do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

[UCSDBoy]

I was reading the other day how Jerry Cantrell's Rampage is actually an alder body - and of course, Billie Joe Armstrong's strat clone was an alder body. And I read somewhere that the tele-gib was actually an ash body, and not a mahogany body. Yet the last time I stuck a JB into my strat it kind of sucked - it had no bottom end. In my mahogany Esquire GT the thing rocks! What's the deal? How can all these famous guys be wrong? Is it just me?

 

[Travis]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

You're not crazy. I had a pair of JBs in an alder bodied Hamer Diablo and they both sounded like total ass. Now that guitar has a pair of Distortions and it screams like a banshee. Funny what a different magnet will do.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

You're crazy.

The JB in my alder Wayne Rock Legend sounds godly.
See for yourself: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/twilightodysseymusic.htm

 

[UCSDBoy]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

i wonder what it is then - it does sound good....

 

[Travis]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

Sounds great. But I'm not the only one to have a dud JB. I think maybe they might be an inconsistent pickup. I've heard several people say that they've had some that were great and some that were real dogs. Of the 4 that I had, 1 was decent, just not what I was looking for.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

The reason why Duncan has so many pickups is because there are so many guitar/player/amp combinations out there. It's all about finding the pickup that suits those 3 other elements. When I get a new guitar, I install about 2 different pickups in it, and either leave 1 in, or do some research on the pickups that have the sound that particular guitar needs. My most played LP and Strat have both had about 7 different pickups in them.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

But I'm not the only one to have a dud JB. I think maybe they might be an inconsistent pickup.

I think that makes it sound like there is some kind of manufacturing problem with the JB. I would say it's a pup that sensitive to where it's placed, not inconsistent.

 

[UCSDBoy]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

That's true, but i guess what makes it such a question mark for me is the fact that they're basically plugging these into strats and playing them through marshalls and mesas. It's not gear that you or I wouldn't have - except for Cantrell's Bogner, in which case, only you have it. =)

 

[fusion101]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

I love the JB in my strat it was one of the best pickups of heard in any guitar

 

[Jag513]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

The amp also determines tone, you know. The only way you'll know if the JB is inconsistent is if you get like 5 different JB's, and get a sound sample of each of them in the same guitar through the same amp with the same cable with no effects. They should sound very similar, and if they don't, then it's an inconsistent pickup. Also, some pickups just don't agree with certain guitars and/or amps. Keep that in mind.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

I had a JB jr. in a Alder Strat and I thought it sounded fine. How ever... I
wasn't crazy about the Full size JB in my LP. Sounded fine in the studio
with a JCM 800 or Mesa TP. But live I was useing a Fender Twin. Sounded
like arse clean!!

 

[Hellion]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

JBs sound good in just about every situation. I can't imagine them NOT sounding good in an alder body.

 

[big_black]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

You Are Crazy

 

[Guitarist]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

Mine sounds great. It is bright, but I still love it.

 

[ranalli]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

JBs sound good in just about every situation. I can't imagine them NOT sounding good in an alder body.

It certainly can sound too bright in some guitars without a doubt. Especially if you got a bright fingerboard wood like ebony.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

That's true, but i guess what makes it such a question mark for me is the fact that they're basically plugging these into strats and playing them through marshalls and mesas. It's not gear that you or I wouldn't have - except for Cantrell's Bogner, in which case, only you have it. =)

I guess the The Wayne Guitar that Twilight uses is made of ALDER and is a variation of a strat. I guess its your amp effects and others that count too. Hey Twilight the JB sounded nice on ur guitar also on guitarist guitar ( GARY MOORE )

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

I think that makes it sound like there is some kind of manufacturing problem with the JB. I would say it's a pup that sensitive to where it's placed, not inconsistent.

I wld tend to disagree with that check this link out, its from the forum it self: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=29306&highlight=faulty+JB
Yes true it is the pup thats sensitive to where it is placed but the Q here is does the JB sound BRIGHT and sucks in ALDER. You did say it sounds good and proved it with ur clip. Oh I love Jerry Cantrells tone.

 

[EvilBatman]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

I love the JB's in my Soloists. They're alder. Hell, they have ebony boards and are maple neck thru and I still sometimes use a Tubescreamer to get a very tight, aggressive metal tone.

 

[Sozos]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

Remember that almost all usa Jacksons have alder body with jbs at the bridge position. And for sure Jacksons don't sound like ass

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: do jbs suck in alder bodies, or am i just crazy?

HMMM and chcek out JEFF BECK in Cause we have ended as lovers..... Now dont tell me his tone was hmmmm. Cause it soundes great