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

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

Here's another mag swap update on these hybrid pairs. Started with the A5 in the jazz/59neck pup. dont like it as much as the A4. The only thing the A5 has going for it is the bottom end is much more defined. It's a little looser in the A4. The problem is that the bass can just be so overwelming that I find myself turning the eq on the amp way back on the bass and cranking the mids up. Also the low end just seems to get in the way of everything else and make the notes on the other strings less defined. I also lowered the pickup and raised the screws a bit. That did help some and It started to sound really nice. More modern sounding to me. I really missed the glassy, warm vintage sound of the A4. I like it much better. Im gonna keep the a5 for now just to play with it but will probably go back to the A4

On the bridge I put the custom ceramic mag in it and WOW! This thing is massive. I grew up playing the regular custom. It was my first duncan pickup. I love that thing and I played it for years. I have moved on to try other stuff and the one complaint I had with the custom is the lack of note definition when there was alot going on. . The jb slug coil in this hybrid really fills it in and makes it totally angry sounding. It just grew a huge pair of nuts and came out swinging. Its got everything I loved about the regular custom with Huge barre chords and massive low end punch with a cutting treble response. Low end you can feel and almost hear it breathing. High end is still there and really cuts. The ceramic added some power and percieved volume to it. the JB coil adds some nice cutting lead tone to it. The custom has a throaty growl while the Jb has an angry bark when doing palm mute stuff. This hybrid has both of those qualities. Its the most angry pissed off pickup ive ever heard but its got lots of character and its not over the top like the JB8 is. I really thought that one was just too much JB for me.
I really like the A8 mag but I think I'm digging this ceramic in there a little more. The A8 just doesnt sound as big. It sounds really nice but this sounds massive. Anybody really into rock and metal should check this one out. I like it better than the regular custom
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

after making a JB/C hybrid, I'm going to pull the A5 and follow your lead on a ceramic. then I'll go back over your descriptions of the C/JB and see if I need to make a pass at that one as long as I have the parts ready to go.
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

Yeah, Ive been playing the ceramic in it for 2 days now. I really like it. To me it does not have the harshness up top typical of the ceramics. Its still there but not harsh like one would think. The ceramic actually makes it a tad darker than the A8. More output and huge low end with punchy low mids. I love this pickup. its my new favorite bridge pup. very versatile and turning the volume knob down really tames it and makes a very usable less aggressive tone that is still forward and not thin or lifeless.

Played around with the A5 in the neck hybrid and it just did not do it for me. made it darker and more sterile. Tinny kind of top end sound. put the A4 back in and BAM! that sound that I missed was back. It really is the perfect neck pickup. For me at least.

I still think the A8 mag in the bridge matches better with the A4 in the neck if you play the pickups together or swich back and forth. But I think the ceramic works find and cleans are not that bad in the bridge if thats your thing. For me, Ive got a neck pup that handles all the clean tones and a bridge that can totally destroy if I need it to. Perfect
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

Some really great reviews in this thread. I'm sure we all appreciate the work and dilligence in the persuit of tone that dvanburen has provided for us.

Kudos to all of you who have experimented with hybrids and posted your results. We have all been benefitted.
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

There were others before me doing this stuff with great success. But if I can help someone make an educated decision based on real world reviews then I can feel good about it.
thanks for the props. Hopefully some more can chime in with their experiences with these particular hybrids
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

I've only been doing hybrids for about 6 months or so. It was the work done by BachToRock on the original (about 5 or 6 years ago) work with the C/59 that got me interested.

Several others more recently got me excited to finally start doing it myself.

Reviews by yourself, LtKojak, and others will likely get others interested in trying it also (hopefully even I have had an affect on some).
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

I'd like to add that I seriously think that DD are JB are not very similar as we''ve been led to believe, similar yes, but not whole lot. That JB honk, DD with A5 just doesn't have that.

DD for instance, has tight bottom end, kinda scooped sounding that in the sense that it has more bass and treble compared to JB, where JB has honky mids. Another similar example would be 59 vs PG. DD sounds great for rhythm, and JB sounds great for leads. I've tried the DD with A5 and with a Custom hybrid, and the DD-ness comes through. DD with A5 does not sound much like JB, the lead voice sounds completely different to my ears, smoother.

If anybody needs a smoother/tighter sounding JB (similar tone), I'd recommend DD with A5. The JB8 can be over the top with mids, and JB2 is not tight at all.
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

lazyfinger said:
I'd like to add that I seriously think that DD are JB are not very similar as we''ve been led to believe, similar yes, but not whole lot. That JB honk, DD with A5 just doesn't have that.
Click to expand...

+1

that silly rumor has been ran over more times than an armadillo on a west TX highway and it still won't die.
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

lazyfinger,

You are right. DD and Jb are NOT the same thing. I don't care what anybody says. They sound nothing alike. You can tell this if you put the A5 in them or if you make hybrids out them. Completely different pickups. The DD sounds thinner and more present in the upper frequency range. DD is a little smoother in the leads but not as full or aggressive. I've paired both with several mags including A5, A8 and ceramic.
I think thats what makes the DD so good with the big ceramic. It's wind is more compatible with the big ceramic mag to make it nice. That's what that pickup was built for. The Distortion is a great pup but to me, but only works with the fat ceramic, and in my opinion, works best with downtuned metal. Thats where it shines. (unless you play 80s metal) woo hoo!!
The JB wind on the other hand is hotter, louder and more in your face. It will not sound the same with the big ceramic magnet. This is more apparent when you start switching mags with it. It is my personal belief that the DD is wound perfectly with the huge ceramic mag where the JB is not. Put the big ceramic in the JB and it's just too much. Same if you compare with A5. NOT the same pickup at all. They are different voicing. They may use the same gauge wire but thats it.

JB does have honky mids. it's funny, There are sounds that I love about the JB but only if I make a hybrid out of it. The JB/custom is a magical pair. I' ve made the custom/DD hybrid and did not like it near as much. The DD8 is too thin for me. I liked the Custom8. The DD5 is not the same as the JB at all. May work for some but not for me.

When you put the custom and JB together it's pure magic. Great lead tone and cutting bite of the JB with the signature custom low end punch and warmth. I did not get this from the Custom/DD. This is my opinion and it comes from lots of hours of testing.

For the record I love the stock Custom, DD and JB in that order
 
Last edited:
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

DD regular and DD5 does has ridiculous amount of clarity. Approaching active pickup territory, and can be somewhat cold or sterile. JB sounds warmer by comparison, less clarity but sings more, DD screams more. If I was playing metal 90% of the time, DD is hard to beat. I seriously think it's impossible to make DD sound muddy.
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

I agree with you totally. The Jb does have some active qualities but the low end does not compare. It (JB) is a really great pickup. compressed and hot. really easy to shred with that pickup. thats why I like it. But there are some things I dont (personally) like about it which is why I decided to do hybrids with it. It does have a mid range "honkiness" to it. Iv'e always said that once you hear that, you can't Un-hear it..

I dont find it cold or sterile but just hot and compressed. Really hot for a passive wind pickup. Not a lot of dynamic range. Biting highs, present mids and just "normal" lows. No frequency range really stands out more than the other. One could argue that the highs stand out more maybe.
 
Re: First time hybrid results: Jazz/59 and Custom/JB

^ I was referring to DD being a slight sterile, cold quality to it, with clarity like some active pups. JB is far from being cold or active like, it's a lot warmer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top