I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

[SheDoesntDoIt4Me]

My Epi custom came with some 59s, I scored a JB the other day and decided to try it. Very nice, All the talk I heard about "midrangey" I thought Id hate it, buts its great and its staying for now. Totally different guitar now. Very responsive/

 

[mongrollo]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

Glad you like it!

I didn't. I got so rid of its spike in the upermids.

 

[Neeradj]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

I never understood that description either, it's probably my favorite pick up right now. One of the most versatile pick ups I've come across

 

[mongrollo]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

I never understood that description either, it's probably my favorite pick up right now. One of the most versatile pick ups I've come across

For me the JB it is a pickup that is designed to be played pride and loud. It doesn't have bottom end, almost no "warm" mids and no high end. What is left? The upper mids! This eq make the JB a great pickup to be played loud and distorted because it makes the picking very detailed under high gain. But if you play it clear or semidistorted it lacks character and it is a bit plain for my tastes.

I personaly prefer low/medium output PAF type of pickups.

 

[Artie]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

I'm using mine in a basswood Tele clone. It has become my favorite HB. Used in conjunction with a jangly single . . . its heaven.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

I'm using mine in a basswood Tele clone. It has become my favorite HB. Used in conjunction with a jangly single . . . its heaven.

That's the only way I like the JB, in light, alder, Fender style instruments. I had it in my LP and didn't care for it at all.

 

[big_black]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

For me the JB it is a pickup that is designed to be played pride and loud. It doesn't have bottom end, almost no "warm" mids and no high end. What is left? The upper mids! This eq make the JB a great pickup to be played loud and distorted because it makes the picking very detailed under high gain. But if you play it clear or semidistorted it lacks character and it is a bit plain for my tastes.

I personaly prefer low/medium output PAF type of pickups.

I look at it as more of a "flat base" to build a good tone off of. It doesn't really add any character of it's own, I think it kind of forces you to give it some. I'm with you, I really like a good PAF twang for cleans! The JB is killer under gain.

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

i didn't either

everyone said how bright it was, and to me it's not bright at all!! it cuts through perfectly with a badass low end

it's perfect in my charvel!

 

[Artie]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

I look at it as more of a "flat base" to build a good tone off of. It doesn't really add any character of it's own . . .

This is one of those interesting situations that really brings home the idea that it all depends on what you play it through, and what you hear.

I'm playing mine through a "modeller", (using a "clean" preset), into a mixing board, and then into a a "hi-fi" sound system. (Proton preamp>Crown amp>Yamaha studio monitors) This system reproduces every little nuance and harmonic of the pup. I hear it as the most pronounced, and individual pickup of any I have. It has the most character, most personality, and most distinctive sound of any SD I have. (With a '59n, close behind.)

Its just one of those things. :wink:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

The thing about the JB is that it sounds best with gain and with a guitar that doesn't have a midrangey character to start with. The reason it sounds good in a band mix is because it's pronounced frequency happens to be the same frequency you bump up on a mixing board, to make the guitar track 'pop' outta the mix better.
I like the JB a lot in some guitars, but I find I like the C-5 and CC better, because they sound more balanced from low to high and sound less harsh on clean tones.

 

[theodie]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

Glad you like it!

I didn't. I got so rid of its spike in the upermids.

me too!!! I have thought about getting one again and trying and A2 magnet in it or just trying it with a 250K pot. I hate the standard JB with a 500K pot.

 

[Bluzboy66]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

My Epi custom came with some 59s, I scored a JB the other day and decided to try it. Very nice, All the talk I heard about "midrangey" I thought Id hate it, buts its great and its staying for now. Totally different guitar now. Very responsive/

I love the JB. It's all in what you're trying to do with it, and your playing style. It's a great all-around pickup.

Mike

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

The thing about the JB is that it sounds best with gain and with a guitar that doesn't have a midrangey character to start with.

Jonesie, would you consider a Les Paul "midrangey?" I just put one in mine, and at first I liked it for high-gain, but then I plugged my USA Jackson (w/JB) in, and I thought it had a nicer high-gain sound (fuller and a little more compressed). So, after careful listening, I guess I do hear that sort of piercing mid-range with my JB/LP combo. I'm going to try to tame it with a 250k pot. But, I do like the clean sound, and the JB/Jazz combo sounds great clean IMO. I did try a C5 for awhile, and I thought it was too scooped. However, I know you swear by 'em. Perhaps I didn't tweak around with the C5 long enough. Did it take you some time to dial in your C5 in your LP?

 

[jeremy]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

i would say that a paul is plenty midrangey

 

[hacker]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

The JBs bad rap is totally undeserved. The pickup was designed before ultra-high gain amps were being used, so you may get some spikiness and harshness when playing through a triple-rec, but through a nice fender or older Marshall tube amp, the JB just sings. I have it in 2 guitars right now, and im not thinking about a change anytime soon. It loves my tubescreamer pedals and fender amps.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

Jonesie, would you consider a Les Paul "midrangey?" I just put one in mine, and at first I liked it for high-gain, but then I plugged my USA Jackson (w/JB) in, and I thought it had a nicer high-gain sound (fuller and a little more compressed). So, after careful listening, I guess I do hear that sort of piercing mid-range with my JB/LP combo. I'm going to try to tame it with a 250k pot. But, I do like the clean sound, and the JB/Jazz combo sounds great clean IMO. I did try a C5 for awhile, and I thought it was too scooped. However, I know you swear by 'em. Perhaps I didn't tweak around with the C5 long enough. Did it take you some time to dial in your C5 in your LP?

Anything with mahogany would be considered a midrangey guitar. The Custom 5 doesn't have a strong midrange, so it's best with mahogany and mid heavy amp tones. I think you should exchange the JB for a CC. The CC's really hard NOT to like in a Paul. I used to be a C-5 diehard, but lately, I'm enjoying my LP Std Prem + with the CC/Seth. Lew also loves that combo in his Hamer Monacco.

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: I never thought Id like the JB.....I was wrong.

Anything with mahogany would be considered a midrangey guitar. The Custom 5 doesn't have a strong midrange, so it's best with mahogany and mid heavy amp tones. I think you should exchange the JB for a CC. The CC's really hard NOT to like in a Paul. I used to be a C-5 diehard, but lately, I'm enjoying my LP Std Prem + with the CC/Seth. Lew also loves that combo in his Hamer Monacco.

Thanks GJ, I'll mull that one over.