Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

A

andrewdisciple

New member
hey guys. first post here.

i've grown sick of my EMG 81/85 (surprise, surprise). i miss having tone. i've read great reviews about the Hot Rodded Humbucker set and the JB/59 combination (it seems to be the go-to combination for a lot of people.) i was hoping you veteran SD users could lead me in the right direction. i'm planning on putting the pickups in my '95 Fender 50's Reissue Telecaster, and possibly in my '03 Les Paul Studio. the Tele is tuned to Drop C and the LP is tuned down to Drop A. i run the guitars through a Mesa Dual Rectifier and an 85 Marshall JCM 800 2203 stereo into two Mesa 4X12 Rectifier cabs with Vintage 30s. you can also check out my band at www.myspace.com/disciplerocks for an example of our music if that helps. the recording was done with a Les Paul Custom with EMG 81/85 through a Splawn Quickrod Pro and a Soldano cab (not sure of the speakers).

open to suggestions other than the hot rodded humbuckers and jb/59. not interested in the blackouts so much.

thanks for your help.
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

LP - Custom / 59
Tele - JB/Jazz

Although you may want to check out the Dave Mustaine Livewires. Those are supposed to be an active JB/Jazz set.
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

Duncan Distortion + les paul = Awesome

I have that in my LPC silverburst and its great, I like it better than the JB. its thicker and more fuller with lots of bite.
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

For the les paul I'd use the custom 5/59 combo over the jb/59 combo. Get them nickel covered also. I've never used the regular custom but perhaps this is a better option for the styles of music you're used to with it having a ceramic magnetnet in.
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

andrewdisciple said:
hey guys. first post here.

i've grown sick of my EMG 81/85 (surprise, surprise). i miss having tone. i've read great reviews about the Hot Rodded Humbucker set and the JB/59 combination (it seems to be the go-to combination for a lot of people.) i was hoping you veteran SD users could lead me in the right direction.

i'm planning on putting the pickups in my '95 Fender 50's Reissue Telecaster, and possibly in my '03 Les Paul Studio.
the Tele is tuned to Drop C and the LP is tuned down to Drop A.
i run the guitars through a Mesa Dual Rectifier and an 85 Marshall JCM 800 2203 stereo into two Mesa 4X12 Rectifier cabs with Vintage 30s.
you can also check out my band at www.myspace.com/disciplerocks for an example of our music if that helps. the recording was done with a Les Paul Custom with EMG 81/85 through a Splawn Quickrod Pro and a Soldano cab (not sure of the speakers).

open to suggestions other than the hot rodded humbuckers and jb/59. not interested in the blackouts so much.

thanks for your help.
Click to expand...


I would say :

Les Paul - Alternative8 / Pearly Gate [N] (...or even a P-Rail in the neck)

Tele - Lil '59 / Hot Rhythm [N]


;)
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

Drop A?!?!?!

Dear god man...that's frightening, you need a VERY tight, articulate pickup for something that low. A Custom or a Distortion maybe, a JB will be a nightmare. Full Shred might work.
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

Considering that the Paul was wired for EMGs in the first place you might want to check out the Duncan Blackouts. They definitely have a way more organic and lively tone than any EMG and will perfectly handle the low notes
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

oilpit said:
Drop A?!?!?!

Dear god man...that's frightening, you need a VERY tight, articulate pickup for something that low. A Custom or a Distortion maybe, a JB will be a nightmare. Full Shred might work.
Click to expand...

+1

A lot of pups which sound great in standard tuning will turn to mud in drop A
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

andrewdisciple said:
hey guys. first post here.

i've grown sick of my EMG 81/85 (surprise, surprise). i miss having tone. i've read great reviews about the Hot Rodded Humbucker set and the JB/59 combination (it seems to be the go-to combination for a lot of people.) i was hoping you veteran SD users could lead me in the right direction. i'm planning on putting the pickups in my '95 Fender 50's Reissue Telecaster, and possibly in my '03 Les Paul Studio. the Tele is tuned to Drop C and the LP is tuned down to Drop A. i run the guitars through a Mesa Dual Rectifier and an 85 Marshall JCM 800 2203 stereo into two Mesa 4X12 Rectifier cabs with Vintage 30s. you can also check out my band at www.myspace.com/disciplerocks for an example of our music if that helps. the recording was done with a Les Paul Custom with EMG 81/85 through a Splawn Quickrod Pro and a Soldano cab (not sure of the speakers).

open to suggestions other than the hot rodded humbuckers and jb/59. not interested in the blackouts so much.

thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

I would personally think you would be better off using the Alternative 8 with a 59 for better cleans or even a full shred or distortion neck for hot neck solos. The battle with low tunings is to really hone in on the low frequencies and tidy them up.

What body/neck/fretboard wood is on both guitars?
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

I would go with the Custom and a neck pick up of your choice for the LP. For the Fender, the JB and a neck pup or your choice. 59/PGn/AII Pro in the neck have all worked for me. I like the Jazz, but like a thicker, smoother, bluesier pick up for the neck so it doesn't work for me there. But that's just personal preference.

I agree that the Custom is very tight and probably will handle drop tunings better than the JB (not totally loose but not nearly as tight as the cutom), but I've never played a JB in drop tunings so I don't know. If it's too loose you can always go with a Custom or FS in that guitar too.

Just keep in mind the power drop off your going to see from these pick ups vs. an active set. (maybe not as much from the Distortion) They will not push your amp as hard and if you want the same level of drive/distortion you'll have to increase it on your amp or use a pedal. (OD, distortion, boost, etc.) I know it's a lot of work to wire up a guitar for actives, and to wire it back is equally as much work. Make sure you like passives before you do this, maybe by testing out someone elses guitar or some such. It would just suck if you did all the work to put passives back into your guitars then discover you really don't like them. Good luck!
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

Considering you'll be using drop A, whatever that is(!) I'd suggest an Invader. Nile use them, and it works for them. They tune to A.

My personal favourite combo of those you stated would be the JB/59, but tuning way low down would probably turn to mush with those two (I'm not certain, I've never tried it, but I can't see it being ideal).
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

Loserchief said:
Considering that the Paul was wired for EMGs in the first place you might want to check out the Duncan Blackouts. They definitely have a way more organic and lively tone than any EMG and will perfectly handle the low notes
Click to expand...

This. Or the Mustaine Livewires. It *might* be plug and play.

However, I have dual Duncan Distortion pups in my LP and it is a dark scary monster. The bridge is close the the strings for maximum impact. The neck pup is quite far from the strings and lends itself to really warm, round, clean jazz sounds. Killer combo, imho.

I have the JB/Jzz set in a couple flying V guitars - both are in E standard though. Sound great!
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

SirJackdeFuzz said:
Lace Drop N Gain humbuckers for the LP perhaps ?


. . . yet another option to think about !
Click to expand...

was just gonna suggest that. If you were looking for a pickup to tune down with, this one was made for the sole purpose of tuning down and sounding good. Also Lace makes some damn good stuff.
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

I've had a Custom5 in a mahogany/mahogany guitar tuned to C# and got tight lows (playing vintage Sabbath) using 9s. I imagine you're using way thicker strings for A/Drop A?

I will say I like the 7-string Invader for the low B, though the guitar its in isn't exactly the greatest (Jackson DX7 with a cheap TOM). The 6-string Invader wasn't too bad tuned to C#.
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

I have a Jackson JDR-94 tuned to C#, that's the lowest I go. It has a Bill Lawrence USA 500XL in it and it's awesome. I love it.
 
Re: Hot Rodded HB Set or JB/59???

kgarvey@hotmail said:
For the les paul I'd use the custom 5/59 combo over the jb/59 combo. Get them nickel covered also.
Click to expand...

+1. C5/'59N is great in mahogany, whereas the JB often isn't. BTW, the JazzN in the 'hot rdded' set is a questionable fit, and it's widely considered to be weak & bland. It doesn't belong in a 'hot rodded' set. A '59N is much better. More cut, more character, more life.
 
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