Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

FretFire

FretFire

SingedFingerologist
I'm considering a pickup change in my Schecter C1+ (mahogany body/maple top, mahogany neck/rosewood board). I currently have a DiMarzio Fred in the bridge and PAF Pro in the neck. I often find myself thinking the Fred doesn't have enough balls for rhythm playing, and the vocal-midrange hump grates on me when soloing. As for the PAF Pro, it has great smooth tone but is VERY bassy/muddy/woofy on the bass end.

So... I'm considering trying some Duncans in this axe. Well, I tried an Invader in the bridge once but let's not talk about that . Not my cup o' tea. Seeing that the JB is uber-popular I'm looking at it, and I'm not sure about the neck spot. Possibly an Alnico Pro II? Anyone have experience with the DiMarzios vs. the Duncans to tell me how they'll differ, or at least tell me some strengths/weaknesses of these pickup choices? Other suggestions for the neck spot are welcome as well. Thanks guys, I know this is pretty scattered
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

59 neck is always a good choice in that type of instrument (woods/construction-wise), as is the Jazz. But if you din't like the "mud" of the PAF PRO's low end, you'll prolly won't care for the 59 there either...the PRO has a clearer low end in my experience.

You may try something like a Full Shred in addition to the Jazz. From my research it (the FS) seems to have good definition as neck pup with some gain.


As for bridge pickups, The JB is great, but I personally think it's kinda overkill in that type of guitar (i.e Les Paul/Explorer like construction/woods). Les pauls already have the higher mid frequencies on tap, and the JB has quite a bit of higher frequency mids too. I personally prefer the Custom in the bridge which tightens up the lower mids, and lows, which can be a bit mushy on a Gibson style instrument, but the Custom still has a PAF style "growl" and enough high frequencies to cut through.
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up
Click to expand...

No! I'm tired of recommending JB's and either a 59N or Jazz Neck pickup.... :smack:


:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

Lewguitar said:
No! I'm tired of recommending JB's and either a 59N or Jazz Neck pickup.... :smack:


:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:
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Me Too! :smoker:
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

What are some differences between the Alnico Pro II and the Jazz pickups?
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

I've considered the Custom, but I really don't want a ceramic magnet, so perhaps the CC? I had been considering the JB/APII combo because of all the great things I've heard about having a combo of an A5 and A2 based pickups in a guitar.
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

I use a JB and full shred combo in my guitar, its all mahogany with an ebony fingerboard jackson. I think its the best combo ive come across yet, but in the future i might try a different bridge pickup because the jb does have just a bit too much bass for what i play, but dont take that the wrong way.
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

JB_From_Hell said:
Live Wire Heavy Metals :)
Click to expand...

I'm definitely looking for a versatile set, not just a metal-minded pair. I'd also like to stay passive. Thanks for the input though :).
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

Any words on the CC? I'm currently looking up info about either a JB/Jazz or a CC/Jazz pairing.
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

FretFire said:
Any words on the CC? I'm currently looking up info about either a JB/Jazz or a CC/Jazz pairing.
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We've been having some fun with this thread Fretfire bcause this question gets asked so often! Sorry for not taking your question more seriously.

I really like the CC and when I play mine through my Marshall it reminds alot of some of EVH's early tones...though it is hotter than what Eddie used. The CC has alot of mids and sounds great to me moved close to the strings. Gives the pickup alot more bite abd highs. Moved far from the strings it can lack treble...so I keep mine close and it sounds killer that way. It is extremely smooth and I use it for everything from blues to very overdriven rock tones.

As for the Jazz, that pickup can ROCK...so don't let the Jazz name put you off. It's alot like a 59N but has a little less bass and a little more upper harmonic content. I LOVE it. It and the 59N are my favorite alnico 5 neck humbuckers and Seymour says the Jazz and JB is his favorite humbucker combination.

I've used the Jazz/JB combo in a few Les Pauls (I'm installing a set for a board member this weekend...) and one nice thing about the JB is that it splits into a single coil beautifully. Great single coil tone as well as full humbucking tone.

Great as it is, for my tastes, the JB is a little to strong. I like a little more breath in my tone and the JB is very full sounding...but then again, so is the CC but in a differant way. The CC is not as "hard" and "bright" sounding in the upper mids as the JB can be.

The Custom Custom is like chewing on a soft caramel and the JB is like chewing on a slightly harder caramel! :laugh2:

In my own Strats with humbuckers, I like a more vintage pickup. I like the 59 Trembucker. I find that I get my own tone easily as well as a tone that reminds me of Clapton's Cream tone as well as EVH's tones on the first couple of albums.

So you might want to consider a set of 59's too. Or a 59 bridge and Jazz neck. Or the combo I use: 59 bridge and Pearly Gates neck.
 
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Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

FretFire said:
I'm definitely looking for a versatile set, not just a metal-minded pair. I'd also like to stay passive. Thanks for the input though :).
Click to expand...

Sorry... it was a joke related to a thread in Off Topic :)

C'mon Lew, I figured you'd get it :)
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

Wow Lew, great response, thanks :).
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

I'm going to chime in for the Jazz also.

Also, I have experience with the Alnico II Pro humbucker, which currently resides in my Les Paul. My Jazz is in a Jackson.

But, my opinion is that the AIIP has a creamier clean tone than the Jazz, and the Jazz is a tad more spanky clean than the AIIPH. However, for overdriven lead neck tone, I prefer the Jazz. Again, the AIIPH has a creamier tone (think Sweet Child O Mine intro), but the Jazz is more articulate. So, if you're going leaning towards the faster soloing stuff, I'd go Jazz. Mellower solo stuff, maybe lean toward AIIPH. With the Jazz, if you don't like it, it will be fairly easy to get rid of (I'll be in the market after Christmas, since Santa's probably not bringing me one).

Like Lew said, don't let the name Jazz put you off. It rocks for a neck pickup. Would Dave Mustaine use a neck pickup that didn't rock? I don't think so.

You can try this link:http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/jammermattmusic.htm

"Dee" was recorded using a Jazz through my Jackson. I bypassed the amp, went straight into the soundcard, only a tad of reverb. Otherwise, it's pure pickup and guitar.

The solo for "Forum Jam" was recorded using an AIIPH through my Line6 Blackface model. Volume and tone rolled back to get a more cool jazz sound. It has more treble than that if you need it for sure. The rhythm came from somewhere else.
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

if dave ever used his neck pickup at all, then tell me exactly on what song.

I say kick the jazz and go with a full shred for the neck. but you need to tell us more of what you are looking for with the neck.. you only said your previous pu was too bassy.. the full shred has everything but too much bass.
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

I suppose more detail is in order, my apologies. First and foremost I want clarity. I use the neck p'up for 90% of my clean tones, but I'd like the option of using it for some distorted rhythm as well without it turning to mush. I also use the neck spot for probably 60-70% of my leads, and while I really like the "tubular" sound of the PAF Pro it seems pretty dark overall. I'd like a high end that cuts without sounding brittle, and a bottom end that doesn't get too thick and woofy under distortion. If it makes any difference, the guitar is run through a Mesa Rectoverb.
 
Re: Alright, talk to me about the JB and a suitable neck p'up

JB_From_Hell said:
C'mon Lew, I figured you'd get it :)
Click to expand...

I got it! that's what the smile was about. :laugh2:
 
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