JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

[warpedsoul]

I am preparing to buy a new Epiphone Prophecy Les Paul Custom Plus GX or an Epiphone Les Paul Quilt Top PRO when they get released in a few months.

(Note: I mainly play hard rock, some metal from Three Days Grace to Volbeat to Godsmack to Bullet For My Valentine.)

The Prophecy is a mahogany body with ebody fretboard. It comes with the 490R/498T. What neck pickup would go best in this guitar to go along with the JB in the bridge? Or would the stock pickups be best?

As for the Standard Quilt Top it comes with ProBucker-2 and ProBucker-3 pickups. It has all mahogany body and rosewood fretboard. What set would be best for this?

I have tried doing a lot of research, and find different things. Of course people's opinions will vary as well, but I'd still like everyone's input.

Right now I'm kind of leaning towards the JB/PG or JB/59. Which set would be best for the type of music I play?

 

[DonP]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

Do this. Absolutely nothing.

First get the guitar (in a few months).

Then play it for a few months.

Then if it's not floating your boat, try to logically determine what is wrong, i.e. neck too muddy, bridge too harsh, etc.

Then you can decide which pickup can reconcile the issues if you find any.

 

[warpedsoul]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

Do this. Absolutely nothing.

First get the guitar (in a few months).

Then play it for a few months.

Then if it's not floating your boat, try to logically determine what is wrong, i.e. neck too muddy, bridge too harsh, etc.

Then you can decide which pickup can reconcile the issues if you find any.

I agree that I should get the guitar first, lol, but I'm an OCD planner and researcher. Stuff like this will drive me crazy, and I'll probably change my mind several times.

But from the research I've done, both guys in Volbeat use the JB and Matt from Bullet ues the JB in some guitars. I believe Tony Rombola from Godsmack use to use the PG.

I have tried the 490R/498T in a Les Paul before. To me, they were nothing special. I'm going to go back to a guitar shop this week and try out the 490R/498T set again to do more research, and also try out the EMG 81/85 just in case I go with the Prophecy EX instead of GX.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

Yes, please play it a little while to see what you like and don't like about the stock PU's. You'll get a better idea where to head if you want to replace them.

JB's are fussy about the woods they sound good in, and often (but not always) have trouble in mahogany. If you're playing metal, a Custom would be a great choice.

 

[Zhaggy]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

Yes, please play it a little while to see what you like and don't like about the stock PU's. You'll get a better idea where to head if you want to replace them.

JB's are fussy about the woods they sound good in, and often (but not always) have trouble in mahogany. If you're playing metal, a Custom would be a great choice.

Yes, play the guitar for a while. If it sounds good don't do anything. But I completely understand your "urge" to change. I have it too.

And ditch the JB altogether. It's a good pickup but way overrated IMO. Custom, Custom 5, Custom Custom or Screamin' Demon in the bridge and definitely PG in the neck. You could even go with PG for both. Those would give you non-generic metal sounds which is only a good thing.

 

[warpedsoul]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

Yes, play the guitar for a while. If it sounds good don't do anything. But I completely understand your "urge" to change. I have it too.

And ditch the JB altogether. It's a good pickup but way overrated IMO. Custom, Custom 5, Custom Custom or Screamin' Demon in the bridge and definitely PG in the neck. You could even go with PG for both. Those would give you non-generic metal sounds which is only a good thing.

I've heard a lot of people recommend the Custom 5 as well. Initially during my research, I was looking at getting the Custom 5/PG set. May have to go back to that option.

As I mentioned before, one of the main reason's I wanted the JB is because Volbeat uses them, and I play their songs alot.

I'm getting Rio Grande Texas BBQ set put in my Les Paul Plus Top I have now. The stock pickups are not cutting it for me. I'm getting those to match Tony Rombola exactly.

I'm hoping the Custom 5 won't be too much like the Rio Grande BBQ bucker.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

I've heard a lot of people recommend the Custom 5 as well. Initially during my research, I was looking at getting the Custom 5/PG set. May have to go back to that option.

As I mentioned before, one of the main reason's I wanted the JB is because Volbeat uses them, and I play their songs alot.

I'm getting Rio Grande Texas BBQ set put in my Les Paul Plus Top I have now. The stock pickups are not cutting it for me. I'm getting those to match Tony Rombola exactly.

I'm hoping the Custom 5 won't be too much like the Rio Grande BBQ bucker.

C5's are bright and mid scooped. BBQ's are warm and full. Very diiferent. Having the same PU's as someone else doesn't guarantee a certain sound. The wood and guitar design are a big factor, as are the amp, speakers, & effects. Put a JB in a Strat and in a Les Paul, and you wouldn't believe it was the same PU. The 'Custom family' on the other hand, is much more reliable in mahogany.

 

[Varg]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

The JB might work in it, it worked great in my Faded Studio, I mean really, fat and thick just as I like.

But as the others say leave it as is and see what it needs (maybe nothing).

 

[Zhaggy]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

As I mentioned before, one of the main reason's I wanted the JB is because Volbeat uses them, and I play their songs alot.

You wanna guess why Volbeat guys use the JB?

Probably because some else used them and they wanted the same. Or someone told them: "Everybody else use these, so should you." So it gets blurry why people use certain pickups. Because they sound good or jsut because many people use it. Again JB is a fine pickup if it finds the right guitar but I'd go for something different, almost just for the sake of it. There are many pups you can use and get as close to a Volbeat as you would get with a JB.

 

[Varg]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

You wanna guess why Volbeat guys use the JB?
.

Because the JB is awesome.

 

[J.LaGrassa]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

I've got the Jazz/JB in my Les Paul and they sound great in that guitar....... cant say to much about the others. The 59N could be a descent match with the JB as well!

 

[chris_tw21]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

JB/Jazz and 498t/490r are the best sets.JB/jazz with coil tap prs wiring would be great.I say prs wiring because the wiring is perfect.

 

[warpedsoul]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

I'm not wanting the JB because Volbeat uses them. I was looking at the JB before I knew that, but once I found out kind of pushed me more to get it. By the way, Volbeat uses Les Pauls and SG GT guitars exclusively. So I would get just about right on point with sound with them. BUT, I also know that I can get the same sound with the Custom 5, and possibly even the 498T, so I'm not saying I have to get the JB.

As for the Rio Grande set, the majority of why I'm getting them is because Tony from Godsmack uses them, but a big part is also the reviews people gave it, and they used mahogany Les Pauls as well. They mention a darker tone, which is what I want for the guitar I have now. It just sounded like the right set to get.

As of right now if something doesn't change my mind, which my happen 500 times, if the stock pickups don't work out for me, I'm leaning towards the C5/PG set.

Can the C5 do drop tuning and D standard better than the JB's? That will be a huge part in deciding what I get or keep. Most of the music I play is Drop D, D standard, or Drop C.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

go with the JB and any one of those other Duncans. the 59 and Jazz have A5s and the PG has an A2, so that should tell you what to expect based on what you're wanting in the neck. for a singlecut guitar, I've used a 4-conductor 59 and set it on a push/pull and it worked fine. I also have a Jazz in the neck of a 3-hum guitar with 2 JBs and it's fine too.

one of the stories I heard about the making of the JB was that it was made for Beck when Beck was playing LPs to be put in a LP. if you want the JB, get it. lots of guys on here have a lot to say about certain models of Duncans, but at the end of the day they aren't playing with your fingers through your rig. my first Duncan was a JB and I've tried many other models of Duncans since '85.... and 9.9 times out of 10, I go back to the JB.

let your own ears be the judge of what you want. if it sounds good to you, it is good for you.

I'll also say I've played a LP with that 490/498 set in it and I didn't find anything wrong with it. I'm known for buying Duncans to put in any guitar I buy that doesn't have them. but those Gibson pups on a LP was fine to my ears. so give them a try.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

one of the stories I heard about the making of the JB was that it was made for Beck when Beck was playing LPs to be put in a LP.

The JB was made for Jeff's Tele, which may be why it excels in bright woods, and is hit or miss in warm woods.

 

[kman]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

I have a JB and a Jazz in my epiphone les paul plus top. Both sound awesome. They are very articulate on low and high strings. The JB is well ballanced full sounding. I have played classic rock and metal with these pickups and they sound killer. The Jazz is one of the sweetest sounding neck pickups that I have played if not the nicest.

 

[MisterE]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

I second kman's opinions as well. I have a PRS SC SE and they sound full as well, maybe too full as the gain comes up too soon, if you understand what I mean.

 

[warpedsoul]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

I'm going to a guitar store this evening to try out the 409R/498T and EMG 81/85 in Les Pauls to try to get a feel for it. I'm hoping they will have some guitars with the JB or C5 as well, but I kind of doubt it.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: JB/59 vs JB/Jazz vs JB/PG vs 490R/498T in a Les Paul

for any dropped tuning i'd go custom or C5, they have much tighter bass. I hated the JB in mahogany, lacked any real bottom end.