Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

NJ Jay

NJ Jay

New member
I'm posting this for my brother who plays in an indie punk band. He's currently using an Epiphone LP Standard with stock pickups and a Marsahll AVT 112 combo.

He commented that his guitar has too much of a muddy sound while chording on the bridge pickup so I recommended that he try swapping it out for the Duncan JB?

Will the Duncan JB help brighten up his sound and help cut through the mix?

If not, any other pickup suggestions?

Thanks!
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

First, let's try the obvious...

How much gain is he using? If he's got it in 10, no pickup will help. Less gain -> More clarity.

Also, he should try lowering the bridge pickup a bit, particularly from the low strings side. That should open up the sound.

With that said, a JB in a Les Paul seems to have love-hate reactions around here. So to take a safer path, if he wants something clear and punchy, I'd suggest a Duncan Custom instead.
 
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Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

Diego said:
First, let's try the obvious...

How much gain is he using? If he's got it in 10, no pickup will help. Less gain -> More clarity.

Also, he should try lowering the bridge pickup a bit, particularly from the low strings side. That should open up the sound.

With that said, a JB in a Les Paul seems to have love-hate reactions around here. So to take a safer path, if he wants something clear and punchy, I'd suggest a Duncan Custom instead.
Click to expand...

+1. also, have him raise the screws on the bass string side after lowering it, that should bring out more clarity too:)
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

totally agree with superrad and diego; but if he can get no satisfaction from the existing pickup and is chasing definition, JB isn't the best choice. it sounds great IMO but isn't exactly tight
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

adjust the pickup first. try lots of pup height and polepiece settings. then try lowering the gain and increasing the volume.

if your brother has already tried all this, I'd recommend an Alternative 8. it has the absolute best note definition I've heard when it comes to playing chords under high gain. I play primarily punk/indie too and it's the best pup I've come across for that type of music, assuming you want a more modern tone.

If he wants a more classic rock voicing, I'd recommend the Duncan Custom. I own a JB with an Alnico 2 magnet swapped in and I really like it, but the Custom is a better pup for aggressive rhythm playing in those music styles.
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

Stock Epi Asian-made PU's are crap; dump them if you're serious about good tone. A lot of guys here don't like JB's in mahogany, as the low end is too loose & the 'ice pick' spike is too prominent & annoying. It's generally agreed that JB's are very picky about the guitars they're in, and even some of their biggest fans think they're 'atrocious' in some guitars.

A better bet, with a higher success rate in mahogany would be a Custom or Custom 5, which don't have the JB's quirks. The Custom series works very well with other magnets like A8's, and A4's. In fact the JB is a much more agreeable PU itself with a mag swap (like an A2 or A8).

Check for used PU's on eBay, you can usually get them for around half price. You might want to look for a better neck HB too, like a '59 or PG. You will hear a difference.
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

Not to be a snob, but a 1x12 solid state amp is likely to have a hard time keeping up with a punk band. I don't think the pickup will make significant improvements in his sound. A speaker change might be better than a pickup change - something British with good midrange projection.
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

Stevo said:
A speaker change might be better than a pickup change - something British with good midrange projection.
Click to expand...

+1. In my experience, most combos need a speaker upgrade, as they're usually stocked with the cheapest speakers the manufacturer can get away with. And yeah, a good Celestion fits the bill nicely.
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

Thanks to all for all of the replies. Any additional replies welcomed as well.
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

NJ Jay said:
Thanks to all for all of the replies. Any additional replies welcomed as well.
Click to expand...


For mahogany guitars, the tried & true recommendations on this forum are a '59 pair for the PAF sound, and a C5/'59N for a stonger bridge PU. Hard to go wrong with these. Nice definition; good clean or with distortion.
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

I think you can't go wrong with the '59 or C5.

I've also found that the Screamin' Demon is killer in that type of guitar. It's the opposite of muddy.
 
Re: Duncan JB in an Epiphone LP Standard?

C5 or maybe the demon...

But learn to play the amp is probably what's really needed. Or a better/different amp.

Brilliant post Diego! If he can't punk that beyotch after doing all that, then no pup will help.

And what is this punk tone snob thing going on. Why does he even care?????
 
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