Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

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psychodave

New member
I noticed the JB in my Charvel has more hum (a lot more) at idle then the Distortion in my both my Les Paul and other Charvel. The JB pickup is wired correctly and properly grounded but I have an alnico 2 magnet in it. Is this something others have noticed or is it just the JB I have?
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

I wouldn't expect it to. Both of them have symmetrical coils which would mean they eliminate hum in the same way. I'd be looking at checking grounds in the humming guitar and/or shielding of the cavities.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

Everything is shielded.. Both coils are wrapped in copper tape, soldered together and grounded to the pickup base. The cavities are all shielded and grounded as well. I guess I need to take it apart and re-check.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

FWIW, I have three in my guitars:
1.) Factory install in a Jackson SL2HT. Buzzes kinda loud at higher volumes.
2.) Self-install in an Ibanez RG7621. Quiet.
3.) Self-install in a Jackson SL3. Pretty quiet.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

I had a JB in my Strat for a while. I loved the sound, but it was just too noisy. Duncan gave me an RMA and swapped it for another one. The replacement was just as noisy.

I have not tried a Distortion model, so I can't give you a comparision. I have, however, played a Duncan Designed HB103, which is supposedly modeled after the Distortion. It was not as noisy as the JB, but the ceramic attack gave me headaches. I ultimately replaced the ceramic mag with an Alnico 2. I really enjoy it now!
 
Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

I've put in several jbs and never had bad hum. But I use noise suppression on a 5150 which is a noisy amp to begin with. Compared to my other pickups, the jb wasn't any noisier. I have had noise on some from ground issues but it was the pots, not the pickup.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

psychodave said:
Everything is shielded.. Both coils are wrapped in copper tape, soldered together and grounded to the pickup base. The cavities are all shielded and grounded as well. I guess I need to take it apart and re-check.
Click to expand...

yes, definitely re-check. start with how the guitar is wired. be certain to double check how your grounds are wired to avoid any ground loops.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

Quick update. I got another JB and it too has the same noise. I have a third (made in the 80's) in a Les Paul and it is noisy as well. None of my other pickups make the same noise. I guess it's just in the JB design.
 
Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

Have you tried it in multiple amps? With multiple cables? Just trying to get an idea of what is going on. I've had 5 jbs and they have never been noisy.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

psychodave said:
Quick update. I got another JB and it too has the same noise. I have a third (made in the 80's) in a Les Paul and it is noisy as well. None of my other pickups make the same noise. I guess it's just in the JB design.
Click to expand...

If the wiring is done properly it should not hum at all. I am wondering about the copper tape you mentioned that is wrapped around the coils. That is not stock to the best of my recollection. Did you add that and how is that grounded?
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

The copper tape is one the two newer JB's, one of which came on my custom shop Charvel. The coils are wrapped in copper tape, connected by a wire soldered to the tape then grounded to the baseplate. To me, it seems like even the custom shop knows there is a hum issue that they are trying to compensate for? My other JB is from the 1980's. They all have hum through multiple amps. It's not terrible, but a lot more than my other Duncan pickups.
 
Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

Been using JBs for close to 30 years and I don't have that issue. Nor with any pickup really, unless I've messed up the wiring somewhere.

Something is afoot at the circle k.


Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

darthphineas said:
Been using JBs for close to 30 years and I don't have that issue. Nor with any pickup really, unless I've messed up the wiring somewhere.

Something is afoot at the circle k.


Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Everything is wired correctly. Even my music room has custom isolated wall jacks to prevent hum and outside noise from dimmer switches etc. I think the JB is the problem. No other pickups have the hum. Just the 3 JB's. hmmm.

Just to add some credibility, I've been playing for 27 years and know my way around guitars, pickups and amplifiers. I've been modding them both for too long to remember.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

Take a blow dryer to that pickup re melt the wax abit......let dry re-test. It has worked for me more than once.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

psychodave said:
Everything is wired correctly. Even my music room has custom isolated wall jacks to prevent hum and outside noise from dimmer switches etc. I think the JB is the problem. No other pickups have the hum. Just the 3 JB's. hmmm.

Just to add some credibility, I've been playing for 27 years and know my way around guitars, pickups and amplifiers. I've been modding them both for too long to remember.
Click to expand...


when you have a lot of people here saying the JB doesn't have that issue with them, maybe the JB isn't the problem.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

psychodave said:
To me, it seems like even the custom shop knows there is a hum issue that they are trying to compensate for? My other JB is from the 1980's. They all have hum through multiple amps. It's not terrible, but a lot more than my other Duncan pickups.
Click to expand...

Not a chance. The JB is probably most widely sold pickup ever for SD. If there was a fundamental flaw like what you are describing it would be talked about everywhere. Just not the case.
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

On a personal experience, to me it kind of does. The JB seems to have more hum than the Distortion. For some reason I would think that it would be the opposite. There are subtle differences to both pickup besides the A5 and the Ceramics magnets. :werd:
 
Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

I actually stuck it in front of a space heater to warm it up to reflow the wax. It didn't do anything. I thought about repotting it as well... FWIW, I have an old coffee cup filled with around 60% carnauba wax and 40% bees wax that I use to pot pickups. I even have a small piece of pipe with detachable bell ends and an air nipple. I open one end, put the hot, freshly potted pickup inside and pump in around 100lbs of air and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
 
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Re: Does the JB create more hum than the Distortion?

darthphineas said:
when you have a lot of people here saying the JB doesn't have that issue with them, maybe the JB isn't the problem.
Click to expand...

Nah. The JB is the problem. 3 of them with the same level of hum?!? I popped in a Distortion and the hum was gone. I tried a Shur Aldrich and the hum was gone. I ended up putting in a Motor City Pickups Garuda and again, no hum. The Garuda is staying in it. It sounds really good.

It could be that I am not use to how much natural hum is in the JB? It definitely isn't user error ;)
 
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