Seven Strings, Signature DNA, Cerulean Dreams
If you've ever watched John Petrucci shred through a Dream Theater set and wondered how to get closer to that kind of technical firepower, the Sterling by Music Man JP157DQM DiMarzio is a very compelling answer. This is a 7-string solidbody built around the JP150 platform, and the DiMarzio treatment takes it a noticeable step further — real LiquiFire and Crunch Lab pickups, ebony fingerboard, and stainless steel frets all come standard.
The body is lightweight nyatoh topped with a quilted maple veneer in Cerulean Paradise — a teal-to-blue gradient that plays off the quilt figuring beautifully. The roasted maple neck is the kind of fast, smooth playing surface that makes extended 7-string technique feel natural rather than like a workout. At 1.95" nut width, there's proper spacing across all seven strings without things getting ungainly.
This guitar is a strong fit for progressive rock and metal players who want Petrucci-spec electronics and construction at a realistic price point, as well as anyone stepping up to 7-string who wants a setup that doesn't compromise on feel or hardware.
This item is a B-Stock guitar sourced directly from the manufacturer. It is new and has never been previously owned. The photos shown are of the exact instrument you will receive. Before shipment, our licensed technician will inspect and professionally set up the guitar to ensure it is playing its best. During our inspection, we could not pinpoint where the imperfection is but that is not to say there is no imperfection. (see pictures) Please note, As a B-Stock instrument, there may be minor blemishes that are small in nature and do not affect playability or performance.
A Pickup Pair Built for Dynamics
The DiMarzio LiquiFire (neck) and DiMarzio Crunch Lab (bridge) are John Petrucci's own signature humbuckers, and they cover a lot of expressive ground. The LiquiFire has a warm, fluid character that makes legato lines sing, while the Crunch Lab brings tight, articulate attack for riffing and rhythm work. Together, they give you a genuinely wide tonal range without any pickup feeling like a compromise.
Switching is handled by a 3-way toggle, and the volume control doubles as a push/push switch that activates an onboard gain boost — a handy feature for jumping into a solo without touching your amp settings. A single passive tone control rounds out the control layout, keeping things simple and intuitive.
Neck and Fretboard: Where It All Clicks
The roasted maple neck runs a 25.5" scale with a 16" fingerboard radius — flatter than most guitars, which makes bending and fretting up the dusty end of the neck feel comfortable and consistent. Twenty-four stainless steel frets in a medium-jumbo profile give you the full upper register and hold up to heavy playing better than standard nickel frets over the long term.
The ebony fingerboard is tight-grained and smooth under the fingers, with custom JP shield inlays marking position. A dual-action truss rod handles neck relief adjustments, and the 5-bolt neck attachment keeps everything locked in and resonant. Locking tuners make string changes fast and tuning stability reliable.
Tremolo and Hardware
The Modern Tremolo is a smooth-operating unit that handles vibrato without fighting your tuning — and the locking tuners upstream make sure everything stays in check between uses. Hardware finish is chrome throughout. The nut is polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), a stable synthetic material that doesn't bind or wear the way bone or soft plastics can.
The overall build is solid and well-considered: this is Sterling by Music Man's take on a working player's 7-string, designed alongside Ernie Ball Music Man's engineering team and assembled to a quality standard that gets thoroughly inspected before it ships.
Product Features:
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Body: Solidbody nyatoh with quilted maple veneer top, Cerulean Paradise finish
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Neck: Roasted maple, 5-bolt attachment, JP profile
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Fingerboard: Ebony, 16" radius, custom JP shield inlays
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Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
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Nut: 1.95" (49.5 mm) polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)
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Frets: 24 medium-jumbo stainless steel
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Pickups: DiMarzio LiquiFire (neck), DiMarzio Crunch Lab (bridge) — HH configuration
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Controls: Push/push volume boost, passive tone, 3-way toggle pickup selector
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Bridge: Modern Tremolo
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Tuners: Locking
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Strings: 7-string configuration, tuned B–E–A–D–G–B–E standard
Brand: Sterling by Music Man
Model: JP157DQM DiMarzio
SKU: ST-JP157DQM-CPD-E2-WB-2ND|SB25108
Condition: B-Stock
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
