OLP John Petrucci Signature

Made in China

24 frets

Basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard (bolt-on)

Two humbuckers, master volume, master tone, 3-way toggle switch

The bridge is interesting...it's on posts like a Floyd, and is floating, but the pull-up range is limited to a half tone at the most due to the bridge route. The strings are loaded through the trem block.

Locking tuners that slip on big bends and after using the trem.

The neck is pretty narrow...almost as much as a 4-string bass I have. Petrucci must have some small hands. 25.5" scale.

I got mine with the original case and accessories - hard/soft case that is a bit big for the guitar, wrenches for adjusting the truss rod and bridge.

All in all, featureswise it is not lacking for a $100 (used) guitar. It would have been nice to include more features from the actual Musicman guitar (piezo bridge, locking nut, etc.).

I play metal of all kinds (thrash, progressive, death, etc.) and the guitar handles it pretty well.

I play straight into a Genz Benz El Dialbo 60C. The stock pickups are pretty decent. The bridge pickup is very hot and will feedback easily. It's also very bright and can cut through a mix very well. Great for leads, a little clangy for tight rhythms. The neck pickup can sound a little muffled. The middle position gives a very well-rounded clean tone. In the future I think I'll stick some Duncans or Dimarzios in here, but the stock pickups are fine for the money.

When I received the guitar from the previous owner, the action was a bit high. I was able to lower it to an acceptable level. Definitely not as low as some of my other guitars, but again, fine for $100.

The workmanship on the neck is fantastic and easily at the level of the MIJ guitars I own.

As far as I can tell, there are no flaws in the guitar's construction. Fretwork is well done, body is evenly finished (if a bit thinly), neck is straight, wiring is very solid looking.

The guitar is very light and has a great sound unplugged.

Much much better than I was expecting on a Chinese-made guitar.

Here is where the guitar gets knocked down a few pegs.

It will not stay in tune. Every large bend or touch of the trem sends the guitar going flat. If you're a light player and block the bridge, I'm sure it will be just fine, but they shouldn't have put a floating trem on the guitar without a double-locking system.

With that said, I think this would make a fine backup guitar without any upgrades. The wiring is very well done, and the construction of the guitar is fine, so I'm sure it would withstand gigging. Just very unstable tuning.

The company (OLP) is out of business, so I can't really comment on their support.

I've been playing for about 10 years now.

I currently own a Charvel Predator, a Jackson Kelly Pro Std, and an Ibanez AX7551.

I bought this guitar sight-unseen from Craigslist, so I'm happy with how it turned out. Aside from the tuning issues, there really are no problems.

If it were stolen or lost, I'd probably check out another guitar.

Favorite feature is the body shape (very comfortable to play) and the weight (very light).

Least favorite is the lack of a double-locking system, as the guitar goes out of tune very easily.

Overall, great value for the money I paid ($100), but I don't think it's worth what it cost new ($350).

-Pearl red burst/gloss black finnish on boday [back and front] and on headstock.

-Based on the Ernie Ball Musicman sillouette model, although customised by Petrucci. Basswood body.

-Floating tremolo [chrome]

-Super thin neck [North American maple] extra flat 24 fret fingerboard [rosewood] with small white plastic dot inlays.

-Includes gig bag, strap, and smaller accessories.

Electronics:
OLP humbucker humber pickups [two, neck and bridge] open coil
3 way pickup selector/toggle switch, moves in diagonal direction, 1 master volume and one master tone

I play mostly metal and the guitar is best suited the progressive style of metal as used by Petrucci. The pickups are good enough, ofcourse there are better, but put through a good enough amp these things sound fine. The bridge humbucker is fairly good and provided your technique is good enough can pickup harmonics well. There is a distinct sound, its not grainy and muddy like a guitar with EMGs, it sounds quite precise. I like to hit harmonics on note 3 string G and dive the tremolo and whip it back up [see master of puppets solo] and it sounds great, even through my small Marshall amp.

The action was low enough to shred and feel confortable tapping, and string skipping is also relavtively simple on this guitar. The pickups felt pretty solid in place but there is no cover around them. The tremolo is brilliant, it is certainly an advancement on the stratocaster guitars as there is a cutaway in the wood allowing you to move the tremolo bar backwards and forwards - it is very versatile. It is perhaps not as free floating as a Floyd Rose, but its sleeker and easier to restring [string-through-body] design

I think this guitar will withstand live show if put through a good enough amp. I havnt played live with it. Although light and very 'pretty' looking, it feels sturdy and that you could tour with it, especially as you have the custom gig case. The paitjob is pretty tough, Ive taken a few knocks and all is fine, but beware you should be very careful with this guitar as if you hav it in the pearlecent redburst colour, its likely the chipped paint cant be covered over. I think it acts better as a backup guitar rather than a first choice guitar.

Very good, versatile, and so confortable. The deep cutaway allows you to fly right up to the 24th fret without touching the body, and there are contours on the body which allow you to sit or stand confortably with it, there is one for your arm to rest and one which sits under your ribs. The tremolo is very cool and sleek, and the Ernie Ball Slinky strings it comes equipt with stay in tune well despite the contstant use of the tremolo. The G goes out of tune occasionally when I carry the guitar in a standard Ritter soft case.

Basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. Bolt-on neck, tremolo bridge (non-locking), locking tuners of an unknown manufacturer (they're fine). 25.5" scale and 24 jumbo frets. Volume & Tone, 3-way switch, two passive humbuckers made in china mounted directly to the body (sounds better, they say). The finish is candy red sparkle. Feather-light case, some tools for adjusting the instrument, cord and John Petrucci posters ;) Quite a few features - what it lacks is the sophisticated pickup switching found in the original model (series/parallel, single-coil...).
What i really like is the unique truss rod adjustment located near the neck pickup - it's fantastic, easy to operate at any time. The bridge is cool in a way - you can adjust the action for each string, as well as the overall bridge height. If it had the coil splitting/parallel switching, it would get a solid 10.

The sound is very balanced, musical and will suit many common music styles. The pickups included sound very natural and... balanced, that's the right word. Some say they have a flat freq response. They're just ok, not too hot, not too weak. Overall sound of the instrument has got a lot of mids, round bottom and just about enough highs.

Downside - straight from the factory this axe sounds a bit cheap... It definately needs some adjustments, especially when it comes to action. Included strings were ernie ball super slinky - they're unnaturally soft and give you the feeling of great control over the instrument, which is a good impression, though they quickly loose their tone and definition.

I still have the factory pickups somewhere, though I changed them to DiMarzio FRED and PAF Pro. I also changed the volume pot to a push-pull one for splitting the coils. I got to tell you - these factory ones are really great. Played a few gigs on them - sounded good, but did feedback a lot sadly.

The sustain is fine, for a cheapo it's really good. What I don't like about the guitar is that there's one "dead" note on it - A2 note dies noticeably faster than the rest of notes. I set the tremolo bridge to operate just one way - having done that it lays on the body when not in use, giving more sustain.

I'm giving it 9, because it plays really nice to many ears. I remember my fellow musicians compliment it's sound just after I changed Ibanez SZ320 for this one. It's not a pro, but it's a really good instrument.

The guitar neeeeds some attention. Overall, I did everything possible with it, including fretwork (frets where uneven. Body finish is very nice, beautiful I'd say. Not too bad, could be better. Nothing you can't fix on your own.

It's surprisingly very durable and reliable. Not a single problem with this thing. I've played lots of gigs and rehearsals and I can't find any visible signs of usage on it. The hardware is great, better than in Ibanez SZ's. Sweat, humidity and hot doesn't seem to mean much to the bridge, tuners, switch or pots. I use some stuff for taking care of the thing, I care for the axe ;)

The feather-light case is crap, though. After a year and a half it's still in use, but... It's almost in pieces.

Never had to deal with the company.

I have been playing for over 10 years by now. I owned quite a few guitars before. I chose this model because of my curiosity. I admire John's playing and I've always thought - "He's got to have really small hands... Perhaps John Signature model would be easier for me to play?". Well, it is. The fretboard is very, very small and comfortable to me! It suits my playing style, which is instrumental rock. I think of buying the original Music Man John Petrucci, but I won't sell this one. I like it a lot.

for the price i paid it was a great buy,this is the second one i got at musicians friend,it was a blem i got for 115.00!,the first one was new but at a closeout for 149.99,it had a dent in the finish and the pickups were very monophonic,thay would squeal and feedback all the time thru my amp so i sent it back for a refund and about a month later thay had a blem for 115.00 and i bought it,it was not bad for a blem just a few finish flaws nothing major but the pickups were not monophonic this was good no squeals or feedback and i liked there overall tone,great for metal,the action was better and there was less fret buzz than the first one i got,the guitar has a black finish,it stays in tune well unlike with other reviewers said,overall seems like a decent guitar for one made in china.

if you get one that is not monophonic(no squeals or feedback)i would say the pickups sound good,i think a lot of reviewers don't like the pickups because thay have a flat frequency response,i am not saying these are better than a good replacement pickups but not bad for a guitar made in china.

i had to do a setup to get the action better and tap a few frets down to get rid of some buzz but it was nothing major,i had to do this with most guitars that i buy new & used.,the black gloss finish was good,my guitar is a blem so it has some minor finish flaws,the locking tuners may be tricky to use i won't know until i change the strings,the neck is kind of thin and feels good,the neck body joint is tight also good.

i don't play live gigs i am a hobbyest that plays at home but i think this guitar would hold up well on a live gig,the hardware seems good and should last a long time,i would say you can depend on this guitar.

never dealt with the company.

i have many guitars mainly cheaper ones,schecter omen 6,ibanez rg270 just to name a few these are some of my favorite for rock and metal and i'am proud to say the john petrucci olp will join them,i have been playing guitar for over 20 years and never buy the big name brands gibson,fender,prs ect.thay are just too over priced and too overrated,if i upgraded the olp with better pickups tuners ect.i would put it up against any of the big name compitition.

Everything already said about the features so...nothing there except the pickup issue also mentioned in other reviews (not bad but not so god either - at least for live performance).But I think this guitar pickups were not intended to be a perfect musicman match anyway, but rather a guitar to start with, and upgrade it the way you like it - so even if it had god pickups(which is not likely because of its price) I would change them to what suits me best!
So my only upgrade was to put a Steve's special (at bridge position) and Air Norton (best neck pickup for me and my needs), and now...well...what can I say - I know I'm suppose to be critical but...how can you do that when you get a guitar like this for that price! It is unbeatabble in its price range (even with the pickup upgrade it is awesome for my money!!!).
So 9 not because of the pickup upgrade but because if I gave it a 10 well...how would I rate the real musicman?
Hence - it is the closest you'll get to the original(for that price anyway)!!! I highly recomend it.

I also like Petrucci and his style and guitar (or else I wouldn't buy it right?), I use it live and for my home recording and it is ... well... can't seem to find the word, but then again, I don't want to glorify it too much - because than this review "may not get published" he he...
So - the sound? well...let me tell you : with my pickup upgrade and for what I need - it is ... ok? ;-))
Honestly - it is truly unbelievable!
So - a 10 for sound because I said earlier I think it wasn't ment to sound great right out of the box for the money!

Set up was fine - a few changes,couple of minutes, and I was ready to go (and never stoped since:)...It is really THAT guitar that makes you play more and more(every time you see it...at least me).And every time you play it - you can't seem to stop wondering "Why did those guys make such a cheap but GREAT instrument?"
Why 9? Again - it's not a real thing :))

Never play without a backup(everyone knows this)...but...
Live? It sounds great (again - for what I need!!! and from what I've heard after the gigs he he).
I depend on it, and even having a 2400 euros worth handmade guitar (for which I waited over 2 years!) didn't stop me using this OLP guitar as my first one!!!
Need I say more :))
9 again only because of the fact that there's got to be some small (in this case anyway) difference between the original and a copy!!!

Never needed them...and I hope I won't in the future :))

I've been playing for about 14 years very active (in bands and at home recording my crazy stuff).Changed a lot of gear during that period.I'm not saying I'm a professional sound engeneer with a ton of knowledge, but I have the ear for whatever sound I want to get out of my gear.So take my opinion in terms of what I think is best for me and my kind of sound.I mean - yes I do play Petrucci signature guitar (a great copy - that is!), but I don't want the sound he has (and why would I?) so I put it through different equipment than he does to get that signature sound of my own (which is I suppose every musician's quest).
That being said - I must give this guitar a 10 because through this very instrument I found what I was looking for.
Of course I plan on buying the real deal some day (let's not get too perky about it) - BUT 'till that day...this is THE guitar I wanted because it's got everything I need for the price, and I love the fact it's not the real deal because that way I'm not sorry for all the changes I'll make on it in time he he...
Anyone still speculating about whether to buy it or not? DON'T!!!
I know I didn't...and I never looked back!
Greetings from Serbia
:)) cheers :))

I got the black model. It was on blow-out special at Musicians Friend for 149.99. The finish was quite nice. It has a modified strat tyoe body with a non-locking bridge. The tuners are a strange locking type. It has a 24 fret neck with rosewood board. It is made in China and came with a hrad style gig-bag, cord, strap, and a poster of Petrucci. It has 1 volume, 1 tone, and a 3-way selector switch and 2 humbuckers. Body is solid wood although I do not know what it is. Neck is maple.

I got it for basically shredding. I like Dream Theater very much and Petrucci is one of my favorite players. I can not afford the real Music Man model so, this was a great chance to get the budget version. I use Carvin amps and a Digitech floor effects. Here's where the guitar loses some ground with me. The pickups were terrible. They were so microphonic you could not give the amp any volume before they were squealing like crazy. Now, if I would have paid 350.00 for this guitar it would have gone back immediately to Musicians Friend. I already had a matched pair of GFS overwound PAFs so, I stuck those in it and now it rocks!! I am giving the guitar a low score here because the pickups it came with suck but, other than that I really like the guitar.

The guitar came with .009 guage strings on it and the set up was quite good. Even the intonation was on and the string height was correct and comfortable. I play with .010 guage so, I changed the strings and did my own set up. You already read about the horrible pickups. The finish is great. No flaws at all. The frets were dressed well and the hardware is solid. The tuning pegs were really loose and needed to be tightened. (I have found this to be a common practice even on high dollar guitars so, I'm not hitting this guitar for it) The nut was cut really well with no filing down needed. The 3-way switch and controls seem fine also.

I would play this guitar live with no problem. I have read many reviews that give the locking tuners on this guitar the thumbs down but, once I learned how they work I found them to be quite alright. I have been using the trem alot and the tuning stays solid. I do use Big Bends Nut Sauce on the nut but I also use it on all my non-locking trem guitars. The stuff is just great and I recommend it to anyone who is having tuning problemson their strat or Bigsby equipped guitar. I could depend on the guitar live but, I would have a backup as I use a backup on all gigs no matter what guitar I am using. I think this guitar will hold up and last a lifetime with no problems.

Never needed them.

I've been playing for about 26 years. I own one real vintage Telecaster. A '86 hand made Stratocaster and a '95 hand made Telecaster. I play mostly Rock and Blues but, I can shred so, this guitar was purchased for that reason. If it were stolen I would be very un-happy and if could get the same deal I got on this one I would replace it. I wish this guitar would have come with better pickups. I can't believe the pickups on this Petrucci were so awful considering it's a signature model. The pickups are the only thing I hated on this guitar. Everything else about it I found to be really good with solid playability and cool looks. I like this guitar.

-Basswood Body
-maple neck w/ rosewood fretboard
-24 frets
-dual direct-mounted humbuckers
-heavy mass two-point tremolo
-locking tuners
-three way switch
Put together very well for a Chinese made instrument. Having always been an Ibanez guy I was quite skeptical. Having sold my Ibanez guitars needing the funds, I wanted to find a cheap but reliable axe. Being a big Petrucci fan and having done the research, I decided to grab this on Ebay. $225 bucks well spent!!!

The tone is pretty fat and somewhat dark. However..These are some of the best stock pups I've heard in a guitar in this price range. I'll take these over Infinity (Ibanez)pickups any day. That said, I'll still swap the bridge with a Dimarzio D-Sonic or Tone Zone.

I bought this second hand and the previous owner did a pretty good set up. The neck is great and fast. Easy for trills and sweeping. The frets are quality and the neck joint is very like the original EBMM model. The redburst finish is stunning and has a nice sparkle to it. I will, however, replace the locking tuners for better quality Schallers. The stock tuners are lacking, but hey, it's a $200 guitar. Again..I am rating based on value and overall quality.

Would I play live with this? After the aforementioned upgrades, absolutely!! I like the trem. I don't have the trem-acrobatic tendencies like Vai or Satriani. I'm more in like with Petrucci and Lifeson. Subtle.
If only they'd come out with a seven string model or even a piezo bridge. I know OLP has done pretty well with these.

I've been playing about 10 years now and have had my share of Jacksons, Ibanezes, and ESPs. Would I take this over a Jem or JP1? Of course not!! However..I would take this over any of the Ibanez, ESP, of Jackson models in it's price range. I love the soft case, too. It is value priced, but I'd say with the right upgrades (about $110 worth, I looked) this would be a pretty formidable guitar and damn near the model from which it's based. Like I stated earlier, I would love to see OLP expand on the Petrucci line with piezo bridges and seven strings. Maybe even adding the Mystic Dream finish. They could charge 200 to 300 bucks more and I'd still buy with those options. Fantastic value and well made. I would definitely buy again. In fact...I may even buy the black model for the hell of it.

Shiny black finish...very beautiful, Paint to match headstock
Ernie Ball licensed body style.
Floating non-locking tremolo system.
Cheap 'locking' tuners.
24 Jumbo frets, neck feels very small!
Kit includes...Case, picks, Petrucci Poster, Cable, strap and repair tools.
Think it's made in China.
2 OLP Passive Humbuckers
Maple neck and Basswood Body (Very light!)

My style is anything from heavy rythym to shredding to mellow stuff.
I'm using a digitech rp-80, a boss sd-1, a wylde overdrive and a crybaby.
Has a good, solid sound. Not as thick as some guitars, but the pickups aren't all that great...not terrible...but not great.
This is a great machine for shredding.Maybe not some good for chording in the first few frets as the strings are so close, but you can grow use to it quite easily.
I love this guitar, and would definately reccomend it. I do wish, though that it came with 2 tones, instead of just one. I added another, and have on on each pup. I also have a coil tap on the volume knob, and switched the pickups to a humbucker from hell, and a tone zone.

Factory set up was not that great at all...brought it to the store for a setup, plays great now. It is really a finesse machine though, I wouldn't really reccomend it to a begginner.
Only real cosmetic flaw i found was the cover for the electronics was cut slighlty improperly.
A well built machine.

I will definately be used live. Hardware could be better, but also could be way worse. The finish seems quite good for now. I depend on this guitar fully, as i don't have a backup.

Haven't dealt with them...hope i don't have to. I didn't get much of a warranty with the guitar buying it new though...

I've been playing since 2003.
I also own a Marshall Mg50dfx, but have played the guitar through other amps.
I would definately buy it again...or look into Ibanez. Then murder whoever stole it.
I loved the price $500CDN and feel it's one of the best guitars for that range.

Great guitar only paid $200.00 for the first (no case or extra's) but was happy to pay $500.00 for the second as they are a excellent guitar and value for money. I would tell everyone to try one and see for themselves.

I purchased this guitar as a spare/second and have ended up using it and buying another. I would love to see some kind of pickup spliter on the bridge pickup to give a bit more of a single coil sound when you need it. I run this through a marshall combo and it sound very warm and clean.

The guitar for the price is very well made, It needed a setup as the guitar would not stay in tune when out of the box. The rad finish is excellent and the hardware is excellent quality for the price. The tremolo after a setup and change of strings works perfectly and keeps it tune. Both the ones I have are not very noisy and do not have many flaws.

I have used the same guitar for about 32 gigs and have had no problems. I changed the strap buttons for locking and to date that has been the only hardware change. It has shown that I can depend on it but you must alway have a backup.

Never used and never hope to

I have been playing for about 25 years and play 2-3 gigs a week. I use this guitar for most of the work I do live and it has replaced my Les Paul (had since i was 13yrs but to heavy to use now. I like the close control setup and the feel of the neck. The color is ok (Ihave in red and black) but would like to see a green or white model with a pickup spliter for bridge pickup.

2005 model OLP JP Signature.
The OLP web site has all of the features...
But i will say for $185 dollars on e-bay i was nicely suprised!!!
The former owner had already replaced the tuners with the locking schallers. i highly recommend this. i love 'em
the high rating is for what i got for my money!!!!

This is were i agree with others. the stock pick-up are lacking. I put some Dimarizio in it and true enough it came alive. i am odering a new switch to get get the JP middle position.
Dimarzio part #EP1111.
I play through Tech 21 amps (love em) and various Boss pedals
This rating is with the new pick-ups.

The action on the guitar was okay when it was shipped to me but it was not set up as a floating bridge. A new set of string and 15 minutes later..KAPOW. Great playing intrument.
The finish is Beutiful wine red sparkle, many have commented on the finish. the neck has a wonderful feel and it fit at the neck joint is flawless...really!!

So far so good. it has become my 1st call guitar, i am trying to break it in. it was hardly used when i got it.
The bridge is really solid. i put strap locks on it.
Never ever go to a gig without a backup!!!

Unkown at this time

I have been playing playing for 26 years. i have also been teaching nearly as long. i haave a degree in Music Ed and have been teaching at the college level for 12 years. have also been in music sales while working my way through college. I still gig regularly.and have owned about every kind of guitar and amp or have been able to try it and gig with it( A great perk) . One of my student who is now trying to make it in LA has a real MM JP(that is how i got the fever) and we have done a side by side comparison. and for the money with the up grades...pick-ups... tuners... and set up i cannot tell the difference. i bought this guitar on a whim.. i want to see what they are all about.
I cannot speak for the other buyers of this guitar... but mine was more than worth what i paid for it. and i will buy another. As a new father I must make smart purchases. and I must say this is my greatest DEAL
If OLP woulod just go ahead and put the quality hardware on the instrument i think people would pay for it. It is a fantastic guitar other than these things. Good luck
please feel free to contact me