does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

[chill]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

I agree that the JB gets pinch harmonics fairly easily, and can do heavy rock, more on the Sabbath end of things than AC/DC, but it can do both.

A friend of mine had a JB in a newer faded SG, and the two did not play well together. I only played it a couple times and heard it a few more times, but seems like it was all mids, not much lows, and rolled off treble (and I consider myself a midrangey kind of guy...).

I think the Custom or Custom 5 would be a better match for an SG, as the SG is all mahogany which will be a middy guitar, and the Custom and C5 both have mid dips, more on the C5 from what I've heard. My IC300 Iceman (also an all mahogany plank) currently has a ceramic Custom and 59n. I filed the Custom's polepieces down from 3/4" to about 5/8" to get rid of some low end tub, and I love that pickup in that guitar.

No problem getting pinch harmonics with the Custom in that guitar or on an Ibanez Artist I had with the Custom. They were not as crazy as the stock pups on the Iceman, which were some kind of Dimarzio make, but I also like the Custom, which is going to stay in that guitar.

490R and 490T in the SG are kind of meh. I found them to be too loose, too dark, and yet too bright. It was an odd thing. Magnet swaps would probably help them out, A5 or A8 would probably sound good. The 490R is now in the neck of an alder/ maple/ maple strat clone and fits well with the JB trembucker in that same guitar. JB for rock and leads, 490R for vintagey sounds.

 

[richard parker]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

Philywilly, the neck pickup on my SG is a Gibson with a 'Pat Pending' sticker on the back. It's not working at the moment (hasn't been for about 2 years) but I tend to stick to the bridge pickup anyway. I'm really confused about the very mixed opinions on this forum about whether the JB is a good pickup and what type of guitars it suits best. I think you could choose any pickup and find more than enough negative comments to put you off buying it. I don't like a lot of what I've read about the C5 which some describe as a bit characterless and lacking in mids. I don't want anything with too high output. The JB in my SG cleans up beautifully from the guitar's volume, produces amazing crunch sounds and wails on leads. The low end is a little loose but this suits the type of stuff I play perfectly but I don't use masses of gain - nowhere near what my amps are capable of. I can imagine it's not the ideal choice for some types of metal but a lot of guitar sounds (rectifier for example) didn't really exist when the JB was conceived. If you're low on cash and you can pick one up cheap I'd say it's definitely worth trying. I've no idea what the pots in my guitar are, they're at least 30 years old and the tone pots are wired as coil taps - I have no idea what difference this makes to the sound of the JB.

 

[philywilly33]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

i guess i should not got a c5 cause its lacking in mids but i shouldnt get the jb cause it might not go well with my guitar can someone suggest a new pickup other than those 2? and a neck to match it?

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

AlNiCo 2 Pro HB neck & bridge.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

i guess i should not got a c5 cause its lacking in mids but i shouldnt get the jb cause it might not go well with my guitar can someone suggest a new pickup other than those 2? and a neck to match it?

C5s dont lack mids. They just are not mid heavy.. I had one in my Epi SG and it sounded nearly perfect.. I cant imagine a better Sg pickup cuz the Sg has a natural mid tone.
The guy that bought it from me loves it too.. The C5 covers alot of ground and if it isnt perfect what you want, all you gotta do is slap in an alnico 8 magnet and have perfection... (Well, you could use other magnets too..) Im guessing you will love the C5 , C8 or custom.

 

[metlking]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

If it was my SG I'd stick a 59' in the neck and an SH-6 (Duncan Distortion) in the bridge. You could do anything with that guitar!

 

[philywilly33]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

ok so i guess everone says the 59 in neck so what kind of sound tell me band or song it gives out?

 

[St-Jimmy]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

I used to have a JB/59 combo in an SG and it didn't sound too good. There wasn't much bass and the mids were so shrill. The 59 in it was way too boomy for chords, but had a nice creamy solo sound. I like the JB/59 in a Les Paul. I also like the C5/A2pro combo in a Les Paul. But yeah, I think the JB has GREAT pinch harmonics in just about any guitar Ive tried them in, its just all a matter of finding the right guitar to tame that mid-spike.

Another band I can think of where you hear the JB clearly is Megadeth, it was Dave Mustaine's main pickup before he got his signature.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: does the JB-4 model humbucker have good harmonics

Pinch harmonics can be done on pretty much ANY pickup, if you know how to do them properly. I wouldn't be basing my pickup buying around that.
AC/DC and Sabbath aren't really renowned for their use of pinch harmonics either.

I'd go with the Custom 5/59 in an SG like the others say.