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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