An Astonishingly Magnificent Instrument
Grammy-winning, trend-defying, progressive-metal guitar mastermind John Petrucci has specific criteria he looks for in a guitar: maximum functionality, ergonomic design, balanced tone, rock-solid tuning stability, and, of course, breathtaking beauty. Ernie Ball Music Man’s JP15 7 checks all the Dream Theater guitarist’s boxes — and then some. To start, a lightweight, highly resonant okoume body with an attention-grabbing figured maple top joins a bolt-on roasted figured maple neck and fingerboard. Next-level refinements, such as stainless steel frets, a buffered output with additional volume boost, USA signature DiMarzio pickups, a piezo output, a custom floating tremolo bridge, locking tuners, and a methodically planned control layout, set a new standard in guitar performance. It all equates to an axe that’s among the most versatile and fastest guitars in the universe and undoubtedly one capable of withstanding the intense heat generated by playing five billion notes per second.
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Ultra-premium tonewoods
One look at the Ernie Ball Music Man JP15 7, and you’ll be caught in a trance with its seemingly endless maple figuring that spans the entire length of the guitar. John, typically a fan of darker colors and wood options, opted for roasted maple because of its beautiful contrast to the okoume body. Not only does it look great, but it sounds even better. Using okoume for the body with a figured maple top sets the foundation for a lightweight and vibrant profile, filled with richness and a slight sparkle on the top end. Its bolt-on maple neck and fingerboard add extra bite to the sonic palette, giving the JP15 7 a sense of immediacy that can keep up with any playing style.
Effortless playability
If the JP15 7’s exquisite beauty reels you in, then its playability and extended functionality will entrap you forever in the best way possible. The neck’s slim C shape and 17-inch fingerboard radius combine with a perfectly contoured body to invite you into a state of guitar-playing nirvana, form-fitting to your body and hands. The 24 stainless steel medium-jumbo frets facilitate extra-smooth, effortless string bends and the fastest playing possible for years to come. Finally, the JP15 7’s custom recessed bridge features rolled, smooth edges for all-day picking-hand comfort.
Dive and squeal to your heart’s content
Tuning stability and accuracy are put at the forefront, thanks to the factory-installed Schaller M6-IND locking tuners to keep your guitar in tune and a compensated nut individually cut to ensure proper intonation across your entire fingerboard. Combined with the locking tuners, the JP15 7’s hardened steel bridge is solid enough to perform all the dive-bombs and screeching harmonics you want and stay perfectly in tune. And better yet, easier and faster string changes and setups are possible, too.
Ergonomically minded
Every control from the pickup selector switch and piezo/magnetic selector switch to the Volume and Tone knobs are methodically placed to follow the natural motion of your forearm in its at-rest position — even the two switches are angled to conform to your arm movements. Everything is easily within reach, yet out of the way enough to prevent you from accidentally knocking anything out of place. So go ahead — get lost in your music. The Ernie Ball Music Man JP15 7 will be with you every step of the way.
Powerful and expansive electronics at your fingertips
As if Sweetwater’s guitar-playing population isn’t enthralled enough with the JP15 7, the overall sonic versatility of both the electric and acoustic pickups seals the deal. John’s second signature set of pickups, the DiMarzio Illuminator set, delivers three main ingredients to stellar tone: power, balance, and clarity. Open-sounding chords sound massive, the low end has the right amount of heft and tightness, and single notes sound full. While classified as higher-output pickups, the Illuminator humbuckers clean up to accommodate any blues, jazz, or even country gig you have in your future.
And don’t let the simple control layout trick you into thinking this is just another dual-humbucker guitar. Hidden underneath the rotary controls lies a buffered output circuit that contains an onboard volume boost. Engage the push-push Volume control to enter “World Domination” mode, which pushes up to 20dB of clean gain, breaking up clean amps into light overdrive and adding extra grit and sustain to your heavily distorted, face-melting guitar solos.
Campfire-esque charm
Lastly, the bridge on the JP15 7 features Fishman Powerbridge piezo saddles that provide a realistic acoustic sound. Using the 3-position piezo/magnetic selector switch, you can play acoustically only or blend your electric and acoustic signals with accompanying Volume controls for each. Separate stereo and mono output jacks allow complete rig customization, enabling you to send the piezo and magnetic pickup signals to different amp or PA destinations. Additional tone-shaping controls for the piezo’s bass and treble frequencies are easily accessible via the back-panel trim pots.
Join the pros who play Ernie Ball Music Man instruments
Music Man guitars and basses have been staples in the music scene since their introduction in the ’70s. In fact, some of the world’s best-known guitarists have their own signature Ernie Ball Music Man models. Always striving for a better instrument, Ernie Ball Music Man introduced the first production active EQ in basses and guitars, a unique tuner placement, and much more. Musicians across a wide range of musical genres have played Ernie Ball Music Man guitars and basses over the years, including Steve Morse, Albert Lee, Tony Levin, John Petrucci, Steve Lukather, Flea, Dave LaRue, John Myung, and countless others.
Ernie Ball Music Man JP15 7 Features:
- John Petrucci’s signature 7-string electric guitar with premium tonewoods and components
- Eye-popping figured maple top over a highly resonant okoume body
- Ergonomic control layout keeps electronics in reach while staying out of your picking hand’s way
- Slim C-shaped roasted figured maple neck and fingerboard with 17-in. radius facilitate speed-of-light playing styles
- 24 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets provide smooth bends and playability with a long fret life
- Compensated nut reinforces proper intonation
- Custom Music Man JP floating tremolo bridge with hardened steel construction encourages your wildest tremolo arm antics
- Schaller M6-IND locking tuners offer rock-solid tuning stability during the most rigorous playing
- DiMarzio Illuminator humbuckers cover a diverse sonic range with the perfect mix of power and clarity
- Push-push Volume knob engages the volume boost circuit (up to 20dB) to drive your signal harder, resulting in edge-of-breakup clean sounds, larger-than-life sustain, or overdriven bliss
- Push-push Tone control splits coils of both pickups in the 3-way pickup selector switch’s middle position, for additional tonal dexterity
- Saddle-mounted Fishman Powerbridge piezo pickup system offers authentic acoustic tones in a solidbody instrument
- 2-band EQ and magnetic/piezo trim-pot controls further sculpt your acoustic/electric tone experience
- Buffered output keeps your tone intact while using longer cable runs
- Stereo and mono outputs create expansive rig-building opportunities
