http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sterling-by-Music-Man-JP50-Electric-Guitar-105614069-i1443096.gc $549.99. I wonder if it's any good. or it's just another OLP. Anyone tried it?
Generally I agree with that, but there are some signature models that are way different than other guitars by the same brand, and this is one of them. Plus, I love Music Man guitars, never played one I didn't like, and if this sterling line feels like one I would definitely consider buying one.
Signature models are generally lame, but I have to say the JP Music Man is pretty sweet. Dunno about this particular one of course.
Guitarist for my band plays a JP-7 MM. Probably one of the most comfortable guitars I've ever played, and I used to work at a guitar shop.
yeah, it's a copy. i seem to remember a review i read in some guitar magazine i can't find at the moment saying that it was half decent. I think it's made in Indonesia or something.
So I just bought one of these yesterday. I wanted something to keep in an alternative tuning I use that I didn't want to spend a shitload of money on yet wasn't just a piece of crap and I was quite surprised with the price of the JP50 ($1049 NZ which is about 500ish US). So after spending about an hour and a half playing it in the store, in my tuning, I thought 'Swell, this guitar shall do me nicely old chap' and thus I bought it. Firstly... It plays really well, the frets are really nice and smooth and the neck contour is really ergonomically satisfying. Knobs are really smooth and no crackle at all. So all groovy so far but I am really dissatisfied with it for some reason and maybe a few of you could help me out here. The intonation seems fine even in my alternative tuning but for some reason it doesn't sound in tune at all. As in, I'd play a fifth interval somewhere and all I notice is that 'warble' of two notes not quite meeting in harmony. I play the same notes through a tuner and yep, it's all in tune so what's going on here? Sure it's probably subtle as fuck and I'm over reacting and that's possibly due to me having to Parkers sitting beside it and I can't fault those to save myself. Also, the low E seems a bit high on the nut. The action in general is a tad high and the stock pickups, well I just can't seem to tweak the tone to get rid of their muddiness. So what can I do here? Do you think that adjusting the action and putting a new pick up in the bridge will solve my issues? Because if not, I don't want to keep it. Obviously. Cheers.
Personally I've found that tuners are never as good as your ear. If you've got a shitty $10 tuner and your ear is telling you that it's out of tune, despite what the tuner says, I'd always go with my ear. Besides, due to equal temperament and all that shit, and depending on the key of the song you're playing in, sometimes you're better off making some strings slightly sharp or flat to get a better 'in tune' guitar. I know plenty concert classical guitarists that tune this way.
It's the tuner on my POD X3 Live. So certainly not a cheap one. Also tried tuning it via the tuner in Logic. I've just taken the guitar in for a full set up so I shall see what I think after that.
Tuning it open. But then checking a few of the fretted notes that I thought sounded out when playing. I'm not bending the notes out of shape either, I made sure of that. Chrono, I know you're not a fan of extended range instruments but have you dealt with alternate lower tunings much dude? I've never really had to adjust intonation to different tunings before, so I've taken it in to get a full set up and bigger strings on it.
Whenever I tune down I usually get floppiness that can result in out of tuneness and bad intonation. The problem with tuning to open strings all the time is that when you're fretting notes they're getting pushed sharp in varying amounts depending on how hard you play, and where it is on the fretboard. The first 3 frets tend to be really sharp when they're fretted. Intonation can definitely get wacked if you change; string gauge, tuning. If you have the means ,try to just have one guitar set up for each tuning, otherwise make a compromise. A set up is probably a great idea, because even if you feel confident in adjusting it yourself...techs usually get it done better and more precisely...I need to take my strat in to get resetup with different gauges next week.
Thanks dude. I did get this guitar specifically for this tuning, CGDFCF. I have another fourteen for standard tuning :P So I will hopefully not be changing it from 10 - 52 gauge and will hopefully not need to resetup again.
I have the original OLP JP from 5 or so years ago (which they don't make anymore because OLP is now Sterling obv.) and when I played this one in Guitar Center (in an awesome flat-black finish) I could definitely tell that this one is a step up in quality. The tuners are actually locking, instead of the retarded things on my OLP, and the trem didn't seem to knock the strings way out like the OLP either. I'd say go for it if you really like that body style, it is ridiculously comfortable if you have it at the right height to take advantage of the deep contour for your arm there. And get the blackout one if you can find it, shit is awesome looking.
Syb, how do the locking tuners on yours work? That's really the only part of my OLP that I hate with a burning passion.
Locking tuners work just like the Sperzels. I winding mechanism at the back of the machine head that holds the string in the hole. And yeah the plain black one was the first one I played in a different store which I fell inlove with but I thought "Fuck, I don't want to have another black guitar" so I went hunting to see if I could find the same model in the other colour. And I did at another store of the same franchise. However this is the one that I'm not so happy with it's sound and what not. So over the weekend I took it to the first shop so I could play both and compare the two. The dude at the store agreed with me that the Matte Black one sounded way crisper than the plum red one. So I asked if it was at all possible if we could do a swap. Being that I only just bought the guitar the day before and it was from the same franchise, I thought it would be sweet. And it would have been... had I not financed the fucking thing. First thing I've put on hire purchase. Never again. The guy said it was absolutely impossible to do a swap because of it.
Okay so I just got the guitar back today and it's fucking sweet. Plays so damn beautifully now and all tuning problems have been fixed. The guy at the shop said he had spent years experimenting with different tuning and said he understood how important it was for the intonation to be perfect for them. Glad someone that knew what they were doing dealt with it. I'm happy now.
