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.

 

[Hank-]

Eventually the curiosity to try something new in that guitar will overtake the reason to be satisfied with what you have already, might as well get that dealt with now than have it gnaw at your subconscious over time.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Eventually the curiosity to try something new in that guitar will overtake the reason to be satisfied with what you have already, might as well get that dealt with now than have it gnaw at your subconscious over time.

I know. I have a couple of Alnico 2 Pro Strat pickups and a Hades Gates bridge pickup that I was thinking of starting with. My guitar has 500k pots. I was going to change them out to 250k. What stops me for this setup, is the Hades Gates bobbin color. It's double black and I would either like zebra or to put a nickel cover over it.

The other thing is I have a couple of other 3 pickup guitars. One is a Telecaster with a Strat pickup in the middle. The other is my PRS Swamp Ash Special SE. Those two guitars sound similar in position 2, using the bridge and middle pickups. My Schecter's position 2, bridge and middle pickups, has that Strat "cluck" that the others don't. They sound like a Strat but in a Fender Strat, there is a noticeable percussive "cluck" associated with the sound. I'm afraid if I change pickups, I might lose that sound.

 

[Aceman]

I like the JB. It is the quintessential Lead Player's pickup. I dig the sound for shred, rock, blues, you name it. Pokes out in the mix. Great all around sound. I could play most/a lot of things with it. That said, it isn;t my favorite. I do currently have one in a pink burst dean Cadillac, but playing hair band songs exclusively

The Custom, I really like. To me, a great all around rock/hard rock/metal pickup. I love the bass thump, and the screaming highs. The mid scoop is not extensive, so it has some punch but, it has a great rhythm sound. Clean up nice, but it is ceramic. The bass really helps that I think. I could play a lot with this pickup too, but it really leans towards the harder sounds I think.

The Distortion is my happy place. It is loud, crunchy, and screams. It is aggressive AF. I don't know what Judas Priest recorded Screaming for Vengeance with, but that album has the attitude of a Distortion. Where the Custom Thumps, this Chunks. Awesome for drop D or lower. Super tight. Same screaming highs as the Custom, but the mids punch like a donkey.