Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

[NotCardio]

OK, related to my other thread, the title says it all.

See, I'm thinking about buying a Jazz/JB set to see what all the fuss is about, but part of the deal is I would be trading off my 59 neck to get them. I like the 59, but I'm not married to it.

However, it's in an Explorer, and I was planning on putting the Jazz/JB set in either an Epi LP, or a 335 clone, leaning towards the 335.

Of course, then I'd have to put something else back in the Explorer, but I don't know what. I'm pretty strictly a blues/rock kinda guy, so no metal, pop, or funk(at least not on guitar). I do get into some (original) spacey, new-agey, ambient kinda stuff.

But, back to the original question.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

wow ok

Explorer (Distortion bridge, Full Shred neck)
335 (Jazz neck, maybe AP2 bridge)
Epi Les Paul (59b, PGn)

Just my $.02

 

[NotCardio]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

wow ok

Explorer (Distortion bridge, Full Shred neck)
335 (Jazz neck, maybe AP2 bridge)
Epi Les Paul (59b, PGn)

Just my $.02

OK, I follow your reasoning except for the Full Shred. Why would I want that in the Explorer? It's still going to be the same styles of music. I'm not going to be playing metal on it just because it's an Explorer.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

The full shred, especially the neck model, is very misleadingly named. It's fairly low output, pretty bright and clear but still a warm yet articulate pickup. It's not really hot enough in the neck to be a real shred pickup, it's just very clear and picks up every little thing.

I would say this is a pretty good start but maybe a custom rather than a distortion for those rock tones in the explorer bridge, or a full shred set even as the bridge is a custom 5 wind with more articulation from the hex heads.

The screamin demon is another poorly named good pickup, I like it better in the neck, but you might like it in the bridge as it's just hotter than vintage.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

As much as I like the JB/JAZZ set. I would not put them in a 335 or a LP. JAZZ neck yes but not JB. If you just want to try this set out try it out in 'fender' type guitar. Given a choice between the 2 pups for the bridge I would go with 59B .

 

[blueman335]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

I'm not going to be playing metal on it just because it's an Explorer.

Whoa, are you sure? I thought you had to sign something when you buy an Explorer, attesting that you'll only play metal on it. Plus, you have to wear a black T shirt at the same time (tattoos optional, but highly recommended). I'm pretty sure this a federal law.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

OK, related to my other thread, the title says it all.

However, it's in an Explorer, and I was planning on putting the Jazz/JB set in either an Epi LP, or a 335 clone, leaning towards the 335.

Jazz, yes; JB, HELL NO. The JB, while boasting a moderate-high output, is still far too hot for a semi-hollow.

Okay, main difference: JB = more mids, probably more treble and more output... I've never heard another pickup doing vocal-like leads as well as the JB, though.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

As much as I like the JB/JAZZ set. I would not put them in a 335 or a LP. JAZZ neck yes but not JB. If you just want to try this set out try it out in 'fender' type guitar. Given a choice between the 2 pups for the bridge I would go with 59B .

+1. As a blues/rock, non-metal guy myself, I'm not thrilled with JB's for what I do. There's better PU's for blues/rock. If you're playing '80's metal on a super Strat, JB's are an excellent choice. That's what 'the fuss' is all about. In an LP or 335 for blues, you don't have to look far to find something you'll like better; a set of good PAF's is ideal.

BTW, '59B's are 8.3K, JB's are 16K. Big difference.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

The full shred, especially the neck model, is very misleadingly named. It's fairly low output, pretty bright and clear but still a warm yet articulate pickup. It's not really hot enough in the neck to be a real shred pickup, it's just very clear and picks up every little thing.

I would say this is a pretty good start but maybe a custom rather than a distortion for those rock tones in the explorer bridge, or a full shred set even as the bridge is a custom 5 wind with more articulation from the hex heads.

The screamin demon is another poorly named good pickup, I like it better in the neck, but you might like it in the bridge as it's just hotter than vintage.

Exactly what I was gonna say about the Full Shred neck.
The three other pickups mention here are good options too. Though I have had less luck with the Custom in a LP, many others like them. The Demon is fantastic and I love it in the bridge, but it is no way a classically voiced humbucker, very modern sounding. All others pickups mention so far have a time tested tone, very traditional sounding, but all different shades of tone (if that makes any sense).

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

Full Shred has pretty much same out out as the Custom and Custom 5. The poles gives it a different voicing. The FS neck has pretty much the same output as a Jazz neck. The tighter lows in both FS voicings just lack that thicker thump in the lows that can give the impression of volume.

As to the OP, there is very little similar to the 59 and the JB. Different wire gauge. Different class. Different voicings. Some might use the advertising for the Perpetual Burn to say it's in between the 59 and the JB, but the output data that's been released shows the PB to be less output than the 59...so it appears there is little in-between ground.

It does seems like the OP is more about what pickups to put in a guitar and less about these two pickups models.


Sent from my armored space station via iPad using Tapatalk

 

[NotCardio]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

It does seems like the OP is more about what pickups to put in a guitar and less about these two pickups models.

Not really. I mean, yes, I would like to hear the recommendations for the 335 (I've already heard waaay too many for an LP), but I was wanting to know between these 2 pickups in general.

The fact that nobody has really come forth to support the Jazz/JB combo is something I find curious. Why, then, is it Seymour's 'favorite' combo, and why has there been so much hype around it?

And as far as the 335, I know a guitar tech who once put the Jazz/JB combo in an Epi Dot 335, and he claims it was the best sounding guitar he'd ever heard. One of the main reasons I was interested in it.

So many opinions, and I'm not sure who to listen to. And I sure don't want to swap out pickups in a 335 just for giggles. Major PITA. I want to be relatively certain that I'm at least going to like what I put in there, even if I don't love them as 'the ultimate'.

 

[NotCardio]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

Whoa, are you sure? I thought you had to sign something when you buy an Explorer, attesting that you'll only play metal on it. Plus, you have to wear a black T shirt at the same time (tattoos optional, but highly recommended). I'm pretty sure this a federal law.

Even worse, it's an Epi Explorer GT, which is a slightly smaller, rounded off model that has a goth-like flat black finish. But it is one of the most comfortable guitars I've ever played. It just feels sooo good.

Right now, it has a 59 neck, and a lil 59 for Tele (don't ask) bridge.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

I'm fine with the JB/Jazz combo...more so with an A4 in the Jazz neck. I have many variations of the JB (as in, ones from different eras) and a few variation of the Jazz (magnets, hybrids, pole pieces). I also have the JB/Jazz Concept set and the Éclair set (kinda sorta a CS variation, for lack of a more drawn out description).

the deal is that there are tone sniffers that look for excuses to blast the JB and some people just avoid commenting on it to keep things more civil.

the JB and the Jazz are strong enough in the secondary market that if you don't like them, you won't have a problem selling them...provided you don't go off the deep end with an odd color selection. and if you buy them new, you may be able to return/exchange them at some stores and at the very least use the SD exchange policy.




edit: you might also like the JB with a RCA5, like they had back in the day. people that whine about the alleged "ice-pick" of the current JB don't consider things like that.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

Not really. I mean, yes, I would like to hear the recommendations for the 335 (I've already heard waaay too many for an LP), but I was wanting to know between these 2 pickups in general.

The fact that nobody has really come forth to support the Jazz/JB combo is something I find curious. Why, then, is it Seymour's 'favorite' combo, and why has there been so much hype around it?

And as far as the 335, I know a guitar tech who once put the Jazz/JB combo in an Epi Dot 335, and he claims it was the best sounding guitar he'd ever heard. One of the main reasons I was interested in it.

So many opinions, and I'm not sure who to listen to. And I sure don't want to swap out pickups in a 335 just for giggles. Major PITA. I want to be relatively certain that I'm at least going to like what I put in there, even if I don't love them as 'the ultimate'.

It is a great matched set and to me it works well as that set in a FENDER TYPE guitar. I can see why it is Seymour' fav.
When I installed the JB in my Ibby, replacing the stock pup, my first take was WOW it has made the guitar sound VERY LIVELY. Switching between the JB to the stock neck pup sounded like moving from a Bright well lit room to a darker room. when I replaced the neck with a JAZZ, everything sounded right. I love this set. But it has its place. I dont know how it would work in a 335. But if i Had a 335 I dont think I would want to put this set in. You need to ask yourself how much output you want The JB is high output.

 

[superpete]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

but I was wanting to know between these 2 pickups in general.

The fact that nobody has really come forth to support the Jazz/JB combo is something I find curious. Why, then, is it Seymour's 'favorite' combo, and why has there been so much hype around it?

1. the jb and the 59 really don't have much in common. one is low output with a slight scoop in the mids, the other is a high output pu with no shortage of mids. it's hard to compare them because they are so different. to me it'd be like asking what's the difference between coke and sprite.

2. as far as why the JB isn't getting the love around here, i don't know. i can't speak for everyone here, but in my experience the JB is a great sounding pickup. a lot of the people here are way more knowledgeable and curious about pickups and tone than your standard guitarist. so while the obvious answer to 90% of the guitarists may be to pop in a jb/59/super distortion and keep rocking, the folks here aren't satisfied with that. we want magnet swaps, hybrid coils, custom shop designs, etc etc. It's like going to a forum dedicated to the secret menu of mcdonalds and asking why they don't like big macs.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

as far as why the JB isn't getting the love around here, i don't know.

JB's are great for their intended purposes. I think the pushback comes when it's hailed as a universal PU for all guitars and all genres. There wouldn't have been a need for the hundreds of other aftermarket PU's that exist if JB's were one of the best choices for 'doing it all.' Seymour himself has made dozens of other HB's which are better-suited for their specific applications than a JB would be.

Guys get themselves all worked up here over this. No one's saying JB's aren't a great PU. It's just that they, like any other PU, are not going to be the first choice for every player in every genre. There are other PU's that do things better than JB's can. All depends what your applications are. As a blues/rock player, I have no interest in JB's (or ceramic magnet PU's) unless they have an A2 or UOA5 in them. There's lots of other PU's better-suited for what I'm doing. For the OP, JB's don't seem like a particularly good choice. For his LP or 335, Seth's are hard to beat.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

And as far as the 335, I know a guitar tech who once put the Jazz/JB combo in an Epi Dot 335, and he claims it was the best sounding guitar he'd ever heard. One of the main reasons I was interested in it.

So many opinions, and I'm not sure who to listen to. And I sure don't want to swap out pickups in a 335 just for giggles. Major PITA. I want to be relatively certain that I'm at least going to like what I put in there, even if I don't love them as 'the ultimate'.

Yes you are right, changing pickups in a 335 is a bit more difficult than other guitars. So I understand not wanting to try something that you are not sure of. I think for the 335 you will have to know and have your own personal experience before taking the chance to install one. People's opinions are just that, opinions. Only you know what works for you. So you may have to try some different pups in your other guitars to know what will work for you in your 335. Sorry but it is gonna time and hands on experience to decide what will work in your 335.

It I was faced with putting pickups in a 335 I owned, from my personal experience, I would go with a 59b and a Jazz neck. But that is me and what I like, but they might not be what you are looking to get out of your 335.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

It I was faced with putting pickups in a 335 I owned, from my personal experience, I would go with a 59b and a Jazz neck.

This is along the lines of what most people put in their 335's; some kind of PAF-ish HB which allows the hollowbody harmonics and overtones to come thru. Just not the kind of guitar many JB's end up in. Not many guys with hollow and semi-hollowbodies are interested in putting in 16K PU's.

 

[NotCardio]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

It I was faced with putting pickups in a 335 I owned, from my personal experience, I would go with a 59b and a Jazz neck. But that is me and what I like, but they might not be what you are looking to get out of your 335.

What about 59s in both positions?

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Difference between '59B and JB bridge?

What about 59s in both positions?

It would work very well IMO, for blues/classic rock. My only 'personal' problem would be with too much boominess in the neck for me. I like a lot of neck chord work. To avoid that I would consider a JAZZ (N) 59(B).