Advice/Opinion On Which Vintage Of JB To Use

[beaubrummels]

Curiously, I have only seen pickups labeled The JB Model that fall under the #1 description above. I assume there have to be others. Have you or anyone else seen any? The JM or Jazz was being made during that time, as was the 59’ and the Custom I believe? Not sure if the Distortion was or not…and I feel like I might be missing another early model or 2. I’ll have to dig up my notes. I don’t have them on my iPad. The early Duncan history really fascinates me.

Thanks again!

(I believe this list was originally put together by Orpheo? It can be found on archive.org but the applet that showed the timeline no longer works.)

1976
SSL-1

1977
JB
Jazz

1978
59

1979
Pearly Gates (Gibbons)
Custom
SSL-5 (based on Gilmour pickup)

1980
Distortion

1981
Invader

1983
SA-1 Acoustic pickup

1983 is when Maricela joined. You basically have a Seymour-wound JB, which you can't get now even if you ask and pay the Custom Shop.

 

[Leon Of Late]

Thank you for all that info beaubrummels. I am going to add all that to my Duncan notes. Really good stuff.

I did not realize that you could not get a pickup wound by Seymour from the custom shop anymore. I thought maybe you could request one off’s still. That is a crying shame for the world to lose his experience and expertise winding pickups he invented. I am happy to have a couple done by him anyhow.

 

[beaubrummels]

Thank you for all that info beaubrummels. I am going to add all that to my Duncan notes. Really good stuff.

I did not realize that you could not get a pickup wound by Seymour from the custom shop anymore. I thought maybe you could request one off’s still. That is a crying shame for the world to lose his experience and expertise winding pickups he invented. I am happy to have a couple done by him anyhow.

I wouldn't say it's lost exactly. Maricela has all his notes (which are cited as being meticulous and detailed) and has worked beside him for 40 years. But I'm sure there is a bit of 'Seymour taught others everything they know, but he may not have taught them everything he knows.' These days, it seems Seymour only does really special limited runs, like the Custom Shop Jimi Hendrix set from a few years back that was in a wood box and cost ~$500. I really don't have information on how often he is actually in the Custom Shop; he may only be present and do work for endorsement customers maybe? Can't be sure. But all the Custom Shop boxes and pickups I've seen for the last 10 years have MJ's signature, which is a good thing in itself.

 

[hamerfan]

Does the tag on those just list the name, “Custom” or does it say “Duncan Custom”…or something else? I have never seen another pic or example of another pickup from this era, other than The JB Model.

Really cool that you have two examples, and a double cream to boot.

It say indeed ‚Duncan Custom‘. Little bit hard to read.

 

[Aceman]

I have the DP link... hold on a minute.

Here you go: https://darthphineas.com/2017/02/seymour-duncan-jb-model-comparison/