Thoughts on JB/Jazz

[TVFV]

The Jazz works for me in a mid-heavy guitar. Outside of that, it is too trebly, without any mids. I can see how people use it with lots of distortion, but I don't think it does clean chords too well unless you are trying to get them through a dense mix.

Interesting that you don't think the Jazz doesn't do clean chords well. I think it's one its better strengths.

[Clint 55]

It is. Terrible branding IMHO.

In the jazz forum folks try it and think SD doesn’t know what it’s doing. Then we redirect them to the Seth Lover and it’s all good. But I’m sure many don’t give SD a second choice. And i would guess that the rock folks that could love it don’t want to install a “jazz” pickup. Good thing it comes preinstalled.

It may be too late for removing the name completely (it could just be “J”) but at least they could not make it worse:
https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/l...seymour-duncan

The fact that there are more suitable pickups for playing jazz doesn't mean the Jazz is somehow not suitable for jazz at all and 100% a rock pickup. Give me a break. It's still more of a jazz pickup than a rock pickup. All you need to play jazz is a bit of bass, and the amount of mid and top is a matter of the player's taste. Plus how do you say a super slick sound is by definition only justifiable in rock? Makes absolutely no sense.

[Gtrjunior]

Put an A2 in that Jazz.

[solspirit]

I've got a JB jazz setup but like ascension said sometimes you win sometimes you lose with the JB. In this guitar it sounds full of mids and mushy, the jazz in the neck is a bit too shrill and I wish I could get a fatter sweeter sound out of it.

[Blille]

Isn't that strange? It is probably the worst for Jazz, and the EQ is the exact opposite of traditional Jazz tone.

It is. Terrible branding IMHO.

In the jazz forum folks try it and think SD doesn’t know what it’s doing. Then we redirect them to the Seth Lover and it’s all good. But I’m sure many don’t give SD a second choice. And i would guess that the rock folks that could love it don’t want to install a “jazz” pickup. Good thing it comes preinstalled.

It may be too late for removing the name completely (it could just be “J”) but at least they could not make it worse:

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/latest-updates/top-3-the-best-jazz-pickups-by-seymour-duncan

[Ashurbanipal]

Jazz is cool, very lean and precise, maybe best in 21/22 fret guitar in stock form; that said, a 59/Jazz is a little better for me all around . I think also if you play without a pick, the Jazz would work well.

JB, I don't know, never had one for long enough. I had a Jackson DK2M briefly in the past, which came with a Jazz and JB stock, and I found the JB a bit hot and middly in my rig. If I kept the guitar I'd have probably backed it off from the strings a bit more and maybe an air mod to tame it a bit. Seen people do plenty of mag and screw swaps for JBs, but not so much the air mod, might be good for taming output, midrange, and just softening the edges a bit.

[Mincer]

Jazz doesn’t work for jazz. It has no mids.

Btw, if you put an A6 in a jazz it’s great. You get what I got when I put an A6 in my A2Pro

Isn't that strange? It is probably the worst for Jazz, and the EQ is the exact opposite of traditional Jazz tone.

[Clint 55]

Well the Jazz certainly doesn't work for rock! Why can't you use a slick scooped sound for Jazz? The Benedetto series is basically the Jazz wind.

[Blille]

I no like how the Jazz is like the slickest hb in the line and the JB is the dirtiest. I think it's a gross clash. I like the Jazz for.. Jazz and the JB for rawk. Think it's a silly combo. JB/59 is way more natural imo.

Jazz doesn’t work for jazz. It has no mids.

Btw, if you put an A6 in a jazz it’s great. You get what I got when I put an A6 in my A2Pro

[Clint 55]

I no like how the Jazz is like the slickest hb in the line and the JB is the dirtiest. I think it's a gross clash. I like the Jazz for.. Jazz and the JB for rawk. Think it's a silly combo. JB/59 is way more natural imo.

[Ascension]

The Jazz works for me in a mid-heavy guitar. Outside of that, it is too trebly, without any mids. I can see how people use it with lots of distortion, but I don't think it does clean chords too well unless you are trying to get them through a dense mix.

Doing Modern Worship it works for me as I need a clear bright neck tone in much of what I do. In particular with the PRS amps which are really fat smooth and dynamic. With something on the brighter side they wouldn't work. The Pearly Gates for example I had in my Purple DC 127 Carvin were way to crunchy harsh and bright and the Dimarzio PAF Joe I had in it was to middy ad honky so it works in that guitar with the Perpetual Burn well. That combo in that particular guitar makes a good match for my Kiesel DC with the PB Bridge and a pair of AP11 singles.

[Mincer]

The Jazz works for me in a mid-heavy guitar. Outside of that, it is too trebly, without any mids. I can see how people use it with lots of distortion, but I don't think it does clean chords too well unless you are trying to get them through a dense mix.

[Aceman]

I only have one JB in a guitar, and I'm kind of surprised how much I like it. The JB is just generally not "My Thing" int he Les Paul styles I play. That said - I do see and appreciate its flexibility and use in Strat/Trem style guitars.

As for the Jazz, definitely NOT my favorite in anything really. Just not my cup of tea. I prefer much more classic neck tones. Or more loud. either way. Again - I see where the Jazz works for a lot of people, but just not me.

Finally - it would never be a set I'd put together, although as mentioned, for a really wide range of things that cut in a mix, ok.

But - that's just me. clearly millions of people, famous and not love the combo. Rock on with your bad selves. You be you.

[Ascension]

I have both, just not together, Jazz isnt bad, its kinda stratty to me. My preference is a warmer neck, but still a good pickup. Slap an A2 in it and you have thr AP2n.

JB, I like a lot, was very anti-JB until I bought a guitar with one in the bridge. Love it, only second to the Distortion.

Yep pretty much my take also on the Jazz. Good middle of the road solid pickup that is very constant from guitar to guitar. A little on the brighter side but not harsh and a little light on the bottom but still well balanced.
Not a huge fan of the JB however in anything but a 25.5 scale bolt on.

[Ascension]

Jazz is a good neck pickup and is quite versatile. That said it all depends on the guitar it's in and the amp it's played through. I have been surprised with the Jazz I have in the neck of my Carvin DC 127. Defined and articulate and overall a lot better than I expected in this guitar. At times wish it was smoother and sweeter but was a lot better than I thought. Overall a solid and constant pickup.
The JB however is much different. One of the most fickle pickups i have ever used. Absolute magic in the right guitar and a absolute disaster in the wrong.
Example is this. In my 1995 Washburn USA bolt on MG 102 with the swamp ash body it sounds AMAZING! Aggressive articulate and very open. Dropped one in my neck through 2017 Kiesel DC 135 with a maple neck , Alder body and a Floyd and then couldn't get it out quick enough. Dull lifeless overly compressed and sloppy was just a real mess. That's the JB in a nutshell fantastic in one guitar and a absolute train wreck in another. Have had much better luck with the JB in a bolt on 25.5 scale super strat and not so much in shorter scale set neck and neck through guitars.