Is my thinking wrong? JB content

[marvar]

Lots of folks complain about the highs on the JB pickup.
Am I wrong in assuming it was designed for Jeff Beck?
Am I wrong in assuming that since Jeff plays with his fingers, and no pick, that he gets a whole 'nother tone than someone that uses a pick? Therefor the JB works best and the highs are just right when you don't use a pick?
or am I just thinking too much?

 

[LuredMaul]

Re: Is my thinking wrong? JB content

I think the newbs mistake the highs for the monsterous midrange.

And yes to all of your questions.....LOL

 

[alashredder]

Re: Is my thinking wrong? JB content

It was specially wounded for Jeff Beck..hence JB..but since there was some legal issues..Seymour decided that those initials will stand for "jazzy blues"..lol. Now, from what I've heard..the earlier production JB's were lower in output and didn't have that much of a kick. Is that what the original JB was supposed to sound like? Over the years it got changed to the hot kickin' pickup that we all love and know now?

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: Is my thinking wrong? JB content

The JB has stayed with the same wind and magnet from everything that I've read about it. It has always been a high output pickup, and that is one of the reasons people started using it. Guitarists wanted to get more distortion from their master volume amps, so they turned to early high output pickups like the Super Distortion and the JB.

The big difference is that the JB/Jazz set that went in Jeff Beck's Tele-Gib was used with 250k pots. They were really wound for that guitar, so if you want to get the warmer, smoother sound, you should be using 250k pots with the JB. That's how it was made to be used.

 

[marvar]

Re: Is my thinking wrong? JB content

All the above info is great, but it still doesn't answer my original train of thought, which is: Wasn't this pickup originally designed for a player that doesn't use a pick?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Is my thinking wrong? JB content

If you are used to singlecoils....then it is of no issue.....if you are a fat on the muddy side used to LPs and alike....well....
Beck has always used his toneknob and volume knob alot!
And he played with picks...still does that from time to time!