Sterling by Music Man JP70 - A Pretentious Review

A pretentious review of the Sterling by Music Man JP70 from a guitar snob. Includes rundown of the features, likes and dislikes. Also includes a comparison of the pickups on the JP70 to a guitar with DiMarzio CrunchLab and Air Norton pickups.
Gear used for recording guitar:
- ENGL Gigmaster 30
- Custom 2x12 cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30's
- Sennheiser e609 microphone
- Classic API VP26 mic preamp

[@ManBunMetalHead]

What do you think about the JP70? Run into any issues with it?

[@bottomfeederbluescbgs4132]

I love it. I have the same one. I swapped the pickups with the Seymour Duncan nazgul and sentinent. It sounds nasty as fuck. Only issue with mine is the top e string snaps when just the whammy bar so I just play without it. Other than that it's a damn good guitar for the price .

[@krishnathapa41]

Can i change bridge into evertune

[@arjundhannyify]

@@bottomfeederbluescbgs4132 hey Man! I am exactly in your shoes right now..i plan to but the nazgul-sentient pups... i wanted to ask that how difference it has made in the quality of tone? Or do you find dramatic difference? I would appreciate your response. Thanks!

[@bottomfeederbluescbgs4132]

@@arjundhannyify you'll definitely hear the difference my dude.

[@2triggered2comment55]

@@arjundhannyify I put SD nazgul/sentient in my schecter reaper. I switched back to the decimators, schecter pups are just amazing, and put these sds in a fender hh strat. They are great pickups. The black winter is a better bridge pickup imo. But the sentient is amazing.

[@chairmancat3668]

I just ordered this guitar, and seeing that this is a "pretentious" review, I was afraid that you are going to say something critical, and then I will be frustrated, because of my purchase. I am not. Now I'm actually really happy, and can't wait to get it. Thank you for the review!

[@ManBunMetalHead]

No problem man. You'll love it!

[@rockparkoure]

How do you like it? I just ordered mine :)

[@goryunovdmitry]

Got my used JP70 already with Crunch Lab and Liquifire for 400 bucks, very happy with it Also, it already knows how to play JP music, because it was used in DT cover band ;)

[@vladi7441]

just ordered mine (2015 jp 70 through a dealer in europe), hope i'll enjoy it enough to not return it!❤❤

[@michaelgrahamwongacutemadness]

mine is set up good so there’s no tuning issues plus I like still bending the open strings with my fingers sometimes but the stock pickups are definitely not as good as the ones in the jp60 I can see why they’re the same price now though your tone is good and after buying the guitar myself I’ll see if the lower end can be tamed by lowering the pickups and raising poles of the weaker strings

[@anthonymarez7188]

if you play Nothing But signature guitars, how do you really know what you like, maybe you should ask Music Man to make you a signature guitar just saying

[@linkinpunk629]

Signature guitars tend to feature the best of everything. So when you expose yourself to "how good it can be", you develop a more accurate perception of what is and isn't shit.

[@doktabob328]

Well, you’ve sold me on the Air Norton pickup. Great review too. Thanks !

[@einarabelc5]

The neck so good that in fact after dropping it about 3 times the bolt on wood screws came lose, but the headstock and the rest seems to be in one piece.....ouch....

[@uglymeez236]

I love how the musicman looks and would love one but i want to down tune hella low and chug hard, agile almost always seems like the better choice. Like the video tho

[@chinnarciso]

Subbed! Nice video. The dimarzio crunchlab had more power and clarity than those in the sterling guitar.

[@goemonronin]

Those music man pickups don't sound bad at all. They are very close

[@Double_0_7_Strings]

I just got this in the mail yesterday, and I’m blown away. The mystic dream finish is definitely worth the extra money, and it plays really well considering it’s just out of the box. Biggest peeve would be the nut, though. The highest and lowest strings are spaced a little too close to the edges of the fretboard, so if I bend a little too wide the strings just slide off the neck. That’s a beginner guitar pet peeve, and not something that should be on something priced like this. Other than that, I love it.

[@rolandlemus203]

I THINK the Mystic dream Sterling is my next guitar for sure, however, I will immediately change out the pups for a Sonic Ecstasy's. I will also probably put in the ghost Piezo bridge as well under the existing Sterling trem. That puts the guitar in all parts in the 1,200 range for sure, but I think it will sound awesome. I like this model, it plays ALMOST as well as the Majesty. Although not all of them are the same, I have picked some up and said wow, this sucks, compared to the others I have played. Anyway, would love to see these on vids, that finish is just so damn cool! Unique!

[@gauravlama2079]

Loved your reviews man Could you please also do a review on the Ibanez premium Rg1070pbz aswell?

[@sighermike]

I bought one of these a few months ago, I got the Stealth Black version. I only paid $225 for it, used, which is the only reason I bought it. I think it feels good, though I don't have the trem bar, and the other dude blocked the trem anyway. It's currently in the shop getting some Nazgul / Sentients put in it. I will say that it is really, really hard to get it to tune that bottom B, especially if you're going drop A. Once in tune, the rest of the strings are fine, but that bottom string just wants to pull out of whack after two minutes of playing. It's very frustrating. I also put on a.065 gauge low B string, hoping the heavier gauge would be easier. So far that's a bust. I'm currently throwing it off to them being brand new strings, so there's still hope. As far as playability... It feels great in the hands, and it's very comfortable. The new strings sounded pretty good through those SBMM pickups, but I wanted to go with some upgraded pups. I debated going Dreamcatcher / Rainmaker, but since I have those in two other guitars, I decided to go the beefier Nazguls.

[@Shahriar_Firoz]

Hey, good review man. I am planning to buy this as my first 7 string but I really need thin necked guitar. Thin as in Jackson Dinky kinda thin. Is it that thin? (i know you already confirmed it's thin). Thanks in advance.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

It is definitely a thin neck. I'm in the same boat as you. Love those thin Jackson necks.

[@Reortanath]

Great vid! I have my sights set on one, also in TGB unless a different color used one with a good price pops up.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

Thanks man! I think you'll dig the guitar

[@OdysseyStricNin9]

I love mine , it feels really right. The tuners are amazing. For the price, it feels pricey.... need a good good amp though for it ...pickups are not exactly flaming hot.

[@motafov]

man, just discovered this guy (man bun)...he's awesome!

[@matthewshort7904]

I'm the same on my guitars. I haven't bought a stock guitar in years. Last two were Velocity Warmoth bodies. I've been curious about 7 string for some time. I got a JP70 coming in Mystic Dream.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

I've been planning a VIP build for a long time. Maybe this year 🤞🏼

[@toemasmeems]

I love this guitar I think I lucked out and might have gotten ebony as a fingerboard or a super dark rosewood. (It's a 2021 model maybe they tweaked idk) either way do you think it's possible to wire my new DiMarzios with the middle position to be split in series? Or did you have to order a new potentiometer in order to split your DiMarzios? Killer review man would love to see your thoughts 4 years later.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

I don't think there is a way to wire the 3way switch that way, unfortunately. The guitar is still a great buy. I don't play it all that often since 7-strings aren't in my daily repertoire but it still feels great whenever I pick it up.

[@toemasmeems]

@@ManBunMetalHead that's awesome, i think they stopped making the green color that you own so thats cool too

[@Redkitsune1]

@Man Bun Metal Head Nice vid! Does the guitar stay in tune when the tremolo system is used heavily?

[@xxbeholderxx]

This is excellent man. Thank you for this wonderful Review. Might i ask, what is your personal opinion on Jackson Pro Series Dinky DKA7M 7-String Electric Guitar Natural ? (the one with kill switch). I know they could be Worldly different, but i am trying to buy something both cheap, worth the money and....ya. something good haha.

[@josephgargari679]

Great review, man! I was just wondering how accessible the higher frets are? It feels really chunky on the guitar I have atm.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

Thanks! I'd say getting your fingers to the higher frets is no problem, but the heel does feel pretty chunky, especially since it's a bolt-on neck.

[@josephgargari679]

@@ManBunMetalHead Yeah I thought so, but yeah it would probably be no problem as you said :) Thanks for the answer!

[@WrathCybinaSali]

What is the scale length? 25.5? How does it do in a lower tunning? Per say drop G.

[@muniz27]

Someone near me is selling one mint for $100... Should I get it? I've never played a 7-string lol

[@ManBunMetalHead]

Sounds like a deal man

[@ezassegai4793]

not pretentious enough, needs more vegan avocado glutenfree water

[@johnrinehart8866]

I got the cheaper version and I’m very happy with it.

[@jayblake7433]

How big are the frets on this guy? :) great video btw, you covered virtually everything

[@ManBunMetalHead]

They look and feel like standard jumbo frets

[@karterroberts03]

Just got this guitar and I have some really bad fret buzz on the low E and B strings on the 10th fret. I think it’s my action but does anyone have a way to fix this?

[@AttackAndConquer]

Does the trem edges wear down over time? As I heard the bridge is not made out of stainless steel like on the EBMM

[@aavel1964]

How is the wiring on the Jp70? Does it have the split coils on the middle position? Thanks

[@ManBunMetalHead]

I rewired it right after I got it, but I don't remember it having any coil splitting.

[@aavel1964]

@@ManBunMetalHead Thanks for the time!

[@iMatty_2]

I honestly can't tell any difference between the pickups. Maybe my ear just isnt trained enough but I couldn't tell at all

[@fairguinevere666]

The dimarzios were slightly clearer, with slightly more defined overtones and harmonics and more articulation. But it's definitely not a 200 dollar difference, IMO. Like, when I say slightly I mean slightly.

[@therealdirtydan6776]

Do you think this is a good first 7 String Guitar? I'm thinking about getting it for my birthday. I've already been playing with 6 strings for about 4 years.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

I think it's a good guitar to see if you would enjoy playing a 7-string. If you decide to make a 7-string your main guitar, you'd probably end up ordering a higher end guitar down the road. If you decide you don't like 7-strings, you can sell it and won't be out a lot of money.

[@jorgelopezgonzalez4954]

Any tips to fix bending and tremolo tune issues? Ordered mine hours ago and I’m a bit worried about it.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

I wouldn't be too worried about it. It's really only noticeable when you do really big bends. You might want to try a nut lubricant if it's too bad for you.

[@tadejsusta]

The dimarzio pickups make the sound clearer, where as the SBMM pickups a a bit "muddier" in my opinion, from what I personally hear.

[@ManBunMetalHead]

Yeah, I agree with you there.

[@virnalinebrida-sunga7748]

how well is does the trem hold up to bends, dives, etc? usually i see that with non locking trems when strings are bent,they go out of tune and return when dived, is this issue also in that guitar?

[@virnalinebrida-sunga7748]

also what scale lemgth is it and what string gauge for standard do you recommend

[@ManBunMetalHead]

I cover some of the bridge issues around 6:25. I works okay with dives but sometimes doesn't come back up to pitch when doing bends. The scale length is 25.5".

[@prod.xlr8703]

Do u know what that ring thing is that is between the neck pickup and the neck

[@ManBunMetalHead]

It's the mechanism for adjusting the truss rod

[@robertclarkguitar]

What are your thoughts on the JP sterling 150?

[@robertclarkguitar]

Subbed btw. I just picked up guitar from drums 30 years. Keys have been fun and needed to highlight my music with some bluesy atmo guitar soloing. I'm 3 months in learning and having a blast. I upload my progress. But I am not beginner, I knew basic chords and all. Just never really owned my own electric and this has become an addiction. Lol. Thanks man. Love the format here. Keep it up.

[@daflepail]

why is your whammy bar different from the other jp70s out there?

[@ManBunMetalHead]

No clue. This is the only I've played.

[@tobinwasabi]

You look like Harry Miree for guitar

[@InviableTrader]

To me it seems that the metal in the components of the pickups are probably chinese pop metal has nickle and aluminum have seen in guitars that are lower end and made in other contries to cut cost as well have that flat sound as the magnitization is not at strong in the pickups as in higher end guitars that have brand name pickups.

[@illumi409]

those no name pick ups sound better than the 200$ Dimartzios

[@tomh4244]

sure, whatever helps you sleep at night =)

[@bhavenarora4120]

You seem nervous

[@ManBunMetalHead]

Probably was. This was only the 4th video I made for this channel.