Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

[Stratfan]

I have a '59 Trembucker in the bridge of my Strat (H/H, alder body w/rosewood). I think it sounds great for classic-type rock, but I wish that it had just a bit more output and mids. The clean sound could be a little brighter, too. I have no experience with humbuckers in a Strat except for this '59. By default, I have to judge other pups by how they sound compared to the '59.

Also, would there be a major difference with these pups when used with a maple vs. rosewood fretboard? Thanks!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

I can help with this one...I'v done a fair amount of experimenting with a JB TB and 59 TB in my Strats. I have two Strats with 59 TB bridge humbuckers.

The JB has more output and a louder, thicker sound with more mids...and it sounds harder and more aggressive in the upper mids.

The 59 TB has more genuine highs and upper harmonics but it's not as edgey and hard in the upper mids and though it has plenty of mids the mids are not as thick and dense and the 59 has more of an open, spacious quality. I prefer it.

The maple fingerboard will be a little quicker sounding...spankier...poppier. The rosewood will be slightly warmer and fuller and in my guitars it seems to have a slightly more complex and textured tone than maple...more growl and less snap.

I like them both pretty much equally and 3 of my Strats are rosewood and 3 are maple.

Lew

 

[korinastratkyle]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

Sounds like you might want the Duncan Custom or maybe the Custom 5. The Custom sounds a lot like a Les Paul bridge in a Strat with 250K pots, with similar output. The Custom 5 has more scooped mids to it, a little more bass, and treble clarity. You could always get a Custom and swap mags with the '59 if you weren't satisfied. I actually had a Custom 5 to start with in my Strat and I changed it to a Custom.

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

Thanks! I'm not looking for anything with a super hot output. If I stick with the '59 I'd still be happy. I'm mainly curious because the '59 seems to "stick up higher" in my Strat. On another forum I was told that the Strat needed to be routed out a bit (depth-wise) for the '59 to fit, but that the JB wouldn't need routing. Is this correct? If so, then evidently my Strat wasn't routed when the '59 was installed. It sounds okay at its present position though, but you never know what the future may bring!

So, I have 2 options:
1. Keep the '59, and probably have the body routed out correctly.

2. Replace the '59 and leave the body as is.

This Strat has a Jazz in the neck (which sounds great, IMO), and I keep hearing how the JB goes well with the Jazz. But, 90% of the reviews are about the JB in a Gibson-type guitar. I've never had the chance to hear the JB in a Strat. This is one of 2 Strats, the other is a S/S/S (alder w/maple). I've considered turning the S/S/S into a H/S/S and selling the H/H, but I'm afraid that I'll miss the single coil in the bridge for the clean, "funky" stuff. Now, not only do I have to decide on a bridge humbucker, I also have to choose between H/S/S and H/H + S/S/S! Or, harder yet, one Strat (S/S/S or H/S/S) plus a Gibson (?) type H/H guitar. After quite a while of searching, I still haven't found a shorter-scale double humbucker guitar (that I can afford) that has a neck that fits my hand perfectly. In the meantime, I guess I'll be using a H/H Strat. I hate the fact that I can't go into a store and say "Let me try the Strat with the JB (or whatever) bridge", or "I love this set-neck guitar, but can you put a thicker, wider neck on it for me?"

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

:smack: Wow, after reading my posts I see that I have WAY too many issues with the search for the perfect guitar as far as comfortability, sound, and versatility goes. But, I'll bet I'm not the only one!

My problem is that I don't have one certain "sound" that I want. I want to be able to go from bright and squeaky-clean, to warm and mellow clean, to quacky-funky R&B/Motown clean, to gritty and slightly dirty blues, to a hard-rock crunch, to spacey Pink Floyd, and to medium and high gain rock with one guitar and one set of pups! That's not much to ask, is it? :smack:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

If you've never tried a JB you really should! There is no difference in size or depth between the two. They look identical. I just opened up a couple of brand new ones and took a look for you. They'll both fit exactly the same. Lew

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

Wow, after reading my posts I see that I have WAY too many issues with the search for the perfect guitar as far as comfortability, sound, and versatility goes. But, I'll bet I'm not the only one!

You're definitely not the only one

That's why you get a bunch of different guitars, a bunch of different pickups, mix it all up, throw it against the wall, and see what sticks.

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

You're definitely not the only one

That's why you get a bunch of different guitars, a bunch of different pickups, mix it all up, throw it against the wall, and see what sticks.

That's why I got rid of this cat I inherited. It just wouldn't stick to the wall!!!! :saeek:

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

I've already bought a new pickguard and ordered another '59 Trembucker to change my S/S/S into a H/S/S. I was planning on selling the H/H Strat. But, after further review (it is football season), maybe I'll just keep both and have a S/S/S and a H/H. I think I'll also try the JB Trembucker in the H/H with the Jazz neck.

The store probably won't let me refuse the '59 and order a JB instead, because they never keep Trem-spaced pups in stock. I guess that I'll put the '59 up for sale here when I get it.

 

[51501984]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

I had the 59 and Custom and now the JB in my Strat and I prefer the JB to those 2 pickups. The 59 and Custom sounded just a tad harsh with certain pedals I was using but overall they were both very good sounding pickups. I was surprised out how good the JB sounded since I heard it could be harsh and bright sounding , it was the exact opposite for me as it sounds very warm with my rig. The lack of bass in the JB is not a concern since my Avatar cabinet is pretty bassy.

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Compare '59 to a JB in a Strat bridge, please!

How is the JB's clean sound compared to the '59?