JB+ (Ceramic)

Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

I think it will be exactly what you are looking for and once you have it and play with it a while you will probably be stupified why the JB+ is not even on the radar with the modders on this forum even. I guess this might be the best kept secret going.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

It's not a Distortion. A Distortion has three magments: a double height in the middle and two undersize magnets on the outsides of the polepieces.

I tried my JB with both a small (Custom) and big magnet (but no additional small ones) and it leaves to be desired. I don't have a DD here but the 500T runs circles around this semi-Distortion.

Remember the sound is not in the strength of the magnetic field, it's in the shape. The additional magnets on the outside of the polepieces severely widen the field and that fattens the sound.

The best thing to do to a JB is A2, IMHO.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

uOpt said:
It's not a Distortion. A Distortion has three magments: a double height in the middle and two undersize magnets on the outsides of the polepieces.

I tried my JB with both a small (Custom) and big magnet (but no additional small ones) and it leaves to be desired. I don't have a DD here but the 500T runs circles around this semi-Distortion.

Remember the sound is not in the strength of the magnetic field, it's in the shape. The additional magnets on the outside of the polepieces severely widen the field and that fattens the sound.

The best thing to do to a JB is A2, IMHO.
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That is incorrect. The DD has a thicker single magnet. The Invader has the bar magnet and 2 outside magnets. Know what thou talketh about before thy speaketh.

Odd you like the 500T more than the DD. What guitafr did you use it in. Every guitar I AB'ed a DD with a 500T, the DD won out. The 500T sounds thin compared to the DD. Tell me how that runs circles around the DD?

Curious were you one of the ones saying during the Custom Custom Custom craze that a JB with the smaller ceramic would sound like garbage and to not even try it?
 
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Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Fusion1 said:
That is incorrect. The DD has a thicker single magnet. The Invader has the bar magnet and 2 outside magnets. Know what thou talketh about before thy speaketh.
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I've been told that the DD and Invader share the same pickup configuration, as does the 500T.

Fusion1 said:
Odd you like the 500T more than the DD. What guitafr did you use it in. Every guitar I AB'ed a DD with a 500T, the DD won out. The 500T sounds thin compared to the DD. Tell me how that runs circles around the DD?
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Mine doesn't sound thin at all. Maybe yours just sucks? :-) The 500T has less resistance than the JB/DD, and it's probably awg 43 like the Duncan Custom.

The Invader is noticeably warmer than either, not sure whether that's a good or bad thing.

I suggest we are facing issues of different guitars and/or taste. I'm trying these in LP and Explorer style guitars, I imagine the 500T can sound thinner in a Fender style instrument.

Fusion1 said:
Curious were you one of the ones saying during the Custom Custom Custom craze that a JB with the smaller ceramic would sound like garbage and to not even try it?
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No, actually I like the JB with a Duncan Custom sized small ceramic, it's just not a huge difference to an actual custom.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

uOpt said:
I've been told that the DD and Invader share the same pickup configuration, as does the 500T.
Click to expand...

They share the same coils and both have ceramic magnets, but the poles are different (obvious) and the Invader is the only one with the 2 small spacer magnets, the DD does not have these extra magnets.

I've had the 500T in my Les Paul Studio and while I liked it I was curious enough to try the DD in it and it was fuller to me.

In my SG Standard I had a DD for years in it and curiousity made me want to try the 500T in it partly for the reason I thought maybe a Gibson pickup like the 500T would feel like it was made for it considering the guitar was a Gibson as well.
While much better than the stock 498t that came in my SG it was no match for the DD in that guitar and the 500T came out.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

uOpt said:
It's not a Distortion. A Distortion has three magments: a double height in the middle and two undersize magnets on the outsides of the polepieces.
.
Click to expand...

sorry but all DD's use a sinlge bar magnet
IF yours has 3 then someone did a invader mod to it:beerchug:
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

Well, in that case I can rest in piece that testing my JB with a large magnet was actually the real thing and I don't need to get an actual DD :)

Still don't like it. As I said, probably more guitar and taste related than anything else.
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

I'm kinda curious what the invader magnet configuration would sound like with different magnets? I bet it would sound really wide with A2... A5 would be the first logical step though, then A8, then A2. Although, I imagine it would also sound cool with neck buckers...

Wait... A while ago, someone mentioned that they would like to see the perfect neck pickup for a 24 fret guitar... Maybe one with that magnetic structure would be better suited to a 24 fret? PGn w/ 3 A2's... Just makes you wonder...
 
Re: JB+ (Ceramic)

The winning JB recipe - JB, regular ceramic mag (clarity, even EQ), steel spacer instead of plastic (wider magnetic field), hex poles on lower 4 strings (better clarity and detail), button head (Invader) poles on upper 2 strings (adds meat to the thinner strings, and helps with bending loss), with a beauty ring to focus the magnetic field up towards the strings.

I've been through a lot of bridge pups, and this is it for me. YMMV.
 
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