Another JB thread....

Gtrjunior

Gtrjunior

New member
I have a JB in my Ibanez RG 565.

I recently put an UOA5 in it. I find it to be an improvement in the regular A5 but I still feel it is lacking....

I have a Custom (SH-5) in my LP which absolutely slays in that guitar. It has an amazing chunky yet tight low end that I love.

And that is what I feel the Ibanez is lacking....the low end. Now I know the JB is not known for its low end. I like everything else I get from the JB though. The output is huge and the Ibanez sounds like it’s going to rip through the speakers. The UOA5 has smoothed out the mids like I hoped it would. It’s just the lacking low end.

My question is:
Would a mag swap like an A8 or A2 help in any way here? Or do I just need to be using a different pickup?
Maybe a Custom Custom?
I also have a BKP Rebel Yell on hand that I bet would sound great. Only thing is that it is a Standard spaced pickup....which probably would still work just fine anyway..
Thoughts?


Also looking for recommendations for a Stratty neck pickup preferably noiseless.
It currently has a Hot Rails in it. Which is good but not really Stratty.

Thanks.
 
Another JB thread....

Mods.... I misspelled “JB” in the title of the thread and can’t seem to correct it.
Any possibility of correcting it for me?
Thanks


Edit:
Thanks for the fix!!
 
Last edited:
Re: Another IB thread....

Re: Another IB thread....

A8 would be my suggestion here, assuming you stick with the JB wind. Alternatively, if you happen to have a double-thick Ceramic, that would put you into Distortion territory

Seeing that you have a Rebel Yell on hand, I'd rip that JB out and try it first! The difference in spacing won't have any noticeable effect on the tone or performance.

I think going with something like a Custom Custom is moving a bit far in the opposite direction.

As for a noiseless "Stratty" neck pickup, there are some very solid options now. Fender's newest gen noiseless pickups are really great, better than anything they made in the past, and Kinmans are a no-brainer if you can afford them. If you're pairing a neck single with the JB or similar, you'll probably want something a bit hotter than pure vintage. Take a look at the DiMarzio Area 61 and Injector neck models. Andy Timmons also manages a semi-stratty neck tone with a Cruiser Bridge model in the neck. The Duncan stacks are also great!
 
Re: Another JB thread....

ive never felt like the ibanez rg line had a strong bottom, at least not the ones ive owned. a8 might work for you, but itll be more aggressive than what you have now by a fair amount. a custom custom doesnt have much bottom but does have lovely low mids. the classic stack plus models are very stratty
 
Re: Another JB thread....

A8 or A2 would add a lot of bass to the JB compared to A5 or UOA5. A8 would be more aggressive, obviously.

(Or I could make you some double thick mags! Lol!)
 
Re: Another JB thread....

jeremy said:
ive never felt like the ibanez rg line had a strong bottom, at least not the ones ive owned. a8 might work for you, but itll be more aggressive than what you have now by a fair amount. a custom custom doesnt have much bottom but does have lovely low mids. the classic stack plus models are very stratty
Click to expand...

The only example I can think of where an RG (I assume) has good low end is the guy from Firehouse’s tone. He’s got a really full, thick tone. I have no idea what pickups he uses.


https://youtu.be/caVQoAs9J1s
 
Re: Another JB thread....

Clint 55 said:
A8 or A2 would add a lot of bass to the JB compared to A5 or UOA5. A8 would be more aggressive, obviously.

(Or I could make you some double thick mags! Lol!)
Click to expand...

Ok...talk to me about what’s involved with making a double thick mag.
 
Re: Another JB thread....

Gtrjunior said:
The only example I can think of where an RG (I assume) has good low end is the guy from Firehouse’s tone. He’s got a really full, thick tone. I have no idea what pickups he uses.


https://youtu.be/caVQoAs9J1s
Click to expand...
I looked on his site one time. I remember a PG and A2P being mentioned in one of his custom guitars.

Sent from my SM-A205U using Tapatalk
 
Re: Another JB thread....

It's an 1/8 inch thicker so long legs and covers don't work but everything else does.
 
Re: Another JB thread....

I've always wanted to try adding ceramic spacer magnets to a UOA5 JB. I bet that would increase the low end.
 
Re: Another JB thread....

When are you actually going to try it? You've been posting about it for years lol!
 
Re: Another JB thread....

jeremy said:
ive never felt like the ibanez rg line had a strong bottom, at least not the ones ive owned. a8 might work for you, but itll be more aggressive than what you have now by a fair amount. a custom custom doesnt have much bottom but does have lovely low mids. the classic stack plus models are very stratty
Click to expand...

I agree. Those Ibanez models always seem to lack something in the low end and seem to lack a bit of sustain. Kind of spongey.

I don't think the Custom Custom would be an improvement over the JB in this situation.

Isn't the Duncan Distortion pretty much a JB with a ceramic magnet? Might be worth a try.

Really though, I think there's a good chance it's the guitar, not the pickups, and a perfect solution may not be possible..
 
Re: Another JB thread....

A JB has a sound that even magnet swaps don't really change. I'd go for a Custom Custom, which no one would mistake for a JB. For the noiseless Stratty neck pickup, the Classic Stack is your best bet, but with 24 frets, you can't really get a true Strat thing happening.
 
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