Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
They are both superb pickups but the Custom seems to be more popular here...although the JB is Duncan's #1 seller!
I think the Custom has a little bit thicker mids and a slightly grainier sizzle to the treble compared to the JB.
The JB sounds like a really hot paf and it has a certain "hardness" to the upper mids that some people find annoying if they play mostly at home and stand right next to thier amp. From a few feet away, I don't hear that midrange peak that some players complain about.
Scott was demoing the new Duncan Twin Tube Classic pedal at NAMM and his Strat had a JB in the bridge.
Never sounded anything but great. No annoying midrange peak at all from this listener's perspective. But I have heard that peak (and been annoyed by it!) at home when I'm playing my own amps and standing to close to the speakers!
Lew
They are both superb pickups but the Custom seems to be more popular here...although the JB is Duncan's #1 seller!
I think the Custom has a little bit thicker mids and a slightly grainier sizzle to the treble compared to the JB.
The JB sounds like a really hot paf and it has a certain "hardness" to the upper mids that some people find annoying if they play mostly at home and stand right next to thier amp. From a few feet away, I don't hear that midrange peak that some players complain about.
Scott was demoing the new Duncan Twin Tube Classic pedal at NAMM and his Strat had a JB in the bridge.
Never sounded anything but great. No annoying midrange peak at all from this listener's perspective. But I have heard that peak (and been annoyed by it!) at home when I'm playing my own amps and standing to close to the speakers!
Lew
ex-250
Riffologist Extraordinaire
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
i actually really like the mids of the JB compared to most pickups ive tried, i dont see what everybody is complaining about.....though i do have the JB in a giant peice of mahogany known as a gibson explorer. i suppose there could be problems with brighter guitars.
id imagine an LP has some pretty similar tone characteristics to an explorer, so i think the JB should work great for you. though i havent tried a custom, so i cant comment on it
i actually really like the mids of the JB compared to most pickups ive tried, i dont see what everybody is complaining about.....though i do have the JB in a giant peice of mahogany known as a gibson explorer. i suppose there could be problems with brighter guitars.
id imagine an LP has some pretty similar tone characteristics to an explorer, so i think the JB should work great for you. though i havent tried a custom, so i cant comment on it
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
I think the JB sounds best in bolt-on superstrats, while the Custom, C-5, and CC sound best in Pauls.
I think the JB sounds best in bolt-on superstrats, while the Custom, C-5, and CC sound best in Pauls.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
While, alot of folks dont like the JB's upper mids, I really dont like its bottom end! The JB has a really loose bottom end that I just cant handle.
I say go for the custom! One of my most favorite pickups!
While, alot of folks dont like the JB's upper mids, I really dont like its bottom end! The JB has a really loose bottom end that I just cant handle.
I say go for the custom! One of my most favorite pickups!
JammerMatt
New member
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
The JB had just too much upper mids in my LP. I fiddled and fiddled with pole height, eq, you name it... couldn't get it to my liking. I'd say be cautious with the JB in your LP. If your LP is bright, might consider the Custom instead.
The JB had just too much upper mids in my LP. I fiddled and fiddled with pole height, eq, you name it... couldn't get it to my liking. I'd say be cautious with the JB in your LP. If your LP is bright, might consider the Custom instead.
F
frehley
Guest
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
Custom for sure.
It's much thicker and brighter than the JB with more Distortion and better clean tones. The only other pup that compares to it is the Duncan Distortion.
It has more power than the Custom but it doesn't sound as good clean and once you go from a Custom to a DD, one starts to notice that the DD is starting to sound a little compressed.
A DD can sound a bit too bassy in dark guitars like LP's for me so I would only use it on a thinner sounding guitar.
I have a Custom on the way right now for my new Carvin CT6M guitar so I vote Custom. :usa1: :usa1: :usa1:
Custom for sure.
It's much thicker and brighter than the JB with more Distortion and better clean tones. The only other pup that compares to it is the Duncan Distortion.
It has more power than the Custom but it doesn't sound as good clean and once you go from a Custom to a DD, one starts to notice that the DD is starting to sound a little compressed.
A DD can sound a bit too bassy in dark guitars like LP's for me so I would only use it on a thinner sounding guitar.
I have a Custom on the way right now for my new Carvin CT6M guitar so I vote Custom. :usa1: :usa1: :usa1:
Nightburst
New member
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
Tough choice! Both are exellent for high gain and that's why I have both of them
.
JB is better suited for leads and the Custom is better suited for chunky rythem playing IMHO. I prefer the C5 over the custom because it's more smooth and still huge. The C5 does better leads than the Custom from my experience because it just sings more.
So it depends on what kind of high gain rock you play.
Tough choice! Both are exellent for high gain and that's why I have both of them
.JB is better suited for leads and the Custom is better suited for chunky rythem playing IMHO. I prefer the C5 over the custom because it's more smooth and still huge. The C5 does better leads than the Custom from my experience because it just sings more.
So it depends on what kind of high gain rock you play.
Duke of Metal
New member
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
I tell you from experience.. the DD and a lespaul sound great together. they compliment each other very well. I personally liked the DD better then the Custom Sh-5. it has tighter, more cutting aggressive tone.
Definitly a good choice to go with.
Cheers
Lespaul + Duncan Distortion + Highgain = Killer ToneToneZone said:
I tell you from experience.. the DD and a lespaul sound great together. they compliment each other very well. I personally liked the DD better then the Custom Sh-5. it has tighter, more cutting aggressive tone.
Definitly a good choice to go with.
Cheers
theboatcandream
dreamonologist
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
I actually had the good fortune to compare these pickups side by side just a week ago in a pair of high end Jacksons. I found that the custom had a thicker more vintage sound, while the JB was brighter and bassier and similar in tone to the Gibson 498 only less harsh and muddy. The JB was a bit jangly, while the custom sounded thick.
I think that if you scoop your mids, the JB would be a good choice. If not, then I'd pick the Custom.
ToneZone said:
I actually had the good fortune to compare these pickups side by side just a week ago in a pair of high end Jacksons. I found that the custom had a thicker more vintage sound, while the JB was brighter and bassier and similar in tone to the Gibson 498 only less harsh and muddy. The JB was a bit jangly, while the custom sounded thick.
I think that if you scoop your mids, the JB would be a good choice. If not, then I'd pick the Custom.
Destructone
New member
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
while i respect theodie's opinion... im the total opposite. i can't take the custom's low end. it seems too overbearing, or too "huge" for my tastes.
theodie said:
while i respect theodie's opinion... im the total opposite. i can't take the custom's low end. it seems too overbearing, or too "huge" for my tastes.
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Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Duncan JB or Custom for High Gain Les Paul??
Well, there´s always the invader if you want megaballs and a rocket launcher, or if you´re using an amp with mondo gain you can also use lower output buckers like the ´59 or Seths.....
What kind of tones are you looking for, with what exact kind of paul and what amp?
Well, there´s always the invader if you want megaballs and a rocket launcher, or if you´re using an amp with mondo gain you can also use lower output buckers like the ´59 or Seths.....
What kind of tones are you looking for, with what exact kind of paul and what amp?
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