Ernie Ball Music Man Unveils John Petrucci Majesty Premium Select Line

Ernie Ball Music Man has officially expanded its flagship artist lineup with the introduction of the Majesty Premium Select series. Built to the exacting, demanding specifications of Dream Theatre guitarist John Petrucci, this ultra-premium collection pairs the model’s legendary futuristic ergonomics with an elevated selection of tonewoods and advanced electronics.

The lineup spans 6-, 7-, and 8-string configurations, ensuring modern progressive metal guitarists across the spectrum are catered to. However, this level of elite engineering comes at a premium, with prices starting at $4,999.

Premium Tonewoods Meets Futuristic Design

At the core of the Majesty Premium Select is a premium neck-through Honduran Mahogany design. The guitar features Alder body wings capped with a thick, carved Maple top—a specific tonewood recipe chosen by Petrucci to maximise sustain, low-end punch, and mid-range note articulation.

While the 6- and 7-string variants retain a traditional 25.5-inch scale length, the 8-string model introduces a multi-scale layout featuring a 27-inch bass side. This extended multiscale design prevents the lower strings from becoming “floppy,” ensuring tight tracking during low-tuned, high-gain rhythm work.

Hardware and Playability

The entire Majesty Premium Select roster is outfitted with high-end components designed for professional touring environments:

• Fingerboard: Premium Ebony with 24 stainless steel medium jumbo frets.

• Neck Access: Sculpted neck joint paired with ergonomic body contours for completely unrestricted access to the highest frets.

• Utility: Glow-in-the-dark side dots for visibility on dark stages, paired with Schaller locking tuners for rock-solid stability.

Tonal Versatility: DiMarzio and Piezo Fusion

Electronically, the Majesty Premium Select functions as a sonic Swiss Army knife. It is loaded with DiMarzio Rainmaker (neck) and Dreamcatcher (bridge) humbuckers, voiced explicitly for Petrucci’s balance of fluid leads and heavy rhythm tracking.

Beyond standard magnetic pickups, the guitar features an advanced onboard active preamp system offering:

• A switchable 20dB active gain boost (via volume push/push knob).

• Seamless custom coil-splitting configurations.

• Fishman Powerbridge Piezo acoustic saddles (6- and 7-string models use a floating Music Man tremolo; the 8-string model features a custom piezo hardtail bridge for optimal tuning stability).

• Mono or stereo output routing options with independent magnetic/piezo blending.

Models, Finishes, and Pricing

The Majesty Premium Select is available in five boutique finishes: Purple Nebula II, Strawberry Moon, Mystic Dream, Carnelian Red, and Ka’anapali Dream.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between the 6/7-string models and the 8-string model?

The 6- and 7-string models feature a standard 25.5-inch scale length and a floating tremolo system. The 8-string version utilises a multi-scale fret layout (up to 27 inches on the bass side) and a fixed hardtail bridge to handle the tension and tuning stability required for extended-range playing.

What kind of tones can the active electronics produce?

Thanks to the pairing of DiMarzio humbuckers and Fishman piezo saddles, you can blend traditional high-gain metal crunch with pristine, authentic acoustic guitar textures. The 20dB boost also allows you to push an amplifier into natural overdrive directly from the guitar.

Are the finishes unique to the Premium Select line?

Yes, options like Purple Nebula II, Strawberry Moon, and Ka’anapali Dream offer premium aesthetic shifting properties that complement the Maple top grain.

The Verdict

The Verdict: The Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty Premium Select is a flawless masterpiece of modern guitar engineering. If you are a progressive virtuoso who requires uncompromising acoustic-to-metal versatility, flawless upper-fret access, and elite tonewoods, it justifies its massive price tag.

For everyday hobbyists, the $5,000 entry point will be tough to swallow—but this is undeniably a top-tier instrument built without shortcuts.