John Petrucci's guitar strings: the Dream Theater prog-metal rig, sourced
Documented string gauges, brands, and tunings John Petrucci uses with Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment. With citations.
Dream Theater · reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
John Petrucci uses Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinky strings and was a beta tester on the line before its January 2012 launch. His documented set for 6-string in E standard is .010–.046 Regular Slinky Cobalt; he plays custom 7-string Cobalt sets on his Music Man Majesty 7. Ernie Ball quote: 'Cobalt Strings feel incredibly silky under my fingers and deliver more punch, output, and clarity than normal strings!' He has been a documented Ernie Ball artist for over two decades.
What's on the guitar
John Petrucci's rig is one of the most deliberately built in modern prog metal:
- Guitars: Music Man Majesty 6 and Majesty 7 (primary). Signature line since 2015.
- Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.046) for 6-string. Custom 7-string Cobalt for Majesty 7.
- Tunings: E standard (most material), Drop D (specific tracks), and the 7-string low B dropped when called for.
- Pickups: DiMarzio Dreamcatcher (bridge) + Rainmaker (neck). Active preamp on the Majesty.
- Amps: Mesa/Boogie JP-2C signature.
Petrucci's string choice is notable because most prog-metal players at his output level assume heavier gauges are required. He makes a clean, articulate modern metal tone work on a .010 gauge, the same gauge a blues player might use.
Endorsed vs. verified use
Petrucci is a documented Ernie Ball endorser and beta tester. Both are on the record. Ernie Ball's January 2012 Cobalt launch video features him playing and endorsing the set, and Music Man ships his signature guitar factory-strung with Ernie Ball sets.
Why Cobalts for prog metal
The upper-midrange bump Cobalt delivers over nickel-plated steel is exactly what high-gain prog metal rhythm work needs, more definition per note in fast passages, tighter palm mutes, and less smear when chords contain sevenths, ninths, and the wider voicings Petrucci writes. It's not subtle in a blind A/B against a nickel Slinky of the same gauge.
On the 7-string low B, the Cobalt wrap also reads more evenly through a high-gain rhythm tone than a same-gauge nickel string, another reason the Cobalt 7-string catalog has disproportionate uptake among technical-metal players.
Electric guitars
The longest-running guitar relationship in modern prog. Sourced from Ernie Ball Music Man's own John Petrucci collection page and DiMarzio's artist roster, where his signature pickups ship stock.
Signature since 2001 · the original
Music Man JP6 (and the JP series)
The first John Petrucci signature, launched in 2001. The JP profile neck and his co-designed DiMarzio pickups carried through JP6, JP12, JP13, up to the current JP15. Ernie Ball Music Man marks the partnership at over 20 years.
Current flagship · neck-through
Music Man Majesty 6 & Majesty 7
His current main instrument. A neck-through mahogany design with race-inspired ergonomics, deep upper-fret access, and digital pickup switching that removes the delay between selections. The Majesty 7 is the seven-string variant for low-tuned Dream Theater material. It ships stock with his DiMarzio Dreamcatcher and Rainmaker pickups.
Amps
Petrucci and Mesa/Boogie have a four-decade relationship. The signature amp is the headline, but it sits on top of a long history with the Mark series.
Signature amp · 2016 · 100W
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C
Mesa's first unlimited-build signature amp, voiced on the Mark IIC+ Petrucci has favored for decades. 100 watts, three channels, two five-band graphic EQs, and a built-in CabClone DI. Offered as a head and a 1x12 combo. Mesa and Petrucci marked 40 years of partnership around the IIC+ lineage this amp re-creates.
Source: Guitar World: Mesa/Boogie and John Petrucci, 40 years; Mesa/Boogie JP-2C product page.
Pickups
Every Petrucci pickup is co-designed with DiMarzio and built for a specific guitar in the line. Model numbers are from DiMarzio's own artist page.
2009 · the long-running set
DiMarzio Crunch Lab (DP228) + LiquiFire (DP227)
The bridge and neck pairing that defined the JP tone for years. Crunch Lab in the bridge for tight, high-output rhythm; LiquiFire in the neck for a vocal, singing lead. Seven-string versions are the Crunch Lab 7 (DP708) and LiquiFire 7 (DP707).
Source: DiMarzio: John Petrucci artist page.
2019 · current Majesty set
DiMarzio Dreamcatcher (DP282F) + Rainmaker (DP281)
Designed specifically for the neck-through Majesty. Dreamcatcher is an F-spaced bridge humbucker with power concentrated in the low mids and a small upper-mid scoop; Rainmaker is the matched neck pickup with warmer highs and open mids. Seven-string versions: Dreamcatcher 7 (DP724) and Rainmaker 7 (DP723).
Source: DiMarzio: John Petrucci artist page.
2013 and 2017 · the interim sets
DiMarzio Illuminator (DP256/DP257) & Sonic Ecstasy (DP269F/DP270F)
Between the Crunch Lab era and the Majesty's Dreamcatcher and Rainmaker, two more signature sets shipped: the Illuminator in 2013 and the Sonic Ecstasy in 2017. Each was voiced for the guitar it came in.
Source: DiMarzio: John Petrucci artist page.
Strings
The reason Petrucci lives on Change Your Strings: he helped launch Ernie Ball's Cobalt line and has stayed on it across both his 6-string and 7-string rigs. Most Dream Theater material sits in E standard, with Drop D on select tracks.
6-string · E standard · beta tester
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.046)
His 6-string set. Petrucci beta-tested the Cobalt line before its January 2012 launch and appears in the launch campaign. The Cobalt wrap adds output and upper-mid definition over a standard nickel .010, which is why his rhythm tone stays articulate in dense arrangements without going to a heavier gauge.
Source: Guitar World: Petrucci plays and discusses Ernie Ball Cobalt.
7-string · custom · varies by tour
Custom 7-string Slinky Cobalt set
For the Majesty 7 he runs a custom Cobalt seven-string set. The low B is commonly cited near .062 to .064, but the exact gauges are custom and shift by tour, so treat any published number as approximate. Ernie Ball's catalog seven-string Cobalt sets are the closest off-the-shelf reference.
Picks
Signature pick · 1.5mm Ultex
Dunlop John Petrucci Ultex Jazz III 1.5mm (427PJP)
Built to his spec: the Jazz III shape in 1.5mm Ultex, with a raised JP logo grip and a polished tip for fast, articulate single-note runs. He also has Primetone Jazz III signature variants in 1.38mm, oxblood (518-JPRD) and black (518-JPBK).
Source: Dunlop: John Petrucci Signature Ultex Jazz III 1.5mm.
Sources
- "Video: John Petrucci Plays & Discusses Ernie Ball Cobalt Electric Guitar Strings." Guitar World, January 4, 2012. https://www.guitarworld.com/news/video-john-petrucci-plays-discusses-ernie-ball-cobalt-electric-guitar-strings
- Ernie Ball Cobalt product page, featured artist quote. https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-strings/electric-guitar-strings/slinky-cobalt-electric-guitar-strings
- Music Man Majesty product spec pages.
Specific gauges evolve by album and tour. Re-dated on rig updates.
If you want this rig
Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.046)
Why this one: Petrucci's 6-string set. The Cobalt wrap adds output and upper-mid definition to a standard .010 gauge, the reason his rhythm tone cuts through dense prog arrangements without going heavier.
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