So I bought a carvin v220 which came with a JB/59 combo. I tried them and A/B them to my crunchlab/liquifire and my Dactivator/air norton. I found them both very bland compared to the dimarzios. Yes I know they are ceramic and higher output so maybe its not a fair comparison for bridge pickups. I tend to like ceramics in the bridge I suppose. The 59 seemed very generic and lacked the fluid feel of the other neck pups and the cleans were not as sweet. I expected more from such popular pickups that many of my guitar heros play. I guess everyones ear and feel is very different, people do make those pups sound great. I think ill try a l500xl and paf pro in the v220 but the crunch lab is hard to beat. Ill try black winters sometime as I hear great things.
I tried a JB/59 not my thing
- Thread starter redhabu
- Start date
Archer250
New member
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
Obviously it depends on the person. No gear can please everybody. If you're hooked on really fluid pickups like the Air Norton, then the 59 will fall short of your expectations. It *is* a PAF-type pickup, and is designed to be so.
The advice I think you definitely need here is: work towards a sound you want. It's pointless sinking money into a Bill Lawrence or a Black Winter set if that turns out not your thing. Don't spend money on anything just because you heard "great things". The Seth Lover and Antiquities have very great reputations. You wouldn't want one.
Of course, members of the forum will be glad to help you on your tone-chasing quest. So tell us the music you're playing, the gear you have, and the sound you're looking for.
Obviously it depends on the person. No gear can please everybody. If you're hooked on really fluid pickups like the Air Norton, then the 59 will fall short of your expectations. It *is* a PAF-type pickup, and is designed to be so.
The advice I think you definitely need here is: work towards a sound you want. It's pointless sinking money into a Bill Lawrence or a Black Winter set if that turns out not your thing. Don't spend money on anything just because you heard "great things". The Seth Lover and Antiquities have very great reputations. You wouldn't want one.
Of course, members of the forum will be glad to help you on your tone-chasing quest. So tell us the music you're playing, the gear you have, and the sound you're looking for.
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
Mine is the same except it alder body. It is string thru as well. It does not seem overly bright as the duncans were definitely not too bright in it.
Mine is the same except it alder body. It is string thru as well. It does not seem overly bright as the duncans were definitely not too bright in it.
Gibson 1964
New member
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
I had one with pots that were way out of spec.
Made it very dark until replaced. Id check that to make sure a pot wasnt muffling what you were hearing.
I had one with pots that were way out of spec.
Made it very dark until replaced. Id check that to make sure a pot wasnt muffling what you were hearing.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
That rock maple body had a Khaler tremelo and it was very bright. I liked the stock Carvins as I recall. If you don't like the stock JB/59 set, I would try the Black Winters. I've heard nothing but good about them.
Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
That rock maple body had a Khaler tremelo and it was very bright. I liked the stock Carvins as I recall. If you don't like the stock JB/59 set, I would try the Black Winters. I've heard nothing but good about them.
Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
DreX
New member
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
I'm surprised they put the JB/59' combo in that guitar. It looks like the sort of guitar that you would buy expecting a louder, modern tone from to begin with. I think they put that combo into guitars without enough concern for whether it's a complimentary match. I got a JB/'59 set in a FMT Tele and it was obviously not a good EQ match between the guitar and the pickups, it did a lot better with more balanced pickups. Some pickups sound good in any guitar, and some guitars sound good with almost any pickup, but I don't think either is the case here.
I'm surprised they put the JB/59' combo in that guitar. It looks like the sort of guitar that you would buy expecting a louder, modern tone from to begin with. I think they put that combo into guitars without enough concern for whether it's a complimentary match. I got a JB/'59 set in a FMT Tele and it was obviously not a good EQ match between the guitar and the pickups, it did a lot better with more balanced pickups. Some pickups sound good in any guitar, and some guitars sound good with almost any pickup, but I don't think either is the case here.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
Jackson changed the RR model from Distortion/Jazz to JB/Jazz (or was it JB/59?) some years ago for no apparent reason. Rhoads used a DiMarzio SuperD, so why they'd change the stock Duncan to an Alnico-based model is beyond me. I think it's their default bridge pickup in everything these days unless it comes with EMGs, or is a living-artist's model (Morton Pro, PC-1, etc). I think the WR-1 is the only one that doesn't (Invader/Full Shred).
I've also noticed that many other guitar companies have been including the JB as the default bridge pickup for a wide variety of body styles, with no reasonable explanation as to why.
Jackson changed the RR model from Distortion/Jazz to JB/Jazz (or was it JB/59?) some years ago for no apparent reason. Rhoads used a DiMarzio SuperD, so why they'd change the stock Duncan to an Alnico-based model is beyond me. I think it's their default bridge pickup in everything these days unless it comes with EMGs, or is a living-artist's model (Morton Pro, PC-1, etc). I think the WR-1 is the only one that doesn't (Invader/Full Shred).
I've also noticed that many other guitar companies have been including the JB as the default bridge pickup for a wide variety of body styles, with no reasonable explanation as to why.
Archer250
New member
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
I thought he used the Super D in the Sandoval and the DD in the Concorde?
I thought he used the Super D in the Sandoval and the DD in the Concorde?
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
Rhoades used a super D in the sandoval V. In the concorde and black RR he had Jazz/Distortions. But the RR1 has never stayed consistent with pickups throughout its production run. My 88 RR1 came from the factory with J50M/N combo. Before that they came with basically anything you wanted but standard was the in house jackson picups. Later the one i bought brand new in 94 had a L500XL/L500 combo in it. I remember a friend of mine in about 97 got one that had the SH2/TB4 combo in it.
Jackson has for the last 20 years or so used what they can buy in large volumes at OEM discounts.
Rhoades used a super D in the sandoval V. In the concorde and black RR he had Jazz/Distortions. But the RR1 has never stayed consistent with pickups throughout its production run. My 88 RR1 came from the factory with J50M/N combo. Before that they came with basically anything you wanted but standard was the in house jackson picups. Later the one i bought brand new in 94 had a L500XL/L500 combo in it. I remember a friend of mine in about 97 got one that had the SH2/TB4 combo in it.
Jackson has for the last 20 years or so used what they can buy in large volumes at OEM discounts.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
My bad. I keep forgetting about the Concorde. Of all the things to forget :lol:
My bad. I keep forgetting about the Concorde. Of all the things to forget :lol:
jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
If you're into mag swaps, you could try a ceramic in the JB and an A2 in the 59?
If you're into mag swaps, you could try a ceramic in the JB and an A2 in the 59?
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: I tried a JB/59 not my thing
Funny! I have a bright, snappy guitar with a thick maple top and a maple neck. It came with the Crunch Lab in the bridge, and a PAF 36th Anniversary in the neck when I bought it used. It went through a few pickups, and now I have a JB and a 59 in it. I don't like the 59 either, and generic is exactly the way I'd describe it too, but neither did I like the PAF 36th at all either.
The JB, though... woah. I love it! I must admit, I do prefer grindy bitey high-mid focused pickups, and the Crunch Lab does not fit that description at all. Don't get me wrong, the Crunch Lab was clear, tight, and fat, but it's just not my kind of pickup at all. I prefer moderately high output pickups like the JB, so... each to his own.
Funny! I have a bright, snappy guitar with a thick maple top and a maple neck. It came with the Crunch Lab in the bridge, and a PAF 36th Anniversary in the neck when I bought it used. It went through a few pickups, and now I have a JB and a 59 in it. I don't like the 59 either, and generic is exactly the way I'd describe it too, but neither did I like the PAF 36th at all either.
The JB, though... woah. I love it! I must admit, I do prefer grindy bitey high-mid focused pickups, and the Crunch Lab does not fit that description at all. Don't get me wrong, the Crunch Lab was clear, tight, and fat, but it's just not my kind of pickup at all. I prefer moderately high output pickups like the JB, so... each to his own.
