JB+ (Ceramic)

Rydock

Rydock

New member
For those of you who swapped your JB's A5s to ceramics, what did you think of it compared to a stock JB? How does it compare to a Custom and a Distortion? I imagine it would fall somewhere in between due to the standard sized magnet (like the SH-5 has); more aggressive than a Custom, yet more organic than the Distortion.

I would really appreciate if you guys could compare the pros and cons of using this magnet in the JB to the other pickups I've mentioned. I've finally decided to swap out for a custom, but I wanted to give a JB+ a try before I do so. I've considered a DD before, but wanted a pickup that wasn't too much hotter than my JB.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Don't use a ceramic from a duncan designed. I'm not sure if its the same ceramic from a real duncan but the swap was a downgrade. I like the JB and distortion in some guitars but this didn't sound like either and very muddy.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Thanks for the warning. I was thinking of getting a mag from Wymore? Are those pretty much on par with Seymour Duncan's quality?
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

yep, JB8 is similar to a ceramic JB, but rounder alnico highs and a tad less bass.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Yeah I've been hearing of people swapping for the A8 mags. The reason I wanted ceramic is because I wanted the Chunkiness of the Custom. I also read that the A8 seems to be smooth, but nobody has said anything about it's chunkiness. So right now the keywords are Custom Chunk and Tightness. I'll add the A8 to my list and give it a try. How would you guys compare the JB+ and JB8 for Rhythm.
 
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Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Not too much difference between the two if you play around with the knob on the amp. Little less chunk with the A8, but looser / organic sounding with lots of overtones (think of EvH).
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Yeah man, that "JB+" you keep talking about is a Duncan Distortion. The difference between a JB and a DD is a JB has an A5 and the DD has a ceramic magnet.

Seymour Duncan himself uses alnico 2's in his JB's. Somethin to think about.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Empty Pockets said:
Yeah man, that "JB+" you keep talking about is a Duncan Distortion. The difference between a JB and a DD is a JB has an A5 and the DD has a ceramic magnet.

Seymour Duncan himself uses alnico 2's in his JB's. Somethin to think about.
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Well its not quite a DD. The Duncan Distortion's magnet is an oversized ceramic. JB with a regular ceramic would be something like a distortion lite or JB+

But I'd go with the A8 magnet. I have an SH-15 and its very chunky and thick on the low end and not cold sounding like a ceramic. Not quite sure how a JB would react but I've read good things on here about it.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

wymore has good stuff. Goo9d guy to deal with. He is right the dist has an oversized ceramic. The one in a custom is smaller
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

If you want tone similar to a JB, but with more output, chunk, and tightness, I think the C8 is closest to that. The A8 JB isn't nearly as close to the JB sound as the C8. A8 in a JB doesn't have the same upper-mids and aggression.

That having been said, I like the A8 JB quite a bit, but it's a different animal. It's more like a balanced, high output Jazz bridge or something.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

NoOnesFang13 said:
doesnt the distortion have an oversized magnet, and 2 double thick half sized magnets on the outside?
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I think that's the Invader.

Judging by the comments of the JB8, it seems that the C8 is just about what I'm looking for. But for now I'm going to try both a ceramic and an alnico 8 with the JB. If those don't work out, I'm going to get a Custom and maybe try an A8 mag with it if I'm not satisfied. This is going into a Balanced/bright Maple neck-through, and while the JB sounds really good in it, I'm looking for more chunky and powerful sounding.

Thanks for all the great comments guys.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

NoOnesFang13 said:
doesnt the distortion have an oversized magnet, and 2 double thick half sized magnets on the outside?
Click to expand...

The DD has an over sized magnet. The Invader has an oversized magnet and and 2 double thick half sized magnets on the outside instead of spacers. The invader of course has different poles also.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

if you use a small ceramic like in the duncan custom the JB becomes a distortion lite, if you put in a large ceramic taken from a dimarzio Super D it becomes a regular DD
strange but true.
the real duncan distortion is a JB wind with a large ceramic magnet
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

I am surprised I am one of the few that like or have used the JB+ Much tighter than the JB alnico 5 and as I have said many times, the people that find fault with a DD would probably love the JB+ especially if they hated that weird mid hump in the stock JB but liked the basic sound of it. Seems to me like the ideal JB pickup even though I still prefer a DD but I like the thicker ceramic, even though most people like it more smoother.

Rydock you should do it, you won't be disappointed. For more tightness swap for hex poles on 1 or both bobbins.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Fusion1, I think you just convinced me to do it. I had hex poles in my JB for the longest time and loved it. But it still lacked a certain something, so I switched back to fillisters. I think a magnet swap + stock pole pieces is the ticket.

I pretty much wanted a DD that was a tad tamed. I just want to see how this will compare to a Custom.
 
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