In the studio with John Petrucci

John Petrucci (Dream Theater) talks about his new Music Man guitar, working with DiMarzio & Ernie Ball, his live performances v. studio work, technique & testing new gear.

[@metalprogster]

This guy is the man.. met him at a show once. . The guy has no ego and will actually talk to you about music without being so full of himself.

[@nicolay3187]

I'm glad he kept it down to 1,000 notes per second.

[@Golem29]

You'd be dead otherwise

[@deathvalleyjoyride]

what I admire about John, other than his playing, is his intelligence and his well spoken manner. John is a professional's professional.

[@themetalicious7195]

He is not only that and a role model but also he created the universe because he is god

[@Golem29]

It's hard to find anyone who speaks bad about him. Obviously you'll get people who dislike DT but there's almost nobody hating on him as a person.

[@woodenhoe]

@@Golem29 and almost no one hates John Myung

[@yasirreal631]

He was really a master guitar and composer obviously, thoughts about all his concept start from the album image and worgs until the last album, it is really really epic. And he describes all of even without change it. He was really 2 phenomenal guitarist, all the guitarist shoulf gve him a salute..

[@8Junio76]

Put him next to Jim ‘you know’ Root and you will hear how well John speaks.

[@danteprimm]

What I find so great about guys like Petrucci and Paul Gilbert is they truly appear to enjoy sharing their knowledge and even their tricks with other guitarists. Guitarists like Petrucci are not full of themselves and have nothing to prove to anyone, they truly love playing and making music.

[@V8LC100]

SO true, Satriani is another guy who seams very personable and takes the time to have a chat to the audience at his gigs which I enjoy.

[@nobnobnobnob]

Yes they love to share everything, because only them can do those things.

[@nobnobnobnob]

Obviously you haven't gone thru any of their albums. Their music is somehow classified as Progressive Rock, very technical and well written. Done some research about this genre from wiki, found out that this music is not for everybody. But most of the people who appreciate it have higher intelligence level. Not saying all, but most.

[@irena7777777]

True. And Eric Clapton likes to teach other guitarists his speed playing techniques too. Faster than Shawn Lane.

[@Snowy0123]

Dante Primm I love the love for all things guitar that Gilbert and petrucci has. It's so contagious and inspiring.

[@jmetalskinz]

Everyone in DreamTheatre is so educated in their instruments. Unbelievable musicianship.

[@woodenhoe]

Even their past bandmates are gods; Kevin, Derek, and (sigh) Portnoy

[@valvoganism]

This guy probably the most humblest and wisest guitar god

[@istolethisaccount]

Reza Rizky That’s why we build idols and worship him! You should try it sometime!

[@TightyWhities94]

Jeff loomis is there with him

[@nateroska8509]

So is satch(:

[@Sandarpan]

Damn you John! The guitar isn't fast. You are..

[@umagey6240]

Sandarpan 😂😂 that's true

[@Joesfosterdogs]

dude is so NOT a rock head...the intelligence behind the playing. no lame sunglasses like a lead singer would be wearing, no lame headband...just a dude talking shop. Steve Morse...finally someone gave him his due! Dixie Dregs.

[@projectmayhem1126]

Mike, John, Jordan... hehe, nothing's changed apparently! :)

[@baradalamasa]

mike mangini & mike portnoy. both are mike(s). LOL

[@MrGewoonDaan]

Joe Enders and both of the guitar guys (even wording it like this makes me shudder...) are johns. I guess that's the primary they didn't go for marco minnemann instead of mangini :>

[@subutaynoyan5372]

This guitar is better than Majesty.

[@subutaynoyan5372]

Mauro Ranieri I don't. Sounds like an EMG pickuped guitar a little bit, doesn't have the tone of passive Crunch Lab and LiquiFire, the tone is to thick(couldn't find a better word) and way too bright. That much metal kind of tone isn't good for DT music. Yeah, it's a metal band but it's prog, not trash.

[@DontCrossIt]

+M Bayrak But Petrucci's Ibanez smoked both (just one man's opinion)

[@themodernguitarist]

+Mauro Ranieri Because of the shovel.

[@marklowery863]

M Bayrak The Majesty guitar looks like something Prince would play XD

[@russwilson2305]

The Majesty is a boner killer. I like the Pertucci Ibanez RG. Now that's a guitar that has it's aesthetic act together, paint job notwithstanding!

[@FlaksterMusic]

I was skipping forward and I accidentally made him say "All of the guys are so tight"

[@arturocastillo9450]

More delay please..

[@LarryDiMarzio]

Alnico 8 was used by several pickup makers in the early 1980s. I've always found it to be a little brittle-sounding, compared to some of the other Alnico formulas. However, we might use it if we find a situation where it might fit.

[@bsomsofficial]

man he seems like such a good guy

[@kzarandooz]

Its Called F1 Cuz Its Easy To Drive :)))))

[@TheSkipjack95]

I am still laughing at that one.

[@SanfilippoAngelo]

He plays with a fridge. :D

[@AJewAndAFatty]

He's always explaining guitars as race cars. Lol

[@hjubris]

Yeah I know right? "Those are NOT easy to drive, John". lol

[@davidsartorius7067]

crunch sound. lol ........

[@TheSkipjack95]

More like crush sound

[@bazitube390]

:))

[@istolethisaccount]

David Sartorius only a Sartorius would insult the Lord and Savior!

[@CristianoGimenesGoulartFilho]

Man, the sound... The sound of his rig, is the most perfect sound of all rigs in the entire universe! He and Mike Portnoy surely pay attention in Berklee lessons of gears!

[@SERCHSOS3722]

But can it exceed temperatures from the sun?

[@Oblivion4pcand360]

0:32 The Lick

[@fffaccini]

Devon also 7:42

[@bruceanthony8345]

4:24 And this lick And this 4:15

[@GOIETZ]

This is probably one of my favorite sounds from him. The most AGGRESSIVE crunch I have heard. Check it out for yourself at 3:45. The chord is full of every good sound possible.

[@danhall716]

+Riku Falck Not quite...both the 6 and 7 strings are 25.5", but he also has a 6 string baritone at 27.5".

[@Rehberg1]

John Petrucci is the best guitarist of all time. Hands down. He's the reason I picked up my guitar.

[@EricVera539]

Man, I was 16 when I first saw this video back in '09. Watching it today at 22 makes me feel old. ): #ILoveJohnPetrucci. (:

[@stefanlorusso9349]

Eric Vera I'd kill to be 22

[@HAPPYCHIEF1]

Same.

[@Jmusicguitar]

First time I heard petrucci I was 15 im 32 now.

[@MrDmadness]

This guy is pure awesome, such a great musician and really a hell of a nice guy.

[@christiaannagel]

Those guns are ridiculous. He's a bit back to normal now. Much love sir

[@CatastrophicMcIntosh]

6:24 sounds like racecar by periphery. :) (yes i know he and periphery are buddies)

[@benstieritz8447]

Jake is his nephew!

[@JoaoSantos-ho3db]

Ben Stieritz are you serious !!??Jake from pheripery is nephew of John Petrucci ?

[@benstieritz8447]

João Santos​ he sure is. Not blood relation but it's true

[@JoaoSantos-ho3db]

Cool !! Glad to know that

[@herumusicman8200]

I think this is the best of john petrucci's guitar sound i've ever heard. Even much better than his guitar sound today.

[@jasonblahafitness3479]

That fucking tone

[@billykos1554]

Jason Blaha Fitness yes Jason you said it. That fucking tone. Damn

[@lifegoeson2422]

Jason Blaha Fitness Fuck yeah he has a monster tone 😊🤘

[@jeanlemarchais]

too more delay or effects... i would like to ear john petrucci's sound without effects.

[@landajimmy]

jeanlemarchais thru a Fender twin

[@jerbear1601]

I have a feeling that without effects covering it all up it wouldn't be so impressive and actually the mushy sound does nothing for me.

[@FloydRose89]

Your favourite guitarist is Steve Morse, you are mine.

[@wiggy009]

Petrucci is my fav too. But Morse is still great one of my favorites

[@pzdipuing]

No mine not yours

[@RazorEd11]

This video is over 10 years old and even with the advent of all the amp modelling hardware/software, NOTHING matches that crushing tone of 6:40. I honestly think this is the best/most evil tone JP has ever created with any iteration of any instrument he has ever held in his hand.

[@Hitchens91]

He's easily one of my favourite guitarists ever- but I kinda miss it when he was a weedy little guy playing an Ibanez. Still- hes an utter God.

[@RaatoHamse]

6:40 I miss this JP's distortion, nowadays it's too much.

[@Аноним-щ3н]

"so when you have like a CRUNCH sound" :D

[@ЕвгениНайденов-ш4в]

He is so humble!

[@loocarlosgt]

petrucci pra é o melhor e original,guitarrista q o mundo pode estar vendo!! sei que existem muitos guitarristas velozes e muitos virtuosos,mas vejos a originalidade de john petrucci, seus solos geniosos,suas tecnicas singulares e suas capacidade unica de raciocinio!!! uma grande musico!! obg

[@Ivan-yo4hy]

How much $$$ would cost that R2D2 next to John?

[@Kingvx3]

+Ivan Granić a lot

[@aymanemotad228]

+Kingvx3 Good one bro, good one

[@JavierNula]

Best Comment Award is for you, dude ;-)

[@Ivan-yo4hy]

I am flattered ;D

[@WalberSantaremDTs2]

islad

[@sonyskymaster]

i like this guy he actually sounds like he knows what he is talking about he is very methodical and modest

[@Fr3derick]

Awesome Grandma mary

[@aandc2005]

John Petrucci is one of my favorite guitar players! I put him in my list of the top 5 greatest! John is also a really good person, for example in this vid you can tell he is very down to earth and easy to talk with a "good soul"...Also thanks Larry for posting this vid up on youtube :) you make the greatest affordable guitar pickups!! I always use your great pickups in my guitars! :)

[@roathripper]

dude has packed on some seriious muscle!!!

[@simonsitinjak]

0:46 Bold Family Reserve Series , Use humbucker no middle pickup, no mounting rings 2:05 Favorite is Steve Morse 2:55 Steve Morse style 3:09 Listening Paul G & Steve Vai 3:35 Example 6:40 Crunch sound

[@Bartisoft]

Hell yeahhhh...that crunch sound !!!....that's what I'm talking about !!!

[@irwansyahsadid5878]

many people say that his shredding guitar is sloopy when compared to yngwie,gilbert,vinnie moore,or chris impellitteri aka speed king. u know what, i dont care abt it,1 thing that i know that his guitar playing is very awesome,more over with dream theater=complete music.

[@JamesRussoMillas]

"Crunch sound" LOL

[@JakeJensenGuitar]

Just like the "Crunch sound" on his new demo of the Mesa Mark IIC+ with his majesty!

[@JamesRussoMillas]

Yeah those new pickups are much brighter

[@Dylanhennessy]

6:10 - 6:29 sounds so fucking beautiful. I hope he makes an ambient track like that one day.

[@DanyAguilar]

Petrucci is mining some bitcoins back there LOL

[@PhilHindle1]

5:30.... those effects and chords are magical... its incredible how Petrucci plays... an absolute genius!

[@beardExplorer]

5:30 song ? pls

[@SanelvellaS]

+Filipe Gonçalves it's just an improvisation. I know, it sounds pretty cool.

[@vbdude006]

wow, I think I've seen it all from John..but then I see some crazy stuff he improvises like 4:25 WOW He never ceases to amaze me haha thats probably why he is the greatest guitarist ever and my favorite guitarist of all time!

[@Jesusguitars14]

john petrucci's rig worth more than my house

[@chrisCANguitar]

just noticed a typo. when the description of the pick ups comes up. It says Crunch lab in the neck and Liquifire in the bridge.

[@gabrielarmenta3651]

I cried at 6:10 that tone is beautiful, i love that guitar more than all his models that he released. and is the guitar hes playing one of the baritone models?

[@murrinito]

Joe Satriani Silent Predator song by JD Carricatti , awesome !!!

[@DragosNowitzki]

Isn't it hard to imagine John Petrucci taking guitar lessons? Just think about the poor teacher... He goes "So, you have to do this" and then Petrucci goes "like this?" and does it 10 times better than him. LOL

[@PressureTZO]

.....this guy is the coolest person alive! he's so chill!!!!! and he's so modest!

[@jasonhempey2807]

I love how John Petrucci is one of the most guitar players of all time but always remains humble. He never shy's away from talking about other guitar players techniques and how we incorporates them into his own.

[@ArshLX12]

Wowww!!!..... One of d best guitar tones I have heard till date!!

[@jasonhempey2807]

I love how John Petrucci is one of the most incredible guitar players of all time but always remains humble. He never shy's away from talking about other guitar players techniques and how he incorporates them into his own.

[@xxrockon83]

Look closely at his rig. He's using an EVH Flanger and Phaser. He's a god already, and he's using another gods effects. John Petrucci is fucking awesome.

[@chaosdecides]

Love my X2N. Let the metal flow!

[@taniaandersson929]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANASTASIA J.Petrucci "Glassgow Kiss", Anastasia Kossiak- guitarra electrica

[@superDrmaximus]

It only just hit me how insanely smart JP is (on top of being one of the greatest artists ever to live)

[@DeusEx_Machina]

Don't think it was any particular song, just an exercise riff by Steve Morse, Petrucci's favorite guitarist.

[@carl_lindquist]

Enjoyed this video! All the best!!

[@tankerbrigade]

This John is so simple guy so pleasant.

[@trangofast9692]

best solo? under a glass moon.

[@PotaoDude]

This guy is great, so humble, yet amazing. It's wonderful.

[@FacetsOfTruth]

What a nice guy. It is really refreshing to hear someone with this kind of amazing talent who isn't full of himself. I really dig this brother.

[@ESP4thaWin]

His sound is so awesome here. Love how the guitar tuner is trying to keep up with his notes, but don't stand a chance.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@kevenbelangerharbour All of our full-size humbuckers except the X2N® and D Activator-X™ are available in two polepiece spacings. F-spacing refers to the wider of the two spacings. For proper string alignment and balanced output, F-spaced humbuckers should be used in the bridge position on all guitars with string spacing at the bridge of 2.1" (53 mm) or greater. On these guitars, if the nut width is 1-11/16” (43 mm) or greater, F-spaced pickups can be used in the neck position as well.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@kevenbelangerharbour Hi, All of our full-size humbuckers except the X2N® and D Activator-X™ are available in two polepiece spacings. F-spacing refers to the wider of the two spacings. For proper string alignment and balanced output, F-spaced humbuckers should be used in the bridge position on all guitars with string spacing at the bridge of 2.1" (53 mm) or greater. On these guitars, if the nut width is 1-11/16” (43 mm) or greater, F-spaced pickups can be used in the neck position as well.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@young0wylde0child Hi, Your statement "it's all in the hands" is not completely true. Getting your guitar to sound right (for you) is going to affect how and what you play. For example, when I worked with Eddie Van Halen (who has amazing hands) was super aware of what was happening to his guitar amp combo at every part on the chain. Eddie is typical of ALL of the guitarists that I work with. Hope that helps, Larry

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@drrojogochu I can definitely say a LiquiFire works well in the bridge position, but there's no way to be certain in advance if any pickup will do exactly what you want. Even if a pickup works perfectly for you in one guitar, it may sound entirely different in another guitar because of the differences in individual pieces of wood.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

Sorry, but there are so many pedals available that I wouldn't know where to start. John's basic distorted sound comes from his amp rather than from a pedal, so the best advice I can offer is to check out the pedals that are emulating an overdriven amp rather than distortion pedals.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@osmar3823 John's clean sound is based on the combination of 2 humbuckers in split mode. A single-coil by itself will not produce the same sound. You could try a True Velvet middle pickup (DP175S) in the middle, which should combine with both the neck and bridge pickups.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@Ktulu234 If you compare these pickups directly in the same guitar, you will find the Liquifire to have warmer unwound strings and brighter wound strings. In other words, the EQ of these pickups is different, and it isn't possible to say one is brighter than the other.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@BOOLsheet Sorry, but you can't. The hole spacing of Gibson covers doesn't match our polepiece spacing, and all of the pickups I suggested apart from the Norton have 12 adjustable polepieces. To avoid noise problems, we don't recommend using 6-hole covers with this type of pickup.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@angushammet567 Hard to say without hearing the noise directly, but the pickups may be hotter than the stock pickups and therefore be more sensitive to hum fields from the amp and the room. You should also check the cable length from the pickup. Trimming the cable fairly short can reduce excess noise.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@Tragedyinagraveyard There are a lot of possible options. If you will email us at [e-mail] with a description of how you'd like the sound to be different from what it is with the stock bridge pickup, we should be able to narrow the choices.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@marxiusz1 It's only possible to offer good suggestions if we know how you want to change the sound you're getting with the stock pickups. If you can describe this, email us at [e-mail] and we will make good recommendations.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@JS100monty The LiquiFre & Crunch Lab weren't designed to be particularly bright-sounding. If you are interested in passive humbuckers that are bright with tight bass response, the D Activator neck & bridge models might be the best choices.

[@janek9034]

John Petrucci----Jesus on guitar

[@CABzAu]

Lol man he is one of my favs. Epic guitarist. I still practice with his Rock Discipline guitar video, especially now that I started playing again after a long spell w/o picking up the guitar. He was even killin it bak then in that video!!

[@LarryDiMarzio]

It's certainly possible to change the pickups, but more detailed information is needed. Which Suhr guitar do you have in mind? Please email [e-mail] with your question. We should be able to recommend several pickups.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

We don't make active pickups, but we do have pickups that aren't muddy. If you email us at [e-mail] and tell us the guitar model you have and the type of music you play, we should be able to recommend pickups.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@ESP4thaWin There are many possible reasons why the identical gear might not produce similar results, but it's impossible to guess about the causes without being in the same room to see and hear you play.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@o00harris00o It isn't possible to answet your question without more information. Please email [e-mail] with this question, and describe how you want the sound to be different from the sound of the stock pickups.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@MichaelLozano12 I am sorry, but our individual pickups do not come with pots and wiring included. If you will email us at [e-mail], we can supply a wiring diagram and a list of the components you'll need.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@Gorbyrev Yes, it's still possible. It's a PSCM2. You should be able to order it though any DiMarzio dealer. I don't know if the 5-way in the S2 was ours, but Parker did use our 5-ways in NiteFlys for a number of years.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@DANizDAN You can see the answer to this question on the FAQ page on our website. The difference is only in the polepiece spacing - 1.90" standard spacing vs. 2.01" F-spacing. Thelength and width of the pickups are the same.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@mymama12314 It's impossible to answer your question without knowing what guitar and amp you have and what types of music you play.Email this info to [e-mail] and we will offer useful recommendations.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@bourzoblaxos13 That covers a lot of gound. An F-spaced Evo 2 (DP215F) in the bridge position and an F-spaced Air Norton (DP193F) or LiquiFire (DP227F) in the neck position is one possibility, with a True Velvet middle pickup.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

Hi, I don't think that John would endorse or play anything that he doesn't really like. I recommend trying one of John's guitars especially the US version (seen in this video) I really like them. All the best, Larry DiMarzio

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@skizzurrp Hi, Sorry, I don't recall the mic setup. However, the cabinets were in a separate room and cranked. We recorded directly from the board to the camera input. Hope that helps, Larry DiMarzio

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@tonyiommi87 If you go to our website and compare the specs and descriptions, you will see they're very different from each other. The D AC-X is thciker-sounding, and the bridge model is hotter.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@petejt Hi, Sorry to say but I don't remember. This video was made at about the same time as the most recent album. If you check his equipment list it will be the same. Hope that helps, Larry DiMarzio

[@LarryDiMarzio]

Every guitar body has its own sound. A Crunch Lab (or any other model) will not sound identical in basswood, alder or mahogany, but I don't think it will lack depth in any of them.

[@LarryDiMarzio]

Hi, They look similar but they sound different. Check out the tone charts on the DiMarzio website for a better idea, I'm a big fan of the Crunch Lab. Hope that helps, Larry DiMarzio

[@LarryDiMarzio]

@Kalorjy John has used a number of different pickups in the past, including the Humbucker From Hell, Tone Zone, Air Norton, Steve's Special, D-Sonic and several custom pickups.