The inspiration behind this young reader’s build came from getting hooked on 7-strings, and an admiration for John Petrucci.
The story behind this guitar is pretty funny. Since Dream Theater caught my ear and I heard the thick tone of a 7-string guitar on “The Dark Eternal Night,” I wanted, needed, a 7-string. However, there was one small problem: getting this new piece of gear approved by my mom. She’d always say, “Stick with your 6-strings,” and, “You don’t need another, you already have three.” (GAS—or “gear acquisition syndrome”—has made this difficult.) But whenever I’d walk into a guitar store and pick up a 7-string, I wouldn’t want to put it back.
Then, one day in chemistry class, I decided to check Reverb and see what the prices are like on Ibanez JPM100s these days. Not surprisingly, they’re reaching $10,000. I kept scrolling until I saw a set of bare guitar bodies with the Picasso faces engraved in the wood with a CNC machine. The gears started turning. I sent a link to my dad and said, “Thoughts?” Later, at dinner, my mom OK’d the idea. The journey began.
I ordered the basswood body from Perle Guitars via Reverb with an Ibanez Lo-Pro Edge from a retailer in Germany. I got the pickups from DiMarzio with the goal to get it to sound as similar to John Petrucci’s as possible, by using his signature Crunch Lab and LiquiFire set. I even got the toggle switch from DiMarzio, which allowed me to have a split-coil sound in the middle position. I put 500k CTS pots and a .022 µF cap on the tone knob. I ordered locking tuners from Gotoh.
The biggest issue was sourcing the neck. I couldn’t find a single builder who builds custom Ibanez AANJ necks, which left me with buying a used neck from a parted guitar. The wait for the right neck lasted around three months. I bought a 2000 Ibanez RG7620 neck in practically mint condition from Uplander Guitars in Canada. I used black, gray, and red stains I bought locally. The idea for it was to look almost robotic with red eyes and avoid too much of a copycat look, hence the color choice.
Knowing I was going to John Petrucci’s Guitar Universe 4.0, I decided I may as well show it off and get it signed. It was the right choice. This guitar was a head-turner and even brought in compliments from Tosin Abasi and Aaron Marshall. The signatures on the back include Al Pitrelli, Scott Weis, Zakk Wylde, Tim Henson, Scott LePage, Tosin Abasi, Guthrie Govan, Rena Petrucci, Mike Mangini, Dave LaRue, Lari Basilio, Jason Richardson, Plini, Fredrik Åkesson, Ola Englund, Captain Fawcett, Joscho Stephan, and, of course, John Petrucci. There are two steps left: filling in the engraved channels with resin mixed with blue glow-in-the-dark powder, and applying a clear coat to preserve the signatures for virtually forever.Submit your guitar story at premierguitar.com/reader-guitar-of-the-month
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Each model is filled with DiMarzio pickups and is available in brand-new finishes.
San Luis Obispo, CA (May 6, 2020) -- Ernie Ball Music Man, the world’s leading manufacturer of musical instruments, guitar strings and accessories, is proud to announce the availability of the all-new 2020 line of John Petrucci signature guitars.
Majesty
The Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty guitar features a flamed maple shield seated in a lightweight Okoume body. A glossy translucent finish on the front and back showcases the beautiful wood combination for a striking appearance. Signature DiMarzio Dreamcatcher (bridge) and Rainmaker (neck) pickups, combined with an onboard piezo bridge system, give the Majesty a focused and highly versatile palette of tones. Available in four new finishes: Pink Sand, Red Phoenix, Smoked Pearl, and Ember Glow. The all-new Majesties are now available with retail pricing starting at $2999.00.
Ernie Ball Music Man is also introducing the “Purple Nebula” Majesty. Carefully chosen tonewoods converge to create an instrument that yields extraordinary beauty and tone. The Majesty three-piece neck is constructed with two strips of Honduran mahogany and a center strip of flamed maple, which is visible through a translucent burst finish. The body showcases a carved, highly figured quilt maple top over alder sides and a neck-through center of mahogany and maple. The electronics package includes signature DiMarzio Dreamcatcher (bridge) and Rainmaker (neck) pickups, which, combined with an onboard piezo bridge system, give the Majesty a more focused and highly versatile palette of tones. Available as either a 6-string or 7-string, and with a limited run of only 200 guitars worldwide, each Purple Nebula Majesty will be accompanied by a backplate signed by John Petrucci, and a numbered certificate of authenticity. The Purple Nebula Majesty is now availability with retail pricing beginning at $5299.00.
JP15
The 2020 JP15 features a lightweight Okoume body with a figured maple top. Figured roasted maple neck and fingerboard add just the right amount of snap and brightness while providing more stability in ever-changing climates. The JP15 is powered by twin custom DiMarzio Illuminator pickups, piezo bridge system and on-board 20db gain boost. Available in 6-string or 7-string models with Ernie Ball Music Man JP tremolo, 3-way toggle pickup selector, and Ernie Ball Music Man hardshell case. Now available in Cerulean Paradise finish. The 2020 JP15 is now available with retail pricing beginning at $3249.00.
JP Maple Top
The JP maple top features an alder body with a mahogany tone block and figured maple top, and Honduran Mahogany neck with East Indian Rosewood fingerboard. The JP BFR is powered by DiMarzio Liquifire & Crunch Lab pickups, piezo bridge system, and a coil-splitting tone pot. Available in 6- or 7-string with Music Man JP tremolo, 3-way Toggle pickup selector and Ernie Ball Music Man hardshell case. Koa Top option includes Mahogany body and neck with an ebony fretboard. Available in Dragon Blood finish, with a choice of quilt or flame top. The 2020 JP Maple Top is now available with retail pricing beginning at $3249.00.
Regarding the new 2020 models, John Petrucci stated, “I am extremely proud and very excited to introduce the new Majesty and JP15 colors for 2020! Every year the incredibly talented team over at Ernie Ball Music Man dream up the most unique and stunning finishes that take my signature guitars to new artistic heights. The sleek, performance-centric design of the Majesty and the unrelenting powerhouse attitude of the JP15, both outfitted with my signature DiMarzio pickups, make them two models that are so creatively inspiring that I just can’t them put down once I start playing them! From the visionary lines to the incredible feel, beautiful surfaces and epic tones, they are the ultimate musical machines one can ever dream of experiencing. These brand-new 2020 colors and finishes will continue to propel the Majesty and the JP15 far into the guitar universe for years to come!”
For more information:
Ernie Ball Music Man
The Rainmaker and Dreamcatcher aim to capture the shredder's vision with an increased sensitivity to pick attack and more dynamic range.
Staten Island, NY (June 28, 2019) -- DiMarzio, Inc. announces the release of Rainmaker Neck (DP281), Rainmaker 7 Neck (DP723), Dreamcatcher Bridge (DP282F), and Dreamcatcher 7 Bridge (DP724) pickups for 6- and 7-string electric guitars. The Rainmaker Neck and Dreamcatcher Bridge were developed for John Petrucci of Dream Theater.
John says the new Rainmaker and Dreamcatcher neck and bridge pickups are “the quintessential tone-monsters we’ve been working on together since our very first collaboration, and the end result is absolutely mind-blowing.
“From the moment I plugged in the guitar and played the first note, I knew that we achieved Holy Grail-level results. With these pickups, the Majesty’s inherent tonal complexities and beauty are brought out in a way that gives the guitar an expressive, intense, fearless, creamy, gorgeous, pure, unobstructed, and addictively powerful voice. It literally feels like the guitar is alive and ready to jump out of my hands!”
Although designed specifically for John’s neck-through signature Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty guitar, the basic performance shows the overall direction John said he wants to follow in pursuit of his personal sound. These pickups have an increased sensitivity to pick attack and more dynamic range overall.
The Rainmaker Neck and Rainmaker 7 Neck have an interesting blend of both warmer highs and more open mids to blend classic and modern approaches to the neck pickup. The Rainmaker Neck (for 6-string guitars) is available in standard spacing only.
The Dreamcatcher Bridge and Dreamcatcher 7 Bridge focus more power on the low mids to allow the bridge position to cut through the mix without brittle highs or muddy lows. The Dreamcatcher Bridge (for 6-sting guitars) is available in F-spacing only.
John claims, “These pickups are truly inspirational, and I look forward to hearing them roar on stage and in the studio night after night!”
DiMarzio’s Rainmaker Neck, Rainmaker 7 Neck, Dreamcatcher Bridge, and Dreamcatcher 7 Bridge are made in the U.S.A. and may now be ordered for immediate delivery. Suggested List Price for the Rainmaker Neck and Dreamcatcher Bridge is $129.99 (MAP $89.99). Suggested List Price for the Rainmaker 7 Neck and Dreamcatcher 7 Bridge is $139.99 (MAP $99.99).
For more information:
DiMarzio