Custom vs. Distortion vs. JB

[alex1fly]

It truly depends on the tones that you’re hearing in your head that you wanna achieve. The JB and Custom are both worth trying back to back and with magnet swaps to see which tickles your fancy. Both capture a ton of iconic tones, but those tones are not in the same family.

 

[Archer250]

I like the JB the most, then the Custom. I do not like the Distortion.

It sounded too "grainy"

I don't have a JB installed right now (no place for it), but it's definitely a fav.

 

[alex1fly]

Mincer, have you tried an A2 in a JB, by chance?

I did and it was instant Santana. For that sound, it was amazing. Rich and creamy and my leads sounded unbelievably good. I could see it being great for a player that does leads on bridge, rhythm on neck or middle. I tend to do all things on all positions so I didn’t keep it, but man it was a really great sound.

 

[Butch Snyder]

These are exactly the types of comments I was looking for. Much appreciated! Like I said earlier, I have used all three of those humbuckers and then some. I was kind of leaning towards a JB; but since my guitar has 500k pots, I decided not to. I was thinking about the Custom because every time I have used it, it gave me what I wanted, power, sharpness, punchy attack. That said, I find myself gravitating more towards lower-medium output pickups. One of my favorites is the DiMarzio Air Zone (17.49k Alnico 5 mag). By the DC Ip readings, you wouldn't think it a low-medium output pickup. It's medium-high but has great headroom and versatility. I have it in my PRS Swamp Ash Special SE. It's a big meaty humbucker but not over-the-top like the Tone Zone. But compared to the Schecter Nick Johnston Atombucker (7.6k ohms, Alnico 3 mag) that I have, it's fatter and heftier. Better? No, just different. I see no reason to change. I just enjoy reading other players' take and impressions of the pickups I like and have used.