Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

sifukev

sifukev

New member
I am trying to find out a good pickup combination for my Jay Turser les paul style guitar w/ the basic les paul set up (2 volumes & 2 tones). The problem is that my guitar is extremely light. It is even lighter than alder.... I believe it is made out of Chinese Paulonia or something like that. It has a maple cap and maple set in neck, with a rosewood fretboard.

I ordered a combo of JB (bridge) and '59 (neck) from musician's friend then afterwards, read reviews saying that the JB makes the lightweight guitars (especially with anything maple) "ice picky" w/ absolutley NO bass. I want screaming good tone with harmonics but I also don't want to stab anybody in the forehead with an icepick when I hit the high E at the 14th fret. Are the reviews about the JB right? Would messing with the tone knobs on my guitar take the high icepicks out while keeping that tone the JB is known for? Does the JB have any crunch to it? Would the JB and '59 at the same time give a good hot full crunch? Am I going to have to send the JB back to Musician's friend? Sorry to bother everyone with a million questions, I just want to get a good combo set in my guitar.
:newangel:
I play in an adult worship band in church Sunday (warm/ bright tones required) then I play for the youth band in the same church on Tuesday(Snarling, screaming, squealing, crunchy, and singing tones with harmonics required) so the pickup combo needs to be versatile. Is the JB and '59 good for an extremely lightweight guitar?

PPPLLLLEEEEAAASSSEEEE HHHEEELLLPPP!!!!!!
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

What kinda balance does it get w/ a light body guitar w/ maple top and neck (Neck is sat in). Does it get a good snarly crunch?

Thanks for your reply,
Kevin
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

Snarly crunch for days with a JB in a light guitar. I actually preffer it in lighter guitars than in something heavier (say, a Les Paul). You get a lot of air and openness to your sound with a JB paired with a light axe.
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

Does it have any bass though? Some seem to think that a JB has NO bottom end. I'm not looking for anything like a Korn "chugging" sound. But if I want to palm mute the low E bar chord, I want it to have crunch... does it?
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

It does have a good bottom end, it's not thumpy though, just nice and tight.
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

What about the "ice picky" or thin sound people say JB's have.... does anybody have this problem? If so does the tone knobs on the LP copy work to solve that, if so does it loose it's tonal value
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

sifukev said:
What about the "ice picky" or thin sound people say JB's have.... does anybody have this problem? If so does the tone knobs on the LP copy work to solve that, if so does it loose it's tonal value
Click to expand...
i have the the JB in a RG which is a light guitar too and i have the tone pot disconnected. There is nothing ice picky with the JB. I isn't thin too. I am always wondering how fat and cool this RG with this super thin neck an light body can sound.
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

I think it sounds a little "Ice Picky" in heavy guitars, but in light guitars it's a godsend! Your guitar might sound pretty fat, actually. Is it an archtop? Chances are, the maple your guitar is just a thin veneer so it doesn't really affect the sound. I could be wrong, though. I think you'll like it, regardless. ;)
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

Make sure you're using 250k pots with the JB (speaking from personal experience). Otherwise you do run the risk of it being brighter than you want.
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

Yes it's a maple veneer top covering a hollow cavity in the top of the guitar (making it even lighter). So the JB sounds Fatter and thicker in light weight guitars? and icepicky in heavy guitars? Does it (JB) have good punch? I kjnow it has awesome clarity. I just want a hot thick punchy sound with clarity in my lightweight guitar with a hollow cavity. That won't sound too bright in my guitar.

Thanks for all your help guys....
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

The JB has plenty of bass in any guitar I've ever tired them in. As for ice picky... The JB does have an upper midrange peak that I hear as being a little hard and sometimes annoying. But it's not what I'd call ice picky. Ice picky tone comes from pickups that have an overly crisp or shrill tone that's more in the treble frequencies...like some poorly wound Strat pickups. I think you'll like the JB in that guitar...I've put them in some Epi Les Pauls that were pretty lightweight and the JB sounded great. Lew
 
Last edited:
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

The JB is a punchy and responsive pickup, to be sure. However, I definitely would not call it a "hot, thick" sound- if you're referring to that modern rock PRS type sound you won't get it from a JB. A Custom Custom may be what you're looking for
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

might depend on what amp its going through...(sorry if its already stated in here, i havent read every post)...what amp are you using?
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

I am using a Vox Valvetronix AD60T amp. It is a amp modeling amplifier. AWESOME amp. I picked it over the Line 6 because it has way more features.

All of it's amp models are tube amps
 
Re: Is JB right for a VERY light weight guitar?

i would say with the possibilities in that amp, and the versatility of the JB......its should be a great match, including the guitar and all......i think it will work out fine, the JB may at first seem a bit bright, but certainly adjusting a few setting will work out any brightness....and within a band situation the JB just cuts right through and stands out.....the 59 neck will have plenty of bass and just be flat out rock n roll......and the JB does have that upper midrange peak which provides an abundance of harmonics and a singing quality......

id say dont worry about, you ordered 2 of the most versatile pickups, it should work out one way or another....... rock on man
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top