First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

[dvanburen]

I did my first hybrid tonight and I want to post my results and opinions.

First off the surgery went well and I didn't screw anything up. It was easier than I though once I got in there and saw it for myself.

Guitar- Les paul standard

Neck Pickup- Jazz/59 with A4 mag (Jazz screw coil and 59 slug coil)

Bridge pickup- Custom/Jb with A8 mag (Custom slug coil and JB screw coil)

I was playing tonight through my hotrod deluxe amp with pedals at low volume. I will post another review when I go to the studio and play through my 5150 stack at higher volume. I have been playing a custom 8 in the bridge with 59 A4 neck prior to this. I loved that combo but the C8 did not have the oomph/compression/ power that I was used to with the ceramic pups im used to playing. And I was unhappy with the high end shrill of the ceramics which led me to try the C8. The A4 in the 59 cured the boominess from the stock mag which I did like

First impression.. Wow! The jazz/59 neck was utterly stunning. I started out playing in the neck position clean and I noticed, right off the bat, that classic jazz tone that I always loved. But the 59 coil added depth, fullness and warmth to it while still retaining the signature clarity of the jazz. The jazz was more prominent to my ears with its screw coil. No boominess at all and clear as a bell with more character than the standard jazz and more clarity than the 59. Best neck pickup i've ever heard

Compared to the C8, the custom/jb had the same low end punch as the C8 but much more bite to it. This thing reeaalllyy cuts man! It cuts like a razor blade. Actually more harmonic content than the C8. I really heard the JB coming out more with it's screw coil in place. Much better low end than standard JB with the same upper mids and high end bite. The custom coil added a bit of warmth to that one with beefier lows. The Jb was definitely more prominent to my ears in this configuration. More compressed and hotter than the C8, which I like. It reminded me of the Ceramic custom and DD that I am used to but without the harsh high end that most don't care for (including me). Still very clear and has good string separation. If you don't like the JB then you might not care for this one, but it DOES sound better, to me, than the stock JB. especially with the A8 mag. It's really hot, bright and cutting but again, not in a harsh way like ceramics. This is a really great pickup so far

I'm going to keep the neck pup as is because I like it that much. But I'm actually going to try the other reverse JB/custom with the Jb slug coil and the Custom screw coil instead next time to see if I get more of the custom involved in the sound next go round. Not that I did not like it as ive got it, its just that I want to see what it's going to sound like in reverse.

Overall, this was a great mod and has made me giddy like a school girl about playing my guitar. The overall clarity, harmonic content and shear tone that come out of these pickups is just mind blowing to me. Ive never heard anything like it. It's taken my tone to a whole new level

I want to give a shout out to BachtoRock for making his awesome thread on hybrids and to everyone else who has been a help on this forum. If anybody has not done hybrids, I would whole heartedly recommend doing it. Or considering it at the least.

Just wanted to share my thoughts and provide some sort of review for others who have thought about doing these types of hybrids

woo hoo!!

cheers

 

[orpheo]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

a w e s o m e! I have to hear somebody complain about these (kind) of hybrids if you want to go nuts, here's my list of favorites.

pearly/custom alnico 5 (regular pearly, not pearly plus)
patb2/fullshred alnico8
distortion neck/ screamin demon alnico8
screamin demon (or distortion neck) / seth bridge alnico 8 (great for in the neck! bit tighter than what you have now, bit clearer, too).
x2n/invader. that pickup is so incredibly amazing.

 

[dvanburen]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

Cool man. Ive got a distortion but chose not to pull it apart because I like it so much as it is in one of my guitars. I thought since I had the JB, and didnt like it that much, I would just use that instead. figured it would be pretty much the same thing.

I really want to do a PG/custom. That sounds awesome
and that patb2/fullshred sounds nice too

I can see where most of my down time will go now..

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

Quite the mad scientist, herr doktor Orpheo. X2N/Invader sounds interesting, and no doubt looks badass.

First impression.. Wow! The jazz/59 neck was utterly stunning. I started out playing in the neck position clean and I noticed, right off the bat, that classic jazz tone that I always loved. But the 59 coil added depth, fullness and warmth to it while still retaining the signature clarity of the jazz. The jazz was more prominent to my ears with its screw coil. No boominess at all and clear as a bell with more character than the standard jazz and more clarity than the 59. Best neck pickup i've ever heard.

Welcome to the club, man :friday:. Agree with your description – I like the Jazz on its own as well for its clarity but the 59/J has a bit of extra pixie dust.

 

[orpheo]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

well, it looks a lot less crazy than one might think because I have a gold cover on the pickup. just the huge polepieces show a bit of what it used to be. The tone is HUGE. supertight, aggressive and extremely hot, but so sensitive to your touch. the harmonics are crazy. it's really a great pickup. I prefer it with duncan's baseplate and magnets, though. the invader has bigger magnets and a silver nickel baseplate vs shorter mags and a brass plate. the latter is a warmer, more mushy and less output.

the pearly/Custom hybrid is a bit dirtier, tighter and less honky than using a 59. also a bit sweeter. Both hybrids are great, though.

when you make a hybrid with a PATB pickup, make sure you buy a trembucker pickup! otherwise the PATB won't fit on the plate. and if you wanna go with covers you have to shave off a bit of the patb bobbin, as close as you can to the windings (which are covered with a bit of copper tape, though). but if you've done that, you have a super sweet pickup.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

I did my first hybrid tonight and I want to post my results and opinions.

woo hoo!!

FINALLY! :friday:

Before you become completely in-love with the Jazz/'59, try the '59/Jazz.

You'll be in for a treat! The A4 mag is THE perfect mag for this particular hybrid.

Congrats on popping your cherry and welcome to the A4/A8 Tone Crusader Highest Order Loge!

 

[dvanburen]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

Before you become completely in-love with the Jazz/'59, try the '59/Jazz.

What are some tonal differences? Ive got the other half waiting to be put in, but I just like this so much. Will it have more of the 59 in the mix?

I also failed to mention in my original post that my guitar has coil splits which is why I chose the studs that I did. Anybody differ?

You'll be in for a treat! The A4 mag is THE perfect mag for this particular hybrid.

I could not imagine it sounding any better. And i must mention that distortion on this neck pup is badass. Its thick, not muddy and very defined and open sounding.

Congrats on popping your cherry and welcome to the A4/A8 Tone Crusader Highest Order Loge!

thanks. You were right. This combo just works. I can do amazing clean tones all the way up to heavy metal. never harsh

 

[BachToRock]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

59/Jazz Neck Hybrid... Duncan needs to add it to the lineup ASAP!

 

[orpheo]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

59/Jazz Neck Hybrid... Duncan needs to add it to the lineup ASAP!

I agree. I already recommend that pickup all over the place. but this hybrid with the bridge versions, not the neck versions, that one is too clear and weak to go with the 59/c.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

What are some tonal differences? Ive got the other half waiting to be put in, but I just like this so much. Will it have more of the 59 in the mix?

The string's harmonic reading of both coils is different. It may or may not work in your particular case, but you have the opportunity to try both and decide which is better for your needs/taste. I'd hate to have such an opportunity go to waste. Just saying!

I could not imagine it sounding any better. And i must mention that distortion on this neck pup is badass. Its thick, not muddy and very defined and open sounding.

This is one of those rare opportunities when I don't hate to say "I told you so", LOL! :cool2:

thanks. You were right. This combo just works. I can do amazing clean tones all the way up to heavy metal. never harsh

You're most welcome.

Who loves ya, baby...?

 

[dvanburen]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

Ok, so i just swapped out for the opposite coil pair on both the neck and bridge pups

This time its 59 screw coil/jazz slug in the neck and jb slug coil with custom screw coil in the bridge. I kept the A4 in the neck and A8 in the bridge

I can tell you right off the bat that to my ears, the screw coil definitely has more influence over the sound. In the neck this time around it warmed it up a tad and made it a little darker. Not by much but the low end came forward a bit and the overall 59 sound started to rear its head more. still a wonderful sounding pickup but I think for my taste the other way around was more up my alley.

In the bridge this time, it sounded much more like the custom 8 to me in this configuration. The JB still had some of its influence there but overall it was a bit warmer and a little looser sounding to me. Again, these are not negative descriptions just different from the first go around. That JB snarl was not quite there like the last time. I actually prefer the JB screw coil in this configuration a little more. It just added some bit e and grit to the sound. Also sounded a little tighter overall and a bit more modern.

I'm going to play around with this set a bit more today to see if it grows on me but as of now, I will swap them back the way I had them. Now I'm curious about how my Distortion will sound paired with the custom in the bridge. that one will come next..

I forgot to mention in the first post that these pickups have nickel covers. Does anybody know if this is why the screw coil is more prominent considering the screws are sticking out of the cover? It would make sense but I don't know for sure

 

[orpheo]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

screws stick out more, so they 'sense' more of the magnetic field so that coil gets more 'influence', to put it simply and incompletely.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

59/Jazz Neck Hybrid... Duncan needs to add it to the lineup ASAP!

I agree. In a double screw format. Can you imagine the possibilities?

Simply mind-bogglin'... :eyecrazy:

 

[dvanburen]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

yeah. this neck hybrid is the best ive ever heard. ever. if you want different flavor i would say replace the jazz with PG in the hybrid. that would be really cool.. I think the jazz/59A4 in the les paul is there to stay though.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

I can tell you right off the bat that to my ears, the screw coil definitely has more influence over the sound. In the neck this time around it warmed it up a tad and made it a little darker. Not by much but the low end came forward a bit and the overall 59 sound started to rear its head more.

This description fit my own experiences as a glove.

Now imagine this in the neck of a SG or any 24-fretter... the "neck p'up displacement syndrom" as Zhang would call it, gets reduced...

This is some real-world, hands-on experience of what a hybrid neck p'up can do .

Thank you very much for taking the time and the effort of doing the swap and telling us the outcome. That's the kind of info ALL in this nice Forum can use, posters and lurkers as well.

:yourock:

 

[dvanburen]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

I appreciate that Kojak, :thanks:

I've been helped on this forum enough, I like to think I can contribute at least some myself. Im going to do a swap with the distorion and pair that with the custom in the bridge and do that review next. I have no need to do any swapping for the neck pup anymore...:smokin:

 

[WGTP]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

Good info, thanks. Although the screws can stick up higher, there is more string movement over the coil away from the bridge. Also, you'd expect the JB coil to be louder in either position since it is a louder pickup than the Custom. I guess that shows things don't always turn out like you might think...

 

[dvanburen]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

the jb is loud. I tried the jb8 before just to see what it would do. it was too loud for me. it was just too much. thats a very very hot pickup. It really needs the A5 mag to sound right. too bad its got that honky tone to it. I'm trying out a DD8 now and I will start another thread this weekend after I play around with it. So far the DD8 has none of that honkiness to it but rather more presence in the upper frequencies. Not quite the fullness of the custom wind or jb wind, nor does it have the gain of the jb. but good tone nonetheless. just different. Im doing custom/DD hybrid next to compare to the custom/jb. I'll see if the custom coil adds a bit of fullness to it. It should be nice

 

[dvanburen]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

So after testing these hybrid combos all weekend I actually ended up with the jb/custom combo. jb slug and custom screw coil.

I liked the DD8 but it was not full enough for me. good low end and peircing high end. Not harsh but very present. The distortion wind just reminds me of 80s hair metal. Which is cool but not for me. The only way I like the DD is if its downtuned shredding death metal. I paired the custom with the DD for a hybrid and the custom slug coil filled in a little bit but it was too thin sounding. It was a good sound just not for me

I went back and forth with the jb/custom switching between the custom slug custom screw coil and vice versa with the jb. I really want to like the jb screw coil but it reminds me too much of the jb. The jb is an awesome pickup in many ways but it has a sound to it that I just can't deal with all the time. It is a very very hot and heavy pickup but the midrange is so present that it seems like the low end is not as big. Mind you, that i have the A8 mag in this hybrid....there is no lack in low end, its just the present midrange makes it seem like they should be bigger. The upper mid voicing gets old with me. Really good growl with the pickup and very modern sound( as oppposed to custom or any other PAF type) which I really like. With the A8 mag, the JB just seems so in your face all the time that its hard to make it my "one pickup fits all".

I finally went back with the custom screw coil with JB slug coil and this sound is more familiar with me. It has that signature custom sound which i prefer over the JB sound. The low end just punches you in the gut. Power chords seem to just bloom and sound much more open. All together a more dynamic wind in a pickup. Much warmer than the JB. The beauty of having the JB as the slug coil is that it still adds some of that JB grind and presence but none of the signature midrange explosion. Leads are great and power chords are huge. This hybrid reminds me of the regualr custom without the harshness of the ceramic mag.

I very well could change my mind all together but as of now. the custom screw/JB slug is a real winner. It takes everything that I love with the custom 8 and adds a little something to it. Just a little more grit and grind but not overbearing. The mismatched coils add some flavor to it but it still retains its warmth and overall great tone. It also pairs better with the Jazz screw/59 slug neck pickup.

The DD8 was my least favorite. I like the big ceramic in that one better. The JB8 is waayy too much. The jb screw/custom slug is cool if you prefer the Jb sound. And the custom screw/jb slug is cool if you prefer the Custom sound. A8 mag is soooo badass!! I cant play any other mag in the bridge. And the A4 in the neck makes the neck pickup perfect for what the neck pickup should be.

To those who have been thinking about doing hybrids but are a bit nervous, DO IT!!! Its been so much fun and Ive learned a whole lot about the tones of different pickups and it's getting me closer to finding MY perfect tone.

I hope my posts have helped someone along..

Cheers

 

[darthphineas]

Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

I'm gonna have to kinda sorta maybe go along with dvanburen's assessment of the J/59n hybrid. having tried it and the 59/Jn both in an alder ESP M-II with rosewood board, the J screw and the 59 slug just work a bit better for me. I prefer both options with the polished A4 to boot - excellent mag for a neck pup like this (or a plain 59 or a plain Jazz, for that matter).

typically speaking, since I play a lot of high-gain stuff, I can't tell too much of a difference when using either version of this neck hybrid in series. it's when I split the coils and am playing a clean amp tone that the difference comes in to play for me. even more so when I switch it to the middle position and play it against a split 59/C in the bridge. you'd think the C/59 bridge would work better like that, with a 59 neck slug going along with a 59 bridge slug... but to my ears, the C slug of the regular bridge hybrid works better with the 59 neck slug in that config. I'm figuring probably the same reason the C coil and the 59 coil go together so well in the bridge hybrid to begin with.

dvanburen's comments about the JB/C bridge hybrid have me looking to go back to try that one again... it sounds like I should lay my ears on the version with the JB screws.

in the meantime, I think I've messed with enough of the bridge and neck hybrids to have found what works for me and I may start finally thinning the herd on the other variations. lol!