How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

davedvdy

davedvdy

New member
Hi guys, I was just wondering how close a JB jr. or Lil 59 comes to the sound of the same full-size humbuckers? is there a significant difference? I'm thinking about putting one of these in my new Strat, thanks!
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Anyone have any idea? :(
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

I wish I could help you.
I have experience with the LIL buckers but none with SD's full sized bridge buckers.
FWIW, I like the LIL 59 in my tele, but don't really care for the LIL JB in my strat.
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

I had the Lil 59' in a strat, and a JB Jr. I was happy for a while, but I ultimately couldn't get the thick, creamy tones I wanted from them. They always seemed a little thin to me.

They are obviously a compromise, and I am fully aware that it was probably my perceived expectations and not the performance of the actual pickups that was to blame. I think they do a reasonalbe job of emulating a fullsize bucker, while not having to alter your guitar. In that sense, they do a great job.
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

I have JB jr's and I like them. I really like the neck/middle although I feel the bridge could use a bit more output and fattening up. Compared to the full sized jb it lacks mids and bass. I may replace the JB jr's in the bridge position with a Dimarzio Super Distortion S if they sound any good.
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Jeff_H said:
They are obviously a compromise, and I am fully aware that it was probably my perceived expectations and not the performance of the actual pickups that was to blame. I think they do a reasonalbe job of emulating a fullsize bucker, while not having to alter your guitar. In that sense, they do a great job.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I have a Little '59 and to me, out of the Little/Junior buckers, it's the closest of them when it comes to sounding like the full-size version.
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Had both a Little 59er and JB Jnr in my Strat - ultimately didn't like either. Nothing like a full sized humbucker!!! Went back to a traditional single coil.
Sound was thin and one dimensional.


Having said that, really like the sound (series and parallel) of my Little 59er in my Tele. Go figure!!! Sounds much closer to a humbucker, just not quite as full. Output feels approx. 3/4's.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Bman
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

What's this thin thing you're talking about? Sorry, I just don't hear the Little '59 as being thin. What kind of amps/settings are being used?
 
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Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Thank you to all for your responses :)
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

The Fast Track 2 from DiMarzio is amazingly thick and sounds a lot like a Super Distortion. At least to my ears. The Lil Screamin' Demon I feel sounds better than it's full Size counterpart and I LOVE the Hotrails.
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

The JB jr and lil 59 sound pretty close to their full sized buckers. To my ear they sound a little off although some of that may be due to the positions I was listening to them--JB trembucker bridge vs JB jr neck in the middle; 59 bridge, and years later, lil 59 neck in the neck, and later still in the middle (which had some funny stuff going on in the highs).

Jeff_H said:
I think they do a reasonalbe job of emulating a fullsize bucker, while not having to alter your guitar. In that sense, they do a great job.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Jeff_H said:
I had the Lil 59' in a strat, and a JB Jr. I was happy for a while, but I ultimately couldn't get the thick, creamy tones I wanted from them. They always seemed a little thin to me.

They are obviously a compromise, and I am fully aware that it was probably my perceived expectations and not the performance of the actual pickups that was to blame. I think they do a reasonalbe job of emulating a fullsize bucker, while not having to alter your guitar. In that sense, they do a great job.
Click to expand...
`

+1000

They´re great in that there´s no routing necessary and they´re very usable, particularly the JBJr is a favorite of mine. Like a Cross between a JB and a Custom, but with a bit of single coil "snap" mixed in....

But if you want full blown, nitro-guzzling top fuel Humbucker tone, you need a fullsize bucker ;)
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Jeff_H said:
I had the Lil 59' in a strat, and a JB Jr. I was happy for a while, but I ultimately couldn't get the thick, creamy tones I wanted from them. They always seemed a little thin to me.

They are obviously a compromise, and I am fully aware that it was probably my perceived expectations and not the performance of the actual pickups that was to blame. I think they do a reasonalbe job of emulating a fullsize bucker, while not having to alter your guitar. In that sense, they do a great job.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

I think you guys have all convinced me to keep a single coil in the bridge, lol.

Pinto, I'm glad you mentioned the Hot Rails and the Fast Track 2, I will look into those.
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Part of the problem with the mini-buckers might be that they have such a narrow magnetic field so it doesn't really sound the same as a full sized bucker.
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

davedvdy said:
I think you guys have all convinced me to keep a single coil in the bridge, lol.
Click to expand...

I think that's a good call, the Lil's have their place, and are very usable in some circumstances, I think the singles in the bridge is the way to go.
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Zerberus said:
....particularly the JBJr is a favorite of mine. Like a Cross between a JB and a Custom, but with a bit of single coil "snap" mixed in....
Click to expand...
Wow... PM Evan for your commission on the potential sale :)
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

Would you guys say that they sound more like a hot-rodded single coil than their full-sized equivilant?
 
Re: How close do Little/Junior Humbuckers come to the sound of a full size humbucker?

stevie_bees said:
Would you guys say that they sound more like a hot-rodded single coil than their full-sized equivilant?
Click to expand...

I would like to know the same thing, very good question.

idsnowdog said:
Part of the problem with the mini-buckers might be that they have such a narrow magnetic field so it doesn't really sound the same as a full sized bucker.
Click to expand...

I think you hit it dead on. That seems to make the most logical sense.
 
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