what to buy?

[fogman]

Crap!!! I just spent a half hour typing a post only to find out I wasn' logged in!!!

Anyways, I'm new here, and to make a long story short; I stopped playing guitar about 10 years ago. About a year ago, I got the itch to play again and have been spending coutless hours at music shops and on the internet searching for what will be that special axe.
After going through the usual badges like Fender....... I stumbled across an Ernie Ball Music Man Petrucci! I had heard about them once but never seen one. At first I laughed seeing a string manufacturer's name on the tiny headstock which I also found funny. By chance, I picked it up and fell in love. This beast was made for me!
I proceeded by further researching these guitars through reviews and other information. I was even further amazed and deeply in love.
I am familiar with what Steve Morse can do with his Music Man and have had a little exposure to Petrucci.
I am looking at purchasing either a Petrucci, Morse or Silhouette (axis not ruled out either)
This is where you come in. I am excited to order ASAP but want your input to settle my purchase decision in my mind since I don't have any experience with this brand of guitars.
So without further delay, please let your opinion rip!!!!!!!!
thanks in advance.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

My best advice is to TRY THEM ALL OUT FIRST!

I would say the Silo in HSH configuration is more versatile than the Axis & Petrucci models, I have no personal experience with any Morse models yet.

 

[OrangeChannel]

My best advice is to TRY THEM ALL OUT FIRST!

I would say the Silo in HSH configuration is more versatile than the Axis & Petrucci models, I have no personal experience with any Morse models yet.

Thats the only Silo config unless you count the Sil Spec (but I think that's a different one altogether.....)

 

[NorM]

Silos feel like old friends as soon as you get them home. Morse's are amazing

 

[bluebullet]

axis or jp

 

[kbaim]

I think lots of us had similar experiences to you in that we stumbled across our favorite (now) ebmm when dicking around in a music store.

But there seems to be no unanimous consensus (i.e. no agreement as to which is best) as it all comes down to personal taste, and also access to the different models which can be limited and a bit frustrating

It is safe to say that many of us are drawn to these guitars first for the neck and how easy they are to play.

Then it comes down to humbucker/singlecoil sound preference.

You gotta try a few out or be prepared to become something of a collector without even realizing it.

KEITH
owner of 6 ebmm, but going on 7

BTW I can tell you that on the morse and JP the placement of a pickup switch under the high e string is an issue for me, and on the axis supersports the angle of the pup switch (straight across right to left) isn't as friendly to my playing as one that is slanted. Plus, I love the tone of emg's so my guitar of choice is the LUKE model (steve Lukather).

You might wanna give a shout out to ernie1966. He's our resident JP expert and has a collection most of us drool over. Though I am finding myself drooling over Brittany, Paris, Lindsay, and that hottie on LOST who Matthew Fox had better start getting after pretty quick here or she might become the island whore to spite him...but I digress.

 

[koogie2k]

Welcome to the addiction! Ah my friend....be warned.....it is an addiction! I am a JP owner myself. I have 3 with a 4th on the way. I also have played the Axis and the Silo thanks to OC and keith. Both are awesome guitars. I happen to love the JP only because of the feel and for me, it is the one guitar that fits me the best. However, keith is more of a LUKE guy as he stated. Norm is a Silo fan and Morse fan and others like the Axis. The best thing to do is simply this: Try as many models as you can. Then comes the very hard part....deciding on which one you want to take home. Make sure you give each one a good test run before you decide and play them through an amp you are going to either buy, or bring in your own. I find it is important to play a guitar through the gear you have or will have so you know what it will sound like. My 2 pennies. BTW, we are not responsible for the rapid decrease in your bank account due to the amount of guitars you will be buying to support your new addiction....we can only try to help you contain it.....and pictures are mandatory or one of the mods like dwf may ban you if they are not posted promptly once you purchase that new axe! heheheeh

 

[Jimi D]

I'm just going to reitterate some of the other voices here and say that it's really up to you which model you like the best. I think the Silhouette is probably the best bang for the buck, so if money is at all an issue, you should probably consider that... The Petrucci neck is considerably "thinner" or "faster" than the Morse or Silhouette (who's necks are very similar), so if you like shredder thin necks, the Petrucci is your choice. And of course, the Morse is easily the most versatile of the three with something like eleven pickup combinations, and it's the only one of the three you mentioned that's available with a Floyd Rose if that's a consideration... Which ever you choose, you'll be getting a brilliantly designed, pro-grade axe that will last you a life time, hand made with consumate care by a small group of dedicated guitar builders, for about the same money you'd spend on one of the lower-range assembly line axes coming out of the other big American makers.

 

[Warg Master]

When you get it.... we want PPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!@!@!@!P#!@)*$*!)!!

 

[fogman]

I am posting here because I only have one guitar in the area that are licensed for EBMM. They only carry the occasional MM. I don't have the opportunity to play the various models side by side to compare. I've only had the opportunity to try the Petrucci and an Axis unplugged.
I will have to tracel a ways to find a dealer with a few in stock.
This is why I'm asking for your advice.

When I get it (whichever!) I will be proud to drown you with picks.

 

[fogman]

Oh yes! I almost forgot!
I take full responsibility for eventually buying one of each after I re-learn how to play. It's been ten years so I super axe will have to do for now.

 

[lock-ny]

well the silhouette and or the silhouette special are the most versatile and I like them better than the JP because the bridge sits flat on the body while the JP bridge floats, if you are just beginning you may want to experiment with alternate tunings and so forth and the JP will not be conducive to that, I have 2 axis's as well and they are great but a pup change will be a pain in the butt, so the silo's win there as well, but dont count out the sub 1, check out the subs and the silo and the silo special and you cant go wrong for a "first" MM, the rest you can grab later on as we all have here on this board -

 

[kbaim]

And say goodbye to all those string wrap arounds in your avatar.

 

[brentrocks]

hold out for an EVH! if that kind of guitar fits your style of playing, they ROCK!!

 

[Raz]

Oh yes! I almost forgot!
I take full responsibility for eventually buying one of each after I re-learn how to play. It's been ten years so I super axe will have to do for now.

Yo I was off for 15 years...and I'll tell you, the re-introduction into playing was made sweeter than pu......oops, anyway it was made sweet by purchasing my first EBMM...a Sub1. and even though it is an introductory line, it still plays better than most guitars. I guess the reason why its an introductory model is because it has introduced me to my other three balls...

 

[OrangeChannel]

well the silhouette and or the silhouette special are the most versatile and I like them better than the JP because the bridge sits flat on the body while the JP bridge floats, if you are just beginning you may want to experiment with alternate tunings and so forth and the JP will not be conducive to that, I have 2 axis's as well and they are great but a pup change will be a pain in the butt, so the silo's win there as well, but dont count out the sub 1, check out the subs and the silo and the silo special and you cant go wrong for a "first" MM, the rest you can grab later on as we all have here on this board -

Don't worry...the tremol-no is on it;s way...you will beocme a JP fan and assimilate like the rest of us!

www.tremolno.com

 

[fogman]

I like the sound of the EVH but the body shape is kind of weird.
As for the Floyd Rose, I've had that before and I wouldn't use it enough to be worth the pain of re-stringing. The standard EB tremlo will do me just fine.

So tell me about the tuners! My strings won't be wound that way? I do not remember all the details of when I saw the guitar last, and the MM web site doesn't show enough detail.

 

[kbaim]

You thread the string through a hole, tighten the lock,and turn about 1/4-1/2 way around. Done.

 

[fogman]

shweet!

 

[mbgreene]

Fogman
I'm not sure what type of music you play, and I'm not trying to add to your confusion, but since you referenced F**der in your first post, I figured I 'd throw in my 2 cents for the Albert Lee, what a strat dreams one day to be.

If your looking for a single coil sound with some extra tele spank in the bridge it's a great guitar. With the available MM90's its got a little more growl but the pups are well voiced, not as overly agressive as P90's, and the silent circuit keeps it quiet. It can handle classic rock, blues, even a bit of jazz but it isn't necessarily what to try if your dealing in heavy modern metal/droptune stuff.

It's also light, comfortable and well balanced. You may double take at the shape, it's been described as somewhat Jetsonesque, but it'll grow on you. And being a little unique never hurts. As with the other EBMM models, the neck has the best feel out there, it's just a matter of which profile fits you and your style.

I also went many years between guitars, and passed by this beauty several times with a snicker at my local shop when I went to try things out. But then I finally picked it up, and kept going back to it and then ordered one. Like the saying goes Try it....you'll like it.