JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

[vinnie1971]

Normally I am PAF kind of guy, I have APH1, Gibson 57 PAF reissues, some Cort-tek Classic Rocker 2 ( warm vintage output alnico 2 humbuckers which come close to the 57 PAF reissues if not quite giving the 50s vibe), and what I consider modern PAF: Gibson 498T and 490R' as well as some 1970s Maxon early super 80s which are very similar to dimarzio super 2. All these pickups I love.

But my Epiphone standard gold top, while I can get a good tone out of it, to me it's rather generic and characterless. Even the classic rockers sound fantastic in comparison.

So I am looking for that hot 70s brown sound - thick creamy highish gain with pronounced upper mids - the classic rock sound of pre master volume. The amp is a Roland Blues Cube which has a good boost channel. I also have a Plexi clone and tube screamer clones which sound authentic too.

I am thinking either JB & Jazz neck set or dimarzio super distortion and either super 2 for bright clean neck with not much bass, or PAF 36th anniversary.

Any views on which will get me there? I am leaning towards the JB and jazz neck set purely because a used set had come up for the price of just a new super distortion....

But I can help think that is the super distortion sound that will hit the spot.


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[Securb]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

So I am looking for that hot 70s brown sound - thick creamy highish gain with pronounced upper mids - the classic rock sound of pre master volume.

I would consider the WLH set. Very thick and can take you from that 70's brown sound to the depths of metal. As I have said in the past the WLH set makes a Les Paul sound like a Les Paul should.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

I would consider the WLH set. Very thick and can take you from that 70's brown sound to the depths of metal. As I have said in the past the WLH set makes a Les Paul sound like a Les Paul should.

Yes I do like what I hear but they are very expensive in the UK- they cost as much as an Epiphone Les Paul standard! I guess they must be good as I have never see them on the used market in the UK.


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[EmiAba]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

WLHs are expensive everywhere not only in UK. But they are wonderfull. Anyway personally I don't like the sound of the JB in lespaulish guitars. I think it gives its best in superstrat guitars. So I'd go with superdistortion in bridge slot paired with a DP103 or at least a paf pro.

 

[gregory]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

What do you mean by "at least" a PAF Pro?

Also, there is a world of difference between the two pairs in the title, especially when comparing the Super 2 to the Jazz, whether head to head, or even the difference in output relative to the bridge pickup in each of the respective pairs.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

The dp103/superdistortion combo is the classic sound of late 70s IMO. The paf pro is not a dp103. In my mind they are on two different levels, the former has a much modern sound, the latter a vintage voice. But the paf pro is really a good companion for a superdistortion. This means "at least"

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

The dp103/superdistortion combo is the classic sound of late 70s IMO. The paf pro is not a dp103. In my mind they are on two different levels, the former has a much modern sound, the latter a vintage voice. But the paf pro is really a good companion for a superdistortion. This means "at least"

Thanks for that. I was thinking the super 2 as in the late 70s the super D and super 2 was a good combo too. But there's no sound clips I can find to compete the SD & PAF Pro vs Super 2 to get a good comparison.


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[vinnie1971]

JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

WLHs are expensive everywhere not only in UK. But they are wonderfull. Anyway personally I don't like the sound of the JB in lespaulish guitars. I think it gives its best in superstrat guitars. So I'd go with superdistortion in bridge slot paired with a DP103 or at least a paf pro.

Thanks for that. I have listen to s lot of demos and while I like the JB and Jazz neck combo, especially the middle position I think overall it's a more bottom heavy scooped sound than I am looking for hence a little hesitant to pull the trigger even though they are £75 of the set!
But the DMZ combinations I am looking at it's hard to find decent demos or samples.


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[gregory]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

The DP104 Super 2 is a high output pickup.
The DP151 PAF Pro is a medium output pickup.
The orginal DP103 PAF, current DP103 PAF 36th Anniversary and Seymour Duncan SH-2N are all vintage output pickups.

All can be used successfully in the neck with a DP100 or SH-4 in the bridge, depending on what you want.

 

[vinnie1971]

JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

The DP104 Super 2 is a high output pickup.
The DP151 PAF Pro is a medium output pickup.
The orginal DP103 PAF, current DP103 PAF 36th Anniversary and Seymour Duncan SH-2N are all vintage output pickups.

All can be used successfully in the neck with a DP100 in the bridge, depending on what you want.

Looking for something that will give the middle position sweet spot with the super D (or similar 1970s vintage high gain pickup) that will have a bright top end and not too boomy as this les Paul is boomy ideally contrasting


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[gregory]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

They will all work in the neck of a Les Paul with a JB or Super D in bridge without sounding boomy.

Sweet spot in the middle is a matter of personal taste. Of the choices I think I'd go with the Super D/PAF Pro, personally.

 

[gregory]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

You might also consider a PAF Joe.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

The DP104 Super 2 is a high output pickup.
The DP151 PAF Pro is a medium output pickup.
The orginal DP103 PAF, current DP103 PAF 36th Anniversary and Seymour Duncan SH-2N are all vintage output pickups.

All can be used successfully in the neck with a DP100 or SH-4 in the bridge, depending on what you want.

I completely agree with you. DP103 paf and the 36th anniversary has the same code (DP103) but they are not the same product. Nevertheless they are both a good choice for the SD and the JB

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

They will all work in the neck of a Les Paul with a JB or Super D in bridge without sounding boomy.

Sweet spot in the middle is a matter of personal taste. Of the choices I think I'd go with the Super D/PAF Pro, personally.

Out of all my guitars, my favourite middle position out of all my guitars is my Flying V with Gibson 498T / 490R - I love how the contrasting a5 and and a2 meet in the middle plus I love the big difference in tone when switching from bridge to neck.


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[risingforce]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

JB & Jazz works

 

[Mincer]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

Hey, this sounds like a text book JB/Jazz candidate. You get clarity and upper mids for days.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

Thanks all for your inputs.
Looks like I'm choosing between:
Super a Distortion and PAF pro
JB and Jazz N
Or whole lotta humbuckers....


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[gregory]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

Three very different sets of sounds.

Also be aware that there are a lot of vocal opponents of the JB, especially in Les Pauls. There are also quite a few opponents of DiMarzio here, but this forum is hosted by Seymour Duncan, after all.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

Three very different sets of sounds.

Also be aware that there are a lot of vocal opponents of the JB, especially in Les Pauls. There are also quite a few opponents of DiMarzio here, but this forum is hosted by Seymour Duncan, after all.

They are but they all give a great 1970s tone which can cover a lot of ground.


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[eclecticsynergy]

Re: JB and Jazz neck vs dimarzio super distortion and super 2

JB into a low gain/non-master volume amp is one thing. JB into a gain channel is quite another, to me it just screams 80s tone. It has its own distinctive character and always sounds like a JB. Also, the low end can be a bit loose. For a wider range of different kinds of tone including 70s-type stuff I'd have to recommend the SuperD, especially in a Les Paul.

Classic 70s pairing IMO would be the SuperD and an old DP103 if you can find a used one, or the 36th if you can't. Possibly a PAF Pro could give you some extra output for neck lead playing while still maybe being able to cop some old school tones too. Can't offer meaningful advice on that or the middle position combining those two 'cause I've never owned a PAF Pro. But I can say that the old DiMarzio PAFs generally have had a very nice lead voice in Les Pauls.