The MAJESTY 8

[PetFish]

I didn't like that carbon fiber shield thing when these guitar first came out. The body shape is cool but I still don't like that miniature Fender headstock.

Ugh, I absolutely hate the standard EB headstock on JP's Majesty guitars and other EB guitars that have a different-than-traditional body shape.  It looks fine on JP's non-Majesty models and most of the other signature guitars from other players.

But, and this goes for the St. Vincent signature model as well, if you're going to change the design of the body so much then why not do the headstock as well?  I look at the Bongo bass and it has a headstock that matches the body much better than the standard EB headstock does.

I think this is the only fart and missed opportunity of the Majesty series.  You're already going away from traditional with the body so you can push the headstock design as well but also keep the 4/2 pattern so it's still obvious it's an EB guitar.

[hipodilski]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with 8 string guitars, especially if one knows how to use them correctly within a band context.

The artist I play with is an avid 8 string guitar user, even has her own fan fret custom guitar, and her arrangements are always flawless and guitars and bass and synths all have their place under the sun.

Here is a video of us opening for DT two years ago, and as you can see, our live band featured not one but two 8 string guitars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cAA1-ee4_o

That was enjoyable 

Thank you!

[nikatapi]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with 8 string guitars, especially if one knows how to use them correctly within a band context.

The artist I play with is an avid 8 string guitar user, even has her own fan fret custom guitar, and her arrangements are always flawless and guitars and bass and synths all have their place under the sun.

Here is a video of us opening for DT two years ago, and as you can see, our live band featured not one but two 8 string guitars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cAA1-ee4_o

What a great performance. The drummer is pretty good too 

[Architeuthis]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with 8 string guitars, especially if one knows how to use them correctly within a band context.

The artist I play with is an avid 8 string guitar user, even has her own fan fret custom guitar, and her arrangements are always flawless and guitars and bass and synths all have their place under the sun.

Here is a video of us opening for DT two years ago, and as you can see, our live band featured not one but two 8 string guitars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cAA1-ee4_o

Good golly,, that was super!  Definitely worthy to be on the same bill as DT.   

[the_silent_man]

DT had a support 2 years ago? On the DOT tour? I though it was evening withs since ADTOE?

[Kotowboy]

Mangini was adamant that only 16/19 were An Evening with

[Adami]

Mangini was adamant that only 16/19 were An Evening with

But the shows will be grouped into 2, 3,7, and 4. 

[Lonk]

DT had a support 2 years ago? On the DOT tour? I though it was evening withs since ADTOE?

I believe some Europeans tour legs were not evening with formats. For that show they did not play the whole SFAM and just added some extra songs, like Peruvian Skies.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dream-theater/2019/ndk-hall-1-sofia-bulgaria-5391570d.html

[hipodilski]

It was a funny story. The first leg of the tour was supposed to be with normal "evening with" shows, but at some point they announced that the whole leg would be festival dates only. Our local promoter had managed to book DT before this became known, so in order to keep the date he had to basically invent a festival, which he did.

So we were 3 local bands, then Jason Richardson/Luke Holland (who were touring with DT), and then DT a shortened festival setlist.

It was quite a nerve-wrecking experience - everything was late, at some point DT's road manager wanted to cancel all local support, then we persuaded him to keep us, had to shorten our setlists, etc, but ultimately got to play.

Hope you like the video, we worked really hard to prepare for this gig.

[bosk1]

Yeah, that was really, REALLY good.  I wasn't familiar with you guys, but now feel compelled to take a deep dive.

[Kotowboy]

Why would it make you want to go swimming ?!

[Dellers]

From the two clips that are out already it seems to have the exact same problem as other 8 string guitars - playing on the lowest one simply does not sound good. I've tried to be open minded about 8 string guitars for years, but they just sound awfully bad to me every single time. You simply need a proper bass to sound decent down there.

[Elite]

It greatly depends on the way it's recorded (phone or proper recording), and the speakers you're listening on. Also, of course what you do with that string makes all the difference. Mindless chugging or tremolo picking isn't going to sound too good indeed. That said, my eight-string sounds great when I play it.

[BeatriceNB]

From the two clips that are out already it seems to have the exact same problem as other 8 string guitars - playing on the lowest one simply does not sound good. I've tried to be open minded about 8 string guitars for years, but they just sound awfully bad to me every single time. You simply need a proper bass to sound decent down there.

Check out Haken's Affinity

[Kotowboy]

All the Les Paul chat has inspired me ( after 10 years ) to see what was under my humbucker covers. Also i took off my scratchplate for a more "Slash" kinda vibe

[Metro]

meh. not enough strings

[Kotowboy]

[GasparXR]

They should just do an 8-string guitar where it's 4 pairs of strings like a 12-string, just to make everyone happy.


Actually that would just be a mandolin rip-off, wouldn't it? That would still upset mando snobs


I think the guitar looks pretty good though! I prefer this design over the original Majesty look. Smart choice by JP to go with multi-scale, I know from experience that 8-string guitars can be a bit of a bitch when it comes to optimal string tension.

[Architeuthis]

All the Les Paul chat has inspired me ( after 10 years ) to see what was under my humbucker covers. Also i took off my scratchplate for a more "Slash" kinda vibe

Nice!  That's a pretty sweet looking guitar.   

[Kotowboy]

Agreed. Just ignore the troglodyte just above

[nobloodyname]

Yeah, that's a sweet example of a Les Paul. Everyone's different, of course, but I would take that Les Paul every single time over every single guitar JP has collaborated on with Ernie Ball.

[Kotowboy]

I laugh when people hate on Les Pauls for "limited upper range access" and then Tosin Abasi brings out that f-ing ironing board

[Elite]

… with excellent upper fret access.

[Architeuthis]

That tobacco type sunburst looks just right for a Les Paul.  It's a very well designed guitar, with the pickup switch and control knobs all out of the way. 

[TheCountOfNYC]

Les Pauls are beautiful works of art, but I personally think they’re super uncomfortable to play.

[Kotowboy]

I think my Telecaster is super comfy but my LP is really comfy imo. Nicer than an SG or a super strat any day.

[Kotowboy]

… with excellent upper fret access.

u sure ?


The LP neck joins the body at the 17th fret . That Abasi monstrosity joins the body at fret 12.

[Elite]

And the cutaway goes all the way to the 24th fret, so yeah. You can reach the higher notes easily.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

The only guitar that could be more uncomfortable to play than LP might be another Gibson model- Firebird maybe?

Gibson is known for a lot of things...comfortable instruments is not one of them.

[gzarruk]

The only guitar that could be more uncomfortable to play than LP might be another Gibson model- Firebird maybe?

Gibson is known for a lot of things...comfortable instruments is not one of them.

Broken necks, for example

[Metro]

This thread is now about Stratocasters



#StratocasterMasterRace

[Adami]

Gross.


Telecasters on the other hand…..

[Metro]

Gross.


Telecasters on the other hand…..

#SingleCoilMasterRace

Can we agree on that?

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

The Tele has a similar problem to the LP in that it's just not a comfortable instrument to play...hence the description 'slab' given to both. They both sound absolutely fantastic, but they were some of the first solid bodies made and Leo Fender and Les Paul didn't get everything right the first time around. A few contours to the body and a little weight relief make a world of difference when you are trying to sit down and practice for a few hours or better yet play a show-- and that is why nearly every solid body on the market today has just that. If Leo had gotten everything 100% right with the Tele, then the Strat wouldn't exist.

Putting necks aside, which can always be swapped out with Fenders, my one gripe about the Strat is the placement of that friggen volume knob...absolute killer for me. Either way, I still love playing my Strat (and modern Tele with body cut )

[bosk1]

As I said, I LOVE the look of the Majesty guitars. 

It has been a long time since I played, but I was always partial to the look and sound of Les Pauls.  I know they are all over the place in terms of quality.  And they aren't the most comfortable to play, since they weight a ton.  But if you get a good one, they sound fantastic with little effects needed.  A good pair of hands can make a decent Les Paul straight through a Marshall sing.