Competitors for JB?

C

CarlosG

New member
Hi!
I really like the sound of the JB. It's a very versatile pickup, you can get close to many sounds, I don't think I've played a more versatile one. What I like most about it is the sound of the treble strings, it's warm and so full, rich, I think you call them harmonics, right? Its only flaw is sometimes being muddy on the low E string, and high power.
I'm big fan Hard Rock and Glam Metal 80s era.
Are there any other humbuckers that are as rich in tone on the treble strings while being a bit more pronounced on the low E and with less output?
I really like JB, but I'm wondering if I can tweak my Strat even more.
is the 59 bridge good for this? i've heard some good distortion sounds but it doesn't seem to have the richness of the jb?
 
CarlosG said:
Hi!
I really like the sound of the JB. It's a very versatile pickup, you can get close to many sounds, I don't think I've played a more versatile one. What I like most about it is the sound of the treble strings, it's warm and so full, rich, I think you call them harmonics, right? Its only flaw is sometimes being muddy on the low E string, and high power.
I'm big fan Hard Rock and Glam Metal 80s era.
Are there any other humbuckers that are as rich in tone on the treble strings while being a bit more pronounced on the low E and with less output?
I really like JB, but I'm wondering if I can tweak my Strat even more.
is the 59 bridge good for this? i've heard some good distortion sounds but it doesn't seem to have the richness of the jb?
Click to expand...

The JB and the Super Distortion were pretty much the answer in those days. The SD Custom was an honorable mention to be sure
 
Lowering the polepieces on the bass side should help. Shouldn't need more than two full rotations each at most. The big difference is that the strings will be quieter, but they will also be a tad more single coil like.
 
Chistopher said:
Lowering the polepieces on the bass side should help. Shouldn't need more than two full rotations each at most. The big difference is that the strings will be quieter, but they will also be a tad more single coil like.
Click to expand...

This, and/or use the mounting screw to lower the bass side of the pickup a little bit. It's highly likely this is all it needs.
____

On the other hand, your ears and rig might be presenting you with one of the same problems a bunch of us run into with modern day JBs, which is "congestion" or lack of definition in the low mids and below. The Pegasus might actually be a good fit here. I enjoyed it for lead stuff and clean to medium gain sounds. Might be a little too far from the JB tone and feel for you, but it has a good feel all its own. If I didn't need MAXIMUM AGGRESSION I would've been pretty happy with it.

​​​​​​​If you want to look farther afield, BKP Crawler is a very good rock pickup, a lot of definition without too much bite, and the Holydiver (which I haven't used) is often compared favorably to the JB.
 
I heard a story that Becker liked JB but wanted to improve it which resulted in Perpetual Burn, I never tested it and there aren't many clips on the internet.
The only one from those years that I like even more than the JB is the AH-1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BvoGcy411g&list=WL&index=4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gfWv6k8G-M
AH-1 sounds more rich and clear.
I wonder if by replacing the slug with screw pole pieces I will get AH-1?
I read that Robbin Crosby from ratt used the AH-1 and JB only used it when he couldn't get the ah-1.
 
CarlosG said:
I wonder if by replacing the slug with screw pole pieces I will get AH-1?
Click to expand...
You would need to swap the whole slug bobbin. Slug bobbins are different than the screw ones. Slug bobbins have a wider hole to fit the whole slug in there. Screw bobbins are only wide at the end to fit the head, and then narrow below just to let the thread through.
 
Tone Zone, perhaps

Lower the bass side just a bit

The JB wants to be in a very particular spot under the strings

Too high = muffled lows and ear piercing highs

Too low = anemic with no bite and cut through

Sweet spot = 80s hair metal all day
 
I second the suggestion of a Perpetual Burn. Great pickup; tighter on the low strings than the JB.
Or a Bareknuckle Holy Diver. Very good, but rather expensive here in the States.
 
I think just backing the pickup away from the strings a bit could probably get what the OP is after.
 
PATB2 with an alnico 5 is an insanely cool pickup. Has a JB flavor but with more openness, more string definition, and the same upper mids bump without the shrillness.

JB/Fullshred Hybrid comes in close second (but is my favorite high output pickup of all time).
 
My JB to go is an Alt8. After spending time with an 90ies MJ made JB and a swapped in A8 in this pickup, i got a Alt8. Balls to the Wall JB in my book.
 
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