Best Petrucci Guitar in his career

[DTFANATIC]

I'm a big fan of guitar playing, and I love the look, style, and sound of Petrucci's previous signature model, the Ibanez JPM100. However his newer model, the Ernie Ball Music Man is a great guitar too.
I'm thinking about buying one of them. So Which model is more appealing? Give me your thoughts. (Oh, the Ibanez model is not in production anymore, but avid guitar collectors sell them from time to time)

[Podaar]

[Setlist Scotty]

I'm not a musician so this is just guessing, but you should choose what you think sounds, feels and looks best to you, assuming that budget is not an issue. I'd think you'd want to maybe check out all the features of each model so that you have some idea, but then go to a music store that hopefully has several models for you to try out so that you can really see which one best suits you. 

[ReaperKK]

Honestly go with what feels the best to you.

I've played a few signature JP guitars in my time and surprisingly I liked the Ibanez's more than most JPMM and I really am not a fan of Ibanez.

See what's around and see what suites you best. My view on signature guitars is they are cool to have in a sense that they represent guitars players you like and tones you love but in my eyes those guitars are built for the people that play them and their play style may be different than yours. I, for example, have a Gilmour strat and while it's awesome and looks like the guitar that DG plays I rarely play it myself.

Anyway, I'm rambling, try out as many guitars as you can and find what you like.

[DTFANATIC]

Thanks everyone. I love the look of the Ibanez models a lot. I even prefer his tone from Images and Words, and Awake. I play a Jackson, and a Fender, and I prefer playing on fenders, but I would enjoy owning one of his models. Might go with his Ibanez if I can.

[gentaishinigami]

I own one of the first JP6 models by EBMM so I am biased badly.  I'd look for either an old school Mystic Dream JP6 with Piezo or a BFR quilted/flamed like the one in the "A Rite of Passage" video.  The JPX is also a very notable model but I would research that ones "quirks" very thoroughly before you dove in (chambered, 5-way switch, switch is easy to accidentally hit for some people).  The JP13 also looked pretty good and it definitely sounded great on DT12.

All that said however, the Majesty signature from EBMM is coming out very soon so I would probably hold off till we see how that thing turns out.

I've never touched JP's Ibanez but the day i bought my JP6 I did play the Steve Vai signature with the handle and the tree of life thing, and the JP6 crushed it in playability imo.  Opinions and all though!

(If I was rich I would buy a BFR Koa 7 string like he played for "Outcry" live.... such a great looking and sounding guitar!)

Edit:  A LOT of his old sound was the different choices in amps he had back then.  If you ran his current guitar through those amps it wouldn't sound too different tbh.  I wouldn't pick EBMM or Ibanez based off sound, I'd pick it based off playability and let the amp do the work on your sounds.  Most of his old sound was the Mark IIC+, Triaxis and Double Rectifier from Mesa Boogie.  I&W is a little bit of an outlier though because he used roland, zoom, and marshall amps O_o;

[adastra]

I have always thought that Ibanez JPM's  are the  coolest looking guitar ever!   
EBMM JPM is just too normal for me  

I'm sure that EBMM  plays great , but I haven't ever played one.
I own Ibanez JPM100P4  and I can tell you that it is amazing guitar to play!  And I love the looks!

[rumborak]

For me the iconic JP guitar will always be the colorful Ibanez one. All the others are just a blur.

[bl5150]

For me the iconic JP guitar will always be the colorful Ibanez one. All the others are just a blur.

Same here and same with the Vai Ibanez guitars - I prefer the original JEM Fp1 before the market was flooded with all sorts of variations.

[adastra]

For me the iconic JP guitar will always be the colorful Ibanez one. All the others are just a blur.

Same here and same with the Vai Ibanez guitars - I prefer the original JEM Fp1 before the market was flooded with all sorts of variations.

Flooded  .. isnt there like 4-5 different kinds that came in the timespan of 8 yrs or sumthing.

[The Stray Seed]

Looks like I'm swimming against the tide. I never really liked the look of Ibanez JPM. MM guitars look waaay more appealing to me.

[bl5150]

For me the iconic JP guitar will always be the colorful Ibanez one. All the others are just a blur.

Same here and same with the Vai Ibanez guitars - I prefer the original JEM Fp1 before the market was flooded with all sorts of variations.

Flooded  .. isnt there like 4-5 different kinds that came in the timespan of 8 yrs or sumthing.

Wiki is your friend...and I'm not sure if that's the lot.  Perhaps not "flooded" if you want to be picky but there's certainly plenty.  I almost always find the original in a series like that to be the most iconic (often the one actually played by the artist first too) , as for the JPM design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibanez_JEM

[wolfking]

I have a JPM of my own, it's amazing;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1V92or60gg

EDIT:

Whoops, wrong vid, this vid shows my JPM, killer guitar, my fav.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBqcsvtkuTI

[bl5150]

I have a JPM of my own, it's amazing;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1V92or60gg

EDIT:

Whoops, wrong vid, this vid shows my JPM, killer guitar, my fav.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBqcsvtkuTI

Nice - used to have one myself.  I still have my JEM (the one above is mine).   Sold the JPM to help fund a one-off guitar that I have stashed away for my son's 21st.   He's currently about to turn 6  - will I have the patience?    

[adastra]

For me the iconic JP guitar will always be the colorful Ibanez one. All the others are just a blur.

Same here and same with the Vai Ibanez guitars - I prefer the original JEM Fp1 before the market was flooded with all sorts of variations.

Flooded  .. isnt there like 4-5 different kinds that came in the timespan of 8 yrs or sumthing.

Wiki is your friend...and I'm not sure if that's the lot.  Perhaps not "flooded" if you want to be picky but there's certainly plenty.  I almost always find the original in a series like that to be the most iconic (often the one actually played by the artist first too) , as for the JPM design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibanez_JEM

Haha!   I was just speaking about JPM.  If i remember correctly (without lookign wiki)  there is;

Proto-JPM
JPM100P1, P2, P3, P4
JPM90HAM
And that Desert Storm proto!

IMO  the first protoype was the coolest!

I have a JPM of my own, it's amazing;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1V92or60gg

EDIT:

Whoops, wrong vid, this vid shows my JPM, killer guitar, my fav.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBqcsvtkuTI

U are so furry ! ^___^

[wolfking]

I always wanted a JEM, but I could never justify spending the funds and I never found one second hand at teh right price.  I found my JPM for $400 in mint condition!

[adastra]

I always wanted a JEM, but I could never justify spending the funds and I never found one second hand at teh right price. I found my JPM for $400 in mint condition!

What a stupid fucking price O_O  !!! I'l lbuy it from you for 500$ !!!  You'll make 100$profit!!

[bl5150]

For me the iconic JP guitar will always be the colorful Ibanez one. All the others are just a blur.

Same here and same with the Vai Ibanez guitars - I prefer the original JEM Fp1 before the market was flooded with all sorts of variations.

Flooded  .. isnt there like 4-5 different kinds that came in the timespan of 8 yrs or sumthing.

Wiki is your friend...and I'm not sure if that's the lot.  Perhaps not "flooded" if you want to be picky but there's certainly plenty.  I almost always find the original in a series like that to be the most iconic (often the one actually played by the artist first too) , as for the JPM design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibanez_JEM

Haha!   I was just speaking about JPM.  If i remember correctly (without lookign wiki)  there is;

Proto-JPM
JPM100P1, P2, P3, P4
JPM90HAM
And that Desert Storm proto!

IMO  the first protoype was the coolest!

And I was referring to the JEM if you read back so not sure how we got here 

[bl5150]

I always wanted a JEM, but I could never justify spending the funds and I never found one second hand at teh right price.  I found my JPM for $400 in mint condition!

Yeah - awesome price.  I sold mine for a lot more than that!  I haven't done the rounds for a while but I can't imagine there'd be too many JEM FP1s around.  I bought mine in 1990.

[adastra]

I always wanted a JEM, but I could never justify spending the funds and I never found one second hand at teh right price.  I found my JPM for $400 in mint condition!

Yeah - awesome price.  I sold mine for a lot more than that!  I haven't done the rounds for a while but I can't imagine there'd be too many JEM FP1s around.  I bought mine in 1990.

A little more off-topic but I haven't ever really liked those Steve Vai models       i think that the one used in Dream Theater - Lie music video is pretty Cool! but the others are just too weird.
But I totally respect your opinions about JEM's

For example this one,  what a mess

[wolfking]

I found the JPM in a cash convertors (pawn shop).  I instantly saw it and flipped out.  I saw the price and flipped out again.  The name of the store barcode, was something like 'joe penrucci model' I knew they had no idea what they had and gave them their money and ran away.  I didn't even try and bargin them down, I just wanted it in my hands.

[Dellers]

I prefer the JPXI, actually I even bought a 7 string version of it myself. I don't play DT stuff on it, but it's a fantastic guitar. Great sound and ridiculously easy to play.

[bl5150]

I always wanted a JEM, but I could never justify spending the funds and I never found one second hand at teh right price.  I found my JPM for $400 in mint condition!

Yeah - awesome price.  I sold mine for a lot more than that!  I haven't done the rounds for a while but I can't imagine there'd be too many JEM FP1s around.  I bought mine in 1990.

A little more off-topic but I haven't ever really liked those Steve Vai models       i think that the one used in Dream Theater - Lie music video is pretty Cool! but the others are just too weird.
But I totally respect your opinions about JEM's

For example this one,  what a mess

I agree - that is a mess and I don't like many of them myself.  The original FP1 though (and a few of the others) I like and they're much nicer in the flesh.   I haven't met too many people who don't like it up close.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=_fYEMvRK5C0#t=188 

A bit of useless trivia - the FP1s are all different as the pattern is a canvas and they're all different cuts..........matching the curtains in Steve's home at the time    He is a weird cat.

[adastra]

A bit of useless trivia - the FP1s are all different as the pattern is a canvas and they're all different cuts..........matching the curtains in Steve's home at the time    He is a weird cat.

Haha I didnt know that!     Do you guys know if the Ibanez John Petrucci model's "picasso-artwork"  was taken from somewhere or is it made for the guitar?
I  mean,  Is the JPM artwork all there is or is it just a part from some larger piece of art?

[Phoenix87x]

Gotta go with the Picasso Ibanez, and  I honestly don't really care for the music man.

[DTFANATIC]

So where are some places where I can obtain a JPM100B like the ones mentioned above? The Pawn shop comment was pretty cool. I would've swiped it too.

[wolfking]

So where are some places where I can obtain a JPM100B like the ones mentioned above? The Pawn shop comment was pretty cool. I would've swiped it too.

They have been out of print for years, unless you run across one like I did, probably ebay.

[Aythesryche]

Wait awhile longer for the MAJESTY guitar:











Even Steve Lukather approves:

[adastra]

Wait awhile longer for the MAJESTY guitar:

*pics

I wouldn't pay 500$ for that . 

[adastra]

A bit of useless trivia - the FP1s are all different as the pattern is a canvas and they're all different cuts..........matching the curtains in Steve's home at the time    He is a weird cat.

Haha I didnt know that!     Do you guys know if the Ibanez John Petrucci model's "picasso-artwork"  was taken from somewhere or is it made for the guitar?
I  mean,  Is the JPM artwork all there is or is it just a part from some larger piece of art?

I did some diggin'  and now i can answer my own question :3   If someone is even interested
The Picasso graphics were made by Dan Lawrence  from https://www.drlgrafx.com/.
If I understand correctly the graphics weren't first made for Petrucci.
Dan made the graphics for Ibanez ->  Petrucci liked the graphics and they began to use them for JPM's .
COOL!


If I'd  have more money , I would contact Dan Lawrence and ask him to make me design similar to that!  
Not an exact copy but with same kind of feeling.

[jsem]

For me the iconic JP guitar will always be the colorful Ibanez one. All the others are just a blur.

This. It's all kinds of awesome. Hnnng.

[wolfking]

Wow, that new Majesty guitar is horrible.

[Cable]

Like the color of the Majesty guitar (mystic dream I'm guessing). Overall I like the look of the Ibanez better, mainly because I dislike the Fender-esque headstock of the EB/MMs. That and the color and design of the Ibanez is sweet.

For playability and tone, that's another thing; never played either, but heard only good things about the MM models.

[Kotowboy]

His current music man design.

Not a fan of RG shapes at all.

[gentaishinigami]

The Majesty may look a bit odd, but its aesthetic sacrifices are in the name of playability.  Having the top horn deeply scooped and the bottom cut off like that makes it much more playable up in the 20+ fret range (which JP likes to go into) and the solid neck+body also removes that bump where bolt-on necks would bolt up.  Also has a deep scoop into the bottom edge to have it sit on your thigh better (again, JP frequently puts it there for hard licks).

Now if only it didn't cost $3k (I'm guessing that range based on previous top end MM JP sigs).  I'll take a guitar that plays good over looks good any day!

Also, yes, that is Mystic Dream on the first couple of pictures of the Majesty as far as I'm aware.