Jazz Bridge SH-2b. Whaddya think of it?

JohnnyGuitarCA

JohnnyGuitarCA

New member
Jazz Bridge model SH-2b. Have you played one? Whaddya think of it? I'd appreciate your opinions.

With most guitars with neck humbuckers that I've owned, I put a SH-2n Jazz neck model in the neck slot. Love that pickup. Now I'm thinking of getting a Jazz Bridge SH-2b model.

The guitar in question is an Ibanez AS73. It's an ES 335 style guitar. I will use this guitar for classic rock tunes.

Amp is a Peavey Triumph run through an Egnater Armageddon 4x12 with Celestions: 2 T75's and 2 K100's.

The vibe I'm going for is Alex Lifeson's tone on Working Man from the first Rush album. Thanks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eZqkaP37po&t=2s
 
Not vast experience with one, but first impressions were it was kinda like a sharper slightly more sterile (not in a bad way) '59.

It's not a bad pickup, especially if you match it with a matching SH-2N.
 
Never played one. I did use a JB8 for a while and loved it vs a standard JB. Thicker, less mids, rounded highs, no ice pick. Really great. Kind of like a cross between a JB and a Super Distortion maybe?

A lot of guys here have done the JB2 thing and really liked it. I'm sure they will drop in soon enough.
 
I have a Jazz set (bridge and neck) in my SG. Have been there for several years. Perfect classic rock set. Haven't used in a semi-hollow, but I think they would work just fine there also. Does AC/DC to just about any heavy 70s rock. Just a question of how much gain you have on your amp.
 
beaubrummels said:
I have a Jazz set (bridge and neck) in my SG. Have been there for several years. Perfect classic rock set. Haven't used in a semi-hollow, but I think they would work just fine there also. Does AC/DC to just about any heavy 70s rock. Just a question of how much gain you have on your amp.
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That's exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks!
 
Aceman said:
Never played one. I did use a JB8 for a while and loved it vs a standard JB. Thicker, less mids, rounded highs, no ice pick. Really great. Kind of like a cross between a JB and a Super Distortion maybe?

A lot of guys here have done the JB2 thing and really liked it. I'm sure they will drop in soon enough.
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Far too hot. I'm looking for a vintage output pickup for this guitar. Thanks, though!
 
JohnnyGuitarCA said:
Far too hot. I'm looking for a vintage output pickup for this guitar. Thanks, though!
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If memory serves me, the stock bridge pickup of an AS73 is a kind of ceramic powered JB, anyway...

My own experience with this Ibanez guitar makes me think that a SH2b should fit the bill. Maybe I'd put a short A5 in it instead of the stock magnet but that's just me. Do what you want and be happy!
 
JohnnyGuitarCA said:
Jazz Bridge model SH-2b. Have you played one? Whaddya think of it? I'd appreciate your opinions.

With most guitars with neck humbuckers that I've owned, I put a SH-2n Jazz neck model in the neck slot. Love that pickup. Now I'm thinking of getting a Jazz Bridge SH-2b model.

The guitar in question is an Ibanez AS73. It's an ES 335 style guitar. I will use this guitar for classic rock tunes.

Amp is a Peavey Triumph run through an Egnater Armageddon 4x12 with Celestions: 2 T75's and 2 K100's.

The vibe I'm going for is Alex Lifeson's tone on Working Man from the first Rush album. Thanks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eZqkaP37po&t=2s
Click to expand...

The jazz is a great bridge pickup. I always used the SH2B in the neck instead of the N version; slighty fatter and more oompf without losing the super-clarity the Jazz is known for. But as a bridge, it is amazing. Slide in an unoriented A5 if you want to tame the high end, slide in an A2 if you want to sweeten up the whole thing.

SH2B is an underrated pickup for sure.
 
freefrog said:
If memory serves me, the stock bridge pickup of an AS73 is a kind of ceramic powered JB, anyway...

My own experience with this Ibanez guitar makes me think that a SH2b should fit the bill. Maybe I'd put a short A5 in it instead of the stock magnet but that's just me. Do what you want and be happy!
Click to expand...

Yep, bridge pickup is hot. The pickups in my AS73 sound pretty dull. I have one of the early models. Supposedly they put better ones in later versions. I usually put a ballsier pickup in the bridge but I want more of an old school vibe with this guitar.
 
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OK - I read this as a JB2????? Damn Decaf


Ignore everything I said. Jazz Bridge is a cool modern PAF level HB.

In a Semi for classic rock? Oh hell yeah - go for it!
 
JohnnyGuitarCA said:
Yep, bridge pickup is hot. The pickups in my AS73 sound pretty dull. I have one of the early models. Supposedly they put better ones in later versions. I usually put a ballsier pickup in the bridge but I want more of an old school vibe with this guitar.
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That's what I'd do too. ;-)

FWIW, the problem with these early models is not the pair of pickups in itself: it's a decent set and can even sound good with NS baseplates + carefully selected magnets. The main issue is the covers: these crappy thick things are not transparent at all, and bring boatloads of eddy currents. Pulling 'em off or replacing 'em would be a first step towards a better tone.

Enjoy! :-)

SIDE NOTE in answer to post 9: the SH2b hosts a long A5 mag. I'd put a short (and not too gaussed) one to narrow laterally the magnetic field and aleviate a wee bit the inductance, in order to obtain a tad less bass. The AS73 is by design slightly bassier than a Gibby/Epi ES model and swapping a long A5 for a short one in a bridge P.A.F. clone has been a part of my own surgical intervention to improve the voicing of this Ibanez model.YMMV.
 
freefrog said:
That's what I'd do too. ;-)

FWIW, the problem with these early models is not the pair of pickups in itself: it's a decent set and can even sound good with NS baseplates + carefully selected magnets. The main issue is the covers: these crappy thick things are not transparent at all, and bring boatloads of eddy currents. Pulling 'em off or replacing 'em would be a first step towards a better tone.

Enjoy! :-)

SIDE NOTE in answer to post 9: the SH2b hosts a long A5 mag. I'd put a short (and not too gaussed) one to narrow laterally the magnetic field and aleviate a wee bit the inductance, in order to obtain a tad less bass. The AS73 is by design slightly bassier than a Gibby/Epi ES model and swapping a long A5 for a short one in a bridge P.A.F. clone has been a part of my own surgical intervention to improve the voicing of this Ibanez model.YMMV.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
i used it in the bridge and it was nice, crunchy and great for classic rock stuff. But i moved it to the neck and i think that's where it really shines for me. it is my favorite neck humbucker!
 
I have the Jazz set in a Cort "LP-ish" style guitar. To my ears, they're the almost perfect "hi-fi" pickup. Particularly good for use with modelers and multi-pedals. They provide a nice clean foundation for the modeler to build on. (But they also sound great on their own.) I'd bet they'd sound good in an AS73.
 
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