what to buy?

[Ali]

They're all great. Which is both a bonus and a pain because we can't all afford to own lots

For me, the Luke is what brought me here. Just a blissful and supremely versatile guitar. Which was a stroke of luck, until I picked up an Axis. Not as versatile but does the rock thang so, so well , and I'd still have one on order if our heating boiler hadn't expired...oh well, next year. And then I tried a Silhouette, and now I quite fancy those too! And if I ever want a 7 string, I'll look very closely at the JP7 before even considering a Universe or RG (been there, done that, no intention of going back).

As everyone says, just play them all, but don't discount the Luke either. It's one of those guitars that doesn't jump up and down in the store, but once its in your hands they'll need a crow bar, a bucket of cold water, and possibly a SWAT team, to stop you playing

 

[SteveB]

You could order one of each and then sell off the ones that you don't want on this forum.. right Raz?

 

[edensdad]

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!

Sounds like you made your decision. I looked at the Petrucci model simply because I am a huge Dream Theater fan and I like his sound. I've always played strats with humbuckers in them. Once I played the JP, the feel of the neck won me over. It's like I have no speed limit any more. I was actually limited by the shape and finish of my previous guitar's neck.

I actually find the switch and knob positions almost perfect (the piezo knob is a blocked by the tremolo arm). I played 3 or 4 over several months, but was unable to find the one I wanted (options,color).

Here's the testimonial part: I've played for 24 years, and was losing a little interest, but since I've bought the JP, my weekly playing time has tripled. I'm eyeing a quilt axis as the next acquisition, but I've bought 2 new guitars this year, so I need to wait a little while. My wife thinks I've got enough guitars now

 

[Raz]

You could order one of each and then sell off the ones that you don't want on this forum.. right Raz?

Man I was just cruising by, minding my own p' and q's and looky here...I'm even thought of without even directly being invloved...ah, thanks Steve...BTW, you wanna buy a git? Nah just kidding I don't plan on selling any, I thought I was clear on that...they're too special, besides, after my two newest purchases come in, my wife's probably going to break at least one over my head, so I won't have any to spare

 

[SteveB]

Raz,

Tell your wife to watch lots of footage of Pete Townshend to get the right technique for busting those guitars on your head.

 

[fogman]

Thanks guys! I'll have to do some travelling to find a store with multiple models so I can compare.

question!

When surfing the EBMM site I was looking at the diagram & schematics section. Now am I able to get both the tremlo & piezo? or does one cancel the other out?

 

[dan desy]

Thanks guys! I'll have to do some travelling to find a store with multiple models so I can compare.

question!

When surfing the EBMM site I was looking at the diagram & schematics section. Now am I able to get both the tremlo & piezo? or does one cancel the other out?

Not sure about all the models, but you can certainly get some of them with piezo and tremolo. The JP for instance.

 

[koogie2k]

My JP-7 and my new JP-6 both have the trem with piezo.

 

[edensdad]

Mine has both as well. The piezo is awesome - one of my favorite sounds the JP6 makes is with the piezo and magnetic switches in the middle, giving a mix of piezo and the inner coils of each humbucker. Through a clean amp it's great. I haven't managed to incorporate the piezo into my high gain sounds, but the bridge pickup handles those quite nicely.

Clarification on what I said before: at the angle I play, the tremolo arm hangs directly in front of the piezo knob, so I have to move it to adjust that knob.

 

[kbaim]

Now am I able to get both the tremlo & piezo? or does one cancel the other out?

This would depend on the model. The Luke for instance only comes with a trem so you can get it with or w/o the piezo.

The axis supersport can be ordered with piezo in either trem or hardtail, as can the albert lee.

 

[nobozos]

With all the cosmetic, and electronics issues aside, I would say the most important thing to look for on a new EBMM would be what neck is most comfortable for you to play. There is a dramatic difference in the feel of the neck of an Axis as compared to the neck of a Luke or a Petrucci.

Neck on a Petrucci is more like an Ibanez neck, where a Luke neck is V shaped like an old Fender. The Axis neck has an eccentric back profile to give it a "broken in " feel. As far as the Morse, the Silouhette, and the Sub 1, they are pretty standard feeling. Kind of the "tastes like chicken" bunch of necks to me.

In closing, I would say find the neck you like, then order that particular guitar with the options you want. You can get an Axis with a stop-tail and piezo, or a Steve Morse with a Floyd Rose. I wouldn't worry too much about the pickups, since those can be easily changed out, but the neck of your guitar is something you will have to live with for as long as you own it.

 

[fogman]

The necks are what sold me! I have yet to plug one in. I've heard their sounds from d/l songs from key players.
The necks I tried are the Axis, Petrucci and Silhouette.

 

[Deacon]

The necks are what sold me! I have yet to plug one in. I've heard their sounds from d/l songs from key players.
The necks I tried are the Axis, Petrucci and Silhouette.

Care to give a comparison of those neck profiles? Maybe comparing them to other manufacturers (i.e. Gibson, PRS, Fender?)

From the descriptions in other posts, it sounds to me like the necks on Silo's, Axis, and maybe Lukes would be the best fit for me. I tend to like necks that are a bit chunkier (i.e. PRS wide fat, Gibson '59, etc.).

I wish Music Man made 1 11/16" nut widths, too.

 

[kbaim]

I don't think the luke would work for you then.

Maybe the Morse which has a chunkier neck.

 

[Deacon]

I don't think the luke would work for you then.

Maybe the Morse which has a chunkier neck.

Yeah, but the Morse has like 87 pickups and 14 switches and on onboard GPS system.

I'm too dum to work all them things.

Plus ... from the pics it looks like the one switch would be seriously in the way a lot of the time. The one that looks like it's right under the middle part of the strumming area.

 

[kbaim]

Switch bugs some people but not others.

Bugs me on occasion, but I mostly just use the morse if I take a quick getaway over a couple of days (vegas, yosemite, etc.)

Otherwise, I just can't stop playing the Lukes.
1 - purple (color no longer available)
1 - blue dawn (color no longer available)
1 - vintage sunburst w/ piezo (still available, but for who knows how long? )

 

[Deacon]

Switch bugs some people but not others.

Bugs me on occasion, but I mostly just use the morse if I take a quick getaway over a couple of days (vegas, yosemite, etc.)

Otherwise, I just can't stop playing the Lukes.
1 - purple (color no longer available)
1 - blue dawn (color no longer available)
1 - vintage sunburst w/ piezo (still available, but for who knows how long? )

Can the Luke do tones from fat Allman Brothers type to jangly Stratoid type tones?

I was looking at the Silhouettes mostly cause they have a bucker in the neck for the fat, smooth sound. Can a Luke do that kinda tone?

 

[Raz]

As far as the Morse, the Silouhette, and the Sub 1, they are pretty standard feeling. Kind of the "tastes like chicken" bunch of necks to me.
QUOTE]
Man, if you were from Fe@&e^(rhymes with gender), or that other place(shares a name with 80s teen pop queen, Debbie Gi$&o@), I'd say you were in need of a spanking!

 

[SteveB]

placement of pickup switch

Deacon,

I understand your concern with the Morse model pickup switch placement. I had the same concern with my Petrucci.. the switch is right in the middle of the strumming area. I quickly realized that I could easily avoid the switch, and the placement actually made it the one guitar whose pickup selector I could use without missing a beat. You can grab that bugger with your pinky finger and throw it while you're still picking.

 

[Deacon]

Deacon,

I understand your concern with the Morse model pickup switch placement. I had the same concern with my Petrucci.. the switch is right in the middle of the strumming area. I quickly realized that I could easily avoid the switch, and the placement actually made it the one guitar whose pickup selector I could use without missing a beat. You can grab that bugger with your pinky finger and throw it while you're still picking.

Cool

Thanks for the feedback, Steve.