MM JP6 neck Vs Ibanez jem neck

[dave_irishman]

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if you guys could help me out with a question I have...

I have been an Ibanez player for the last 6 years, starting with a JS1000 (Satriani Model) and then moving on to a Jem7V. I found that I can play more comfortably on the Jem's thin wizard neck as opposed to the JS1000's fender like neck.

My dilema is I really want a EB Musicman JP6 (John Petrucci Model), but there is no way I can try one out for myself as I cant find anywhere here in Ireland that stocks them...

Could you guys give me a comparision on how the JP neck is different to the Jem neck before I make the plunge? (Is it more or less the same/thinner/thicker etc..)

Any info no matter how small is much appreciated!

Cheers

Dave
Ireland.

[Homebake]

Headstock Size:
Only 5-7/8" (14.9 cm) long
Frets:
24 - High profile, wide
Neck Width:
1-11/16" (43.0 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (57.2 mm) at last fret

does that help? from EBMM website. i've never played one so i can't help you.

[dave_irishman]

Thanks for the info man! much appreciated!

looks like both necks have more or less the same width...

Jem neck width (taken from ibanezrules) : 43mm nut width - 58mm last fret
JP6 neck width 1-11/16" (43.0 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (57.2 mm) at last fret

I'd love some info on the JP6 neck shape... I've heard that it is rounder than the Jem neck?

Can anyone help here?

Cheers

[Homebake]

Originally Posted by dave_irishman

Thanks for the info man! much appreciated!

looks like both necks have more or less the same width...

Jem neck width (taken from ibanezrules) : 43mm nut width - 58mm last fret
JP6 neck width 1-11/16" (43.0 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (57.2 mm) at last fret

I'd love some info on the JP6 neck shape... I've heard that it is rounder than the Jem neck?

Can anyone help here?

Cheers

well, i know for a fact JP's ibanez signature models' necks had a slightly rounder profile than that of an RG (they were likened to be closer to a "Viper" neck) so you're probably right that they're rounder.

i think they would be pretty similar to an RG or his older ibanez sigs. the radii are the same if not, very close i think?

[eviltwin]

the JPM was actually available with an Ultra based JPM-profile and a Viper based JPM-profile.

As the names suggest,
the U(ltra) is U-shaped, a round bottom
the V(iper) is V-shaped, an angled bottom

(the Wizard is W-shaped, IE a flat bottom)

The Jem has been likened to a flatter Ultra, or a rounded Wizard, but some Jems are more Wizardy than others.

[Homebake]

Originally Posted by eviltwin

the JPM was actually available with an Ultra based JPM-profile and a Viper based JPM-profile.

As the names suggest,
the U(ltra) is U-shaped, a round bottom
the V(iper) is V-shaped, an angled bottom

(the Wizard is W-shaped, IE a flat bottom)

The Jem has been likened to a flatter Ultra, or a rounded Wizard, but some Jems are more Wizardy than others.

ahh, thanks for clearing that up.

also, just out of interest, where did the name "wizard" come from for necks?

[rob777vdy]

i wouldnt describe 7v neck as thin lol.i couldnt play pass the 12 fret on e,d,a strings.i havent got the biggest of hands that said.best jem necks are 777's

[teokiatuan]

the neck on my jp6 is absolutely fabulous, i can tell you that

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by Homebake

ahh, thanks for clearing that up.

also, just out of interest, where did the name "wizard" come from for necks?

in Japanese patent law it is customary to name inventions, rather than using numbers or XYZ names.

Hence names like RoadStar, Power, Radius, Sabre, but also Gibraltar, Edge, TopLock, Monkey Grip, Lion's Claw and the aforementioned Ultra, Viper, Wizard. The W is selfexplanatory, there is no word that starts with Double-D

I'm guessing Wizard makes more sense than Whisky or Whirlwind. I can't remember if the Ibanez book shed some light on this. To native speakers these english names may seem a bit contrived, but they do the job.

[Pablo]

I have a JP6 a few Satches and a Jem7Vwh

I can honestly say that the neck on the EBMM JP6 is awesome and feels to me to be one of the best necks I've ever played. Once you fine tune the trem it stays in tune really well. Not quite as good as an Ibanez but you don't need to have tools to change strings which is nice.

It feels narrower than a Jem even though the book specs say it's the same width. The profile is like a much flatter C shape rather than D as the edges arn't as 'sharp' as say your standard RG. Flatter than both the JS and Jem. Although not as flat and wide as a Wizard.

The whole guitar is amazing so much so that I've thought about selling my Ibanez's to fund a few more, I think I 'need' a JP6 with piezo and a 7 string version.

I don't think you would regret buying one. The only bad thing compared to a Jem or JS is that you only have three sounds out of it, compared to the JS's 6 and Jem's 5. However these suit me so that's not an issue and you can always wire it like a JS if you feel the need.


I heard once that it was called a wizard neck since it was the application of magic that stopped the necks warping, but I think that was just some amusing story that someone made up.

P

[jono]

Originally Posted by eviltwin

the JPM was actually available with an Ultra based JPM-profile and a Viper based JPM-profile.

As the names suggest,
the U(ltra) is U-shaped, a round bottom
the V(iper) is V-shaped, an angled bottom

(the Wizard is W-shaped, IE a flat bottom)

As I understood this the JPM was only available with the U(ltra) profiled neck and the V(iper) neck profile was a catalogue misprint.

Could you (or anyone else out there) confirm that you've actually come across one of the Viper necked JPMs?

[Pablo]

A friend had the Cream and black JP and I did a comparison with my Ultra neck'ed RG2820 a few years ago and the JP was like a flatter version of the Ultra so there was a difference but it was a pretty close thing.

I didn't detect any V profile though

[darrenw5094]

I also have a JS1200, a Vai Jem and 2 new J Customs, but i am also looking for a Music Man JP6. I am now very used to the Jem neck, but i am afraid that the neck on the JP6 would not be similar enough to the Jem. The JS1200 has a Fender Strat style neck, which is not what i am hoping for in the JP6.

Anyone any other input????

[zEr0]

My Ibanez JPM is very round so Im guessing its an Ultra, didn't know there were Viper models though.........

Does Ibanez still make guitars with Ultra necks? I think they feel awesome!

[fretboardpyro]

your best bet is to go try a prs with a wide thin profile they are very similar. Really Really scarily similar!