Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

[beaubrummels]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

FWIW old JBs that Seymour wound from the late 70's / early 80's sound different than described and have some top end sparkle when played clean in a Les Paul or even in an SG. Old JBs when clean sound somewhere between a loud 59 and loud WLH, but with just a touch of the top end off a Pearly Gates or Custom, for me.

New production JBs sound dark-ish and lackluster in the same guitars for me.

(I know the OP is using a different type of guitar, but I'm just pointing out there is a difference across production years)

 

[Zheddar]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Thanks for linking your bands web page Aceman, I was having a pretty boring morning. I am now thoroughly entertained! On the JB/Distortion thing, I have had alnico 5's and ceramics in both. As far as new production models go, they do sound different with the same magnets, but not by much. Mag swapping in either is really decent to patch things over until you can get the proper version of whichever one you want.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

I have a JBJ- I see calling it dark, with reference to not being snappy on the low end, and having a saturated midrange that masks some high end harmonics. I also understand it being "bright" based on certain playing styles based on the same midrange characteristics. For sure not a good clean pickup. The Distortion's more even frequency response cleans up better to me, less mushy low end than the JB so I will call that "brighter." Never tried a mag-swapped single/double thickness JB though.

 

[dsuigdsf]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Thank you for the answers!
I don't change the magnet, I will buy new pickup. If pickup is stronger has lower resonant peak, moves more to the middle frequency?
I listened to samples of pickup sounds and i like them:
-Duncan Distortion
-Duncan Custom
-Duncan Screamin Demon
-Duncan Nazgul
-Duncan Dimebucker
All except Demon, are high gain pickup. Are all good for 80's hair metal?

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

I watched this video a few times when I was looking at changing pickups:

 

[dsuigdsf]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

For me SH-6 sound better, is brighter and has tihgter low end.
Btw it is normal that my TB-4 has 18,5kohm?
I try 1meg pot yet with JB

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Yeah, that's about normal. The TB version of a pickup will have a slightly higher DCR, but the same tone. There are also inaccuracies in meters as well as temperature changes that can account for that number.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

For me SH-6 sound better, is brighter and has tihgter low end.
Btw it is normal that my TB-4 has 18,5kohm?
I try 1meg pot yet with JB

TB have bigger bobbins, so more wire, so different reading, but same sound and output as SH.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

-Duncan Distortion: Currently use for 80's
-Duncan Custom Currently use for 80's
-Duncan Screamin Demon Currently use for 80's
-Duncan Nazgul
-Duncan Dimebucker

And I could see using a Dimebucker, but probably wouldn't
Can't say about the Nazgul, but wouldn't see why not.

Depending on the amp, you might really like the Demon....

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Your talking to someone that’s been winding since 1979. I had pickups on the Grammy’s.

So I suggest we ignore your post. You didn’t know the difference between DC resistance and a resonant peak.

Yeah, well my jock strap was worn in the Olympics so what?

The difference between you and me is this:

1. You said exactly what you meant. And most of here believe that you don't know the difference between the numbers and the PERCEIVED tonal qualities, because we ALL have ears and have played them with differing DC Resistance and Res Peaks and know that those things are only a few, and often unimportant features in the perceived sound of the pickup.

2. We all know I'm typing faster than I can pay attention, and nobody here believes I don't know the difference between Resistance and Res Peak.

3. And, the one thing we all also generally would agree on is that absolutes like "The JB is no good for anything but distorted sounds" is a pure narrow minded, ego-centric, absolute is absolutely positively wrong. All kind of people have used all kinds of pickups for all kinds of music.

I don't think your post did anything to help the guy, threw out a bunch of tech talk that he can't deal with because of English as a second language, and no one won a grammy ever because of the pickup.

I apologize if I hurt your feelings. I'm glad you have been winding pickups for as long as I have played guitar. Please try to channel your knowledge and skill for good and consider what is needed to help the OP, instead of stating absolutes and ego massaging yourself. I'll try to be more correct in my use of language.

The OP will like a JB Ceramic, Love a JB Double Thick Ceramic, and probably would be thrilled to death with a Distortion.

 

[dsuigdsf]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Maybe I should change amplifier? I have Marshall DSL 401 with old Celestion G12t-75 first generation. This Marshall sound really dark and muddy.
When I use my Fender with Duncan JB (I forgot to add that JB has Alnico 2 magnet with 280k CTS pot) on Guitar Rig, I really like this sound.
This is my rig in GR

And this sound:
gr.mp3

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

So, is the A2 JB the one you don't like the low end of? Have you tried putting the A5 back in?

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Yeah, well my jock strap was worn in the Olympics so what?

The difference between you and me is this:

1. You said exactly what you meant.

No, you didn’t.

I’m happy you feel so highly of yourself. But you were incorrect and you know it. But your ego won’t let you admit it.

You spoke a lot of nonsense. Everyone here knows that.

Hurt my feelings? Hahahahaha! Nope






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Now I am thinking swap magnets between a JB and a Custom I have. C5 in a LP and the Dokkenbucker in the ESP.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

No, you didn’t.

I’m happy you feel so highly of yourself. But you were incorrect and you know it. But your ego won’t let you admit it.

You spoke a lot of nonsense. Everyone here knows that.

Hurt my feelings? Hahahahaha! Nope ��






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re-read his point 1. He's saying that you were correct, and that he wrote the wrong thing.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Re-read his point 1. He's saying that you were correct, and that he wrote the wrong thing.

Thank you kind sir.

Indeed. I know what I typed (peak v res) was wrong. No argument there. It was - as we say, a "mistake"

And you are correct that my statement was incorrect.

And I still say that I believe, the majority, would say your response was less than accurate as we as players with ears and Marshalls experience it, and it offers challenge for the OP.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

OP - before we get all lost; Critical info -

What guitar, what amp, what fx? I believe the answer is Strat and DSL 401.

That should be PLENTY bright. BUT!!!!!! A JB with an A2? AHA!!!!!!!

As said - put the A5 back in it. I bet that fixes everything. If not ceramic/double ceramic.

Or just get a Distortion. It's what you really want.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

What can I tell you, Duncan insist they are different winds. Discussed ad nauseam and everyone freely admits the A2P and Jazz are the same wind, but not the DD and JB.

Here’s the way to test it

Take the pickups apart. Weigh the bobbins on a digital scale. If they weigh the same they have the same amount (turns and gauge) of wire on them.

I think it’s highly unlikely they are wound with different gauges. The JB is wound with 44. If you could fit enough 43 on the bobbins to get it up to the same resistance, it would be much more wire and the pickup would be a bit louder.

Turns = output, along with magnet strength and pole piece alloy/inductance. But more turns is usually more output. Resistance is just a measurement of the amount of wire, i.e. turns, for that gauge of wire.

So my money is on them being the same pickup with a magnet swap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

I’ve never really gone for the tone of either the JB or Distortion, until I watched videos of the Mexican Charvel Pro-Mods; the San Dimas has JB&59, the So Cal has Distortions. If you’re playing ‘80s hard rock/ metal, either the JB or the Distortion in a Strat should get you- if not your dream tone- a very solid sound.

Can’t pickups have the same wire and the same amount of turns, but the physical distribution of the wire is different? Which is why there are scatter-wound pickups and so on.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Duncan JB magnet swap to ceramic.

Here’s the way to test it

Take the pickups apart. Weigh the bobbins on a digital scale. If they weigh the same they have the same amount (turns and gauge) of wire on them.

I think it’s highly unlikely they are wound with different gauges. The JB is wound with 44. If you could fit enough 43 on the bobbins to get it up to the same resistance, it would be much more wire and the pickup would be a bit louder.

Turns = output, along with magnet strength and pole piece alloy/inductance. But more turns is usually more output. Resistance is just a measurement of the amount of wire, i.e. turns, for that gauge of wire.

So my money is on them being the same pickup with a magnet swap.

Could be, but I am not one of those people who cares enough to try all that.