I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

Asgaroth

Asgaroth

New member
hi Everyone

I've installed the combination of SH2neck SH4bridge

I LOVE the SH2, but not 100% happy with the SH4 JB it's a kind of muddy to my ears. Would like something more leaning towards Dimarzio Evolution. I have evolution in the bridge in my Ibanez rg2550ex.

should I try Custom first or Distortion?

Asgaroth
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

hmmm, have you tried adjusting the pickup height or pole piece height on the JB? this might dial out some of the mud ...

the distortion gets rave reviews, so you might want to try that ...
good luck
t4d
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

I don't hear the JB as sounding "muddy" at all, although it is a pretty hot pickup and that gives it more bass and mids than other alnico 5 pickups.

Are you using 500K pots?

The Custom and Distortion both use ceramic magnets...gives the pickups a little more output, mids and sizzle. Don't know that either would sound less "muddy" than the JB, although the sizzlier highs might help a little.

Maybe you'd like a lower output pickup like the Custom 5, 59B or Screamin Demon? Lower output = less bass, less mids and more clarity.

Lew
 
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Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

Try a custom. As I've said in just about every post I've made, I had JBs in my Jackson's and didn't like. I thought they were muddy as well. I got a custom in the bridge of my two Riches and they sound awesome. Very clear lots of sizzle and great tone.
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

I instaled a JB today, it is a little low on the output than i expected but i dont really find it muddy, just need to tweak the amp a little.
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

I've always considered the JB to be a very clear and articulate pickup. I was never 100% satisfied with the pickup either, but have never thought of it as being muddy. You may want to try adjusting the pickup height and/or amp settings first to see if that fixes the problem.
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

I have already DiMarzio in Ibanez so I would like something a little bit different.

I would say it's muddier when Evolution, less outputs, bassy. I did try adjusting the pickup height and it helped a little bit but still the pickup is not as "clear" as evolution.

It sounds way better than c22b but still it's not what I'm looking for.

At this point my options are:

1. Custom (I should have taken that one in the first place but a guy in a local shop told me JB is VERY similar to the Custom and he did not have Custom in a stock - it was the last time I bought anything from that store :( )

2. Distortion

3. Screaming DEamon (kind of scary name :))
 
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Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

I bet it's because the JB has a nice amount of mids, and the RG2550 is Basswood right?
I dont know if a JB works well in basswood.
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

The Custom will give you more grind than the JB. The ceramic mag will make for the sizzle in the highs Lew was talking about. I'd take it back and get a custom, if that doesn't suit you, a Distortion.

I've been told that basswood has fairly good mids, so that might be why the JB sounds muddy.

Luke
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

no, it's not a basswood.

It's a mapple neck through with the amhogany sides. It's a Carvin
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

Oh sorry lol, i saw RG2550 and i thought basswood. Didnt read it very well.

On neck thru guitars, alot of the sound comes from the neck. Go with something that works with maple well. (I dont know what though)
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

Asgaroth said:
hi Everyone

I've installed the combination of SH2neck SH4bridge

I LOVE the SH2, but not 100% happy with the SH4 JB it's a kind of muddy to my ears. Would like something more leaning towards Dimarzio Evolution. I have evolution in the bridge in my Ibanez rg2550ex.

should I try Custom first or Distortion?

Asgaroth
Click to expand...

Im very interested to hear what you think of the evolution in comparision to the JB mate.
Any chance of a detailed comparison of how it handles different situations tone wise?

Cheers,

Kev
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

Kev said:
Im very interested to hear what you think of the evolution in comparision to the JB mate.
Any chance of a detailed comparison of how it handles different situations tone wise?

Cheers,

Kev
Click to expand...

It all depends what kind of music you are playing for a heavy blues you would not choose Evolution. JB is much warmer and has more bass in to the tone. Evolution has more output, more high mids, the sound is very open and it’s very responsive pickup. For a fast aggressive shredding I would chose Evolution.

But to cut to the point - they are INCOMPARABLE pickups. They are covering different tone ground.

For my purposes – medium speed licks and tight rhythm Evolutions is not an option. And JB is not for that purposes either (at least for me it did not worked out).

I’ve just installed SD Distortion and have to try it out. From the first view it’s a great pickup but have to tweak my amp

Asgaroth
 
Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

I told my tech once I wanted a very balanced pickup that would be versatile, and he dropped in a JB. I went into practice (a metal band) and cranked up and the other guys in the band were looking at me like "what the hell did you do?" It just wouldn't get angry at all (I know, that's what the description says - I should have known). I was trying to chunk, and it wanted to give me creamy-ness. I wasn't happy at all, so I switched it for a Duncan Distortion - it was perfect. I am surprised you found the JB muddy. I just thought it was too....blah. And when I listen to the sound byte of it these days, I still hear the blandness. There's something about 'too smooth' I just don't like.

If the Custom and Distortion don't work for you, I'd say go for a Bill/Becky Lawrence.
 
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Re: I'm not 100% happy with JB what else to try.

I would think a low spec pot is probably the issue here. The JB is not usually characterized as "muddy" by most folks and many find the JB to be on the bright side as compared to most higher output pickups. A fresh 500k pot should help.

I have tried the JB in mahogany, alder and basswood and it sounds great in all of them. I have a JB in a basswood RG 550 and it sounds incredible.

If you knew how much of 80s metal and hard rock was recorded with a JB in basswood through Marshalls you wouldn't question its use in basswood.

Check the pots, your solder joints and your distance off of the strings.
 
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