Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

mindbender

New member
Hi folks, I recently purchased a jS1000 on ebay that has a Duncan Distortion in the bridge. That PU is a little too muddy (not enough high end) in that guitar. I have a Duncan Custom in the bridge of my Schecter C1+ and in that guitar it sounds fantastic. That's the sound I'm after. Tried it in the JS1000, and it's a little too shrill in there. Right now I've got a DM Steve's Special in there and that's a little closer but I want the highs a little 'crisper'. I've found that DiMarzio's highs tend to be a little more 'midrangey' than Duncan's highs. So I'm thinking maybe a C5? If all else fails I could try out the DM Fred, which is supposed to go in that guitar but I'm trying to nail the sound I have in my Schecter with the Custom, only it needs to be 'tamed' a little in this guitar. BTW, what happens if you stick an Alnico 5 in a Duncan Distortion?
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

I can't imagine who would remove the stock FRED pickups from that guitar. That's one of the few guitars that I would leave completely stock. It sounds really great with that pickup and there should be no need to change it in my opinion. Those basswood bodies are softer than alder and Dimarzio pickups seem to work well in them. If anything, a PAF Pro is probably the only thing I can think of to replace that FRED. Good luck.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

An A5 Duncan Distortion is the same as a JB. And an A5 Custom is a C5, so you could swap an A5 in your Custom and try the C5 that way...
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

I can't imagine who would remove the stock FRED pickups from that guitar. That's one of the few guitars that I would leave completely stock. It sounds really great with that pickup and there should be no need to change it in my opinion. Those basswood bodies are softer than alder and Dimarzio pickups seem to work well in them. If anything, a PAF Pro is probably the only thing I can think of to replace that FRED. Good luck.
+1

Stick to a medium output pup..a Fred, Mo'Joe or a Paf Pro.

I'd check the Mo'Joe out :)
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

Fred or Mo Joe. Current Satch guitars have the Mo Joe stock in it, and the older ones all have the Fred's.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

Mo'Joe should get you closer to that tone you're after, because it's a tad fatter than Fred.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

He sure sounds good on my DVD with the Pearly Gates in his guitar. I can't remember which guitar that is though.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

Fred or Mo Joe. Current Satch guitars have the Mo Joe stock in it, and the older ones all have the Fred's.

Not the current generation -- they're all FRED. It's the neck pickup that varies from model to model.

Mo' Joe might be what you're looking for. A little more output, more aggressive, with a slightly less mid-rangey sound. More balanced to my ears. But both FRED and the Mo' are great pickups.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

Not the current generation -- they're all FRED. It's the neck pickup that varies from model to model.

Mo' Joe might be what you're looking for. A little more output, more aggressive, with a slightly less mid-rangey sound. More balanced to my ears. But both FRED and the Mo' are great pickups.

oops, I think they were planning on putting the Mo Joe in the current models, but decided to leave them all Fred's. I think the PAF Joe just ended up in the current models replacing the PAF Pro instead.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

So what do you guys think about putting an EVO in the bridge of the JS1000? Right now I've got a Steve's Special there, and it's OK, but I need higher highs. The Steve's Special's highs seem to be somewhere in the 3-4kHz range, I want it more in the 4 to 5 kHz range but without losing bass or mids. Funny, I really thought the Custom was going to work in such a warm guitar but it ended up being really shrill. The only guitar I've ever gotten a Custom to sound good in is the Schecter C1+: thin mahogany body with maple cap.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

So what do you guys think about putting an EVO in the bridge of the JS1000? Right now I've got a Steve's Special there, and it's OK, but I need higher highs. The Steve's Special's highs seem to be somewhere in the 3-4kHz range, I want it more in the 4 to 5 kHz range but without losing bass or mids. Funny, I really thought the Custom was going to work in such a warm guitar but it ended up being really shrill. The only guitar I've ever gotten a Custom to sound good in is the Schecter C1+: thin mahogany body with maple cap.

It will sound stellar I think. The evolution is a great pickup, but I'm not to sure how well it's going to perform for you on a clean channel.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

I have an F-spaced EVO if you need one, just PM...

Great pup, but I went lower output with more of a vintage twist than modern tones. Dimarzios seem happiest in basswood.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

So what do you guys think about putting an EVO in the bridge of the JS1000? Right now I've got a Steve's Special there, and it's OK, but I need higher highs. The Steve's Special's highs seem to be somewhere in the 3-4kHz range, I want it more in the 4 to 5 kHz range but without losing bass or mids. Funny, I really thought the Custom was going to work in such a warm guitar but it ended up being really shrill. The only guitar I've ever gotten a Custom to sound good in is the Schecter C1+: thin mahogany body with maple cap.

I think it's great, but keep in mind that it's a higher gain pickup. You won't be disappointed with the high's on the Evo. I think an Evo is a lead guitarist's fav. pickup. I'd say the Evo is my fav. Dimarzio pickup.
 
Re: Bridge PU for Ibanez JS1000

Well, I got to try the Steve's Special out live this weekend. It actually sounded pretty decent. The highs in the Custom in the Schecter were higher, but the SS cut through the mix pretty well and had the balls I needed. It could use a tad more mids to sustain a little better, but other than that, not bad. It's got the right amount of output. So would an EVO sound even better? I mean, same highs and punch, same output, but a little more midrange 'growl'? Dang, I ordered a FRED, but now I think that PU is not going to cut it.
 
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