I know JWP like to be on the dryer side, so I usually allow it to dry out a bit before watering. Though it has been grafter on JBP, I still think it prefers to dry out a bit before watering.
One of my problems watering, is knowing when. For example, I have check the soil with chopsticks and sometimes my finger, at times it is hard to tell if it needs watering. Lately, I go but the weight of it. As most of my Pines are in Plastic training pot I can see the difference in weight when it drys out. For instance, when picking up the pot, as it drys out, the bottom stays heavy and the top lighter, when it needs watering the bottom tends to balance out with the top. Again, I don't if the method would work for the long run.
When checking the soil I try to get to an inch and see if it needs watering, but even with this method it can be tricky (for me). I guess that is why they call it the "Art of Watering"....
I thought it was fungus because when I remove the died needles they were dried out even the new growth from the top were dry out not burned.
I was told on another forum to use Capton fungicide once or twice a year as a precaution. Don't if anyone here has used it in the matter.