Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I was missing the old CS JB I had before, so I decided to treat myself with another to start the year off.
Man, what a killer killer pickup. I don't know what they sprinkle at the CS, but it's definitely got the mojo. I just finished installing it, played for a while, and I'm loving it. It replaced a regular production JB from 2025 on my Les Paul Tribute, and it sounds like an idealized JB in many ways. The higher end seems smoothed out a tad, and the attack is less ratty. The lower mids seem less stuffy, so the focus of the bottom-end feels different. It's bolder, and while there is definitely not more low-end, it feels thumpier, probably because of what's going on up top too. Don't get me wrong, though. It still sounds like a JB, aggressive upper mid emphasis, squishy feel, and all.
I did notice a few things, though. I'll try to post pics later, but first, the insulation on the wire seems like a different color. The production JB is kinda dirty copper-y, while the CS JB seems red-er. I haven't had a Black Winter in a while, but it reminds me of that. Maybe not as bright red, but more leaning towards that. I also noticed they used differenet screws for the adjustable poles. The production JB has little vertical triangular indents towards the bottom of the screws. The CS JB does not. The other stuff, I already knew about. This is supposed to be based on the Ant JB, so the bobbins are butyrate, and they seem a tad hazy compared to the very glossy black bobbins on the production JB. The magnet is roughcast, and although it is supposedly aged, I don't think the outuput dropped at all compared to the production JB on my DI's. The baseplate has no engraving, and it has long legs.
I just wanted to share because I feel so excited. I'm not getting rid of this pickup anytime. It's by far my favorite-sounding pickup ever.
Man, what a killer killer pickup. I don't know what they sprinkle at the CS, but it's definitely got the mojo. I just finished installing it, played for a while, and I'm loving it. It replaced a regular production JB from 2025 on my Les Paul Tribute, and it sounds like an idealized JB in many ways. The higher end seems smoothed out a tad, and the attack is less ratty. The lower mids seem less stuffy, so the focus of the bottom-end feels different. It's bolder, and while there is definitely not more low-end, it feels thumpier, probably because of what's going on up top too. Don't get me wrong, though. It still sounds like a JB, aggressive upper mid emphasis, squishy feel, and all.
I did notice a few things, though. I'll try to post pics later, but first, the insulation on the wire seems like a different color. The production JB is kinda dirty copper-y, while the CS JB seems red-er. I haven't had a Black Winter in a while, but it reminds me of that. Maybe not as bright red, but more leaning towards that. I also noticed they used differenet screws for the adjustable poles. The production JB has little vertical triangular indents towards the bottom of the screws. The CS JB does not. The other stuff, I already knew about. This is supposed to be based on the Ant JB, so the bobbins are butyrate, and they seem a tad hazy compared to the very glossy black bobbins on the production JB. The magnet is roughcast, and although it is supposedly aged, I don't think the outuput dropped at all compared to the production JB on my DI's. The baseplate has no engraving, and it has long legs.
I just wanted to share because I feel so excited. I'm not getting rid of this pickup anytime. It's by far my favorite-sounding pickup ever.
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