Collectible Guitar MayJun 2017 | Page 25

[ CG ] The Mesa Boogie JP2C is an amazing amp with a ton of killer features . How did this project come about ?
[ John ] My relationship with Randy , Doug , Jim , Tim and all the guys there is another family situation . With Ernie Ball Music Man , Sterling , Brian , and Scotty Ball , it really is a family relationship . With Larry DiMarzio and his family , it ’ s a family relationship . And with Mesa Boogie it ’ s the same thing . I ’ ve known these guys forever . I ’ ve begged them for years to do a signature amp . The fact that they eventually said , “ Yes !” and trusted me to work with them to do something very unique and different than what they ’ ve done before is something that I treasure incredibly . I have so much respect for those guys and for Randy for being so open minded to doing this . The greatest thing about the JP2C , besides all the performance perks that I look for : 3 different channels , 2 EQ ’ s , MIDI , built-in Cab Clone , is that it ’ s finally a bona fide actual reissue of a C +. That hasn ’ t happened since the 80 ’ s ! The big transformer , the same circuit . . . it ’ s a C + and it ’ s something that I know that the guitar community and Boogie lovers have been waiting on for a really long time . That is so important to me to say and make sure it is communicated because they don ’ t make those amps anymore . They ’ re out there and people collect them . They ’ re expensive and they ’ re hard to find . But now , with my amp , look no further !
I pinch myself when I think that there is now a Mesa Boogie that has my name on it . It ’ s bizarre . I ’ ve been playing through Boogie ’ s since I was literally a kid . Once someone told me , “ If you want a real amp , you gotta play a Boogie .” I got my first one and I was hooked – I ’ ve never played anything else since . Through the years playing all of the Mark series
models , Rectifiers , Lone Stars and everything else , I have such a knowledge of these amps . But one that I gravitated towards specifically was the Mark IIC +. Although I love the Mark IV and the Mark V with the C + mode in there ,
open minded and talking to Jimi , Frank Arresti , and Sam over there . Having them make these things into a real musical instrument that other people can enjoy and that I ’ m proud to have my name on .
the actual C + was one of those iconic amps
that they built in the 80 ’ s that grabbed a lot of people . It ’ s on a ton of Dream Theater albums and my solo album as well .
Whether it ’ s the Ernie Ball Music Man guitars , the Boogie amp , the TC Dreamscape , the DiMarzio pickups , or the Dunlop picks and the
Wah , all of these pieces are in my gear arsenal .
[ CG ] The Dunlop guys were kind enough to donate some of your signature picks and a JP95 Wah as a giveaway for this issue . Have you always used a Jazz III style pick ?
Every single one of them complements the other and makes everything sound as great as it can be . There ’ s not one thing that takes away from any other piece , sucks tone , or
anything like that . To me , that ’ s so important .
The design , the ingenuity , the quality , the
craftsmanship , and the artistry are all things
that are a part of my mantra . The best thing is
when I talk to people who have this stuff and
are enjoying it . Experiencing the joy of playing a
guitar or amp with my name on it , and they tell
[ John ] I ’ ve been using Jazz III picks since I can ’ t even remember – I can ’ t remember using anything else . It ’ s so personal and it ’ s such a huge part of a guitar player ’ s arsenal . Picks can really make a difference in how you play and how you approach your technique , so the fact that we were able to refine something as
me stories of what they recorded or how the pick helped their technique – that ’ s incredible . I feel like all together we ’ re contributing to the guitar community . It circles back around to that sharing , camaraderie , and willingness to be open and share your knowledge . That ’ s what it ’ s all about !
detailed as the bevel of the pick , the material ,
the size and shape . . . it blows my mind . The great thing is that other players are able to benefit from that R & D .
The same with the JP95 Wah . I ’ ve gotten more compliments and positive feedback about what a great piece of gear that is . How beautiful it looks , the quality , the weight , the guttural sound of it . And again , that ’ s all from being
[ CG ] Although your signature electrics feature built-in piezo pickups , you ’ ve been playing Taylor acoustics for some time .
[ John ] I have been working with Taylor acoustic guitars for so long now , and they are a part of so many Dream Theater records – it ’ s another relationship that I value so strongly . Again , I couldn ’ t be more proud of being
associated with all of these companies
and all the people there and who I
work with . They are real , genuine , nice ,
family people who are dedicated to
making
incredible
instruments .
Whether it is Bob Taylor , Sterling Ball ,
Jimi Dunlop , Randall Smith , or Larry
DiMarzio . These are the kings of the
guitar world and people who I respect
so much . I ’ m just very , very grateful to
photo courtesy of Ernie Ball Music Man
be in this position .
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