Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
Is that a relatively recent change? I always thought he used JB's?
Is that a relatively recent change? I always thought he used JB's?
cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
- Thread starter appar111
- Start date
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
I've noticed that about the Super D-- sort of a wall of sound, but a very impressive wall. I remember people comparing different pickups to different weapons (swords, axes, etc.) and the Super D was the battle axe of pickups...
In my experience, the JB has this lovely singing quality to it that is great IMHO. The SD sort of has a syrupy high end that I don't care for, plus it runs all the strings together, lacks definition and clarity. All this about a JB having a "spike" is BS. It just isn't as dull as some other pickups.
I've noticed that about the Super D-- sort of a wall of sound, but a very impressive wall. I remember people comparing different pickups to different weapons (swords, axes, etc.) and the Super D was the battle axe of pickups...
cradlefish
New member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
Jb!!
Jb!!
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
The jb is a pretty nice pickup but in my guitar it has the midrange hump that's difficult to dial out cuz if you do it kinda deadens the sound because the mid spike unfortunately is what makes the pickup great for soloing. This is a bad thing because it weakens its metal rhythm abilities(at least for me unless you tune down a step and a half or lower because it's a clear pickup under heavy gain whihh is another plus).
In short you get singing high gain leads out of the pickup but a nasally rhythm sound unless maybe you put it in a mahogany guitar(guessing)
I may go with the sd by default in hopes that it will have a chunky rhythm sound
The jb is a pretty nice pickup but in my guitar it has the midrange hump that's difficult to dial out cuz if you do it kinda deadens the sound because the mid spike unfortunately is what makes the pickup great for soloing. This is a bad thing because it weakens its metal rhythm abilities(at least for me unless you tune down a step and a half or lower because it's a clear pickup under heavy gain whihh is another plus).
In short you get singing high gain leads out of the pickup but a nasally rhythm sound unless maybe you put it in a mahogany guitar(guessing)
I may go with the sd by default in hopes that it will have a chunky rhythm sound
ItsaBass
New member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
I highly prefer the Super Distortion. It cuts significantly better and has more of an edge. It has lower output to my ear, so it works better with a wider variety of amps (i.e. with lower headroom amps). The JB has such strong output that it really likes to have an amp with plenty of headroom in order to keep the tone defined. If not, the JB gets real muddy real easy. For my amps, which are mostly low headroom amps, the Super D is a superior pickup. When I am considering buying a guitar, and it comes with a JB, I know it will have to go A.S.A.P. When considering buying a guitar, and it comes with Super Ds, I know that I might actually keep the stock pickups.
Another thing: The Super D works great in the neck position too. I can only imagine how awful a JB would be there.
The JB is great as a split pickup, though. It's the only thing I like about it.
I highly prefer the Super Distortion. It cuts significantly better and has more of an edge. It has lower output to my ear, so it works better with a wider variety of amps (i.e. with lower headroom amps). The JB has such strong output that it really likes to have an amp with plenty of headroom in order to keep the tone defined. If not, the JB gets real muddy real easy. For my amps, which are mostly low headroom amps, the Super D is a superior pickup. When I am considering buying a guitar, and it comes with a JB, I know it will have to go A.S.A.P. When considering buying a guitar, and it comes with Super Ds, I know that I might actually keep the stock pickups.
Another thing: The Super D works great in the neck position too. I can only imagine how awful a JB would be there.
The JB is great as a split pickup, though. It's the only thing I like about it.
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Gtrjunior
Well-known member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
I really like the Super D too. It just WORKS for me.
I’ve got a JB downstairs around but I’ve never gotten around to installing it in anything.
I like the sound of the JB on various records that I’m aware of, but I’ve got no first hand experience with it.
I really like the Super D too. It just WORKS for me.
I’ve got a JB downstairs around but I’ve never gotten around to installing it in anything.
I like the sound of the JB on various records that I’m aware of, but I’ve got no first hand experience with it.
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
The JB won that fight, long ago
Its the staple humbucker sound, and has long become so typical that most people who use it, even on purpose, havent the foggiest who Jeff Beck is
It's a staple played by people who havent the foggiest idea who Jeff Beck
The JB won that fight, long ago
Its the staple humbucker sound, and has long become so typical that most people who use it, even on purpose, havent the foggiest who Jeff Beck is
It's a staple played by people who havent the foggiest idea who Jeff Beck
Gplayerzzz
New member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
I tried both in my Strat, and went with the SH-6. I liked it better then the other two. The JB was a little thin, and I didn't like the Supers bass.
I tried both in my Strat, and went with the SH-6. I liked it better then the other two. The JB was a little thin, and I didn't like the Supers bass.
Joey Voltage
New member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
Both are good in their own right. I would be happy and at home with either.
Both are good in their own right. I would be happy and at home with either.
Jeffblue
Well-known member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
I was at GC yesterday and brought my highly modded 2012 Gibson Les Paul Supreme and let one of the guys I know there play it. He plugged into a Blackstar amp and as usual it sounded fantastic. I let another employee play it with excellent results. I played the guitar for a while on the dirty channel....good stuff. I then switched to the clean channel and played some sweet chord changes, some funk and nice arpeggiated stuff. My friend Chris the employee had to come over and said "that sounds great" and played the guitar again, this time clean. He then handed me back the guitar and I continued playing on the clean channel. I was complemented by a customer 'Nice chords" and I thanked him for that. A nice looking asian women who was making a purchase kept looking back at me and smiled in approval and I nodded and smiled back in appreciation. A great day at GC with my Seymour Duncan 59/JB loaded Les Paul. The JB is my favorite bridge humbucker.........best combination of clean, harmonics, sustain and over-the-top rocking' tones.
I was at GC yesterday and brought my highly modded 2012 Gibson Les Paul Supreme and let one of the guys I know there play it. He plugged into a Blackstar amp and as usual it sounded fantastic. I let another employee play it with excellent results. I played the guitar for a while on the dirty channel....good stuff. I then switched to the clean channel and played some sweet chord changes, some funk and nice arpeggiated stuff. My friend Chris the employee had to come over and said "that sounds great" and played the guitar again, this time clean. He then handed me back the guitar and I continued playing on the clean channel. I was complemented by a customer 'Nice chords" and I thanked him for that. A nice looking asian women who was making a purchase kept looking back at me and smiled in approval and I nodded and smiled back in appreciation. A great day at GC with my Seymour Duncan 59/JB loaded Les Paul. The JB is my favorite bridge humbucker.........best combination of clean, harmonics, sustain and over-the-top rocking' tones.
Numbercrunche
New member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
Trying to get a custom shop Charvel in the H-S configuration. The neck will likely be a quarter pounder and for the bridge I waffle between a Demartini-RTM-JB or the Dimarzio Super Distortion.
I am a huge fan of Ratt and Def Leppard and know I'll be happy with either pickup in the bridge but since the guitar will pack a Floyd Rose, Alder Body with quilted maple top and maple neck I thought I would add this to the confusion to see if there is any feedback as far as NOT going one way or the other.
Thanks rocker-peeps.
NC
Trying to get a custom shop Charvel in the H-S configuration. The neck will likely be a quarter pounder and for the bridge I waffle between a Demartini-RTM-JB or the Dimarzio Super Distortion.
I am a huge fan of Ratt and Def Leppard and know I'll be happy with either pickup in the bridge but since the guitar will pack a Floyd Rose, Alder Body with quilted maple top and maple neck I thought I would add this to the confusion to see if there is any feedback as far as NOT going one way or the other.
Thanks rocker-peeps.
NC
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Numbercrunche
New member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
Shameless bump to make certain that one or the other WON'T work well with an Alder body, quilted top and Floyd Rose.
NC
Shameless bump to make certain that one or the other WON'T work well with an Alder body, quilted top and Floyd Rose.
NC
Dave Locher
New member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
I would lean toward the Super D because it has the lows and low mids to fill out the sound but I think either would work.
I would lean toward the Super D because it has the lows and low mids to fill out the sound but I think either would work.
Cynical
Active member
Re: cage fight - JB vs. Super Distortion?
I've played two guitars with an alder body/maple neck/floyd/JB combination (albeit none with a maple top), and both were much too bright with the JB and benefitted greatly from replacing it with a SuperD.
