Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
- Thread starter Xeromus
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gsammo79
New member
Re: Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
Ive got experience with those two pickups. Personally, the JB is a very good pickup for lead, but disappointed me (from day one) when playing rhythm. It's low end wasnt strong (no growl) in my LP. It also is more mid-heavy than I wanted--I prefer a pickup that's moderately scooped.
The custom 5 is the most scooped humbucker I've ever played. To my ears, it's hot and has a strong low end. The Duncan site describes it as a '59 that's twice as loud. That's a pretty good description. I like the c5 better than the JB, generally speaking.
If I had a guitar with a stronger mid voicing, the c5 could be a good pickup to balance that out.
Ive got experience with those two pickups. Personally, the JB is a very good pickup for lead, but disappointed me (from day one) when playing rhythm. It's low end wasnt strong (no growl) in my LP. It also is more mid-heavy than I wanted--I prefer a pickup that's moderately scooped.
The custom 5 is the most scooped humbucker I've ever played. To my ears, it's hot and has a strong low end. The Duncan site describes it as a '59 that's twice as loud. That's a pretty good description. I like the c5 better than the JB, generally speaking.
If I had a guitar with a stronger mid voicing, the c5 could be a good pickup to balance that out.
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Re: Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
The JB is all high mids, and the C5 has no mids at all. I use the C5 in a mid-heavy guitar, and it 'cures' the problem. I's say the JB is squarely a hard rock pickup, while the C5 does more things well in the right guitar.
The JB is all high mids, and the C5 has no mids at all. I use the C5 in a mid-heavy guitar, and it 'cures' the problem. I's say the JB is squarely a hard rock pickup, while the C5 does more things well in the right guitar.
Re: Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
I got a jb in a les Paul type guitar.... For years of playing.
Great solos and harmonics.... But something never matches with the jb.... A certain frequency.
Today I know that the jb has this awfull high mids that take the ability for grinding rhythm riffs.
Generally I love scooped pickups.... Combined with amps with el34 tubes.
I've made make an hybrid.... A jb/full shred hybrid with alnico5.
It is cool.... But here too.... I miss the grind.
I am in test phases with this hybrid. Look at my threads
I got a jb in a les Paul type guitar.... For years of playing.
Great solos and harmonics.... But something never matches with the jb.... A certain frequency.
Today I know that the jb has this awfull high mids that take the ability for grinding rhythm riffs.
Generally I love scooped pickups.... Combined with amps with el34 tubes.
I've made make an hybrid.... A jb/full shred hybrid with alnico5.
It is cool.... But here too.... I miss the grind.
I am in test phases with this hybrid. Look at my threads
Re: Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
Not sure a JB/Full Shred would make a good hybrid, but let us know what you find out after running it through some hoops.
I would think that a JB/59 might be interesting. Kinda similar to the C/59 but not quite as scooped. I dunno, maybe I'll try it some day.
Not sure a JB/Full Shred would make a good hybrid, but let us know what you find out after running it through some hoops.
I would think that a JB/59 might be interesting. Kinda similar to the C/59 but not quite as scooped. I dunno, maybe I'll try it some day.
Re: Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
I tried hybridizing the JB with almost all duncan pups. It really takes 42 awg wire pups badly. makes it more honky, bit nasal and just doesn't sound that good. pop in an 43awg, like a custom5, fullshred or SH6N and you're getting tones that are delightful.
I love the JB but not in a LP. The mahogany, the warmth, just doesn't work with the JB. It seems to need a tele to work well. Which makes sense because Seymour made the JB to work well in a tele, to sound like a hotrodded tele (and back then, hotrail style pickups weren't widely known, available or even invented). If you compare a JB to a regular, run of the mill tele pickup and you'll hear many similarities. Once I started to look at the Jb/Jazz set as such, I started to gell with those tones.
I tried hybridizing the JB with almost all duncan pups. It really takes 42 awg wire pups badly. makes it more honky, bit nasal and just doesn't sound that good. pop in an 43awg, like a custom5, fullshred or SH6N and you're getting tones that are delightful.
I love the JB but not in a LP. The mahogany, the warmth, just doesn't work with the JB. It seems to need a tele to work well. Which makes sense because Seymour made the JB to work well in a tele, to sound like a hotrodded tele (and back then, hotrail style pickups weren't widely known, available or even invented). If you compare a JB to a regular, run of the mill tele pickup and you'll hear many similarities. Once I started to look at the Jb/Jazz set as such, I started to gell with those tones.
Re: Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
Jb/fs hybrid works very well.... Be sure of that.
It's definitely much better Than an regular jb.
It's kind a jb with more grind.
I have this hybrid jb/fullshred.... But fullshred with slugs to give it more roundness and makes it fuller.
https://youtu.be/TX6t8gyZtNQ
Jb/fs hybrid works very well.... Be sure of that.
It's definitely much better Than an regular jb.
It's kind a jb with more grind.
I have this hybrid jb/fullshred.... But fullshred with slugs to give it more roundness and makes it fuller.
https://youtu.be/TX6t8gyZtNQ
Re: Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
I also tend not to care much for the JB, but it does work in certain guitars. I've found I prefer it a little more in mahogany than alder, but it sounds pretty good in my alder G&L Legacy.
I've always enjoyed the '59, but not so much the C5. To me, the C5 is way more scooped than the '59, sounded a little bit better in mahogany than alder, but there's still something I didn't quite like about it.
I also tend not to care much for the JB, but it does work in certain guitars. I've found I prefer it a little more in mahogany than alder, but it sounds pretty good in my alder G&L Legacy.
gsammo79
New member
Re: Compare/contrast the Custom 5 and JB.
You're right about the C5 being more scooped than the '59. They're both scooped, a5 humbuckers with a stout lowend and a bright-ish highend--that part they definitely share in common.
You're right about the C5 being more scooped than the '59. They're both scooped, a5 humbuckers with a stout lowend and a bright-ish highend--that part they definitely share in common.
