JJ Guitars Single Cut

GB made.

OK - not that impressed with 'love tone' and it seemed a bit harsh/bright for mahog body. Played through Marshall valve. Not a blues/rock monster.

action set by shop, so no idea.

Probably quite a durable guitar, seemed well made. Sold it after 1 year so probably can't give an opinion.

For the money, it was way too much (?900). Even so, I should not have bought it as my style (blues/rock) needs something with more flexibility that has drive/soul. I have now sold it. I note that this guitar has stopped production. Enough said!

This is a 2003 hand made guitar, made in the UK in Warwickshire.
I got it from the 2003 NEC music live show from the JJ stand, guy that sold it to me was the guy that built it, so I learned a few things.

It's Mohogany, but made from the best cuts ie lower down the trunk / center of truck etc.

It's got 2 humbuckers made by JJ to match the guitar - similar sound to seymour duncans I find.

1 vol, 1 tone, and a 3 way switch.

22 frets, and a lovely curved cutaway section that makes it easy to get up to the 22nd area.

gibson scale length, nice rounded back of neck, just right for me.. not too chunky, not too thin.

Fixed bridge

Black paint finish

V heavy!

This thing is just tone, pure unadulterated tone.
At the JJ stand I was playing it through a 50W Engl Thunder and Engl 4x12 cab - and it was awesome. As soon as I plugged it in a got a crowd gathering with the tones coming out.

For versatility I use a line6 hd147 as my main head - which it sounds awesome with.. but I feel almost like I'm letting the JJ down by not giving it a lovely valve amp to sing through.. I might have to get an Engl after that show!

I get a lovely full sound, tight low end, warm mids, tight high end. The bridge pup gives me enough power and clarity to play as heavy as I need - ie pantera heavy - or enough warmth and clarity to get great petrucci/vai warmth on solo tones.

The neck pup is great, does everything u could ever want from a neck pup and does it fantasticly - clean tones that are almost acoustic with the right amp - or v sparkly and edgy depending on setup - then it sings as a solo pup.. I just keep using it cos I get v similar sounds to Zakk's EMG 85 or Petrucci's air nortons .. fantastic for fast high gain runs.

ooh, and sustain.. forever!

The setup for this was fantastic - was set with 9's to standard tuning.. and was perfect - lovely effortlessly low ation, 0 buzz, perfect intonation. Normally I find when I get a guitar I have to take it appart straight away, change strings, neck bow, action, intonation the lot.. it's now 2 months on and I haven't touched a thing!
The only thing I did do was raise the pups a little...
It's simply perfect..

I've only had it a few months, but it's a v sturdy guitar, good woods, well made. I have no doubts at all that it will be fine for a long long time

Only delt with them on the day I got it, but they were v friendly people and seemed more than happy to talk about anything, and were v helpful when it came to choosing the model for me. They also gave me #750 of the asking price off #1250.. so I think I love them! :P

I've played for a long time, 16 yrs on guitar - 20+ with other instruments, work as a guitar teacher, and consider myself a professional musician. I have owned and do own many many guitars - I was a large Ibanez fan till I got the JJ, so I still have my Jem 7DBK ad S7420 - each of which are now for sale!
This guitar is v standard looking - like many makes which have used the basic les paul shape. But I've never played a les paul, prs, esp etc.. that comes close to this.. it's just well thought out in small details, the curves on the body that make it more comfortable to play, the redesiged cutaway, the straight pull through to the machine heads.. it all just works great.
If it were stolen or lost I'm not sure I'd ever get over it... it's hand made.. each one is different.. the circumstaces of how I got it.. and the fact that they've yet to release this model as a standard release.... but there is only one thing I could do, call em up with and ask em for another - maybe ask them to reposition the toggle as it's a bit low down for me... but that's it :P
There is another guitar I must have, and that's a parker fly - I adore them, but I now know that all the guitars I will ever need are my JJ and a fly. Its taken a long time, a lot of guitars, and a large amount of money to realise this, but it's a great feeling, knowing when u've found ur soul mates.
Now I just need to find a better amp than my hd147 to run it through.. It's just a crime to have that much pure tone and sound.. and then run it through a solid state modeler... Engl are my #1 choice atm though - have to see if they can cut it in the same league as a JJ and a Fly!