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The John Petrucci Guitar by Sterling Music Man
Who is Ernie Ball Music Man (The Beginnings)
This company was started in 1971 under the brand Tri-Sonix Inc. The founder, Forrest White, was previously with Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company.
Looking for financial support, Forrest went to his former boss, Leo Fender, who agreed to fund and help direct his new company but could only become a silent partner in the new venture because of a non-compete clause in a previous arrangement with C.B.S. Corporation that spanned between 1965-1975.
Brand Name
The new company underwent a few name changes before it became Music Man in 1974 and started producing amplifiers with tube, solid-state tech designs, and it was Leo Fender who chose the company’s new name.
After the contractual restrictions with C.B.S. expired in 1975, Leo Fender was named the president of the new Music Man Company.
By 1976, a manufacturing facility was built, and the new team worked on producing guitars and basses designed by Fender and White.
These new designs feature Bolt on Neck and use active electronics with a level boost.
Slow Guitar Sales
Bass Guitars sold well, but the guitars did not. In November of 1979, ties with Leo Fender were cut due to conflicts, and in 1984 Music Man was near bankruptcy.
Enter Ernie Ball
After looking at a few offers, Music Man was sold to Ernie Ball on March 7, 1984,
With a previous operational factory in San Luis Obispo, California, Ernie Ball and his partner George Fullerton started producing instruments for Music Man and are still operating today.
With the new venture, Ernie Ball and Music Man improved their visibility in the guitar market with the succession of new guitar models that were well-received and player-endorsed.
S.U.B. Line Of Guitars
To prove a quality instrument could still be had without the bells and whistles, still be made in the U.S.A. and be in the mid-range with production costs, the S.U.B. Line of guitars was launched in 2003.
S.U.B. stood for “Sport Utility Bass,” but “S.U.B.” also became the acronym for the guitars.
Instead of cutting the quality of the wood hardware or electronics, savings were mainly realized from reduced production time. The new product line was a success, which supported Music Man when its main line was in a slump.
Sterling By Music Man
Image courtesy of Sterling by Music Man
In 2009 Music Man started a new import budget brand Sterling by Music Man.
These Made-in-Indonesia and other Far East countries were designed to keep production costs low and compete with the USA beginner instruments.
Brand Champion
With several brand champions on the company’s roster, let’s look at the guitarist who has collaborated with the Ernie Ball Music Man brand for many years, creating a body shape that has a thinner upper horn and a more symmetric bridge end profile and on select models a chambered body for added acoustic resonance.
John Petrucci
John Petrucci in concert with Dream Theater in 2012.- Image courtesy of Wikimedia – Author-Carlos Delgado– and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
John Peter Petrucci (July 12, 1967) is an American Composer, Producer & Musician in the Progressive/Heavy Metal & Instrumental Rock genres.
Picking up the guitar at 8 and again at 12, he found his passion for the instrument and was committed to practicing 6 hours a day with guitar influences like Jimmy Page, Brian May, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Morse, Al Di Meola, Steve Howe, Allan Holdsworth, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy Rhoads, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Alex Lifeson, Yngwie Malmsteen and David Gilmour. Petrucci later developed an interest in Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal.
After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Petrucci formed Dream Theater and covered songs from Iron Maiden, Rush & Metallica.
G3 Guitar Tour
In 2001,2005-2007, Petrucci was invited to tour with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai on their famous World G3 Guitar Tour, and again in 2012 & 2018.
The G3 all-Guitar Tour had several big-name players, including...
- Paul Gilbert
- Steve Morse
- Uli Jon Roth
- Phil Collen and more.
This exposed the Artist to a massive new number of fans and inspired him to release a solo album, “Suspended Animation,” in March 2005 and a new Dream Theatre album.
In 2020 after 15 years, Petrucci released his second solo album titled “Terminal Velocity.“
More than any other invited guitarist on the G3 lineup, Petrucci has performed seven times as the third guitarist on the G3 tour.
John Petrucci In Publication
The Artist has also released instructional videos and Guitar World Magazine published articles along with his live performances and studio work.
Rock Discipline is a sit-down with Petrucci covering everything from…
- Warm-up exercises,
- Different picking techniques, &
- His approach to guitar development (See below)
Click The Image To Get This Rock Discipline 2-Hour DVD Package.
Click Here For Guitar Worlds John Petrucci’s Wild Stringdom: Book & CD
Know for his varied playing skills and approach to high-speed alternate picking; when asked, he says the picking requires a…
“Strong sense of synchronization between the two [playing] hands.”
John Petrucci
Guitar World Magazine went on to state…
“Arguably the most versatile and proficient player in his realm, with a highly developed melodic sense and an alternate picking technique that is virtually untouchable as far as speed and precision.”
More Accolades
Premier Guitar has called Petrucci…
- “One of the most celebrated guitarists alive” &
- “One of the best who’s ever laid a hand on a fretboard.”
Guitar World magazine list Petrucci as one of the…
- “Fastest Guitarist of All Time”
- “The most celebrated and popular guitarist in the world of progressive metal”
- Ranking him among the top 5 “Best Guitarists of the Decade.” &…
- In 2012, Petrucci was ranked the 17th greatest guitarist of all time in the Guitar World readers pool.
The Joint Venture Of Artist & Instrument
Ernie Ball Music Man (U.S.A.) began producing John Petrucci’s signature Super Strat guitars in 2001 and has made numerous models bearing his name since.
The term Superstrat is a name of an electric guitar that resembles the famed Fender Stratocaster with clear differences and standard features to distinguish the two models.
The Guitar
Petrucci has made changes to some of his equipment over the years but what has stayed consistent is his use of DiMarzio Pickups and Mesa/Boogie Amplifiers for the core of his sound.
The MAJESTY MAJ200 in a Cerulean Paradise Finish – Image Courtesy of sterlingbymusicman.com
This Cerulean Paradise affordable high-performance “Sterling Majesty” features DiMarzio LiquiFire /Crunch Lab Pickups, Ebony Fretboard with Eastern Mahogany set neck, Flame Maple Top and a 12dB “Push-Push” volume pot.
(Read on)
Tech Specs
Body
- Model: MAJ200X QM John Petrucci Signature Majesty
- Brand: Sterling
- Body top wood style: Nyatoh w/flamed Maple top
Nyatoh or “Nato,” often referred to as ” Eastern Mahogany,” is a low-priced tonewood that is great for the bodies and necks of lower-end electric guitars.
- Body Type: Solidbody
- Body Shape: Super Strat Double Cutaway
- Body Color: Cerulean Paradise
- Pickguard: None
- Manufactured in Indonesia
- Year: 2021
Neck
Engineered to perform, the Majesty features an ebony fingerboard with stainless steel frets for maximum playability.
- Scale Length: 25.5″ (64.8cm)
- Neck Radius: 16″ (40cm)
- 24 Stainless Steel Frets, w/Medium Jumbo Profile
- Neck Width: 1.65″ (42mm) at Nut
- Neck: 3-piece Nyatoh
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Fretboard Inlays: Custom J.P. Markers
- Truss Rod: Dual Action
- Tuning Machines: Sterling by Music Man Locking Tuners
- Neck: Attachment Set-In Design or Set-Neck Construction (See Image)
Set-Neck Construction for the Neck-Image courtesy of Amazon.com
Set In Neck Construction
Set in necks is where you glue the guitar neck onto the guitar’s body.
Used almost exclusively in acoustic guitar construction and in mid to high-range instruments.
Pros
- Set Neck guitars have more sustain and resonance than bolt-on construction.
- Clean looking
- More effortless playability in the high-fret regions
Cons
- Take much longer to build because of the glue setting waiting time in the dovetail between the neck and the body.
- Not easily replaced and would need to be left to experienced luthiers.
Pickups & Controls
DiMarzio Pickups in an H.H. Configuration
DiMarzio features the John Petrucci DiMarzio LiquiFire and Crunch Lab humbucking pickups to pump out his sound.
The MAJESTY MAJ200 with DiMarzio LiquiFire & Crunch Lab Pickups/ Master Volume/Tone & Floating Tremolo- Image Courtesy of www.amazon.com
Controls & Bridge
- Controls: 1 Master Volume & 1 Master Tone
- Switching: 3-Way Toggle Switch or pickup selector
- Bridge: Sterling by Music Man Floating Modern Tremolo
Special Features
Push-Push 12dB Volume Boost Pot on the Master Volume (See image)
Image of the MAJESTY MAJ200 Master Volume w/Push-Push 12dB Volume Boost.
Video
Did You Know
According to Forbes magazine, the John Petrucci JP6 by Ernie Ball Music Man is the second-best-selling signature model of all time, behind only the Gibson Les Paul.
Final Thoughts
It is nice to see a mid-level signature instrument that can be played at different levels and is attractive and versatile.
I always like more subtle signature instruments that you can still make your own while feeling a piece of the legacy of the Artist who designed them.
The Push Push 12dB Volume Boost is a nice touch, and the DiMarzios speak for themselves.
My issue with this Guitar is with the price for value. I think you can move up to another non-signature model and get a better-made instrument for the same price, as long as you are not stuck on the Petrucci brand.
Should You Add This To Your Collection?
It’s a beautiful instrument, and if you want to get into a Music Man, you will get many different uses from it.
But if you are not hung up on the Petrucci brand, then no, go with another model or brand for the price point will get you more value elsewhere.
Want To See More On John Petrucci Products, From Guitar Picks to Peddles, Click The Image Here.
Did You Like This Article?
Check out my review on The Marty Friedman The Jackson X Series MF-1 Guitar
Also…
Leave your comments in the section below, and if you would like me to review a favourite guitar, shout out.
As always, stay the course and keep playing.
Feature image courtesy of Wikipedia John Petrucci performing with Dream Theater at Wacken Open Air 2015-Author Andreas Lawen, Fotandi is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Full Guitar Image courtesy of sterlingbymusicman.com
Back of Guitar Image of www.amazon.com
Image of JP Rock Discipline courtesy of Amazon
Image of GW Wild Stringdom courtesy of Amazon
CTA Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Author Lrheath is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic
Tap on the image to get back to the home page
Sterling By Music Man John Petrucci Majesty Dimarzio MAJ200XQM
$1,499.99
Pros
- Solid Nyatoh w/Flamed Maple Top Double Cutaway
- DiMarzio LiquiFire /Crunch Lab Pickups (H.H.)
- 12dB Volume Boost
- Dual Action Truss Rod
- Set-Neck Construction
Cons
- Pricey
Starting A Journey At 7 Years Of Age, The Love For The Guitar Only Became Stronger Going Into My Teens. This Leading To An Exciting Time Of Teaching, Performing, And Recording. Join Me Now As We Can Bring The Love Of This Instrument To Other Musicians Globally.
