Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

noisenet

noisenet

New member
Hi All,
I'm a big fan of the Full Size JB Humbucker in the bridge position. I have a guitar into which I want to install a JB. That guitar currently has a S-S-S pick guard so I'm wondering how much of a difference there would be with putting a JB Jr in there In other words how close is the JB Jr to the original JB?

Thanks in advance!
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

Personally I think they are completely different monsters. I guess the JB-jr is JB-esq but it's not a Full Size JB in a smaller package. Just for perspective I can't stand JB's in my guitars, no matter what the platform or value of pot, EXE? I just don't get along with them but I absolutely love the JB-jr in the bridge of my Koa Stratocaster! I've passed over several different full size humbuckers only to come back back to the jr. in that guitar.

So it's not going to sound exactly like your other JB but it definitely a great pickup in its own right! It does have some of the same qualities of the JB but the upper mid spike that most people who don't like JB's complain about isn't quite so severe...
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

Ok, I hear ya.

Lemme approach this from a different angle: the Strat I'm doing this with has Duncan Quarter Pounds in he mid and neck position. I need something that matches well with these. I'm coming from a completely different beast: LTD EC1000's loaded with the JB/59 combo. Les Paul style (and scale) guitars. I know the differences in the guitars themselves will make a pretty big difference. Nonetheless I like what I was getting from the Bridge P/U in those guitars but want what I'm getting from the Quarter Pounds in the neck and mid positions (as well as the Strat feel).

Are there other Humbucker options (Full or Single Coil size) I'd be better looking at?
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

My main gig I play a lot of different styles of music. From Motown to Funky to Classic Rock. I also do a fair bit of heavier stuff. The JB in the bridge worked well for the Classic Rock and heavier stuff. The Quarter Pounds are working greater for the other stuff.

This is an example of the heavier side of things that I get with the JB.



I'd like to be able to get this kind of Bridge pickup sound as it also translates well to the classic/80's rock sound I also need....
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

Rand-O-Monium said:
DiM FT-2

Use 'em in practically all my Strats @ br pos

.02
Click to expand...

I hear ya on the DiMarzio. If possible though I'd like to stay in the Duncan arena - I dunno, I guess I'm just kind of a loyal guy.
I guess what it boils down to is I'd like to get what I get with a Full Size JB but in a single coil size....
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

I find it fascinating they wouldn't sound almost the same. Why is that? Wouldn't it be the goal?

I'm sure there is a JB loaded Strat to compare to….and I don't mean Floyded Superstrat
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

Listening to Duncan's sound samples page they Jr lacks some of the fullness of the full size. The Hot Rails Bridge sounds a little closer but I guess if I want that specific sound I'm gonna need to go with a full size JB.

I actually already have a full size JB sitting here that I can put in - the only thing stopping me is I want a specific pickguard - I ordered a loaded pickguard from Sigler Music with Quarter Pounds, which I intend to keep in the neck and middle position. But I need the HSS config, this is SSS - all the other black pearl pickguards i find online just don't look as good as the one I got from Sigler - this one's perfect. They, of course, offer an HSS in this same Black Pearl but they're listed as unavailable right now & who knows how long it'll be before they get some (I have emailed them, waiting on a reply). The one from Fender is pretty close but it's also $40 - not spending that for a pickguard LOL!!!!!! Warmoth has one that's close for $28 but still not exactly what I want. The ones I found from Guitar Fetish aren't even close.

Any other ideas where I might find one? I want to get this guitar finished soon.
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

Rand-O-Monium said:
I "think" it was idsnowdog(?) that said the FT-2 sounds a lot like a JB...
Click to expand...
The Fastrack II does sound more like a full sized JB than the JB Jr does. However there's still differences. Whenever I hear anyone say they like a JB Jr BUT, I usually recommend a Fastrack II. One of my favorite setups is a FT2 Bridge/Duckbucker middle/JB Jr Neck.
 
Last edited:
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

Rand-O-Monium said:
Pretty sure teh Jr has a Ceramic mag
Click to expand...

All of the Duncan Li'l 'buckers have a small ceramic bar magnet on the underside.

There was once a thread in which a member enquired about the practicality of replacing the stock ceramic mag with an Alnico type. Somebody with inside information - possibly Frank Falbo - replied, explaining why the magnet HAD to be ceramic and that not even A8 would suffice.
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

Perhaps the Lil 59 is better for you? The next one down in output/EQ would be the Cool Rails. I didn't really like the JB Jr either, but the Lil 59 sounded smoother, less peaky and more like a vintage humbucker.
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

I may be the oddball outlier here... But why not just get a new pickguard cut for a humbucker if the body is routed for a full-size humbucker? If the body's not routed then that's a whole other issue, but it sounds like a simple pickguard swap to me.

This isn't some oddball guitar that doesn't use a standard pickguard, is it?
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

I mentioned above that I was having a hard time finding a pick guard that matches what I already have (and REALLY love) as a SSS for a HSS config. That said though I think I found one today and have it on order. So it might be a moot point now.

Thanks for the help everyone!
 
Re: Compare FullSize JB with JB Jr

noisenet said:
I mentioned above that I was having a hard time finding a pick guard that matches what I already have (and REALLY love) as a SSS for a HSS config. That said though I think I found one today and have it on order. So it might be a moot point now.

Thanks for the help everyone!
Click to expand...
Got a pic of the guitar in question?
 
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