So I've been a humbucker guy since my first real electric. Back then my choices were pretty much LP or Strat....and being a harder rock kinda guy, I went with the LP. 15 or so guitars and ~30 years later, and all of my guitars at least have a humbucker in the bridge. I've always said I'd never own a Strat because I don't like the single coil noise or how thin I remember them sounding. Then a few years ago I bought a MIM Strat to play with. I NEVER realized what I was missing. The character and tone from single coils in the SSS config is just over the top inspiring for me. I can't believe I didn't try this sooner.
So now I want a good quality one. I haven't been impressed with the build quality or feel of any of the Strats I've tried...so a PDN Cutlass is on order.
Just something to think about.
Mike
I'll be really interested to see pics of the Cutlass in Starry Night, and hear your impressions. I fully intended this time a week ago to order that guitar in this PDN, or possibly a Silhouette Special. Then, the more I heard of the Luke3 HH, I just couldn't pull myself away from those tones. Truthfully, I was very close to ordering both the Luke3 (which I did) and the Silo HSH in the PDN, but eventually decided to keep more of my powder dry - leaves me with more options down the road.
I'm sure I'll have some kind of HSS or SSS configuration sometime in the future. The Cutlass is very attractive on price, for sure, knowing the quality of workmanship that MM puts into their guitars.
Honestly, my JP was a surprise purchase for me. I'd been eyeing the Shawbucker Strats since last summer when I was looking around with my son before he decided on the Tele. I had really only heard of Music Man, but it was that brand with the unfamiliar shaped headstock, and that was about all I knew of it. Son walked into my office one evening a few months ago to show me something in a guitar review on YouTube, as he is prone to do, and next thing I know I'm looking at some JP model - unsure which it was originally - on the MM site. I'd never heard of putting a piezo bridge on an electric. To say I was intrigued was an understatement. I stopped into a store a few days later that happened to have my Blueberry Burst JP15 on hand. I've always liked wood, and appreciate beautifully finished wood, whether furniture or instruments, and I was completely blown away by that guitar. Two days later I went back and made a deal for it. I've never regretted that purchase!
That said, there's a lot I didn't know when I bought it. I didn't know that it had high output pickups on it, or what that might mean in different playing contexts. I didn't think about how many possible points of adjustment there are on a tremolo bridge model until I restrung it a couple days later with lighter strings. I just knew that I LOVED the finish of the body, the amazing comfort of it while playing, and didn't want to take my hand off that gorgeous neck with the oil and wax finish. Just a delight to play all around. So I'm still very early in my journey of learning about electrics, both in terms of skill and technique, and in how different design decisions in a guitar can affect its capabilities in terms of sound and tone.
I've been delighted with everything I've seen of MM guitars, and with (almost all of) what I've seen looking around in these forums. Seems to be a fantastic group of music nuts who treat everybody with respect, and I'm loving being a part of that community.
Back in 2004 I was looking to get something new, and I saw a show talking about the Parker Fly. They were doing the piezo + magnetic thing, and it sounded really cool to me. Being shallow, I couldn't get past the looks, so I started searching the web for others (mostly major brands). Ibanez was doing one, but I really didn't like it, or the mag pickup configuration. Somehow I came across the JP - completely independent of the fact that I was already a Petrucci/DT fan. At the time, I had NO idea that JP had a signature model, either Ibanez or EBMM. But being JP was ok with it, I ordered one sight unseen in 2005. I was totally blown away. 3 JPs, 2 Lukes, a Sub 1 and now a Cutlass later, and I've yet to be disappointed. I'm sure you'll find the same!
