___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
- Thread starter dave4378
- Start date
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
I try not to buy Jacksons with JBs in them :lol:
Seriously, the new Charvels come with 500K pots (JB in bridge), so I'm assuming the Jacksons do as well.
I try not to buy Jacksons with JBs in them :lol:
Seriously, the new Charvels come with 500K pots (JB in bridge), so I'm assuming the Jacksons do as well.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
+1. Most companies like to use one pot value on a guitar (keeps production simple & reduces inventory), and since a warm pot usually isn't a good idea with a neck HB, 500K's seem to win out. Of course, the fact that it makes many bridge HB's too bright is another matter. Your problem, not theirs.
+1. Most companies like to use one pot value on a guitar (keeps production simple & reduces inventory), and since a warm pot usually isn't a good idea with a neck HB, 500K's seem to win out. Of course, the fact that it makes many bridge HB's too bright is another matter. Your problem, not theirs.
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
What's wrong with the JBs?... most of the U.S. Select Series come with JBs & so did most of the top end Charvels & Kramers. A lot of other pickups i've tried are a bit too bassy, the JB is one of the only ones i've tried that have that nice trebley sound with that thin crunchy bite in the palm mutes that you hear in a lot of oldschool metal. Last thing i want is too much boominess & bass in the palm mutes. Most other pickups need a bit of messing around with the EQ to get that & if you roll back the lows on some you lose too much bass & you still don't get that sound.
What's wrong with the JBs?... most of the U.S. Select Series come with JBs & so did most of the top end Charvels & Kramers. A lot of other pickups i've tried are a bit too bassy, the JB is one of the only ones i've tried that have that nice trebley sound with that thin crunchy bite in the palm mutes that you hear in a lot of oldschool metal. Last thing i want is too much boominess & bass in the palm mutes. Most other pickups need a bit of messing around with the EQ to get that & if you roll back the lows on some you lose too much bass & you still don't get that sound.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
They sound stangled to me in most guitars. Like they're really trying to do something great, but their nuts are caught in the zipper.
They sound stangled to me in most guitars. Like they're really trying to do something great, but their nuts are caught in the zipper.
Fikealox
New member
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
I had a Jackson DK2 with a JB, and it sounded muffled, flat and lifeless - completely the opposite of what most people gripe about with them. I have a JB in an LP that sounds awesome, though, and plenty of people like JBs in superstrats, so who knows.
I had a Jackson DK2 with a JB, and it sounded muffled, flat and lifeless - completely the opposite of what most people gripe about with them. I have a JB in an LP that sounds awesome, though, and plenty of people like JBs in superstrats, so who knows.
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
My 2005 SL2H had a 250K tone. Not sure what the volume was, no markings and I didn't bother testing it.
I replaced the tone with a 500K push/pull to split the JB. No issues.
I do find the rig you use to be a big part of the equation. Take my POD 2.3. With cheap Sony headphones (rolled off highs, fat mids, higher output), it sounds great.
With my pricy AGK? headphones (flat frequency response, airy highs, but lower output) it sounds too bright and thin (and my BB Pro's as well).
Pickups are only one part of the equation people.
My 2005 SL2H had a 250K tone. Not sure what the volume was, no markings and I didn't bother testing it.
I replaced the tone with a 500K push/pull to split the JB. No issues.
I do find the rig you use to be a big part of the equation. Take my POD 2.3. With cheap Sony headphones (rolled off highs, fat mids, higher output), it sounds great.
With my pricy AGK? headphones (flat frequency response, airy highs, but lower output) it sounds too bright and thin (and my BB Pro's as well).
Pickups are only one part of the equation people.
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
That is THE metal sound, all that chunky low end sh*t that came later is pretty much what everyone is into now *yawn* & that ain't metal. As far as i'm concerened the kiddies can keep their low end muddy death metal & metalcore sttuff, i'll stick to the real thing ala Kill Em All vintage NWOBHM-esque sound. Clitche'?...maybe, but i love all the clitche's of heavy metal.
That is THE metal sound, all that chunky low end sh*t that came later is pretty much what everyone is into now *yawn* & that ain't metal. As far as i'm concerened the kiddies can keep their low end muddy death metal & metalcore sttuff, i'll stick to the real thing ala Kill Em All vintage NWOBHM-esque sound. Clitche'?...maybe, but i love all the clitche's of heavy metal.
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
Yeah i'm aware of that, but when you have the Duncan Designed pickups i had that came stock in the guitar, it becomes a HUUUUUUGE part of the equation... 3/4 of it, it seems like. Made the change & what a massive difference. The stock pickups sounded like dog sh*t on any rig or amp, didn't matter. I think people don't realise just how big a part of the equation the pickups really do play untill you've truly experienced a really poor pickup & gone from that to something even semi decent. I think most people that picked up my guitar were truly shocked & surprised at the poor quality of the pickups i got in a $1000 guitar & that Jackson are putting in some of there guitars now.
Yeah i'm aware of that, but when you have the Duncan Designed pickups i had that came stock in the guitar, it becomes a HUUUUUUGE part of the equation... 3/4 of it, it seems like. Made the change & what a massive difference. The stock pickups sounded like dog sh*t on any rig or amp, didn't matter. I think people don't realise just how big a part of the equation the pickups really do play untill you've truly experienced a really poor pickup & gone from that to something even semi decent. I think most people that picked up my guitar were truly shocked & surprised at the poor quality of the pickups i got in a $1000 guitar & that Jackson are putting in some of there guitars now.
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
Hmmm that's weird, i tried a Dinky with a JB recently, may have even been the DK2 or maybe the DK2M & it sounded completely opposite to what you're describing. Very bright, quite punchy.
Hmmm that's weird, i tried a Dinky with a JB recently, may have even been the DK2 or maybe the DK2M & it sounded completely opposite to what you're describing. Very bright, quite punchy.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
Agreed about the stuff they're calling "Metal" these days. "Metal" (no prefix) means "Heavy Metal", and pertains to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, and similar bands - everything else has a prefix for a reason - Hair Metal ( :lol: ), Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Punk Metal, Rap Metal, Grindcore/Hardcore (which are both closer to Punk than Metal), Goth Metal ( :lol: ), Black Metal, etc etc etc.
You want a glass of water on a hot day? Is it ok if I bring you a glass of hot water, or do you want cold water?
Same thing. Ask for it by name.
As for the JB, I do understand some folks WANT it to be the sound of Metal, but that's only because it was thrust into that application by people that wanted to be Jeff Beck but simply couldn't hack it.
Go back to the beginning to find "the Metal pickup" -
Iommi with his exploding Laneys and Gibson P90s.
Dave Murray and his what? DiMarzio Super Distortion, that's right.
Rhoads and his what? DiMarzio Super Distortion in his Les Paul and Sandoval V, Duncan Distortions in his Jacksons.
Tipton and Downing with what? Gibson 49x (SG and Gibson V), or classic Fender singles (both at the same time, even up to the 1980 Defenders tour).
Jake Lee used a Custom.
Crosby and DeMartini used a Holdsworth (RC) and Custom (WD).
Mick Mars used Distortions for the good Crue albums (first 3).
Nowhere in there was a JB. Hair bands like Warrant and Poison brought in the JB, and the sound of "Metal" became pinched nuts and choked potential.
Leave the JB where it belongs - in Jeff Beck's guitar.
Agreed about the stuff they're calling "Metal" these days. "Metal" (no prefix) means "Heavy Metal", and pertains to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, and similar bands - everything else has a prefix for a reason - Hair Metal ( :lol: ), Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Punk Metal, Rap Metal, Grindcore/Hardcore (which are both closer to Punk than Metal), Goth Metal ( :lol: ), Black Metal, etc etc etc.
You want a glass of water on a hot day? Is it ok if I bring you a glass of hot water, or do you want cold water?
Same thing. Ask for it by name.
As for the JB, I do understand some folks WANT it to be the sound of Metal, but that's only because it was thrust into that application by people that wanted to be Jeff Beck but simply couldn't hack it.
Go back to the beginning to find "the Metal pickup" -
Iommi with his exploding Laneys and Gibson P90s.
Dave Murray and his what? DiMarzio Super Distortion, that's right.
Rhoads and his what? DiMarzio Super Distortion in his Les Paul and Sandoval V, Duncan Distortions in his Jacksons.
Tipton and Downing with what? Gibson 49x (SG and Gibson V), or classic Fender singles (both at the same time, even up to the 1980 Defenders tour).
Jake Lee used a Custom.
Crosby and DeMartini used a Holdsworth (RC) and Custom (WD).
Mick Mars used Distortions for the good Crue albums (first 3).
Nowhere in there was a JB. Hair bands like Warrant and Poison brought in the JB, and the sound of "Metal" became pinched nuts and choked potential.
Leave the JB where it belongs - in Jeff Beck's guitar.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
+1. You can get used to cheap PU's (especially HB's), and develop a tolerence for blurred, muddy tones. Once you try high quality PU's & hear how consistent the articulation and depth is on them, you probably won't go back. Crappy PU's in a $1,000 guitar is inexcusable. These days there are some guitar models in the $500-600 price range that have American-made PU's in them, and I think that's going to be the wave of the future. The market'll get more competitive, which is great for us consumers.
+1. You can get used to cheap PU's (especially HB's), and develop a tolerence for blurred, muddy tones. Once you try high quality PU's & hear how consistent the articulation and depth is on them, you probably won't go back. Crappy PU's in a $1,000 guitar is inexcusable. These days there are some guitar models in the $500-600 price range that have American-made PU's in them, and I think that's going to be the wave of the future. The market'll get more competitive, which is great for us consumers.
Diocletian
BrandNewGlossologist
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
Newc, you seem to have forgotten the Rust In Peace album for some reason.....Not "classic" enough? :firing:
The JB in my SL3 sounds incredible. I have no idea what the pots are though, never checked.
The one in my KE3 was a 500K, but then that never came with a JB, it came with Detonators.
The pots in my RR3 were also 500K, but again, came with Detonators.
So, guess that answers nothing at all!
Newc, you seem to have forgotten the Rust In Peace album for some reason.....Not "classic" enough? :firing:
The JB in my SL3 sounds incredible. I have no idea what the pots are though, never checked.
The one in my KE3 was a 500K, but then that never came with a JB, it came with Detonators.
The pots in my RR3 were also 500K, but again, came with Detonators.
So, guess that answers nothing at all!
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
R.I.P. was great, but doesn't classify as "Heavy Metal". Metallica and Megadeth are (were) Thrash Metal. That's the style they pioneered. To categorize them as anything else is an insult to them.
R.I.P. was great, but doesn't classify as "Heavy Metal". Metallica and Megadeth are (were) Thrash Metal. That's the style they pioneered. To categorize them as anything else is an insult to them.
Diocletian
BrandNewGlossologist
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
RIP is, without ANY doubt, a "classic heavy metal" album. Never mind classifying minor genres to the Nth degree - that album is true classic heavy metal.
We can split hairs all night about this - Motley Crue have never been heavy metal in the same sense as Maiden and Priest, but you included them in your roundup.
If anyone with sense was compiling a list of classic heavy metal albums, Rust In Peace would be on there.
To classify that album as just "thrash metal" would actually be an insult IMO, it's a mile above that genre.
Anyway, JBs were used on that album, and there's no Warrant or Poison type crap anywhere on there. Used well, the JB can be a monster pickup.
RIP is, without ANY doubt, a "classic heavy metal" album. Never mind classifying minor genres to the Nth degree - that album is true classic heavy metal.
We can split hairs all night about this - Motley Crue have never been heavy metal in the same sense as Maiden and Priest, but you included them in your roundup.
If anyone with sense was compiling a list of classic heavy metal albums, Rust In Peace would be on there.
To classify that album as just "thrash metal" would actually be an insult IMO, it's a mile above that genre.
Anyway, JBs were used on that album, and there's no Warrant or Poison type crap anywhere on there. Used well, the JB can be a monster pickup.
Last edited:
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
Too Fast For Love and Shout At The Devil had many of the same elements that early Sabbath, Priest, and Maiden had. Remember, Sabbath did ballads, and who can forget Judas Priest's acoustic-based Before the Dawn, or Beyond The Realms Of Death, or Iron Maiden's Remember Tomorrow, or Prodigal Son (featuring an acoustic intro that was mimicked by Rhoads for the intro to You Can't Kill Rock And Roll)?
While Too Fast For Love was more straight-ahead Hard Rock (simple progressions, all about the "heavy"), Shout At The Devil had a more orchestrated, dynamic feel - from In The Beginning to Danger, it was every bit about telling stories as it was about laying down the crunch.
Being classified as Thrash Metal isn't an insult to Rust In Peace. Megadeth and Metallica pioneered that style. To be heard over the noise of the crowd, and from pure adrenaline, they played louder and faster until the crowd stopped ignoring them.
If anything, both bands have gone backwards to Heavy Metal in recent years, not the other way around. Thrash wasn't a step back, it was a step forward. It was an evolutionary step. Evolution is always forward.
Heavy Metal had its share of technicality, but was always balanced with melody and blues-based licks. Thrash was all about technicality and brutality, which Rust In Peace embodies from beginning to end.
And yes, the JB was used all over R.I.P. I'm listening to Holy Wars right now, and you can hear the characteristics of the JB: the choked potential and lack of nuts.
That's perfect for that style of music, which requires articulation due to the fast changes and inverted and dissonant chords, as well as the guitar frequently being doubled by the bass lines to make the whole track sound heavy yet not mushy.
However, a track with less technicality, and where the bass line does not double the guitar, would require a pickup with a bit more of its own beef and balls.
Too Fast For Love and Shout At The Devil had many of the same elements that early Sabbath, Priest, and Maiden had. Remember, Sabbath did ballads, and who can forget Judas Priest's acoustic-based Before the Dawn, or Beyond The Realms Of Death, or Iron Maiden's Remember Tomorrow, or Prodigal Son (featuring an acoustic intro that was mimicked by Rhoads for the intro to You Can't Kill Rock And Roll)?
While Too Fast For Love was more straight-ahead Hard Rock (simple progressions, all about the "heavy"), Shout At The Devil had a more orchestrated, dynamic feel - from In The Beginning to Danger, it was every bit about telling stories as it was about laying down the crunch.
Being classified as Thrash Metal isn't an insult to Rust In Peace. Megadeth and Metallica pioneered that style. To be heard over the noise of the crowd, and from pure adrenaline, they played louder and faster until the crowd stopped ignoring them.
If anything, both bands have gone backwards to Heavy Metal in recent years, not the other way around. Thrash wasn't a step back, it was a step forward. It was an evolutionary step. Evolution is always forward.
Heavy Metal had its share of technicality, but was always balanced with melody and blues-based licks. Thrash was all about technicality and brutality, which Rust In Peace embodies from beginning to end.
And yes, the JB was used all over R.I.P. I'm listening to Holy Wars right now, and you can hear the characteristics of the JB: the choked potential and lack of nuts.
That's perfect for that style of music, which requires articulation due to the fast changes and inverted and dissonant chords, as well as the guitar frequently being doubled by the bass lines to make the whole track sound heavy yet not mushy.
However, a track with less technicality, and where the bass line does not double the guitar, would require a pickup with a bit more of its own beef and balls.
Last edited:
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
Actually Demartini used JBs, it was Robbin Crosby that had the Holdsworth in his red Double Rhoads King V.
Jake E Lee used a JBs
And you're wrong about Poison aswell, CC Deville used BC Rich guitars with Dimarzio Super Distortions. Super Distortions are the pickups most people attribute to the L.A. sound, not the JB. In fact i can't think of any L.A. "hair band" off the top of my head that used JBs except Ratt & it was only Demartini not Crosby that used em. Dunno about Warrant though.
Bottom line though is i couldn't care less who used what & who the pickup was made for or who's name it's associated with, that's not important at all. I'm going by what i try & what i hear. If it has the sound i want, that's all i care about. Those supposed "metal pickups" that are specifically designed for that sort of thing, that all the kids go for simply because of the that & because the manufacturer claims is a metal pickup & gives it some wild name, all sound terrible. Way too high output. For example the Dimebag pickup, all the kids buy into that simply because it's a Dimebag pickup & because it's supposedly a "metal pickup", but it sounds like sh*t.
Many years ago i had a cheap Telecaster with stock pickups & that sounded 100 times better doing metal than all my friends' guitars who supposedly had all the right pickups metal look & all the right stuff & who's guitars probably cost 3 times more than mine. And that guitar was not really designed for metal. My point is it wasn't designed just for super high output & excessive amounts of distortion, seems that's all most metal players want. I find that pretty lame how metal guitarist avoid someting like the JB because it's a Jeff Beck pickup & go for something like the Full Shred because of the name & if you listen to those 2 they're not that dramatcally different unlike something like the Custom 5 versuses the JB.
Actually Demartini used JBs, it was Robbin Crosby that had the Holdsworth in his red Double Rhoads King V.
Jake E Lee used a JBs
And you're wrong about Poison aswell, CC Deville used BC Rich guitars with Dimarzio Super Distortions. Super Distortions are the pickups most people attribute to the L.A. sound, not the JB. In fact i can't think of any L.A. "hair band" off the top of my head that used JBs except Ratt & it was only Demartini not Crosby that used em. Dunno about Warrant though.
Bottom line though is i couldn't care less who used what & who the pickup was made for or who's name it's associated with, that's not important at all. I'm going by what i try & what i hear. If it has the sound i want, that's all i care about. Those supposed "metal pickups" that are specifically designed for that sort of thing, that all the kids go for simply because of the that & because the manufacturer claims is a metal pickup & gives it some wild name, all sound terrible. Way too high output. For example the Dimebag pickup, all the kids buy into that simply because it's a Dimebag pickup & because it's supposedly a "metal pickup", but it sounds like sh*t.
Many years ago i had a cheap Telecaster with stock pickups & that sounded 100 times better doing metal than all my friends' guitars who supposedly had all the right pickups metal look & all the right stuff & who's guitars probably cost 3 times more than mine. And that guitar was not really designed for metal. My point is it wasn't designed just for super high output & excessive amounts of distortion, seems that's all most metal players want. I find that pretty lame how metal guitarist avoid someting like the JB because it's a Jeff Beck pickup & go for something like the Full Shred because of the name & if you listen to those 2 they're not that dramatcally different unlike something like the Custom 5 versuses the JB.
Re: ___K pots in Jacksons with JB bridge/Jazz neck?
Actually it was $1000 Australian dollars, our dollar is worth peanuts. So that's maybe $600 or $700 USD. Still if you get a chance go to a guitar shop & try the KVX10 & you'll see what i mean by "poor". There is no other affordable King V that's not string-through. The ones that are a step down are garbage & a step up means a jump to U.S. Select Series which is $4000 to $5000 AUD. I don't have that kind of money. For that money i could have 3 or 4 reasonbly decent guitars to play around with.
Actually it was $1000 Australian dollars, our dollar is worth peanuts. So that's maybe $600 or $700 USD. Still if you get a chance go to a guitar shop & try the KVX10 & you'll see what i mean by "poor". There is no other affordable King V that's not string-through. The ones that are a step down are garbage & a step up means a jump to U.S. Select Series which is $4000 to $5000 AUD. I don't have that kind of money. For that money i could have 3 or 4 reasonbly decent guitars to play around with.