullet]

yeah raz i could set it to float but i would need to shim the neck even more than it is now and i have the action perfect i like the tuning stability of the bridge the way it is besides it gives me a great excuse to buy a jp.

 

[EightmanVT]

EightManVT, are you located in Vermont? I'm guessing by the VT at the end there. MikeVT is located in the lovely state of Vermont and owns a JP6.

Glenn |B)

Nope...sorry for the misleading VT - in my case the VT is for Virginia Tech -- Go Hokies!! -- I'm in Maryland.

 

[Raz]

yeah raz i could set it to float but i would need to shim the neck even more than it is now and i have the action perfect i like the tuning stability of the bridge the way it is besides it gives me a great excuse to buy a jp.

Ah well put my friend!

 

[MikeVt]

EightManVT, are you located in Vermont? I'm guessing by the VT at the end there. MikeVT is located in the lovely state of Vermont and owns a JP6.

Glenn |B)

Hehe - I thought the same thing at first, Glenn. I was going to ask, then 8 posted he was in MD in another thread. It was worth a shot though!

Mike

 

[EightmanVT]

Definitely!! I'm in Utica, NY for the next two days...anyone up here???

I drove all the way to Annapolis last week...because EB lists a dealer there...and then shows their stock...showing that they had a Mystic Dream in stock...wrong!!!! Waste of an hour or so....

 

[GWDavis28]

8man, yah the dealer maintane the stock listings, some are good about updating it and others aren't. You should always call before you drive, just a helpful hint.

Glenn |B)

 

[EightmanVT]

Yeah...I sorta gathered.... Oh well....