Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

[cliffenstein]

Been using a JB Jr in the bridge position of my American alder body, maple board Strat since 1995. I’ve toured and recorded over and over with it and I absolutely love it. I have it wired directly to 250k volume pot with no tone connection. My amp dials need no changing when switching from my Strat to my Les Pauls. It’s utterly seamless.

I just got my first ash body Strat (also maple fretboard) and am considering trying out a Little 59 for it. This guitar would be wired the same way...bridge straight to 250k volume pot.

Will I dig it or am I too married to what I get from my trusty JB Jr? It’s important to me that I can switch between guitars without having to change amp settings.

For tone, I’m an Angus Young meets Johnny Ramone guy and I play 100% of the time on the bridge pickup.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

Well, you will get more touch-sensitivity (dynamics), and a warmer, less cutting sound. Personally, I like it better, but that is just preference. It will be good to have choices among your guitars. You might need slightly more gain if you are used to it, though. I would welcome the fact that a lower output pickup would make me play differently.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

i like the lil 59 but i dont have a ton of experience with the jb jr

 

[Returned]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

I'm a former JB Jr user. (I didn't dislike the pickup, I lust no longer have that strat, and there's a full size in my #1)

Doing similar investigating as the OP I often heard the Custom Shop Pearly Gates for Strat was better as a lower-powered bridge humbucker than the Little 59. I never pulled the trigger myself but that may be something to investigate.

 

[SFW]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

The lil 59 is a great pickup. With a 250k pot, it actually sounds a bit thicker than the full size version. It's been my goto pickup if I want to keep the "stock" strat look.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

Well, you will get more touch-sensitivity (dynamics), and a warmer, less cutting sound. Personally, I like it better, but that is just preference. It will be good to have choices among your guitars. You might need slightly more gain if you are used to it, though. I would welcome the fact that a lower output pickup would make me play differently.

I’m thinking about wiring this different from how I normally do (normal for me is bridge pickup to volume with everything else disconnected). Would the pure sound of the Little 59 straight to volume be affected in any way whatsoever If I were to get electronics wired as follows:

Little 59 to volume pot (moved to 2nd pot position).
Middle and neck singles to volume pot and tone pot.

First pot position (closest to strings) would not be connected to any pickups. Little 59 would not be connected to tone control.

I’m concerned that the other two pickups being connected to the same volume pot as the Little 59 would adversely affect the pure sound I’m accustomed to.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

im assuming you mean running the pups to the 5 way switch then the switch to the volume. the tone pot connected to the switch for the singles only. basically, when the lil59 is selected by itself the other pups wont effect the sound

 

[Mincer]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

Well, the Little 59 not connected to a tone control would be a little brighter, but that is about it. I never noticed a difference in sound with a master volume control vs its own volume, though.

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

Thank you...super helpful!

 

[cliffenstein]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

Super helpful indeed. The Little 59 sounds freaking GLORIOUS in this Strat!!!! Thank you all!!!!!!!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Experienced JB Jr user looking for advice on Little 59...

Awesome! Happy it worked out!