Antiquity vs Concept - which JB variant for a little less flub but same character?

D

davebull

New member
Hi everyone, longtime lurker deciding to post for the first time, and I know it's yet another "JB but better" post.. But I've read up all I can and have struggled to find many impressions of the Concept Set JB other than Darth Phineas' brief review and some people saying they really liked it.

I love the JB for its vintage sponginess that makes it a more forgiving feeling than modern pickups, along with its undeniable aggressive and beautiful midrange character. I'm trying to figure out which JB variant pickup would be best suited for retaining those characteristics while losing just enough of its low end flub to make it suitable for C standard.

What I'm NOT looking for is a smoothed out version of a JB, which is what the Suhr Aldrich seems like to me, and it also seems like the Eclair is meant to be smoother.

So should I be looking at the rough cast Antiquity (or custom shop JB), the Concept Set with the rough cast A2, or something else?

Outside of SD, I would love to try a ToneNerd Whiskey or 1984 but Scott's not sure when he'll be able to accept orders again. Pariah also has a bunch of high output A5 pickups, so maybe one of those would be a good fit.

I appreciate any ideas about what might get me closest to what I'm looking for, thanks!
 
Mincer said:
Welcome to the forum!

Have you looked at the JB Rails before?
Click to expand...

I hadn't considered it! I just read through the threads about it on here, RT, and SS. Doesn't seem like anyone's really posted hands-on impressions, but I watched the Baritone Goat Studio vid of it vs a production JB and I preferred the regular JB. I think the rails is a bit too big of a departure for me.

I think I mostly just want a JB that has a different mag than the polished A5 in the production model in order to address the low end. Rough cast A5 seems to address this a bit and also take out a little bit of harshness from what I've read, and the consensus also seems to be that the custom shop models with rough cast A2 have a bit of that A2 sweetness but also more cutting rather than soft and loose like people usually associate with A2.

I don't have a JB on hand to mag swap so I'd probably just order something from the custom shop, just a tough decision deciding which route to go. I'll shoot them an email to see what they think
 
While I don't have a Concept Set JB, I have an old JB with an A2, and to my ear it is like a really loud Whole Lotta Humbucker. Sounded like a rock pickup that was already produced. Everything dimed was kind of smooth on the top end, and it still had a little sharp chunk in the bottom end (with the right amp).

If you are downtuned to C and are trying to get rid of low end flub, I don't think A2 would be the way to go, and certainly not roughcast.

The rails JB suggestion might be a good option in your case. Or putting an A8 in a JB?
 
I get where you are coming from. I have the Antiquity set in a Les paul and yes, it does have that vintage hot character with somewhat less tightness. The 35th Aniv set is definitely where you want to be-It is tighter than the Antiquity since they have fully charged mags. You can still order the 35th spec version from the custom shop.
 
Thanks for these helpful responses guys. I don't really like the character of the JB8 from the clips I've heard, but based on people's suggestions maybe a fully charged, short RCA5 would be the way to go? I've never swapped magnets but I know Addiction-FX and Philadelphia Luthier Tools are often recommended. Are any/all of their magnets fully charged? What magnet lengths should I be looking at? Total noob when it comes to this
 
I don't think addiction fx is around any longer... although they never bothered to take down their website. i would guess Philly's are but never ordered one from them.
 
davebull said:
Thanks for these helpful responses guys. I don't really like the character of the JB8 from the clips I've heard, but based on people's suggestions maybe a fully charged, short RCA5 would be the way to go? I've never swapped magnets but I know Addiction-FX and Philadelphia Luthier Tools are often recommended. Are any/all of their magnets fully charged? What magnet lengths should I be looking at? Total noob when it comes to this
Click to expand...
Standard humbucker bar magnet dimensions are 2.5"x0.5"x0.125". Shorter would be anything less than the 2.5". Philadelphia Luthier Tools has a standard length, Rough Cast A5 here:
https://www.philadelphialuthiertool...gh-bar-magnet-2-5-x-5-x-125-magnetized-qty-2/
Mojo Tone has a slightly shorter, Rough Cast A5 here:
https://www.mojotone.com/Alnico-5-Rough-Cast-Bar-Magnet-2-444-Long
They are both supposed to be magnetized.
 
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