Need advice on Ernie Ball Music Man guitars

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bstaley

bstaley

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I think my wife is planning on getting me a new guitar for father's day. I want to know what to tell her to get. I would really like one of the Ernie Ball guitars. Every one I've played has been terrific and a couple months ago I played ratter's at the NJ ampfest and it was incredible. I was leaning toward the Petrucci model. Are all of the necks pretty much the same fast shape? Are the main differences just pickups and hardware? Obviously I want a fast "shredders" neck. I'd kinda like to go for a maple neck if possible. What can you guys tell me about these guitars? There are many different models that look very similar to me.

Thanks.
 
I've owned all the EBMM's at one time or another.
I think the Petrucci does have the feel that you're looking for, although it is not available with a maple board.
My personal favorite EBMM neck shape would be the Axis, it just felt very comfortable.
It's not quite as wide as the Petrucci, I think it's a 10" radius.
The Silo's felt nice, but a little small for my hands.
The AL neck was cool, not huge or wide, but I liked it.
The Luke neck I did not like at all.
It felt really thin with a big V shape that just did not agree with me at all.
 
All the Axis and Silo necks are the same...10" radius. Very rounded and also my favorite

The Petrucci has a flatter 15" radius and larger frets. It's a love/hate with that guitar. My buddy has one and I can't seem to jive with the neck for some reason.

The Luke is a favorite to many though I've never played one, along with a Morse and an Albert Lee

All EBMM's are top quality and are excellent guitars. I'm an EBMM'er for life...I love these guitars!
 
Itis true that the radius is the same on the Axis & SIlo, but the profiles are very different.
 
Bill I've played probably 7 EBMM guitars. I think the quality on their guitars is incredible. Built very well with excellent attention to every detail. I don't recall ever seeing one with a flaw of any kind. Plus they do refrets from the factory for cheap with a quick turn around time.
 
Bill, the other posts summed it up pretty well. The Petrucci is a great feeling guitar (IMO) but it's the most different from all the other EBMM's. Different neck shape, different body style, different trem, etc. Great guitar, just different. If it wasn't for the great oiled neck, you might think it was from another company altogether.

Do you want a single or hum in the neck? That will help narrow it down, because IIRC only the Sil and Luke have neck singles. Do you want a Floyd? The Axis and Morse are the only floyd-equipped EBMM's. For my own personal tastes, I'd probably go for either the Axis Super Sport (w/ vintage trem) if I wanted a hum in the neck and a Sil Special like mine (w/ vintage trem) if I wanted a single in the neck. Of course the Sil (and Albert Lee) is a front loaded guitar, so you can swap pickguards if you like. EBMM sells pickguards direct for $27, so that's nice. The Albert Lee has an awesome feel to it, but the weirdo body shape turns a lot of people off.

The Music Man site has a user forum - you can find lots of good info and pics there.

Good luck!
 
donbarzini":dtfe4scv said:
I had an Axis, I thought it played nice. I just could never get used to the broomstick back shape and the small frets, then again I prefer a larger nut width as well so the guitar really wasn't for me. What really bugged me is that everything was shimmed from the factory, the Floyd nut was shimmed, the neck was shimmed, I learned from others that this is common on the Axis model.
Click to expand...

Yeah, my EVH has a shimmed nut and a shimmed neck too. Awful guitar. ;)
 
donbarzini":28co95mj said:
ratter":28co95mj said:
Yeah, my EVH has a shimmed nut and a shimmed neck too. Awful guitar. ;)
Click to expand...

Never said it was an awful guitar, just wasn't right for me. If the shims were included on the original EVH model, they must have been there for a reason. I prefer a guitar that doesn't need shims in the neck or nut, especially direct from the factory.
Click to expand...

Yeah, absolutely. I was just kidding of course. I don't know why they can't "get it right" with that aspect. But my shims have been there from the factory. On one hand I'm glad they take the time to get the playability right, even if it means shimming, but you would think that with the CNC machines and their relatively low production that it wouldn't be necessary.

I never checked any of the others I've owned to see if they were shimmed.
 
An Axis has no saddle height adjustment...therein lies the problem. The factory setup is done with shims in the neck pocket and under the nut.
 
I have the same model guitar and one was shimmed, one was not and agree with Ratter about how this happens when the parts are cnc'd. I do agree that this shows the guitar was setup by hand by someone that knows what he is doing to get a great playing guitar, so that is a plus.
 
Now I'm going to have to take the damn neck off my Silhouette... :lol: :LOL:
 
So what EBMM guitar would have a similar neck to a fender strat?
 
I have owned 2 Petrucci's (still have one). I love this guitar. It is my favorite neck of any guitar I've played. It is super fast and thin. The body is very comfortable and ergonomic. The floating tremolo is great and stays in tune really well. I have the version with the original bridge pickup (based on the Dimarzio Steve's Special). I wasn't as a big a fan of the D-Sonic version so I looked hard for the original. I really don't have any complaints.

I have played every style and love them all. I would love to add a Morse or Luke to my arsenal. Personally, I really like the original Morse model. Most likely I will go with a Luke BFR for my next Ball.

Check these new version out:

Petrucci Koa top, alder body w/ mahogany tone block, mahogany neck, rosewood board, chrome hardware.

G42148-angle-web.jpg


G42148-back-web.jpg



Luke

G342152_GRANDCENTRAL_ANGLE.jpg


G342152_GRANDCENTRAL_FRONT.jpg
 
I've played a SILO, original Steve Morse, JP and an AXIS. All are great guitars. I currently own a Steve Morse original and the new Steve Morse Y2D. My favorite is the Y2D...if you haven't played one of these check it out...very cool. :rock:
 
I have an EBMM 20th Anniversary Silhouette which is a stunning guitar in every way:

EBMM20thSilo.jpg


I agree with the other posters that if you want a shedder's guitar, the JP6 has the flat radius you need. Personally, I prefer a Fender-style radius, so the 20th fits me just right.
 
I have one of the first series Luke's w/the Floyd Rose on it-
a really nice piece...the fit and finish on EB/MM guitars really
can't be beat. I've had a couple other models of their guitars
and one of the basses and they all were great instruments....
Now if I could just get my hands on one of those Nigel Tufnel
signature models,hey,I'd be all set.......4 pick-ups anyone? :D
 
donbarzini":v7zedjc1 said:
dougiefresh":v7zedjc1 said:
An Axis has no saddle height adjustment...therein lies the problem. The factory setup is done with shims in the neck pocket and under the nut.
Click to expand...

They can use saddle shims on Floyd's. That Gotoh Floyd sucked too, I replaced it with an OFR.
Click to expand...
Was it a drop in replacement? I thought the spacing of the posts was different on the OFR and Gotoh. I would prefer the OFR as well.
 
i have owned 2 music mans, a steve morse and a mystic dream petrucci. they were both amazing feeling and playing guitars, i had issue with each tho. the JP just wasnt for me, real fast neck, maybe too fast? and i just had to accept im not a 24 fret neck guy, i hate the tone of neck humbuckers with 24 frets. and the steve morse was also amazing, had a GREAAAAT neck, great tones too. i sold it cause i never got comfortable with the switching system! its not the most user friendly setup.
 
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