JP15 vs. MAJESTY: Ernie Ball Music Man Petrucci Signature Shootout

@Ernie Ball #MusicMan's 2020 #JohnPetrucci #JP15 and #Majesty are here!
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[@andressordo-martinez2294]

this only made me love each one more

[@liorauf]

Great guitars and great playing man!!! Thanks for an awesome video!!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@allengarrow6295]

Thank you! One of the best reviews I've watched! Great playing as well!

[@GurtejSinghGuitar]

Great job Cooper! Been following you sincec the original JP15 came out and you reviewed it, and I bought it :) Thank you for your amazing content!

[@Windowleacquer]

one of the best demos and comparison videos ever. Very, very good job, keep it up!!

[@hawaiianshirtguy_29]

I agree man, it was a really good demo and comparison video. I'm glad to see a fellow Aphex Twin fan.👍

[@wilksy2008]

This is really valuable man! I intend to get both, but I'm absolutely obsessed with the JP15 in Cerulean Paradise right now! Having heard the side-by-side comparisons, something stands out, in that the Majesty sounds buttery smooth, and the 15 has this distinctive grainy/plucky quality about it and more body. I'm listening through Beyerdynamic DT990 edition 'phones and the differences are obvious, like they jump out, but there're tonal similarities too - the coil tap feature makes both of them sound almost the same, I could barely tell the difference (maybe it was the middle pickup settings without the coil tap...) when the middle pickups were engaged, but the bridge, neck and piezo features stand out in each. Thank you for this demonstration! 💖

[@johnward6676]

Best video - great presentation!

[@nklsmrte]

Tbh i prefer the clean sound of the JP15 and the crunch on the Majesty. They are both stunning to look at so its like choosing between two of your children :D Nice content!

[@Zebula77]

Ooh, very tasty playing at the top of the video. Thumbs way up. I'm waiting for my Majesty as we speak. Miiiight just have it tomorrow. Can't even begin to say how excited I am. :)

[@aloramirezd38]

Awesome man, greetings!

[@axeaddiction796]

Awesome demo. I love my Majesty

[@tmunday7270001475143]

The Majesty has a smoother & more refined sound to me.. Thanks for posting as I'm in the middle of determining which one I'm buying

[@sb632]

I'll also add. That while feel wise I will always take the JP model over a majesty, the majesty clearly has the nicer pick ups in this video to my ear. A jp swapped with a dreamcatcher/rain maker combo may very well be the ultimate music man for me.

[@jps_musics]

I’m big time stoked for this year since they’re putting the DC/RM in the JP15’s for 2022. And they’re coming in the old Majesty BFR colors too I think that’s just rad

[@iAutodidact]

Man, what a great video. I’m still stuck a bit because they both seem to be such incredible guitars. I’ve slowly worked my way up the ranks of guitarhood, starting with a no-name, eventually getting an Ibanez, then a PRS SE, strandberg, Abasi, PRS DW CE 24, a custom Kiesel Aries, and now am looking at the JP15 or Majesty. It really does feel like the culmination of a musical journey. Both the Majesty and JP15 are just *packed* with features that you won’t find on other brands with a similar price tag. For fun I actually specced out a custom Kiesel to make it as close to a JP15 as possible and it cost like $300-600 more, without accounting for picking out a high-grade top and neck. Tonally I think the Majesty barely edges out the JP15 (I also like the bridge), but looks-wise I just can’t deny the beauty of the roasted flamed maple neck and fingerboard on the JP15. Overall I’m probably leaning towards the JP15 strictly because I’ve come to enjoy the feel of maple fingerboards over Ebony, but man it’s a tough choice. Thanks for the in-depth video!

[@GabrielSkolderblad]

You are an incredible musician i can tell!

[@nitromeda]

Tasty! 🤘 (the playing)

[@vemonguy686]

Amazing playing dude.

[@kq6878]

coop, you can make a can, a dowel, and a rope sound awesome. I went into a local shop and tried both of these model guitars and they both were the best guitars i've played. however, I just "felt" the jp15 so much so I bought it right then and have been completely happy with it. EBMM makes such superior instruments. Thanks for everything you do man, you are the best

[@williambader8245]

At the end of the day, they are both amazing guitars.

[@markcarter5438]

Great Comparison !! Fantastic playing !!

[@g-ed0818]

No matter what, i love both....

[@oliviercognaux_official]

awesome review, thanks :)

[@djencode]

I just got a 7 string JP15 today. It's truly amazing. Thanks for this awesome video!

[@austinpierce6053]

I'm considering getting one for my first 7-string guitar!

[@rattlehead001]

I’m also considering a JP15 for my first 7 string guitar.

[@djencode]

What I like about it is that it still has the classic styling. It's a nice mix of modern and classic. I don't really get along with the ultra modern guitars.

[@arjunchawla9487]

smart man @donald mensah

[@michaelgreen5206]

Can't go wrong with pretty much all of EBMM guitars!!! This is the best demo on the subtleties between the JP-15 and JP Majesty sounds. Would have been interesting to hear the differences between the Majesty different tone woods like Alder, Okoume & basswood tone woods.

[@russgoos4628]

Hey Cooper, I am lucky to actually own both a JP15 (Sahara burst quilt) and Majesty (Arctic Dream). I really love the neck on the JP15, but the Majesty is just so incredibly comfortable to play. Live, the JP15 is the backup to my Majesty. Mine both have the Illuminator pickups so they're more similar than the two you compared in this video. Love hearing you play, really enjoy your compositions for these demos - awesome!

[@thefam9179]

How does it feel reaching the higher frets, past the 20 on the jp15? Is it a little bit uncomfortable since it’s a bolt on?

[@jensarnold50]

Music Nan Guitars are awesome!

[@red240red2]

The cleans on noth are brilliant . I like the jp more. To bad bad I can’t get along either the majesty shape or I would have one! They play effortlessly

[@jps_musics]

Hands down the best the JP15 has ever looked

[@platinumpengwinmusic5564]

For me, the Majesty was the easy choice, because of 4 main reasons: 1. It's the only EBMM 8 string. 2. Ebony fretboard. 3. hardtail bridge. 4. Pickups

[@shichen4805]

Great demo of these two guitars, really informative, thank you! I think the tone of the Majesty pops out a bit more than the JP15, especially in high gain, I like it much more. And this really makes me indecisive about which one to choose, as I like the more stable roasted maple neck and the overall look of JP15 while I prefer the tone of Majesty more. Really hard choice now XD

[@rickrolled1918]

Other than the amazing guitars and your insane skills, you're really well-spoken. No ermm or huhh, just straight-up words. This might sound like a weird compliment but very few people are that fluent and I think it's a noteworthy trait. huhh I'm still working on it myself ;-)

[@toemasmeems]

Oooio I know which one id pick.... Richardson 7 Cutlass bc a 7 string cutlass is so badass.

[@kenmasters007]

The clears winner is EBBM... no matter the model, we all win and EBBM takes your hard earned cash

[@ibanezjjung]

good review

[@LeonTodd]

That line at 1:15 ish 😍

[@coopercarter]

Thx my dude 🤘🏻 I'm leaning on that one a bit too much lately 😂

[@jaymacdonnell4730]

The JP15 is one of THE smoothest guitars I've ever played. The Majesty comes close. But it's no match.

[@jemelvirrey6118]

what about jp6?

[@michaelgreen5206]

The Majesty blows away the JP15, IMO.

[@user-pb1gm4wk7c]

@@michaelgreen5206 its all preference with the body i think. Every human had a different posture so every guitar sits different from a man to man. Their sound is close so i think its just body preference

[@chez4504]

The satin jp neck finish make it better than the majesty.

[@terryvanced7850]

@@michaelgreen5206 are you deaf?

[@rcc_96]

If I ever get to make my own signature guitar, it would be combination of the JP15 and Misha Mansoor's Jackson.

[@amitreznik2846]

man this is insane! can you borrow petrucci himself the main riff on the jp15 at the beggining??? this riff can easily be on DT next album! perfect!

[@xF1revolution]

I have a JPX in barolo that i bought second hand and it is a seriously niiiice guitar. Those JPs are all insane

[@MaestroJericho]

the purple one? those are my favorites personally , especially the 5 way blade variant.

[@xF1revolution]

@@MaestroJericho Yup! The 5 way switch is actual the worst part of the guitar. It sits way too high and can easily be hit. I think they've redesigned it for other JP models since.

[@MaestroJericho]

@@xF1revolution ahhh I get you, I prefer 5 way regularly but I could how the 5 way on that layout would get in the way.

[@Mike-pd6np]

That stealth black is fucking SEXY. I wish the other colors had black hardware to match the pickups

[@zZrEtRiBuTiOnZz]

Sounds like the JP15 has more treble and the Majesty has a warmer tone. That being said the JP15 with its blue cerulean paradise quilt and roasted maple neck looks 100x better than the Majesty. Although that purple majesty looks pretty killer too.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Playability is key to me and I like the access of the Majesty way better.

[@kevinmcguinness1113]

Great demo and comparison, thanks. Differences in tone are hardly discernible across all pickup configurations and could easily be dialled in or out with EQ - maybe the JP15 is a *LITTLE* bit tighter and brighter on the heavy tones, but am not totally convinced about that ?? For me, the tone differences are negligible TBH, and it would comes down to feel and aesthetics at the time if I were ever lucky enough to be in a position to have to chose between them. Saying that, I've got a Majesty Monarchy already, so that might swing me towards a JP15 - the quilted maple Cerulean Paradise finish is stunning :-).

[@axe2rock]

damn man, love your guitars but very expensive for me :( great playing btw

[@f8ry176]

maj is badass tone

[@itsgmani]

Fuck that playing was on point

[@coopercarter]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@vasilisandreadis4965]

Very nice video man,both of the them is amazing ,but in my ears jp15 is better.

[@samstrolia]

Thumbs up just for that intro song

[@scottwatelet5769]

Own the JP 15 in six string. Getting the Majesty in 7 string

[@oreo5baht957]

For me JP15 look Simple and familier with superstrat style But sound incredible and mary feature So The majesty is very ergonomic light wieght necktru very sleek more of speed and the shape is very unique. Ex when i see the JP15 in first glance im not sure what it is (Jackson misha USA satin very simmilar both maple board and color) but if its a majesty i can see Yeah! Its majesty!

[@metaldude]

sometimes I like the Majesty, sometimes I like the JP15 better...man so tough to choose

[@sb632]

Would love to know the signal chain used for your lead tone in this video. One of the best lead tones I've heard on a while.

[@coopercarter]

Axe-Fx III "Petrucci Rig" factory preset. USB direct recording into DAW. That's it!

[@Tanax13]

I would looove for a comparison between this Majesty and the Blue Honu you also have. The Blue Honu you have is no different from the 2020 Blue Honu I assume? It would be interesting to see if there are any noticeable differences between the woods used in them while everything else is the same :)

[@csukovitsgyuri2507]

Actually there is no 2020 blue honu. The 2020 models are ember glow, pink sand, smoked pearl, and that red phenix he has. You can still buy the blue honu because the 2019 models are still available. As far as I know the only difference between the 2019 and 2020 models are the finishes. I've just ordered the 7 string version of the enchanted forest... I can't wait for it to arrive...😍

[@stringsattached67]

Love the majesty's but i honestly like the sound of my 2016 over the 2022 in my opinion The illuminators sound better.

[@emmahart288]

Big fan., any chance of getting a bit of light in your videos?? Hard to see the guitars.

[@jonasmartinsen3439]

Holy shit that intro

[@elouhimlining4365]

Nice intro

[@TZIZ]

Thank you for your patience, dedication and perseverance to share with us! Great Groove in your playing!! I have a question: if you had to choose one guitar to take with you to a gig where you have to play all kind of genres for long time (more comfortable neck profile and versatility of the instrument), which one would you take among all the Ernie Ball Guitars that you have tried? The Cultlass RS HSS or SSS? Majesty? JP 15? SABRE? Other? Thanks once again!

[@coopercarter]

Maybe the Sabre?! It's a tough call!

[@Jmdeclue]

I own a majesty monarch and love it, but... I need to clear something up about the bridge and locking tuners. I consistently hear people speak of locking tuners as if they are a locking nut. They are not! They not only do not lock at the nut, they also do not lock the rotation of the post, they lock the string into the post. This is a HUGE difference and it is not as good as a locking nut, no matter what anyone says. I was pulling the string tight, locking it and getting about a quarter to a quarter and half turn, low to high, and when bending and pulling back on the trem it would slowly detune. I have found that putting about a turn and a half on the post makes a big difference for my tuning stability and is similar to my floyds. YMMV.

[@tomh4244]

To have a turn and a half on the post you basically mean giving enough slack to the string and then tune up, or you're turning the string around the post before tuning like non locking guitars?

[@Jmdeclue]

@@tomh4244 after tuning the string I am trying to leave enough to make about one and a half wraps around the post, so it is a small amount of slack. Enough so there is at least one full wrap. It seems to work well. Multiple wraps and you will get string stretch which has always been a problem with all tremolos except floyds. I hope that explains it.

[@willman100]

Hello, Can someone tell me if the JP15-6 has a wider neck than the Majesty 6 ? Thanks

[@HidrodemolicionEPT]

Hey Cooper, will you share with us your settings to reach that enormous distortion tone on the JP15 at the beging of the video? Greetings from Mexico city!

[@coopercarter]

This is the factory Petrucci Rig preset in the Axe-Fx III 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@HidrodemolicionEPT]

@@coopercarter Thanks man!

[@VadimBln]

Both of them are really good instruments but I would prefer the JP15 guitar. I don't know why. The sound is almost the same. I hear a slight difference, but it doesn't really matter.

[@benkoi8310]

I like the sound of the JP15 better than the majesty in my opinion.

[@patriceblanco]

Hi 👋🏻 Is it possible to share your clean tone ? Amazing demo, I have the JP6 and I’d love to have a Majesty.. Have you tried the Sterling Models ? If yes, except the piezo, did you noticed a big difference between them ? Thanks 🙏🏻

[@coopercarter]

This is the factory Axe-Fx III Petrucci Rig preset I designed. You can easily pull it up in your unit. I have not played the Sterling models, but I have always heard amazing things about their quality!

[@patriceblanco]

@@coopercarter ok. Thanks 🙏🏻

[@ravenshadowz2343]

I think the JP15 pickups sound very slightly muddy compared to the Majesty, it's not enough to chose the Majesty over the JP15 though.

[@GaryMcNeill]

What is the cab on the bottom left with the M logo?

[@joaomauriciobasiledesouza6204]

Dude your tone is UNBELIEVABLE, it sounds sooooo good. Uhhhh! Tell us a little about your signal chain.

[@coopercarter]

Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III Petrucci Rig factory preset, straight into the daw via usb

[@joaomauriciobasiledesouza6204]

It sounds like a huge studio, mixed and mastered sound. Awesome job dude! You rock! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@jeremyirons9417]

@@joaomauriciobasiledesouza6204 The Axe-FX III sounds UNBELIEVABLE with my Majesty.

[@hughnguyen1772]

Comparing a 7 string to a 6 string?

[@jungats7]

Majesty is more brighter, while JP15 is more organic

[@Haduj-the-Lion]

Whaha you still didnt awnser, wich is YOUR favorite and what do you prefer though.... 😅

[@randallsandmann2579]

The JP15 is the winner for me. It sounds better on clean tones. Sadly, the neck profiles on these great guitars doesn’t work for me at all.

[@AnnWahlquist]

I like the older ones better.....

[@gtrmusic69]

1. I just got two Majesty Tigereye (serial 13000 and 13003) literally two weeks ago and I just returned both three days ago. They both had a problematic pickup selector where at a high volume with distortion if you pluck a high note, say e on 12th fret 1st string, and let it sustain and during the sustain you switch pickups, something anyone should be able to do, it literally sounded like someone was hitting a bass drum coming out of the speakers. It happened on every note but is most notable on the higher notes since that's a low thump that comes out of the speakers. 2. Also both of them had dead notes around the high Ab on the 1st string - for people who don't know that's 16th fret. 3. They also both had the push/push buttons feeling very stiff and not smooth at all. To a point where you didn't know if the button was going to come up or not. It certainly didn't follow your finger like the JP15 does when you pushed it to come up. 4. One more thing was that both Majesties had somewhat lower output than my trusty JP15 who sustains like a 1950's Les Paul. 5. They also both had strings (1st, 2nd, 3rd, that were slipping and cracking during bends, very possible a simple fix to lube everything but the factory should make sure this doesn't happen on a 5k guitar. So I decided to keep my old and trusty JP15. The other thing I noticed is that the upper fret access is much easier for me on the JP15. This may be subjective but for me when played the Majesty the left hand wrist kept hitting that weird corner on if I got anywhere near the highest frets. The JP15 is completely free of my wrist hitting the corner or any part of the cutaway at all. Just goes up there with no resistance. Which is ironic considering Ernie Ball and John Petrucci really try to push the upper fret access as being one of the selling points of the Majesty. Bottom line: the JP15 is a very awesome guitar and works much much better for me and the two Majesties I bought are clearly faulty products. So they both went back and I'm back playing the JP15 and now appreciate it just that much more.

[@thefam9179]

Where did you buy them from? I heard of majesty’s having faulty wiring. Is the higher fret access (past the 20) on the jp15 really easy to get too? I thought it being a bolt on would make it not as comfortable as a neck through ?

[@Thezemon]

JP15 it is then

[@Joe-tc9vy]

What studio monitors is Cooper using? Not the Matrix or Mission FRFR But the actual studio monitors

[@coopercarter]

Genelec Ones for the last several years, but this was filmed right before I got them. This video shows Alesis M1 Actives.

[@Joe-tc9vy]

@@coopercarter wow hey, thanks for the reply! I'm looking into the Matrix FRFRs as well. Love your videos!

[@CamiloVelandia]

BUR-NING!!!!

[@coopercarter]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@UberDistortion]

U used ebow for lead intro ?

[@coopercarter]

Yes!

[@fffaccini]

send me one

[@thisguy2973]

Hearing about the digital pickup selector sounds interesting, but it kind of has me switched off of wanting one. Am I out of touch with this feature?

[@coopercarter]

? What's off-putting about it? There's no digital signal processing, ie. the audio itself isn't touched. It just means the selection is happening more quickly and more smoothly.

[@thisguy2973]

@@coopercarter I personally don’t know if any other guitar model that has a digits selector like that. What happens when it breaks? I’m just not familiar with that type of switch on a guitar.

[@michaelgreen5206]

Wish you would have played through a tube amplifier instead of hearing Fractal Audio System effects and Matrix Amplification. Consequently, want hear what the guitar sounds like UNPROCESSED. Still a great demo though.

[@georgecassell5140]

It makes no difference mate? the sound is "processed"...

[@wiloman82]

Amazing guitars,i wish they offered them without the piezo sistem also.

[@pallabdas5656]

Please make a tutorial for The looking glass solo by dream theater .

[@Justafeller]

Why does no one ever talk about the neck thickness/width on these guitars?

[@coopercarter]

Because they have the same nut width. 1 11/16".

[@Justafeller]

@@coopercarter Thanks! I was referring to the thickness. Trying to compare them to say an Ibanez, Les Paul or Strat neck. Do they fill the hand or are they slimmer? No where to try them out where I live.

[@vladislavbarakin9599]

No correct. 7str vs 6str.

[@bmann792]

Can you give me an idea of the types of delays and reverb using

[@coopercarter]

It's the factory Axe-Fx III preset, "Petrucci Rig."

[@bmann792]

Dammit thanks. I don’t have an axe fx

[@natedogg319]

Is nobody going to ask if there are any differences in trem besides shape? Watched this whole video hoping to hear they only look different or are actually different in quality... Nooooobody even mentioned it.

[@coopercarter]

They're both smooth as butter.

[@pallabdas5656]

Sir there are no tutorial of Looking glass solo from dream theater in youtube

[@Louiebirch]

Learn it yourself

[@guitarfanatic5099]

Only if I had a job to afford a majesty😂

[@mikej7475]

Sweetwater has 0% financing for 48 months, which runs at about $62.00 a month...if that helps.

[@guitarfanatic5099]

Really?

[@michelevalentin6014]

the jp 15 is better

[@chrismorris6356]

I will care when Myung gets his signature bass from the same company. I've seen these run for 4k.....or at least one of his guitars at GC

[@maciejduda5257]

The 6-string Bongo was designed in collaboration with Myung, as far as I'm aware.

[@chrismorris6356]

@@maciejduda5257 That was for his personal Bongos that he performs with. I'm looking for one in collaboration with EBMM thats sold to the public....

[@hysteriatheband3757]

@@chrismorris6356 they just came out with his signature bongo a week ago!

[@adgtr383]

Just released one man

[@chrismorris6356]

@@adgtr383 yea, I know....

[@yahaguitars]

JP15 is better 100%

[@MAGAMAN]

That Majesty guitar design is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. I call it the shovel Banana guitar.

[@MofosRealReviews]

Petrucci is a salesman now not even a guitarist anymore. I won’t fall into the following and the “hype” of these overpriced guitars.

[@djencode]

You probably say this because you've never played one. Value is relative but for me, a comfortable fast playing and great sounding guitar is worth the money. Especially with all of the premium features it comes with.

[@iamtorrego]

Pretty sure you have never played them. By the way, refer to PRS for that kind of rants....

[@jeffwombold9167]

The quality of these guitars are second to none. I own both, and I've owned several other high end guitars, and they only come close to these.

[@douglasalvaradocorrales]

Subscribing myself to this channel like "RIGHT NOW" Great review, thanx !