So I've got a JB and a 59N lying around. I don't like the upper mid spike of the JB nor the boominess of the 59 on the bass strings. For you magnet swappers, do you think these two pickups would work sound good together? Play lots of types of music with aclassic rock vibe, vintage amp. Guitar would either be a 2HB superstrat or a Godin LG HMB.
59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
- Thread starter jmcorey
- Start date
darthphineas
New member
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
can't speak for the JB2, as I've always like the JB how it is. but I have tried the '59nA4 and swear by it being what I think the '59n should've originally been. it de-booms it very well, making the lows more articulate without wimping/thinning out and making the highs cut through a little more without being shrill.
a polished A4 mag is a great swap into a neck pickup. I'm using it in a Jazz and in a few '59/Jazz neck hybrids. the only stock Duncan neck pup that does the same thing for me is the PATB-1n.
can't speak for the JB2, as I've always like the JB how it is. but I have tried the '59nA4 and swear by it being what I think the '59n should've originally been. it de-booms it very well, making the lows more articulate without wimping/thinning out and making the highs cut through a little more without being shrill.
a polished A4 mag is a great swap into a neck pickup. I'm using it in a Jazz and in a few '59/Jazz neck hybrids. the only stock Duncan neck pup that does the same thing for me is the PATB-1n.
flavorednation
New member
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
Hi.New guy here. I recently ordered A2 mags and A5 unoriented from Dennis (addiction fx).
I've been thinking of swapping magnets for a TB-4 again.I just made JB-A8.There is little difference to my ears.Or maybe because the other one is in a basswood and the other swamp ash-Both RG5xx.
Like darthphineas, I like the JB's sound stock, tho it gets boring sometimes.
Would A2 or UOA5 in a JB make much difference? I want to cut the mids a little and loosen the bass a bit.This would go to the swamp ash guitar.
I have 2 more TB-4's for magnet swapping. :scratchch
Thanks!
Hi.New guy here. I recently ordered A2 mags and A5 unoriented from Dennis (addiction fx).
I've been thinking of swapping magnets for a TB-4 again.I just made JB-A8.There is little difference to my ears.Or maybe because the other one is in a basswood and the other swamp ash-Both RG5xx.
Like darthphineas, I like the JB's sound stock, tho it gets boring sometimes.
Would A2 or UOA5 in a JB make much difference? I want to cut the mids a little and loosen the bass a bit.This would go to the swamp ash guitar.
I have 2 more TB-4's for magnet swapping. :scratchch
Thanks!
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
Common complaints for both PU's. Like you, I don't care for the JB's spike, but that's only with an A5 magnet (the culprit!). I really like the JB2, which is much warmer, mids are filled in, spike's gone, very nice PU for blues and classic rock. An UOA5 is good too, similar to a JB2 with the nice texture and dynamics, but with a little more treble. If you're playing metal, the JB8 is worth looking at; it's also got more mids and less treble than a stock JB, but has more output (a 16K PU with an A8 is pretty potent).
A4 '59N's are popular here to fix the boomy low end. Should match very well with a JB2, UOA5 JB, and JB8.
Hey, Ann Arbor, cool place. I always liked going there.
Common complaints for both PU's. Like you, I don't care for the JB's spike, but that's only with an A5 magnet (the culprit!). I really like the JB2, which is much warmer, mids are filled in, spike's gone, very nice PU for blues and classic rock. An UOA5 is good too, similar to a JB2 with the nice texture and dynamics, but with a little more treble. If you're playing metal, the JB8 is worth looking at; it's also got more mids and less treble than a stock JB, but has more output (a 16K PU with an A8 is pretty potent).
A4 '59N's are popular here to fix the boomy low end. Should match very well with a JB2, UOA5 JB, and JB8.
Hey, Ann Arbor, cool place. I always liked going there.
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Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
Blueman you're absolutely right.
Cant comment on Ann Arbor though
Blueman you're absolutely right.
Cant comment on Ann Arbor though
flavorednation
New member
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
Could the upper mid spike you were hearing the same as the "honky" sound I hear?
I actually like it, well not in all applications tho.And also I don't hear the ear piercing highs other guys are reporting and that's in a swamp ash body.
Could the upper mid spike you were hearing the same as the "honky" sound I hear?
I actually like it, well not in all applications tho.And also I don't hear the ear piercing highs other guys are reporting and that's in a swamp ash body.
flavorednation
New member
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
I'll definetely try the A2 in JB and see what happens.I want that swamp ash RG to be an all around player (minus metal).
I'll definetely try the A2 in JB and see what happens.I want that swamp ash RG to be an all around player (minus metal).
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
The ice pick spike usually manifests itself in warmer woods, like mahogany, and most often in LP's (thick mahogany). It's not the 'honk', it's more piercing than that. Warm woods are also where JB's can develop a flabby low end. All these things go away when you start changing magnets.
The ice pick spike usually manifests itself in warmer woods, like mahogany, and most often in LP's (thick mahogany). It's not the 'honk', it's more piercing than that. Warm woods are also where JB's can develop a flabby low end. All these things go away when you start changing magnets.
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
I can't speculate on the JB2, but the 59n with A4 is a winner. I tried quite a few pickups and magnet combinations in the neck, and the 59-A4n was one of them. I liked the 59-A2n also, but it lost the clarity on the top end in my Les Paul. The lows weren't quite right either, although I think it may work well with a different amp. But I'm happy with the 59-A4n now, and I have been for probably two years.
I can't speculate on the JB2, but the 59n with A4 is a winner. I tried quite a few pickups and magnet combinations in the neck, and the 59-A4n was one of them. I liked the 59-A2n also, but it lost the clarity on the top end in my Les Paul. The lows weren't quite right either, although I think it may work well with a different amp. But I'm happy with the 59-A4n now, and I have been for probably two years.
Grenade
New member
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
This is what I'm hearing in my Mahog/Maple body and it seems scooped at the same time. Would you use A2 or A4. I'm thinking A4 in the Jazz neck also.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
No, not football. I loved all the hippie shops there, and the botanical garden. Geez, you jocks...
No, not football. I loved all the hippie shops there, and the botanical garden. Geez, you jocks...
indie folk guy
New member
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
I see no reason why this wouldn't be a great pairing
the 59 and JB combo is tried and true and imho the mags you are considering would likely fix the "issues" that some people have with them (I have to say I'd prefer A2 or UOA5 for the JB and an A4 in the 59 neck)
but there are a lot of depends like player, preferences, instrument, etc
mag swaps are cheap and easy I'd say give it a try if you don't like it switch back or try something else
I see no reason why this wouldn't be a great pairing
the 59 and JB combo is tried and true and imho the mags you are considering would likely fix the "issues" that some people have with them (I have to say I'd prefer A2 or UOA5 for the JB and an A4 in the 59 neck)
but there are a lot of depends like player, preferences, instrument, etc
mag swaps are cheap and easy I'd say give it a try if you don't like it switch back or try something else
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
Tried and true actually is Seymour's favorite setup...The Jazz N and the JB..These days I prefer the Jazz over the 59N...The 59N I always find too boomy..The Jazz N is a bit cleaner and more articulate sounding..Lacks that boomy crap that the 59N always produces!
The 59 A4 helps,as does cutting the length on the bottom of the fillister screws...I prefer a Seth over the 59N also actually.
Tried and true actually is Seymour's favorite setup...The Jazz N and the JB..These days I prefer the Jazz over the 59N...The 59N I always find too boomy..The Jazz N is a bit cleaner and more articulate sounding..Lacks that boomy crap that the 59N always produces!
The 59 A4 helps,as does cutting the length on the bottom of the fillister screws...I prefer a Seth over the 59N also actually.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
That's the quote that gets used all the time, but who's playing the same kind of music as Seymour, or how many guys have heard his playing? There's lots of PU's and PU pairs that are great at what they do, but if that's not what you're doing, it's not particularly relevant.
That's the quote that gets used all the time, but who's playing the same kind of music as Seymour, or how many guys have heard his playing? There's lots of PU's and PU pairs that are great at what they do, but if that's not what you're doing, it's not particularly relevant.
indie folk guy
New member
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
I say tried and true bc countless guitar builders and players use the 59/JB combo not bc it's Seymours favorite combo. And I'm pretty sure as a typical starting point for most hb equipped guitars if you ask SD for a rec the 59/JB, a set of 59s, a set of Seths, or the Jazz/JB set and so on will prob be included in the versatile pairs.
There are a lot of factors that probably make a bigger difference to your tone than simply the pickups anyway such as:
playing technique
your amp
your effects
your actual instrument
etc.
as much fun as pickups are to swap out it's a very subtle piece of the puzzle to change
I say tried and true bc countless guitar builders and players use the 59/JB combo not bc it's Seymours favorite combo. And I'm pretty sure as a typical starting point for most hb equipped guitars if you ask SD for a rec the 59/JB, a set of 59s, a set of Seths, or the Jazz/JB set and so on will prob be included in the versatile pairs.
There are a lot of factors that probably make a bigger difference to your tone than simply the pickups anyway such as:
playing technique
your amp
your effects
your actual instrument
etc.
as much fun as pickups are to swap out it's a very subtle piece of the puzzle to change
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
Yeah, I am not a hippie and have little appreciation for that culture, but A-squared has lots of hippie shops. The Botanical Gardens are nice. Our department has its annual holiday party there, so we get to experience that.
A small town with lots of amenities of a cosmopolitan flavor. Makes living here very nice.
Yeah, I am not a hippie and have little appreciation for that culture, but A-squared has lots of hippie shops. The Botanical Gardens are nice. Our department has its annual holiday party there, so we get to experience that.
A small town with lots of amenities of a cosmopolitan flavor. Makes living here very nice.
Re: 59A4 and JB2. How would these work together?
Totally. There are lots of good pickups. The truth of the matter, is that the more I like the tone, the more I am inspired to play.
But, yes those other variables are likely more important. Bottom line as my friend Julian says to me, "No matter what you are playing through, I say to myself, 'Well, that sounds like Joe.' "
Totally. There are lots of good pickups. The truth of the matter, is that the more I like the tone, the more I am inspired to play.
But, yes those other variables are likely more important. Bottom line as my friend Julian says to me, "No matter what you are playing through, I say to myself, 'Well, that sounds like Joe.' "
