Petrucci uses 9s

[Rush]

So I've heard varying rumors on using 9s on the EBJPMM. Some say it won't work well, some say it doesn't matter. I heard that John Petrucci was using 9s at a recent clinic and that he has switched to these exclusively. So what's the deal with putting them on the EBJPM? Is there anything special that needs to be done with the springs or anything else? What are the steps one would need to take to ensure that everything was setup correctly when making this type of switch?

 

[OrangeChannel]

You're going to need to adjust the trem (zero that badboy) and also tweak the truss...I tend to suggest keeping the 10's...they sound better.

 

[puppiesonacid]

well thats news to me, but the Petrucci comes from the factory with 10's on it. If you were to go to 9's you'd have to adjust the trem and springs accordingly. Nothing complicated if you know how to do it. 9's probably play a little easier but 10's sound better.


God bless,


Tony

 

[OrangeChannel]

I find it funny for the most part, a lot of us have JP's axes, but for the most part it seems almost an addiction for people to go ape trying to get his tone, phrasing, tone, mesa, speed, mesa, tone, and string guage used on their own instruments for fear that they won't sound like JP. My argument is that JP sounds like JP. We don't and to be honest I wouldn't want to snce there is one JP.

Dave,

If you're serious about the influeces that you'd mentioned to me the other night. You're mostlikely in a situation where tuning down is a necessity. Drop tuning w/ lighter strings sounds like pure ass. Throw some 11's on there and bring the rock already!

Late!

Z

 

[Rush]

I find it funny for the most part, a lot of us have JP's axes, but for the most part it seems almost an addiction for people to go ape trying to get his tone, phrasing, tone, mesa, speed, mesa, tone, and string guage used on their own instruments for fear that they won't sound like JP. My argument is that JP sounds like JP. We don't and to be honest I wouldn't want to snce there is one JP.

Dave,

If you're serious about the influeces that you'd mentioned to me the other night. You're mostlikely in a situation where tuning down is a necessity. Drop tuning w/ lighter strings sounds like pure ass. Throw some 11's on there and bring the rock already!

Late!

Z

Hey man.. I know you have like 1000 posts here, but don't jump ahead of yourself. I never said I gave a rat's ass about sounding like JP. I am trying to confirm a rumor that the EB JPM was designed to work with 10's only. In fact, If you hadn't used my name I would have figured you were talking to someone else. What I find funny is how you got "I want to sound like JP" out of my original post?!?

I like 10s on my axe and plan to keep it that way, but I do like to clear out the rumors that float around these forums and get the facts. So.. while I am quite aware of the adjustments that need to be made to get the guitar to work with 9s the question was simply to see if any new information popped up on the subject.

I was hoping for jongitarz to pop in with info about it to dispel some of the rumors going around. There are similar rumors about the Road King, His Hair, boxer shorts, toothpaste and anything else a 14 year old can come up with, but I'm not really interested in that.

 

[Lew]

Im going to chime in here,Surley its down to players touch and gutar set just asmuch as the guage.

I don't play in any drop tunings so maybe for that its unsuitable(i really don't know) but Brian May,Billy Gibbons and Albert Lee are just a few off the top of my head that sound pretty good with lighter strings.

 

[OrangeChannel]

Dave,

I was being constructive on that 2nd part....the first part was more a generalization, not pointed towards anyone. Petrucci's current tech posts on the HRI forum and yes the 9 thing is true. He posted over there a while back about it. You bnever said you were trying to confirm a rumor in your post. Nor did you question that the guitar will play w/ just 10's on it. I have 11's on one of them. I've read interviews where John talks about swapping string guages. I guess it's a matter of comfort for him. So don't take a constructive post as criticism bro....Aside you asked if there was anything special you needed to do. I gave you teh short run and my man Tony followed up w/ the same. So chill out.

Late.

Jon Z.

 

[koogie2k]

I have one of my Pets set up with 9's. It tends to make bends easier on me. My other 2 are set with 10's. What does JP use? I guess what ever makes him feel better. With drop tunings, I would think he uses a heavier guage string. Yes, OC talked me through my adjustments....heheheeh.....

 

[Rush]

Dave,

I was being constructive on that 2nd part....the first part was more a generalization, not pointed towards anyone.

Your 'generalization' was an opinion of something that exists outside of this thread, it definitely had NOTHING to do with the original post. It wasn't constructive at all...

So don't take a constructive post as criticism bro....

Late.

Jon Z.

Your not making much sense here OC. Your post was far from constructive. The second part presented an opinion on drop tuning and 11 guage strings, nothing constructive about that. Your post as a whole wasn't anything I would call constructive either. It just simply isn't... heh..

To criticize is to find fault with man.. and I cannot understand how you can find fault with my question? How can you constructively criticize somebody asking a question? I take it your not a teacher?? perhaps a politician??

So back to the original question.. Is the guitar designed to work with a specific guage or not? If so, what are the shortcomings in doing so with this particular instrument? I think it sounds ridiculous personally, but that's the rumor going around so somebody lay it to rest one way or another.

 

[deadringer]

Rush, the guitar may have been designed with one string guage in mind, simply because it has to have some strings on it, but I don't think there is anything in the design that would make it more or less effective with a particular guage.

JP started out with 10's and then he went to the larger strings (I believe) for the TOT downtuned stuff and now he's using 9's for the standard tuning. I would say that if his sig was designed to work better with 10's than other guages nobody bothered to tell JP!

Somebody can correct me here if I'm way off but from a design standpoint I think the only thing you could to make a guitar "better" with a specific guage string would be to use a different size or strength trem springs and maybe monkey with the truss rod. Even then I think it would be still fairly gross rather than fine. Like for example "X" guitar plays better with guages above 11 or what have you.

 

[beej]

There shouldn't be any significant problem going from 10s to 9s. Adjust the trem claw or springs to suit the level/resitance you like, and play with the truss rod as the neck tension will have changed.

Only other downside might be the spaces in the nut- if you're changing guages significantly this might be a problem as the spaces in the nut won't correctly match the string sizes. But 10s to 9s shouldn't really be much of a difference. I switch guages from time to time and it's usually not a big deal.

 

[Rush]

Rush, the guitar may have been designed with one string guage in mind, simply because it has to have some strings on it, but I don't think there is anything in the design that would make it more or less effective with a particular guage.

That's what I was thinking... A guitar is a guitar. Unless there is a specific piece of hardware designed speficially for it (nut, trem spring, etc.) then I can't imagine it really making any difference what you put on there. Thanks for the replies...

JP started out with 10's and then he went to the larger strings (I believe) for the TOT downtuned stuff and now he's using 9's for the standard tuning. I would say that if his sig was designed to work better with 10's than other guages nobody bothered to tell JP!

hehe.. or he's proven them wrong! So far JP has used 9, 10 and 11 on there and even had a string designed for him I believe for that type of heavy TOT stuff. Saw the press release for it a while back..

Only other downside might be the spaces in the nut- if you're changing guages significantly this might be a problem as the spaces in the nut won't correctly match the string sizes. But 10s to 9s shouldn't really be much of a difference. I switch guages from time to time and it's usually not a big deal.

I'll keep this in mind if I every wanna drop 11s or something on there. I don't see the 9->10 thing really being a problem with the nut either after taking a look at it.

Thanks again!

 

[koogie2k]

Like I posted earlier, I put 9's on one of my Pets and never had any problems with it after some adjustments were made. Personally, going up 1 or down 1 gauge "shouldn't" be a problem. I just usually stick to what I like and stay within that realm. JP has found things that work for him and each gauge string he uses suits what he is after. More power to him. He would know what he wants in a string a heck of a lot better than I would...hehehe...My 2 pennies.

 

[zyx345]

The 1st thing I did when I got my Petrucci was to switch to .009s.

I felt they noticeably opened up the sound & increased the harmonics. The only adjustment I had to make was to level the trem.

I checked the neck numerous times & there was no change in the neck bow, so there was no need for adjustment. I was even able to lower the action slighly without any buzzing.

From what I have heard & read that when you change from .010s to .009s there isn't a significant enough change in string tension to warrant adjusting the truss rod.

 

[OrangeChannel]

Your 'generalization' was an opinion of something that exists outside of this thread, it definitely had NOTHING to do with the original post. It wasn't constructive at all...




Your not making much sense here OC. Your post was far from constructive. The second part presented an opinion on drop tuning and 11 guage strings, nothing constructive about that. Your post as a whole wasn't anything I would call constructive either. It just simply isn't... heh..

To criticize is to find fault with man.. and I cannot understand how you can find fault with my question? How can you constructively criticize somebody asking a question? I take it your not a teacher?? perhaps a politician??

So back to the original question.. Is the guitar designed to work with a specific guage or not? If so, what are the shortcomings in doing so with this particular instrument? I think it sounds ridiculous personally, but that's the rumor going around so somebody lay it to rest one way or another.

Dude, definitely don't want to flame out on this board (these guys don't deserve it here, too cool all around...), no harm meant I think I wordered what I meant in correctly, and maybe you'd taken it a bit too personally... maybe I should be a politico.


olive branch.

No guitar is designed to work w/ a specific guage of string...as I said before string guage is subjective to the individual. As for your assertion that my post wasn't constructive, it was a constructive means to voice an opinion....of which I wasn't directing that towards you, maybe lashing out in hopes that this forum won't turn into the Tech section of the JP forum, in any event....the 2nd part is constructive as I was suggesting in laymans terms what happens with the combination of a drop tuning and a light string guage (based on your influences for your project...which I think will sound awesome if done correctly...). Man next time you're in NY ring me up, we need to grab a brew and synch up on the language....hehehe. I think sometimes I might be a little obtuse, then again maybe you haven't spoken to me enough....SEACREST OUT!

 

[jongitarz]

I have a guitar in my shop for JP ( I am still waiting for the neck) It is stated on the work order to string it with .009's Thats all I know. I don't really care one way or another what he uses or if this is what he will use from now on. If it is, the guitars would probably come from the factory with .009's.

Use whatever strings you want to. .009's will work, .010's will work. Use what feels right for you.

This thread is getting to be another pissing match. We don't need that here.

 

[koogie2k]

AMEN! hehehehe.....

 

[jongitarz]

*finger hovering over the delete button*

 

[Rush]

Dude, definitely don't want to flame out on this board (these guys don't deserve it here, too cool all around...), no harm meant I think I wordered what I meant in correctly, and maybe you'd taken it a bit too personally... maybe I should be a politico.

HA! You know I'd just ring you up in IM if that's what I wanted to do.

olive branch.

Man next time you're in NY ring me up, we need to grab a brew and synch up on the language....hehehe. I think sometimes I might be a little obtuse, then again maybe you haven't spoken to me enough....SEACREST OUT!

HAHA.. You'll never get me to adopt that slang man. I prefer to speak and be taken seriously! Anyway.. everybody has bad days on forums and they are definitely not a good medium to convey demeanor when speaking. I know your a cool guy, but we exist on different sides of many fences as we've come to understand through IM. That's cool with me because I'll always keep my ears open and learn something. I expect you to do the same. So apologies to jongitarz and the other folks who wasted their time reading our annoying banter. We'll try to keep a lid on it in the future.

ps - Thanks for the comment man.. I really hope I can fuse that stuff together someday in the future. We'll have to hit Arlene's Grocery and do some heavy metal KERRYoke over a few brews next time I'm in town.

Peace out homey...

 

[Rush]

I have a guitar in my shop for JP ( I am still waiting for the neck) It is stated on the work order to string it with .009's Thats all I know. I don't really care one way or another what he uses or if this is what he will use from now on. If it is, the guitars would probably come from the factory with .009's.

Use whatever strings you want to. .009's will work, .010's will work. Use what feels right for you.

This thread is getting to be another pissing match. We don't need that here.

Thanks Jon.. I appreciate the response. I haven't ever bothered with 9s, but I wanted to dispel the rumors and know the facts if I ever decided to check it out.