JB and 59?

[TRex]

I'm looking into upgrading the old "mudbucker" pickups on my 09' epi standard. After rewiring with new pots and caps they arnt too baf, but definitely no where near perfect.

My long term goal for this guitar is to be my upper-middle output (hot but not active or invader hot) for Thrash metal like Megadeth and Metalica, some modern metal genres, and "90's pop punk" like Nirvana, pre-gibson Green Day, and such.

I do play quite a bit of classic rock, so my next guitar is getting a PAFy set like the whole lotta humbucker set.

With the bridge pickup, most of these bands use or have used the JB in their time, so it's the ovious choice so far. I have heard it can be harsh in Mahogany, but I haven't seen a complaint in Nato. The other option would be the Custom Custom which is much more PAF than the JB. From what other people on YouTube can do with the JB, it sounds amazing.

The neck is tricky, as I don't use the neck p'up on high gain. It's usually dialed in to work with the bridge or act as a clean channel. I'm guessing a 4 conductor 59 is what I'm looking for. The Jazz is also an option, and would come in a set.

 

[loversmoon]

Re: JB and 59?

I have an esp that is all mahogany that came stock with the jb/59 set. I absolutely love the 59 in the neck. Warm, organic. I have a love hate relationship with the jb. For metal it's great. At times it seems to have little to much treble for my ear. I've considered replacing it but haven't decided to do so yet . I'd suggest a 59/custom custom mix. Simply because I think the custom will be more versatile in terms of tone.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: JB and 59?

Yeah, the JB can have a lot of "teeth" in mahogany. The mids can really be "in yer face" too if using mid dominant/prominent and efficient speakers.
My suggestion would be a Custom in the bridge if you're set on SD.
Otherwise, it's Dimarzio all the way from this player, sorry.

 

[TRex]

Re: JB and 59?

I have an esp that is all mahogany that came stock with the jb/59 set. I absolutely love the 59 in the neck. Warm, organic. I have a love hate relationship with the jb. For metal it's great. At times it seems to have little to much treble for my ear. I've considered replacing it but haven't decided to do so yet . I'd suggest a 59/custom custom mix. Simply because I think the custom will be more versatile in terms of tone.

That's how most stories with the JB are it seems :/

Yeah, the JB can have a lot of "teeth" in mahogany. The mids can really be "in yer face" too if using mid dominant/prominent and efficient speakers.
My suggestion would be a Custom in the bridge if you're set on SD.
Otherwise, it's Dimarzio all the way from this player, sorry.

Which Dizmazio would you suggest? Super Distortion maybe?

 

[loversmoon]

Re: JB and 59?

I had a mo joe /joe combo in a mahogany strat and loved it. I could cover anything from southern rock to metal.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: JB and 59?

FWIW, I have a JB/'59 set in my maple/mahogany Ibanez RGA. Granted it's not a Les Paul, but it does have some tonewoods in common with one.

Love love love love the JB. It's hot and relatively compressed, great for soloing, but also great for grindy nasty rhythm tones. It's very mid-focused so it takes gain awesome, but can also do some mid-gain crunch and on-the-edge of breakup tones. Many people seem to think it's harsh. The upper mids are prominent, but it's not too bad, IMO. I've tried way harsher.

Have never been sold on the '59. Meh. It makes sound. It's like the complete polar opposite EQ-wise of the JB. It's scooped, a bit bloated in the low-end, and not as smooth in the attack as I'd like. I'd prefer if it resembled the JB a bit more.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: JB and 59?

Which Dizmazio would you suggest? Super Distortion maybe?

Super D reminds me of a clearer, tighter JB, only with a ceramic magnet so that changes its feel and sound a bit too.
For PAF pickups, the 36th Anni PAF, Moe Joe, PAF Pro, and the new PAF Master.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: JB and 59?

That's how most stories with the JB are it seems :/

Which Dizmazio would you suggest? Super Distortion maybe?

I have not tried this out before but forum bro Archer250 recommended the DiMarzio AT-1 (here) as a fixed/matured JB. Here is the description from DiMarzio:

Since 2001, Andy Timmons has been playing a DiMarzio custom bridge humbucker that has only been available on his signature Ibanez guitar, and it has been his first-line pickup ever since. Described as a player's player, Andy Timmons is known for his great touch, phrasing, and tone. Naturally, his DiMarzio AT-1 guitar pickup is on par with his signature sound. Delivering the rich tonal characteristics of balance, warmth, and clarity, this DiMarzio pickup achieves its focused sound with the same patented technology as the PAF 36th Anniversary, but the sound is hotter-perfect for rock.

The DiMarzio AT-1 was originally designed for a 25" scale, mahogany-body guitar, but it adapts very well to other instruments. It has enough bass and mids to warm up brighter guitars, and enough clarity for 24" scale set-necks as well. The Andy Timmons DiMarzio humbucker is recommended for the bridge position.

Just a thought.

 

[Archer250]

Re: JB and 59?

I have not tried this out before but forum bro Archer250 recommended the DiMarzio AT-1 (here) as a fixed/matured JB. Here is the description from DiMarzio:

Since 2001, Andy Timmons has been playing a DiMarzio custom bridge humbucker that has only been available on his signature Ibanez guitar, and it has been his first-line pickup ever since. Described as a player's player, Andy Timmons is known for his great touch, phrasing, and tone. Naturally, his DiMarzio AT-1 guitar pickup is on par with his signature sound. Delivering the rich tonal characteristics of balance, warmth, and clarity, this DiMarzio pickup achieves its focused sound with the same patented technology as the PAF 36th Anniversary, but the sound is hotter-perfect for rock.

The DiMarzio AT-1 was originally designed for a 25" scale, mahogany-body guitar, but it adapts very well to other instruments. It has enough bass and mids to warm up brighter guitars, and enough clarity for 24" scale set-necks as well. The Andy Timmons DiMarzio humbucker is recommended for the bridge position.

Just a thought.

This is how it sounds in mahogany... with the Cruiser, of course.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JB and 59?

This is how it sounds in mahogany... with the Cruiser, of course.

In that guitar. That's not across the board.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: JB and 59?

In that guitar. That's not across the board.

Which is true for all pickups and guitars...

 

[blueman335]

Re: JB and 59?

Which is true for all pickups and guitars...

Right, which is why it's unrealistic to expect to duplicate what you hear on PU sound clips.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: JB and 59?

So much is about feel too. The way they react to your hands and the guitar. Hard to translate that.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: JB and 59?

Right, which is why it's unrealistic to expect to duplicate what you hear on PU sound clips.

Yeah... dont get me started on the audio quality of youtube clips.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: JB and 59?

This is how it sounds in mahogany... with the Cruiser, of course.

In that guitar. That's not across the board.

Which is true for all pickups and guitars...

Right, which is why it's unrealistic to expect to duplicate what you hear on PU sound clips.

I think Archer was just showing an example of what the aforementioned pickup sounded like in Mahogany which is the wood in question to the OP

One should never make a decision based solely off of a video/soundclip. One should try something out first–which is the cool thing about Seymour Duncan's exchange policy.

 

[TRex]

Re: JB and 59?

I think Archer was just showing an example of what the aforementioned pickup sounded like in Mahogany which is the wood in question to the OP

Once should never make a decision based solely off of a video/soundclip. Once should try something out first–which is the cool thing about Seymour Duncan's exchange policy.

I'm banking on that exchange policy honestly. Haha

I did confirm if I get a Hot rodded humbucker set I can exchange either pickup as needed. No need to return the entire set.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: JB and 59?

I'm banking on that exchange policy honestly. Haha

I did confirm if I get a Hot rodded humbucker set I can exchange either pickup as needed. No need to return the entire set.

That's awesome that they will let you do one of the set and not the whole set! SD rocks! :yourock:

 

[blueman335]

Re: JB and 59?

Yeah... dont get me started on the audio quality of youtube clips.

And thru god knows what home-computer speakers.

 

[dystrust]

Re: JB and 59?

I'm banking on that exchange policy honestly. Haha

I did confirm if I get a Hot rodded humbucker set I can exchange either pickup as needed. No need to return the entire set.

I'd go that route. With the tones you're describing I think you'll like the Jazz better than a '59 for the neck position. The bridge pickup really depends on how your specific guitar sounds. If it's dark or bass-heavy the JB is a better bet than the Custom. The Custom was definitely too fat in the bridge of my LP. longcat has a JB/Jazz set in her LP Studio and it sounds great; it can also be painfully bright depending on the guitar. I've had a Custom/Jazz set in my Explorer since 2003 or so and they're just amazing in that guitar. Can you tell the Jazz is my favorite neck pickup for heavy rock / metal?

 

[loversmoon]

Re: JB and 59?

This is a clip of the jb in mahogany. horrible sound quality sorry