Hands down Cooper Carter is the best product reviewer ever......ok.....tied with Pete Thorn. But amazing. So talented, so concise, so well spoken. Kudos sir!
That was a monstrous review man! You covered everything that guitarists want to hear, and combined it with BEAST playing! Excellent review, it makes me want to buy one even more!
In reference to the many visitors that offer information to you tube videos, I have found valuable insight towards relevant and important aspect of the whole of guitar. From the engineering and the specialty design alteration/alternatives. To up grade and the technical playing goals and criteria that being included within the knowledge base, allows for vast improvement light years advanced to my unaware efforts without them. To all that post, I offer my sincere gratitude for being enlightened towards modern era advanced and even the slightest of hints towards things to consider are well meant for all who are willing to take both criticism as well as well wishing peers who seek only to forward the advancement of Guitar. Well Done folks. and thanks
Its an absolute pleasure to say this is an excellent review Cooper. Im not even a petrucci fan but you got me convinced! Interesting it has the onboard gain switch. I have a Uli Roth Sky guitar, by a luthier for Dean (see label) which as a Mega wing pickup system with a 100db gain control..wonder if JP himself got the idea from that! Think he is a Uli fan!
I am the PROUD OWNER of a stunning 6 string SAHARA BURST JP15 with the Flame Top..these are certified BFR (Ball Family Reserve) Top of the Line..of the 'Top of the Line' EBMM axes Best guitar ill ever need or want. Im curious how many of jp15's like mine are out there. Build date on mine says April 2020..
simply the best guitar I have ever owned! had a jpx, jems prs so on. this is the ultimate guitar waited six months. you get what you pay for! and when played you know it's worth every penny! !
Cooper your efforts are fast and genuine. I didn't see you treble one spot for extended fake speed. I m not familiar with most of the speed metal type licks, but, I do take it a day at a time to improve the knowledge and technique. Thanks for posting also
SoloAWeek - Just had my JP15 six string delivered yesterday! What a guitar! I do have a question for you: Your tuning stays consistent in spite of the heavy tremolo bar usage and string bending. Does the neck need to settle a bit before the tuning stabilizes or is this maybe a truss rod issue for me? I'll be changing from the stock strings to super slinkys this weekend and I hope that will help aid in relaxing the neck and allow me to lower the action to my liking. I'm just wanting that tuning stability that I'm not getting yet. I realize you're not an EB MM rep and I should probably call them, but I was just curious about your experience. GREAT review and GREAT playing!
I just bought this guitar (6 strings) and its amazing. I'm surprised of it's weight because it's very light compared to other JP series. I also own a JP11(7strings) and feels a lot heavier. Accoarding to EBMM website the difference in weight of this 2 guitars is very small, but I can tell just by lifting them that this info is not accurte, and also by the fact that jp15 is made of lightweight african mahogany. Have you noticed the same differences in weight with other jp series?
I've been having trouble deciding if I want the JP15 or the Majesty Artisan, but I'm leaning heavily towards the JP15 (since I just love that style, but the MA is so gorgeous too)... but I'm also now asking myself, do I want a 6 or 7 string? LOL
I went to the store to buy a Cutlass, but when I saw the JP15 it was over. The only other guitar I ever instantly bonded with is my JP6. In every area, the JP15 hasn't made me a more confident player. I use it for everything from Pink Floyd to Gospel/Worship.
Hey cooper, nice reviews you've done there =) I've watched the review for the Majesty, and I'm thinking of getting a Majesty during summer, after I got my JP6 last summer. I'd like to know your opinion when comparing both Majesty and JP15, which one would be better to get and which one is better to get after already owning a JP6?
Damn this sounds great. thinking about buying one as a graduation/birthday present. What string gauge are you using? What gauge would you recommend for drop A on the 7 string?
I ve longed for a Musicman/earnie ball electrics with all the 80s and modern adaptions made to bring the tone of destiny to the ears and to the hands of great guitarists. The older musicman guitars were first responsible for my longing, having owned one, albeit second handed. I enjoyed it tremendously, till I traded for a better amp. It was a move in reverse of the current corriculimn of the 80s and early 90s. And the amp I traded for, a Peavey Deuce with one big speaker instead of two. Later to find out that the solid state pre amp and the tube power amp were not to my normal tone. It was a good offering for skynyrd at the time, but, I wouldn't under my fingers get me the grind I wanted....just when gain was raising its mighty head and turning everything into high gain dirt...... I wanted smooth and refined dirt at the time Alah Clapton and Guy, as well as Stevie and Joe......smooth grind is a difficult beast to tame. But, modern Joe Bonamassa has it down cold. But, the 4 amps of choice are not readily transferred into one amp and pedals.
Im seriously considering getting one of these guitars. I LOVE every aspect about them. But if I wanted to drop the low E string to a D, would that alter the way the trem sits like most floating trems and would I have to let some tension out of the spring screws? Or can you just drop D it and not have to worry about it?
Excellent review and terrific playing. I'm on the verge of pulling the trigger on a Majesty. Do you think that the things you prefer on this model justify the $200-400 price difference over the regular Majesty?
It's really about the style differences and how you personally feel about them. Neither guitar is going to disappoint. The 15 maybe has a broader typical "appeal" visually, perhaps, but damn does the Majesty sound good and play incredibly. I love the 15, but it's more similar to the other JPs than the Maj, which is a more unique offering.
Hey Carter, I'm considering getting one of these. As someone who's played primarily JEMs and RGs for years, I'm curious to know how far *sharp* you can pull a note with that JP tremolo. Are we talking major 3rd...4th...5th...more?
Hi Cooper!!... Wow you are amazing guitar player!! Keep doing that great job I have a question... I want a music man but I have an a dilema... A jp15 or majesty monarchy?... It's the same price more less and I check and play a majesty (first one) like a couple of years ago and a jp15 like a 4 years ago here in Mexico, i belive this 2 are amazing guitars but the question is... Which one you recommend me??... I play almost everything and I want a solid, progressive and versatile guitar... I own a ibanez rg prestige 1527, ESP eclipse II and one amazing luthier work that I designed (this one is a necktru) So.... What guitar you can say, this is a little better for you!!?? Thanks dude and I hope you answer me soon!!... Keep rocking!
Cooper Carter thanks for answer... I think the majesty us a great guitar but a little bit light!! And the jp15 well I think it's a heavier and agresive sound... If you only can choose only one of those amazings guitars for play tonight... Which one is the lucky winner?!
Cooper Carter haha that's tricky... Maybe I take the jp15... And next year a majesty haha... Again thanks dude and you are awesome and cool!! Keep doing this videos... And if it's not much... Made one of a music man y2d
In my opinion: John Petrucci Majesty Artisan: - SOUND WARMER - FASTER FREATBOARD (thanks to Jumbo Fret) - Stainless steel JUMBO FRET - THE PIEZO SOUND MUCH MUCH BETTER instead of the JP15. But really really better, believe me. - GOLD PLATED BRIDGE, KNOBS AND TUNERS :-) (if you like gold style LOL) JP15 - NECK AND FRET Flamed maple. Really good looking...just for it - SOUNDS TOO MUCH BIGHTER. This makes the Piezo sounds Bad, and even the Dist became almost buzzy and fuzzy.
Hey Cooper. Great playing and review! Is the bridge like a strat other than that it fully floats? I play a lot altered and open tunings and I see this being a problem with tuning on the fly. Thoughts?
Thanks for the response, Cooper. I'm really considering one of these. The 7-string model. I've used the tremel-no and wasn't a huge fan, but if I set it up to block the tremelo from pulling up (EVH style) that might be just fine. Thanks again.
First off, great review. Can the JP15 replicate that spanky 80s clean sound a la INXS's "Need You Tonight" and Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World?" The middle switch on my JP6 BFR always sounded too muddy, no matter how I set my amp and effects.
Cooper, can the jp15 deliver heavy rock tones such as the ones used in Oasis? I'm trying to decide between a Gibson Les Paul and this one in particular. I own the regular feel of a JP6 neck, but cannot get use to the LP. I just don't know if the JP15 can deliver the tones similar to that of GNR and Oasis as mentioned.
I tried both yesterday and thought just that! Naturally you can't have that with a neck through, but it would be awesome. I ended up going with the JP15.
Cooper is a great teacher. I learnalized nuances in solo's from this guy that are essential for cover band work. IMHO this guitar is a badass shredder but Coop is even better than this, although well done it looked like a quicky review for him. Remember your fellow band mates/ sound & what you need for your project. Shredding is not the complete answer. Check out the LIII & listen to some Wes Montgomery before get all caught up in whankville.
If there aren't any flaws, why does EBMM keep putting out signature models every year? Each one is apparently an improvement over the other... I'm confused.
+thtr1310 Just look at how many players out there have purchased many of the different versions. If there were only one model they would lose a lot of repeat customer sales. Plus John keeps touring with them and coming up with new ideas all the time.
Guitar Whores It's a review of a guitar that I don't think has any areas to be be critical of. If I'd found anything wrong with it, I would have said so. But it's incredible, so...
i have a question. i just got mine a few days ago. jp15. why does the tone of the guitar sound high pitched and twangy... even with lower tunings?? i got the 6 string. it sounds awesome but it kind of doesnt have that chug on the bottom end... could it be the battery being dead?
The multiple of guitar legions who use the knowledge base of you tube, are light years ahead of the rest who do not utilitze hints, hidden opportunities and their own brains to calculate as well as comprehend the many facets of videos that demonstrate to the receptive mind new and unique as well as directly imposed demonstrations of the instruments of choice.
Being a guy in high school who hasn't owned a lot of different guitars over the years, I have a question for the people who own these guitars. Is it really worth spending so much money on a jp signature model when there are a lot of good sounding guitars which are more affordable? (LTD, Schecter, Ibanez etc). I just want to know if what is so special about these guitars that people will spend almost 3000 dollars to buy them. Do they play and sound better than those of other companies, or only because John Petrucci has his name on them?
You get what you pay for with just about every guitar company save for Gibson. I have owned a Petrucci and I can tell you it has the best neck I've ever played. Same goes for the majority of Music Man products. The quality of the build is superb. You won't get that with a Fender or a Gibson. Ibanez tone sounds like a freaking kazoo and the neck is way too thin on most models. Even the JEMs have issues (like the high e slipping off the fretboard). Jackson has the Phil Collen signature that is a superb player. ESP signature guitars are all well-made with the best pickups. But stay away from Gibsons unless you find a good one for sale at your local store or seller. Build quality sucks on average and the tone isn't always there. That said, I once owned a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Historic Re-issue and it was awesome in quality and tone. But that one was built in the custom shop, not the factory.
You don't have to spend 3k to get a great guitar. Just try a bunch until you find one that you like the feel and sound of. It's also a good idea to check how well built it is, if you don't know what to look for then bring a friend with you. Don't rely on the staff for advice. I've owned several Ibanez guitars and they are very well built, and as you said, affordable.
i am not a JP15 OR JP16 fan at all, but I am a huge Majesty fan, I got a chance to play one for hours and is was all that and a bag of chips!! it was so smooth and easy to play like buttah as they say. I WILL pay the price tag for that, but my experience with JP series wasn't as nice.i am a big LP Gibson fan, I have one and it plays awesome, not the older ones but a brand new one, they are not all built the same for sure. Having played a lot of different guitars, you get to see and feel the differences, sure there are some way cheaper great guitars, it is a very subjective stance no matter what. you may really dislike one brand and others don't and vice versa. as mentioned, quality is high in Ernie Ball guitars, you do get what you pay for.....
You have a lifetime of playing to upgrade. For now get yourself an Epiphone LP, LTD or something else you love and can afford, and one day you will have no problem justifying a $3k guitar.
Also, look around for some used Music Man's. There are great deals to be had. I just sold a Liii for $1,250 which has the same build quality as the JP15, better than nearly any other mass quantity guitar on the market.
Dryst® This is why I dont like guitar reviews, its like of course its a good guitar its expensive and a JP model, people never compare it to other models and it makes it hard to choose which to buy. Obviously the guitarist has to advertise their newest model for good sales by giving no down sides compared to the previous models, although reviews should have things like "The majesty had greater playability" or things along the lines of that so people shopping for guitars can get the best one possible.
i think the majesty is a whole different lineup tho. so you can't say it's an older model. but anyways already order a glacial frost 6 string majesty, i should be getting it this july. :)
Dryst® Im thinking about getting a JP BFR, because I believe that was one of the better ones tone wise, but its hard to tell with all the sound editing these days
I just think that when one uses THAT MUCH gain and fx, 'tone woods' don't really matter at all that much, it all sounds the same (through a particular set of pickups). Nonetheless, they're beautiful guitars, I'm not a shred fan but that one Koa JP (I can't remember which of his 10,000 JP iterations it was), maaaan that was one sexy guitar.
chronographs No, I said it accentuates highs, mids, and lows very nicely. As in, it does them all well. As opposed to some guitars, which lack clarity in one area or another. Or favor one area especially, making them less useful overall.
The Frank Gambale workout is very good. You can probably find tabs online. Steve Morse's "My favourite excersice" is a real difficult, but very effective. Samuli Federley has a good tutorial on TH-cam. These two will train your speed and articulation ALOT. :-)
John P, has a good even tone on his efforts to play. Albeit, very smooth transitions across the fret board and speed that thrills. Slowly and methodically, I search the realm of speed guitar to find a most enjoyable offering tone wise. Few have it better than the masters of the 80s and 90s, albeit, I m not talking about the tones of Death Metal or the modern Metal of the heir to the throne metal gods. I m talking about all round tone magnet that sounds very good under any speed or fret board dynamics. Pedals I m slim on and dexterity is made most easily with the new generation of players, who take it very seriously. Thanks to all who take the time to better our world.
I agree, but I get on something and like that....it doesn't stop till its said. If I could make 5 words answer my thoughts...It would be a lot easier to communicate with the world I suppose Every since lst grade, I shut up till I say something.....and boy....... Anyway, yes I do follow my tacts and that's the problem. I try to make all coniserations towards the full spectrum of necessary influences towards an end.
There is a difference beteen...speed metal and shred I suppose, but one most certainly is a fun and dynamic capacity, the other is a rendering of practice scale opportunity. Both move very fast, but one is easily followed and the other is in a hurry to get done.
Rick I did get it right. It s not difficult to understand I realize after I read your statement first time it wasn't difficult to understand. You were just messing with how I said it. It s all good now. thanks for letting me figure that out. Otherwise I would have considered that I may be more geeky then originally thought. I believe if you read it without rushing its clear as a bell
3:35 How can a guitar be a FULL-mahogany body if it has a koa top? I know, a nit-pick to be sure but still, factually nonsensical. Killer guitar nonetheless.
Maxx61 Because the body is full mahogany. It would be just like having an oak wood entertainment center with a piece of maple on top. The idea is that the top won't influence the sound of the wood used to make the guitar. It's purely aesthetic - though the thicker ones used on some Les Pauls have been said the make the sound a bit brighter.
+Jeff Kastner Agree. Depending on the thickness of the top, it would definitely make a difference. Having not seen the JP15, I'll assume it's a thin top so the laminate won't add any noticeable change to the mahogany's tone. On a Les Paul or guitar with a thicker laminate, especially mahogany/maple, there would be a bit more sizzle to the traditional bottom grunt of mahogany. My original comment was a nit pick. If you've got a laminate, even a tiny one, it's not an instrument made entirely of one wood.
WoW this Cooper guy is a real slouch on solos eh what? Nah. Only joking. But why do demo's always play metal style? Is this real the what the vast majority play these days?
+Cooper Carter Cool man I knew you'd be able to play other styles and do a great job! It's just I am making a stand and point that many people like me plays and love other styles. I dislike the clean tone of these pickups. If we are talking DiMarzio I like 36th Anniversary PAF or the Eric Johnson EJ Custom. I find that pickups with less windings usually have more tone. The only reason hot pickups became popular is because they would OD a amp more and guys loved that but with the prevalence of clean boosts that aspect is largely redundant. When clean boosted to a similar output level and overdriven hard all pickups actually sound very similar since they are being compressed and distorted with the signature of the tube or analog distortion. My theory is start with the most tuneful clean you can get then boost and overdrive that for sweet tuneful singing overdrive like you heard on Santa Moonflower. Also I would make the split a parallel setting. Split always sounds weak and noisy, where as parallel switching gives you a single coil sound with no hum and similar output level to the normal humbucking mode of the standard series setting. All these 4 wire pickups are designed to be able to do that.
Mahogany isn't really used because of the "tone" -- chances are if you had two identical guitars but one basswood and the other mahogany with standardized pickups (ie. Fishman Fluence), you would not be able to tell the difference. The reason mahogany is used is because t's fairly cheap, readily available, accepts paint well, and can be finished very well and is pretty dense but not too dense, like maple...Also it's very good at resisting dents. Parker & a few others have made guitars that are one-piece or two-piece solid maple, where the "top" is literally the entire guitar -- it looks great and sounds great but it can be very heavy, not to mention it costs more. Basswood kind of sucks in the dent department...Basswood is typically less dense so that means it's lighter, and it also accepts solid color paint very well, but even with a thick finish, you will still see dents and dings if you are not careful.
Great review. John Petrucci needs to stop making guitars. It's like he knows all the things I want in a guitar and then comes out with a zillion different combinations of them.
The JP16 (new one for 2016) is shit...It actually has a floyd rose and a locking nut -- no piezo -- yet it's priced just as high as the previous models. Dunno what the fuck they were thinking with that one -- also it has no top -- it's 100% basswood body with a maple neck and ebony fingerboard. For $2500 USD that's insane. You can get a Carvin or Ibanez for half that price with even better features AND a flame or quilt top.
I just saw that, and while I see his point for solid bodies, was thinking in terms of hollow body electric guitars. But I wonder then when comparing say a newly made tele to a 50's version with the same specs can sound different?
+guysmalley Pickups. There is no newly made tele with the "same specs" as a 50's Tele. Just look how Pickups were done in the 50's and how they are done today.
I don't understand those fucking dislikes. This review is epic.
Watches review, checks bank account, hits dislike... Lol. It's ridiculous. Same with the comments, everyone's so passive aggressive.
Hands down Cooper Carter is the best product reviewer ever......ok.....tied with Pete Thorn. But amazing. So talented, so concise, so well spoken. Kudos sir!
well holy shit, that was a badass intro
Great review, Cooper! This is hands down one of the best guitar reviews I've ever seen on TH-cam. Nicely done.
Stunning playing,jaw droppingly beautiful and thats just your fingers! You Sir, are a God of Rock!
This is the best vid on this guitar I’ve seen. That intro was insane :0
Fantastic review, thanks for going through all the pickup options. And great playing of course 🤘🏼
Excellent video and your an awesome player very versatile !
Cooper....you are just bad ass! Stellar player and you speak very well. Always great to watch your videos.
Very well made video! Love how the review is composed.
That was a monstrous review man! You covered everything that guitarists want to hear, and combined it with BEAST playing! Excellent review, it makes me want to buy one even more!
I bought one in 2017 because of this video!
Great demo with some very impressive playing... Thanks
Another fab demo, Cooper. You're the master! And I'll be grabbing a JP15-7 ASAP. Cheers and greetings from Melbourne. :)
Incredible review. Im absolutely excited about the 15.
Great review and thanks for the patch!
Fantastically well done review.
This video really helped me to decide. Thank you, man!
absolutely killer tone & playing. I´m pretty speachless. :D
In reference to the many visitors that offer information to you tube videos, I have found valuable insight towards relevant and important aspect of the whole of guitar. From the engineering and the specialty design alteration/alternatives. To up grade and the technical playing goals and criteria that being included within the knowledge base, allows for vast improvement light years advanced to my unaware efforts without them. To all that post, I offer my sincere gratitude for being enlightened towards modern era advanced and even the slightest of hints towards things to consider are well meant for all who are willing to take both criticism as well as well wishing peers who seek only to forward the advancement of Guitar. Well Done folks. and thanks
Its an absolute pleasure to say this is an excellent review Cooper. Im not even a petrucci fan but you got me convinced! Interesting it has the onboard gain switch. I have a Uli Roth Sky guitar, by a luthier for Dean (see label) which as a Mega wing pickup system with a 100db gain control..wonder if JP himself got the idea from that! Think he is a Uli fan!
Great review!
Very good review. Highly recommended
ive just ordered mine Cooper should be here end of the week
Just got a JPX last year,I will definitely be getting this one in the next year or so!
I am the PROUD OWNER of a stunning 6 string SAHARA BURST JP15 with the Flame Top..these are certified BFR (Ball Family Reserve)
Top of the Line..of the 'Top of the Line' EBMM axes
Best guitar ill ever need or want.
Im curious how many of jp15's like mine are out there. Build date on mine says
April 2020..
simply the best guitar I have ever owned! had a jpx, jems prs so on. this is the ultimate guitar waited six months. you get what you pay for! and when played you know it's worth every penny! !
I was going to buy a jpx . Why is this better than the jpx
My dream axe.. manifesting.. ❤❤❤
Thats insane intro! Wish I could play like that
This is the best guitar what i ever seen
Holy crap... what an intro. This guy has got some chops.
Whoa, that lead tone was awesome. Could you post that preset to the Axe Exchange or at least share what amp model and cabinet was used for that tone.
Thanks! It's on the AxeChange! forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-recordings/97876-fas-modern-7-string-heavy-shred-fest.html#post1174489
You are an awesome guitar player!
Cooper your efforts are fast and genuine. I didn't see you treble one spot for extended fake speed. I m not familiar with most of the speed metal type licks, but, I do take it a day at a time to improve the knowledge and technique. Thanks for posting also
Love It
Cool! I love jp music man guitars. I have the sterling version and I love mine.
Jesus Dude! you sure can play!
SoloAWeek - Just had my JP15 six string delivered yesterday! What a guitar! I do have a question for you: Your tuning stays consistent in spite of the heavy tremolo bar usage and string bending. Does the neck need to settle a bit before the tuning stabilizes or is this maybe a truss rod issue for me? I'll be changing from the stock strings to super slinkys this weekend and I hope that will help aid in relaxing the neck and allow me to lower the action to my liking. I'm just wanting that tuning stability that I'm not getting yet. I realize you're not an EB MM rep and I should probably call them, but I was just curious about your experience. GREAT review and GREAT playing!
I just bought this guitar (6 strings) and its amazing. I'm surprised of it's weight because it's very light compared to other JP series. I also own a JP11(7strings) and feels a lot heavier. Accoarding to EBMM website the difference in weight of this 2 guitars is very small, but I can tell just by lifting them that this info is not accurte, and also by the fact that jp15 is made of lightweight african mahogany. Have you noticed the same differences in weight with other jp series?
Sweet..I have the JP 13 and love it...how does the all mahogany body differ from the Basswood/Mahogany Tone Block?
I've been having trouble deciding if I want the JP15 or the Majesty Artisan, but I'm leaning heavily towards the JP15 (since I just love that style, but the MA is so gorgeous too)... but I'm also now asking myself, do I want a 6 or 7 string? LOL
Great review as always! every revision of the jp line always feels like an improvement.I cant wait to try this one. Still running through axe fx?
So mahogany body works good with the illuminators? What about the crunch lab pickup?is good with mahogany?
Dear Santa...
I went to the store to buy a Cutlass, but when I saw the JP15 it was over. The only other guitar I ever instantly bonded with is my JP6. In every area, the JP15 hasn't made me a more confident player. I use it for everything from Pink Floyd to Gospel/Worship.
I think the jp15 will stand the test of time... one of my favourites.
Hey cooper, nice reviews you've done there =)
I've watched the review for the Majesty, and I'm thinking of getting a Majesty during summer, after I got my JP6 last summer.
I'd like to know your opinion when comparing both Majesty and JP15, which one would be better to get and which one is better to get after already owning a JP6?
Is this guitar good for power chords?
No way. Only does weak-ass chords.
Noob. Who plays power chords on electric guitar. Buy an acoustic.
Damn this sounds great. thinking about buying one as a graduation/birthday present. What string gauge are you using? What gauge would you recommend for drop A on the 7 string?
Great work. Guitar sounds great too. Kudos from Phili'
I ve longed for a Musicman/earnie ball electrics with all the 80s and modern adaptions made to bring the tone of destiny to the ears and to the hands of great guitarists. The older musicman guitars were first responsible for my longing, having owned one, albeit second handed. I enjoyed it tremendously, till I traded for a better amp. It was a move in reverse of the current corriculimn of the 80s and early 90s. And the amp I traded for, a Peavey Deuce with one big speaker instead of two. Later to find out that the solid state pre amp and the tube power amp were not to my normal tone. It was a good offering for skynyrd at the time, but, I wouldn't under my fingers get me the grind I wanted....just when gain was raising its mighty head and turning everything into high gain dirt...... I wanted smooth and refined dirt at the time Alah Clapton and Guy, as well as Stevie and Joe......smooth grind is a difficult beast to tame. But, modern Joe Bonamassa has it down cold. But, the 4 amps of choice are not readily transferred into one amp and pedals.
Im seriously considering getting one of these guitars. I LOVE every aspect about them. But if I wanted to drop the low E string to a D, would that alter the way the trem sits like most floating trems and would I have to let some tension out of the spring screws? Or can you just drop D it and not have to worry about it?
I guess it's an axe that could replace my LP Traditional and Strat. I'll it a go at thr sore next time. Great review!
Excellent review and terrific playing. I'm on the verge of pulling the trigger on a Majesty. Do you think that the things you prefer on this model justify the $200-400 price difference over the regular Majesty?
It's really about the style differences and how you personally feel about them. Neither guitar is going to disappoint. The 15 maybe has a broader typical "appeal" visually, perhaps, but damn does the Majesty sound good and play incredibly. I love the 15, but it's more similar to the other JPs than the Maj, which is a more unique offering.
Wow, thanks for the lightning fast reply. I think I'll stick with my plan and order the Majesty from Sweetwater in the morning.
Hey Carter, I'm considering getting one of these. As someone who's played primarily JEMs and RGs for years, I'm curious to know how far *sharp* you can pull a note with that JP tremolo. Are we talking major 3rd...4th...5th...more?
Hi Cooper!!... Wow you are amazing guitar player!! Keep doing that great job
I have a question...
I want a music man but I have an a dilema... A jp15 or majesty monarchy?... It's the same price more less and I check and play a majesty (first one) like a couple of years ago and a jp15 like a 4 years ago here in Mexico, i belive this 2 are amazing guitars but the question is... Which one you recommend me??... I play almost everything and I want a solid, progressive and versatile guitar... I own a ibanez rg prestige 1527, ESP eclipse II and one amazing luthier work that I designed (this one is a necktru)
So.... What guitar you can say, this is a little better for you!!??
Thanks dude and I hope you answer me soon!!... Keep rocking!
Rockstar Burns hey thanks! Hmmm... That's a toss up. They both sound and play really well. I'd say it's mostly up to which you prefer the look of.
Cooper Carter thanks for answer... I think the majesty us a great guitar but a little bit light!! And the jp15 well I think it's a heavier and agresive sound... If you only can choose only one of those amazings guitars for play tonight... Which one is the lucky winner?!
Rockstar Burns probably the Majesty, but only because I only have a jp15!
Cooper Carter haha that's tricky... Maybe I take the jp15... And next year a majesty haha... Again thanks dude and you are awesome and cool!! Keep doing this videos... And if it's not much... Made one of a music man y2d
In my opinion:
John Petrucci Majesty Artisan:
- SOUND WARMER
- FASTER FREATBOARD (thanks to Jumbo Fret)
- Stainless steel JUMBO FRET
- THE PIEZO SOUND MUCH MUCH BETTER instead of the JP15. But really really better, believe me.
- GOLD PLATED BRIDGE, KNOBS AND TUNERS :-) (if you like gold style LOL)
JP15
- NECK AND FRET Flamed maple. Really good looking...just for it
- SOUNDS TOO MUCH BIGHTER. This makes the Piezo sounds Bad, and even the Dist became almost buzzy and fuzzy.
I love his videos, cooper always looks like the cat that got the cream lol, and I don't blame him with those mint guitars:)
Hey Cooper. Great playing and review! Is the bridge like a strat other than that it fully floats? I play a lot altered and open tunings and I see this being a problem with tuning on the fly. Thoughts?
It's fully floating, so yeah, you'll need to do a bit more tuning to take it to alternate tunings. Or hard stop the bridge with a TremolNo or similar.
Thanks for the response, Cooper. I'm really considering one of these. The 7-string model. I've used the tremel-no and wasn't a huge fan, but if I set it up to block the tremelo from pulling up (EVH style) that might be just fine. Thanks again.
How are these guitars for playing barre chords.
First off, great review.
Can the JP15 replicate that spanky 80s clean sound a la INXS's "Need You Tonight" and Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World?" The middle switch on my JP6 BFR always sounded too muddy, no matter how I set my amp and effects.
Eddie Pettis I use my jp6 mystic dream and the middle switch sounds great to me I just go direct from my GT100 to the PA m8
Eddie Pettis I think the tone you are looking for would be middle position pickup blended with the piezo and compress the crap out of it.
Wow that mahogany is awfully smart wood
How well does the finish hold up? Most matte finish become kind of shiny after a while
Hi cooper, so in a nut shell, what is the main difference between the majesty and this ver in your opinion?
Cooper, can the jp15 deliver heavy rock tones such as the ones used in Oasis? I'm trying to decide between a Gibson Les Paul and this one in particular. I own the regular feel of a JP6 neck, but cannot get use to the LP. I just don't know if the JP15 can deliver the tones similar to that of GNR and Oasis as mentioned.
yeah for sure it can
just use the bridge pickup and dial the tone knob back a bit
Cooper Carter cannot decide between majesty and jp 15. it's like I want the neck from the jp15 on the majesty
looking at majesty artisan series vs. jp 15
I tried both yesterday and thought just that! Naturally you can't have that with a neck through, but it would be awesome. I ended up going with the JP15.
+Heath Huffman congrats
Cooper is a great teacher. I learnalized nuances in solo's from this guy that are essential for cover band work. IMHO this guitar is a badass shredder but Coop is even better than this, although well done it looked like a quicky review for him. Remember your fellow band mates/ sound & what you need for your project. Shredding is not the complete answer. Check out the LIII & listen to some Wes Montgomery before get all caught up in whankville.
jsut kiding.. i was talking about the tz 5 made by TAYLOR..
If there aren't any flaws, why does EBMM keep putting out signature models every year? Each one is apparently an improvement over the other... I'm confused.
For variations, to keep things exciting while celebrating each year John Petrucci has been with musicman. Each one has its own uniqueness.
+thtr1310 Just look at how many players out there have purchased many of the different versions. If there were only one model they would lose a lot of repeat customer sales. Plus John keeps touring with them and coming up with new ideas all the time.
+thtr1310
Believe me, there are flaws. Fanboys just ignore them. I posted a comment above in the other thread.
Amazing playing, and guitar, but this is not a review. It's more of a promo vid for the guitar. I'd like to see a more critical video for review.
Guitar Whores It's a review of a guitar that I don't think has any areas to be be critical of. If I'd found anything wrong with it, I would have said so. But it's incredible, so...
makes sense that it would seem like a promo when the title says demo not review.
i have a question. i just got mine a few days ago. jp15. why does the tone of the guitar sound high pitched and twangy... even with lower tunings?? i got the 6 string. it sounds awesome but it kind of doesnt have that chug on the bottom end... could it be the battery being dead?
Maybe because of the piezo ?
+Mohamed Khafage i have the piezo off... using the magnetic with no piezo
+Landon Tritt try changing ur battery , if it didn't work take it to a guitar tech 😕
Lower your pickupsin the body, perhaps theyre up too high and picking up too much high end.
The multiple of guitar legions who use the knowledge base of you tube, are light years ahead of the rest who do not utilitze hints, hidden opportunities and their own brains to calculate as well as comprehend the many facets of videos that demonstrate to the receptive mind new and unique as well as directly imposed demonstrations of the instruments of choice.
What's the song at 6:08?
Márton Rátkai The intro to a song of mine. I played some of it at the beginning of the Majesty review, as well.
May I have it?
Being a guy in high school who hasn't owned a lot of different guitars over the years, I have a question for the people who own these guitars. Is it really worth spending so much money on a jp signature model when there are a lot of good sounding guitars which are more affordable? (LTD, Schecter, Ibanez etc). I just want to know if what is so special about these guitars that people will spend almost 3000 dollars to buy them. Do they play and sound better than those of other companies, or only because John Petrucci has his name on them?
You get what you pay for with just about every guitar company save for Gibson. I have owned a Petrucci and I can tell you it has the best neck I've ever played. Same goes for the majority of Music Man products. The quality of the build is superb. You won't get that with a Fender or a Gibson. Ibanez tone sounds like a freaking kazoo and the neck is way too thin on most models. Even the JEMs have issues (like the high e slipping off the fretboard).
Jackson has the Phil Collen signature that is a superb player. ESP signature guitars are all well-made with the best pickups. But stay away from Gibsons unless you find a good one for sale at your local store or seller. Build quality sucks on average and the tone isn't always there. That said, I once owned a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Historic Re-issue and it was awesome in quality and tone. But that one was built in the custom shop, not the factory.
You don't have to spend 3k to get a great guitar. Just try a bunch until you find one that you like the feel and sound of. It's also a good idea to check how well built it is, if you don't know what to look for then bring a friend with you. Don't rely on the staff for advice. I've owned several Ibanez guitars and they are very well built, and as you said, affordable.
i am not a JP15 OR JP16 fan at all, but I am a huge Majesty fan, I got a chance to play one for hours and is was all that and a bag of chips!! it was so smooth and easy to play like buttah as they say. I WILL pay the price tag for that, but my experience with JP series wasn't as nice.i am a big LP Gibson fan, I have one and it plays awesome, not the older ones but a brand new one, they are not all built the same for sure. Having played a lot of different guitars, you get to see and feel the differences, sure there are some way cheaper great guitars, it is a very subjective stance no matter what. you may really dislike one brand and others don't and vice versa. as mentioned, quality is high in Ernie Ball guitars, you do get what you pay for.....
You have a lifetime of playing to upgrade. For now get yourself an Epiphone LP, LTD or something else you love and can afford, and one day you will have no problem justifying a $3k guitar.
Also, look around for some used Music Man's. There are great deals to be had. I just sold a Liii for $1,250 which has the same build quality as the JP15, better than nearly any other mass quantity guitar on the market.
Its kinda weird, John has never said anything about his new guitar.. I only hear about Majesty in arctic dream... but killer guitar nevertheless
@0:27-0:30 is sick bro.
yo cooper, which one would you prefer jp15 or majesty? in terms of playability and tone.
Dryst® This is why I dont like guitar reviews, its like of course its a good guitar its expensive and a JP model, people never compare it to other models and it makes it hard to choose which to buy. Obviously the guitarist has to advertise their newest model for good sales by giving no down sides compared to the previous models, although reviews should have things like "The majesty had greater playability" or things along the lines of that so people shopping for guitars can get the best one possible.
i think the majesty is a whole different lineup tho. so you can't say it's an older model. but anyways already order a glacial frost 6 string majesty, i should be getting it this july. :)
Dryst® Im thinking about getting a JP BFR, because I believe that was one of the better ones tone wise, but its hard to tell with all the sound editing these days
Hope I win this beautiful guitar it's my all time dream to have this please make my dream come true
I just think that when one uses THAT MUCH gain and fx, 'tone woods' don't really matter at all that much, it all sounds the same (through a particular set of pickups).
Nonetheless, they're beautiful guitars, I'm not a shred fan but that one Koa JP (I can't remember which of his 10,000 JP iterations it was), maaaan that was one sexy guitar.
Accentuates highs, mids and lows? So it doesn't accentuate anything?
chronographs No, I said it accentuates highs, mids, and lows very nicely. As in, it does them all well. As opposed to some guitars, which lack clarity in one area or another. Or favor one area especially, making them less useful overall.
How much does one of these cost? I'm a Ibanez guy but I'm genuinely interested in one of these.
+Phoenix Pagan $2800 at Sweetwater.
+Jeff Kastner WOW that's way over my budget
Phoenix Pagan Yeah... I'm kickin' it around but it is pricey!
In my opinion, industry's absolute best tremolo is the ZR2 with zero point.
Cooper, do me a favour and suggest me some training material please buddy.
The Frank Gambale workout is very good. You can probably find tabs online. Steve Morse's "My favourite excersice" is a real difficult, but very effective. Samuli Federley has a good tutorial on TH-cam. These two will train your speed and articulation ALOT. :-)
what strings????
John P, has a good even tone on his efforts to play. Albeit, very smooth transitions across the fret board and speed that thrills. Slowly and methodically, I search the realm of speed guitar to find a most enjoyable offering tone wise. Few have it better than the masters of the 80s and 90s, albeit, I m not talking about the tones of Death Metal or the modern Metal of the heir to the throne metal gods. I m talking about all round tone magnet that sounds very good under any speed or fret board dynamics. Pedals I m slim on and dexterity is made most easily with the new generation of players, who take it very seriously. Thanks to all who take the time to better our world.
Do you even know what you said there? That was pretty tough reading bro...lol
I agree, but I get on something and like that....it doesn't stop till its said. If I could make 5 words answer my thoughts...It would be a lot easier to communicate with the world I suppose Every since lst grade, I shut up till I say something.....and boy....... Anyway, yes I do follow my tacts and that's the problem. I try to make all coniserations towards the full spectrum of necessary influences towards an end.
Rick have faith.....it ll do you good
There is a difference beteen...speed metal and shred I suppose, but one most certainly is a fun and dynamic capacity, the other is a rendering of practice scale opportunity. Both move very fast, but one is easily followed and the other is in a hurry to get done.
Rick I did get it right. It s not difficult to understand I realize after I read your statement first time it wasn't difficult to understand. You were just messing with how I said it. It s all good now. thanks for letting me figure that out. Otherwise I would have considered that I may be more geeky then originally thought. I believe if you read it without rushing its clear as a bell
Strings don't stay in tune from the get go, no matter the guitar. They have to stretch first.
Basswood is the best body material because it stands aside and let's the more important pickups show their true character. Mahogany sounds muddy
7 string at 2:32 and 6 string at 2:39 ;-)
SO THEN ... JP15 RIGHT .. !? not jp 150..- !?
Roasted maple FTW
Man, mics never convey the whole picture .. gotta be there in person to say anything really.
Definitely a stunning guitar. I think it takes a lot of hints from Suhr. Really too bad it has a JP signature on the headstock.
3:35 How can a guitar be a FULL-mahogany body if it has a koa top? I know, a nit-pick to be sure but still, factually nonsensical. Killer guitar nonetheless.
+Maxx61 ?? The JP15 doesn't come with a Koa top. It is African mahogany with roasted maple top.
+Jeff Kastner Thx for that correction. So, how can it be a full-mahogany body with a maple top?
Maxx61 Because the body is full mahogany. It would be just like having an oak wood entertainment center with a piece of maple on top. The idea is that the top won't influence the sound of the wood used to make the guitar. It's purely aesthetic - though the thicker ones used on some Les Pauls have been said the make the sound a bit brighter.
+Jeff Kastner Agree. Depending on the thickness of the top, it would definitely make a difference. Having not seen the JP15, I'll assume it's a thin top so the laminate won't add any noticeable change to the mahogany's tone. On a Les Paul or guitar with a thicker laminate, especially mahogany/maple, there would be a bit more sizzle to the traditional bottom grunt of mahogany. My original comment was a nit pick. If you've got a laminate, even a tiny one, it's not an instrument made entirely of one wood.
Maxx61 Right on. Keep on rocking brother!
Hi I’m Cooper Carter, betcha can’t play this...
WoW this Cooper guy is a real slouch on solos eh what?
Nah. Only joking. But why do demo's always play metal style? Is this real the what the vast majority play these days?
+Stephan Fry th-cam.com/video/qVJ2baVBN4k/w-d-xo.html
+Cooper Carter Cool man I knew you'd be able to play other styles and do a great job! It's just I am making a stand and point that many people like me plays and love other styles. I dislike the clean tone of these pickups. If we are talking DiMarzio I like 36th Anniversary PAF or the Eric Johnson EJ Custom. I find that pickups with less windings usually have more tone. The only reason hot pickups became popular is because they would OD a amp more and guys loved that but with the prevalence of clean boosts that aspect is largely redundant. When clean boosted to a similar output level and overdriven hard all pickups actually sound very similar since they are being compressed and distorted with the signature of the tube or analog distortion. My theory is start with the most tuneful clean you can get then boost and overdrive that for sweet tuneful singing overdrive like you heard on Santa Moonflower. Also I would make the split a parallel setting. Split always sounds weak and noisy, where as parallel switching gives you a single coil sound with no hum and similar output level to the normal humbucking mode of the standard series setting. All these 4 wire pickups are designed to be able to do that.
Haha "creamy"
Mahogany isn't really used because of the "tone" -- chances are if you had two identical guitars but one basswood and the other mahogany with standardized pickups (ie. Fishman Fluence), you would not be able to tell the difference.
The reason mahogany is used is because t's fairly cheap, readily available, accepts paint well, and can be finished very well and is pretty dense but not too dense, like maple...Also it's very good at resisting dents. Parker & a few others have made guitars that are one-piece or two-piece solid maple, where the "top" is literally the entire guitar -- it looks great and sounds great but it can be very heavy, not to mention it costs more.
Basswood kind of sucks in the dent department...Basswood is typically less dense so that means it's lighter, and it also accepts solid color paint very well, but even with a thick finish, you will still see dents and dings if you are not careful.
Kit...you're kidding, right?
If you're not hearing the difference between maple and mahogany, ebony and rosewood...you need hearing aids...
Great review. John Petrucci needs to stop making guitars. It's like he knows all the things I want in a guitar and then comes out with a zillion different combinations of them.
The JP16 (new one for 2016) is shit...It actually has a floyd rose and a locking nut -- no piezo -- yet it's priced just as high as the previous models. Dunno what the fuck they were thinking with that one -- also it has no top -- it's 100% basswood body with a maple neck and ebony fingerboard. For $2500 USD that's insane. You can get a Carvin or Ibanez for half that price with even better features AND a flame or quilt top.
Maybe they released it to pander to those who miss the Ibanez days? Seems that the specs are quiet similar to the old JPx00.
Bingo.
Wood doesn't make any difference.
I disagree of course body materials make a difference
I just saw that, and while I see his point for solid bodies, was thinking in terms of hollow body electric guitars. But I wonder then when comparing say a newly made tele to a 50's version with the same specs can sound different?
+guysmalley
Pickups. There is no newly made tele with the "same specs" as a 50's Tele. Just look how Pickups were done in the 50's and how they are done today.
there are people make custom pick-ups wound to same specs, but my point even two of the same guitar can sound different