Custom or JB for aggressive soloing?

[St-Jimmy]

Hey guys,
I've run into a little bit of a wall here. I'm using the JB in bridge for my Les Paul Custom and SG guitars (Mahogany bodies) and they sound pretty good. They are a little ear piercing in the highs for solos though. I have these cheap EMG select pickups in my Dean Custom guitar (Alder, Rosewood, bolt-on) and I play a style in between Melodic Punk and Power Metal. I do a lot of shredding, pentatonic licks, and power metal melodies (Malmsteen, Gamma Ray, Helloween, Avenged Sevenfold, Stratovarius, etc.). I notice that they have this certain "glow to their solos" and a lot of bite to their shredding and riffing, and in my Dean, I'm afraid that JB might be a little too harsh on the highs. Does the custom do pinch harmonics and tapping well also, or is the output too low? Any opinions or suggestions? thanks!

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Custom or JB for aggressive soloing?

First and foremost, welcome!

Regarding the Custom, you don't need to worry about output or it's ability to produce pinch harmonics and whatnot. It'll do all of that just fine.

Now, comparing my experience with my own Custom and JB, I'd have to say I like the high end of the JB more...I don't find it piercing like some do, but rather, smooth and round when I roll off the tone control a bit. However, whenever I pick up my Lester with the Custom in the bridge and I start hitting those tremelo picking parts in some of my solos, I do get that feeling that it's just a little shrill (probably because it's so aggressive).

Initially, when entering your thread after reading the title, I was going to recommend the Custom over the JB, but upon reading your text and finding out that you are afraid of harsh highs, I don't know if I'd still recommend it...even though it is such a badass pickup on its own merits. Huge, chunky, tight, IN YOUR FACE, punchy, mmm...mmm...mmm. Downright tasty.

Tough call, but I'd say give it a go. You'll probably end up loving it.

 

[vinterland]

Re: Custom or JB for aggressive soloing?

I'd be suprised if you didn't like the JB for the type of playing style and music you are describing. I love the way the JB sings on solos.

 

[Tux789]

Re: Custom or JB for aggressive soloing?

dimebucker

 

[St-Jimmy]

Re: Custom or JB for aggressive soloing?

Thanks for the input guys, and thanks for the welcome. I might as well throw in the JB again and see what difference it makes in a lighter body. I use a Lin 6 Spider II 212, so I'll probably be good. I was also reading that for people who do use the Custom, it blends in with the sound rather than comes out, and I want the sound to come out I really want the melodies to stick out. Is the DD pretty versatile as well, or is it one-dimensional? I hear that it has more bass than the JB also. I originally wanted to try the Invader, but many believe its too muddy and not good for solos. I also thought about the Dimebucker too, but I thought it would be all metal and probably not suitable for punk.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: Custom or JB for aggressive soloing?

With a spider its not even going to make that much difference.. sorry to bring the bad news.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Custom or JB for aggressive soloing?

With a spider its not even going to make that much difference.. sorry to bring the bad news.

I don't believe that at all, are you saying that through the spider the choice of pickup makes little difference to tone????

Stjimmy i agree about what you said with the invader, i'm an invader user and love it, but for solo's there are alot better pickups out there, i don't have experience with the other pickups so can't comment.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Custom or JB for aggressive soloing?

If you think the highs of the JB are too piercing, the custom may not be your bag either. For more rounded, sweeter sounding highs you should try the custom custom. It cuts through the mix, but is less piercing and shrill imo.