59 + JB = ?

[Supernautilus]

The JB and 59 are probably my two favorite bridge pickups. I love the upper midrange grind of the JB and the sweet crunch of the 59. Which SD pickup would sit squarely between these two, in terms of tone and output? Just wondering…any opinions?

[Rex_Rocker]

I've always wondered about that too. On the Duncan Blog, they recommend not doing hybrids of pickups more than a wire gauge apart, but then, they came up with these for some ESP's.

Pretty sure DiMarzio does the multiple wire gauges away thing, though.

[Clint 55]

JB stepped down could be an A5 DDn or Jason Becker. Similar type crunch. 59 stepped up could be a custom 5. I made a Seth/JB hybrid and it sounded great. I don't think there's any problem with hybrid-ing 42 and 44 awg.

[beaubrummels]

IME Whole Lotta Humbucker would be in between a 59 - JB tone and output-wise, but leaning a more toward the 59. Anything I can think of that leans more toward the JB output doesn't sound anything like a JB. The JB is pretty unique in the line. But it also depends what guitar this is going in. My reference is more with Les Pauls and SGs (mahogany). Pickups can sound very different in Strat types (alder/ash/basswood/maple).

[Mincer]

I'd go for a 59/Custom Hybrid as sitting between the 2. It is closer to a 59 in EQ, but power-wise, closer to the JB.

[Supernautilus]

I was perusing the website and happened to stumble upon this in the custom shop. The description doesn't say much other than forum members came up with it. Anyone have more details on this?

https://customshop.seymourduncan.com/brobucker/

[Rex_Rocker]

I was perusing the website and happened to stumble upon this in the custom shop. The description doesn't say much other than forum members came up with it. Anyone have more details on this?

https://customshop.seymourduncan.com/brobucker/

I don't doubt those sound killer, but somehow, I have a hard time believing something with 10K resistance and an aged magnet gets "medium" output.

[Supernautilus]

Hmm, good point. Well, I know the resistance doesn't always correlate with output. For instance, the Jerry Donahue model smokes in my Tele and it's only 7K. It can easily keep up with humbuckers. So maybe it's that kind of thing. *shrug*

[GuitarDoc]

I don't doubt those sound killer, but somehow, I have a hard time believing something with 10K resistance and an aged magnet gets "medium" output.

Well, believe it.

You can't always go by the resistance as a true measure of output. The Demon is 10k and sounds very similar in output to a 59 imo. The 59/C hybrid at 11k also. I don't think you're going to find anything with similar tone to the JB (thank goodness) and output to the 59...maybe a Slash (b).

[beaubrummels]

I was perusing the website and happened to stumble upon this in the custom shop. The description doesn't say much other than forum members came up with it. Anyone have more details on this?

https://customshop.seymourduncan.com/brobucker/

The Brobucker is like a Seth with more heat and the mid bump is shifted from the 'honk' region up into the 'chime' region. It plays well with any PAF type in the neck. Works with Seth, Antiquity, A2P, 36th Anniversary, and other Custom Shop offerings like the Bonamassa stuff e.g. Skinnerburst. It's a pretty perfect PAF bridge. The recent Gibson Custombucker (which is A3) is close in sound but noticeably weaker; the Duncan Brobucker is a bit clearer, chimier and has more push in the upper mid region. It sings and cuts through, in it's own PAF-ish way.

[larryguitar]

I don't doubt those sound killer, but somehow, I have a hard time believing something with 10K resistance and an aged magnet gets "medium" output.

The magnet's charge has a lot more to do with output than resistance; imagine a humbucker with NO magnet, for instance. So the 'aged' magnet (not knowing how it's charged, but it's obviously somewhere between 'fully' and 'not at all') is likely moderating the output.

Larry

[Rex_Rocker]

You can't always go by the resistance as a true measure of output.

The magnet's charge has a lot more to do with output than resistance;

Exactly what I meant!

[Supernautilus]

I don't think you're going to find anything with similar tone to the JB (thank goodness).

lol

[Overlord]

Maybe the Pegasus?
Hotter than the 59, but not as hot as the JB.
Or else possibly the 59/Custom as previously mentioned.

[orpheo]

I've always wondered about that too. On the Duncan Blog, they recommend not doing hybrids of pickups more than a wire gauge apart, but then, they came up with these for some ESP's.

Pretty sure DiMarzio does the multiple wire gauges away thing, though.

That blog is mine. I didn't say that a 42awg humbucker and a 44awg humbucker don't go together. That's nonsense. What I did say, though, is that having one coil with 42awg and one coil with 44awg has not given results as satisfactory compared to 42+43 and 43+44.

Dimarzio had a patent for what they call dual resonance, which has long since expired, leaving this avenue open for others to use and explore, which Seymour Duncan has done with for example the 59Custom Hybrid.

On topic:

The Air Norton by Dimarzio has the open feel and tone of the 59 but the tightness of the JB as well as its fluid 'feel'.
The Perpetual Burn is similar (tonally) but skewed a little more towards the JB than the 59, compared to the Air Norton's tilt towards the 59.

I wouldn't go with the Pegasus: that one feels so much tighter and aggressive than the JB or the 59. Doesn't have the open vocal voice of the 59, nor the liquid feel of the JB.

Another great choice would be Bareknuckle's Polymath. Man, that pickup is ridiculous.