Is there a difference in older JBs than newer versions?

[Clint 55]

I'm not trying to re-open the old vs. new JB debate, so I'm going to make my comments brief and preface them by saying that I'm not a pickup winder personally.

I don't believe that bobbin/spacer material or hookup wire makes a difference in how a pickup sounds to us. It's possible that you may be able to see something on a spectrum analyzer, but that's far beyond the degree of precision I'm interested in. OTOH, I absolutely DO believe that different magnets make a difference, and the JB switched from a roughcast to polished magnet at some point in the early 80s. I haven't heard a new JB with a (swapped) roughcast magnet in person, but I have heard that same experiment done with a '59. The difference isn't huge, but the new '59 with a roughcast A5 goes from being a pretty good pickup to being just about indistinguishable from an early 60s patent number humbucker.

I own 2 new production JBs, an 84 JB, and an Ant JB. I'm positive the old JB was wound differently than the new production ones to produce a more open, PAFy, and less middy sound. I don't think it's possible that this striking difference is only due to age. To me, the Ant JB is produced to sound more like this old JB rather than just being a new JB but weathered.

 

[Masta' C]

A 2011 humbucker isn't going to sound any different than a 2022 humbucker. Differences in perceived tone are going to come down to the individual guitars/components and the tolerance of pots, as Aceman suggested...a typical "500K" pot can range anywhere from the mid-400's to the mid-500's, which does have an affect on the sound, especially with a JB.

Going back further in time, there were certainly changes over the years in terms of coil wire suppliers and the magnets used, but there were far fewer changes from the '90-now than from the '70s-'80s.

Nonetheless, the core "formula" has never changed. Simply small variations in the parts used to achieve that formula.

 

[Bill Dennis]

I own 2 new production JBs, an 84 JB, and an Ant JB. I'm positive the old JB was wound differently than the new production ones to produce a more open, PAFy, and less middy sound. I don't think it's possible that this striking difference is only due to age. To me, the Ant JB is produced to sound more like this old JB rather than just being a new JB but weathered.

With respect, this is the kind of thing I am talking about. Your absolutely sure it has to be different, but it's based on nothing but your perceptions. If it's different, there must be objective measurements to back it up. If someone has them, I have not seen them

 

[Clint 55]

I think them building the Ants to sound open like the back in the day ones is proof. Simulated weathering of the pickup doesn't suddenly remove a bunch of buzz saw mids.

 

[jeremy]

aged a5 magnet would make a difference

 

[Clint 55]

I've mag swapped all 3 types of my JBs and the Ant and 80s seem to be a different pickup from the modern ones.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Getting back to the OP's case:
Is it possible the mag may have become slightly degaussed at some point?
Exposure to a strong magnetic field - like accidentally being left near an old style TV - could conceivably do that .
A strong neo magnet can affect the charge (and sound) of a humbucker mag instantly even from a couple of inches away.

Also, while the pots are all nominally 500K, as Aceman has pointed out they can and do vary.
Maybe this guitar has an unusually low value one. You might measure the actual pot just to be certain.
IME JBs have tended to sound much better with pots lower than 500K. Just an opinion, of course.

But as I and others have said, perhaps it's simply a perfect match with this particular guitar.

 

[soulforger]

Okay, this is an anglo vs European thing. For us it's a strange starting with the year or with the month.
Let's make a deal: you use the metric system and we start the date with the year.

We could get on board with the litres and centimeters etc. as long as we don't have to use celsius


​​​​​

 

[playas]

Ok, you can have kelvin instead

 

[JB6464]

The Ant JB is the best version of the JB to my ears, although I have seen some originals with a RC A2 in them back in the early 80's.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

With respect, this is the kind of thing I am talking about. Your absolutely sure it has to be different, but it's based on nothing but your perceptions. If it's different, there must be objective measurements to back it up. If someone has them, I have not seen them

My vintage JB (not a really early one, but circa '81-82) reads about 500Ω lighter in DCR than my two newer ones.
I haven't measured the inductances but I now have a meter that can, so I'll get around to it one of these days.

I know it's only subjective, but to me the old one does sound - and feel - a bit different.
Throatier mids, slightly more air in the highs, and noticeably better cleanup with the volume knob.
Still sounds like a JB, just IMO a tad sweeter and more open than the 21st century ones.
How much of that difference is due to the wind vs a forty-year-old magnet is anybody's guess.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Again, dont want to bring the oldest debate in Duncan Forum history, but for those of you that are somewhat new, go listen to this video on Youtube with headphones. There ARE differences, slight but still audible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKce3azLgGw&t=467s

 

[hamerfan]

The Ant JB is the best version of the JB to my ears, although I have seen some originals with a RC A2 in them back in the early 80's.

I listened very carefully to the sound samples on the SD site. I liked the JB 35th Anni best. The Ant JB sounded a bit blander. Some years ago i swapped a UA5 which i liked too, even better than my JBJ.

 

[Ascension]

In my experience the IB is a very fickle pickup. Can be pure magic is one guitar but in another similar guitar an absolute train wreck. I have a 95 Washburn USA MG 102 with a JB bridge that is just glorious. One of the best sounding ( and playing) guitars i have ever had in my hands. Have tried a JB in other similar Super Strats and they just didn't cut it tried a JB in one of my Kiesel neck through guitars and couldn't get it out of that guitar fast enough. It's not the pickup its the guitar it's in most of the time. In my experience a JB really shines in a light weight swamp Ash or basswood body super Strat. I have rarely been happy with one in anything else. The one exception was my one of under 100 produced Washburn Chicago Custom A30 Artist. Now that set neck Hondurious Mahogany neck and body guitar with the JB in the bridge was a monster!