Question for the JP7 owners

[Jason2112]

I've found myself in a position to help out a buddy who needs a 2nd guitarist for some recording. It may turn out to be a long term thing (recording only, no playing shows). His band is heavily influenced by modern metal/industrial bands like Fear Factory, Machine Head, etc. Thing is.... I don't have a 7 string and his music absolutely requires it. The music stores near me don't regularly carry 7 strings, so I'd be looking to buy used from the interweb and I'd be going in fairly blind. My only experience with a 7 string was about 7 years ago when I briefly owned an Ibanez 7620, but I don't remember much about it other than I hated the FR trem.

So here's my question, along with the JP7 do you also own/play any other brands? What is it about the JP that makes it stand out from the other 7's you've tried? Have you considered swapping the pickups for EMGs?

Yeah yeah I know it's the EBMM board, but I'm hoping for some unbiased opinions....

 

[HighGain510]

I play 7's fairly often and have played/owned a wide variety of makes and models. Out of all production 7-strings I'd say the EBMM JP7 is THE best. The neck is the nicest feeling 7-string neck I've had the pleasure of playing. Not baseball bat thick like a schecter and not thin and overly flat like Ibanez necks. It's a little bit thicker than an Ibby and the shoulders are a little rounder, feels perfect to me. The trem on the JP7 is very nice as it's floating but you don't have the hassle of setup that (IMO) comes with an OFR or Lo-Pro/Licensed-Floyd does which is a big positive for me, or if you don't like it the trem can easily be blocked with wood or a Tremol-No. Comes standard with locking tuners too so that is a plus. The forearm contour on the JP models make the guitar very ergonomic too, one of my favorite things about that line.

I'd have to say the only negative, and again this is more of a personal feeling, about the JP7 is that the stock bridge pickup was changed to the D-Sonic 7 which I'm not a huge fan of at all. I've owned the pre-D Sonic JP6 and played JP7 models with the old custom DiMarzio stock JP bridge and to me they were far and away a better pickup than the D-Sonic in basswood. The nice part is that replacing pickups is a fairly simple task so for me that's not the end of the world but I would love to see those original custom DiMarzios return to the JP6 and JP7 line which would bring my score from a 9.5 to a 9.8 and the only reason I won't give it a 10 is that I prefer the tone of mahogany over basswood but again just personal preference. Some pickups sound good in basswood but I prefer other woods that sound better with a wider array of pickups. The DiMarzio Evo is a great choice for basswood + maple combo though so if you're looking to do something on the heavier side of things I think that would be a good replacement.

Basically, to me the JP7 is the perfect production 7-string (minus the bridge pickup and the basswood body) and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to spend a little bit more for a quality 7.

P.S. I don't work for EBMM and I don't currently own a JP7 (sold all my 7's to buy a custom built one) but I do feel strongly about them having one of the best production 7-strings on the market and I'm thankful for having the JP7 as an option.

 

[Jason2112]

That's some very helpful information, thanks!

 

[bkrumme]

I play my BFRs every day. I have to disagree about the D-Sonic 7 in the bridge, though. I love it. Don't get me wrong, the custom JP in the original JP7s was a killer pickup. I just love the bite of the D-Sonic. I agree about the neck, though. It's thin enough to shred on, but thick enough to feel good. It's THE MOST comfortable 7 string neck I've ever played. I also agree about the bridge. It's WAY easier to set up than a locking trem and the piezo is an added bonus.

I've owned 7 string guitars from Ibanez, Schecter, Caparison, and ESP and each of them has their strong points, but the JP7 stands out for a couple reasons:

1. The forearm contour make playing ANY of the JP guitars very comfortable.
2. The tremolo is solid and works like a floyd without locking.
3. Consisitency between guitars. Every EBMM guitar I play is consisitent with the others I've played.

I used to be all about EMG pickups. Then I grew up and realized that active wasn't neccessarily better. EMGs are too sterile sounding for me. It was really hard to be expressive and they don't respond like I want from different woods, volume levels, etc.

 

[Jason2112]

Thanks. I'm intrigued by the comments so far on the neck profile. I tried a JP6 and didn't really like the neck compared to the Axis, but having played an Ibanez 7, I can imagine the JP7 neck being quite comfortable.

I used to be all about EMG pickups. Then I grew up and realized that active wasn't neccessarily better. EMGs are too sterile sounding for me. It was really hard to be expressive and they don't respond like I want from different woods, volume levels, etc.

I wouldn't equate using active pickups with needing to grow up.... as I'm sure Mr Lukather would agree. It's personal preference.

 

[bkrumme]

I wouldn't equate using active pickups with needing to grow up.... as I'm sure Mr Lukather would agree. It's personal preference.

This was meant more as a description of my personal experience and growth. Early on, I had subscribed to the much abused mantra that active pickups are better no matter what. I grew up and realized that this was foolish of me and that there is a place for both active and passive electronics in our instruments. It all really depends on what you want to hear from your instrument.

Indeed there are many great players who use EMG pickups. Mr. Lukather being one, and the likes of Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammet, and James Hetfield being some of the others. The pickups they use are indeed a part of their sound; a part of their signature tone. Likewise, there are passive pickup players who are just as influential and have their own signature sound. John Petrucci, Vai, Satch, Albert Lee, Paul Gilbert to name a few.

My preference is with passive pups, hence my comments about how EMGs are to sterile for me and don't respond how I would like. If they do it for you, then that's awesome.

 

[whitestrat]

So here's my question, along with the JP7 do you also own/play any other brands? What is it about the JP that makes it stand out from the other 7's you've tried? Have you considered swapping the pickups for EMGs?

I've tried and owned a few 7s. From Universes to baritone RGs. Primarily Ibanezes. I've tried a Squier 7 string previosuly that wasn't half bad. Also the Epiphone V7s and LP7s. No big shakes. The Magic from Gibsons to me is in their 6 strings.

However, the key 7 string model I've yeanred for and will soon become a reality is definately the JP7. Not the BFR, but the basswood model. Simply because of how fantastic the 6 stringed version is. The forearm scoop is very comfortable for me. The piezo system is better than the Ibanez Double Edge trems. The guitar is light, and compact, which suits me fine. And most importantly, the Mystic Dream finish is gorgeous. I've never found faults with any EBMM guitars before, so I have complete faith in walking into a store, picking one off the shelf and buying without trying.

Why not the BFR you might ask? Simply because I'm after that 80s/90s basswood tone and mainly because it doesn't have that forearm scoop. After playing the JP6, I have to get used to my other guitars for a bit before they feel natural. And after that, when I pick up the JP6 again? its like wearing your own skin.

The BFR might be THE JP to go for these days, but I'm quite sure the JP6s and JP7s will become a modern classic in its own right one of these days. That guitar alone has set so many standards in the market today, you have people copying many of its USPs right off into their own designs. Cort is a simple example...

Why question perfection?

 

[whitestrat]

I'd have to say the only negative, and again this is more of a personal feeling, about the JP7 is that the stock bridge pickup was changed to the D-Sonic 7 which I'm not a huge fan of at all. I've owned the pre-D Sonic JP6 and played JP7 models with the old custom DiMarzio stock JP bridge and to me they were far and away a better pickup than the D-Sonic in basswood. The nice part is that replacing pickups is a fairly simple task so for me that's not the end of the world but I would love to see those original custom DiMarzios return to the JP6 and JP7 line which would bring my score from a 9.5 to a 9.8 and the only reason I won't give it a 10 is that I prefer the tone of mahogany over basswood but again just personal preference.

You could replace the D Sonic 7 with a Blaze, no? I know thats what I'm going to do for sure...

 

[bkrumme]

Why not the BFR you might ask? Simply because I'm after that 80s/90s basswood tone and mainly because it doesn't have that forearm scoop.

That really is a good argument for the standard JP7 over the BFR. Don't get me wrong. I love my BFRs, but since I got my JP6 I've been wanting a standard JP7 simply because of the forearm scoop...

If I could get a standard JP7 with the mahogany tone block and push/pull of the BFR, that would be the be all end all 7 string...at least for me.

 

[HighGain510]

You could replace the D Sonic 7 with a Blaze, no? I know thats what I'm going to do for sure...

Haha yeah read the rest of my post bro:

The DiMarzio Evo is a great choice for basswood + maple combo though so if you're looking to do something on the heavier side of things I think that would be a good replacement.

Not huge on the Blaze personally but the Evo sounds killer, even in basswood! Like I said above, if I were to grab another one I would either see if EBMM would be so kind as to swap my D-Sonic for one of the old pickups if they had any left or just swap to an Evo.

Also on the topic of the BFR, I think it would be badass if it were possible to keep that construction/wood combo but still had the forearm contour scoop. That is one of my favorite parts of the JP model, SO comfortable!!!

 

[whitestrat]

Like I said above, if I were to grab another one I would either see if EBMM would be so kind as to swap my D-Sonic for one of the old pickups if they had any left or just swap to an Evo.

That's my point... Accoding to DiMarzio, the closest thing to the old JP7 pup IS the Blaze.

 

[HighGain510]

I've played a Blaze 7 in both an Ibanez 7620 and a JP7 and didn't like it, to me it didn't sound close to those JP7 older stock pickups but maybe it's just me?