JB for neck...

[Farkus]

I was just playing my JB equipped strat, and I'm loving the tones. I have used a JBn/JBb combo before and it was cool. However, I'm remembering that I had some trouble getting the volumes to even out. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about getting something that matches the JB a little better than the PGn pup (which I currently use)? I thought about having a custom shop 'JB for neck' wound. I am figuring that the Jazz is not really a JB for neck, but just a complementary pickup; am I wrong about this? Any ideas?

Farkus

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: JB for neck...

What about a JB junior neck version?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: JB for neck...

The Jazz and JB are very differant pickups. For one thing, the JB has a DC Resistance that is more than double that of the Jazz! The JB is loud as all get out!

Personally, the JB would never work as a neck pickup for my style...it'd sound like sludge! But for guys who play only rock with alot of distortion it might be OK.

The Jazz has a bright, clearish tone for chords and single note soloing. The highs are much more extended than those ina pickup like the 59N. I can hear upper harmonics that sound like little springs ringing way up high in the Jazz that are just not there with other humbucking neck pickups. The Jazz is my favorite alnico 5 neck humbucker.

It is not a sterile, overly clean pickup though! Played through a cranked Marshall or similar amp the Jazz gets a great tone similar to an old Gibson paf from about 1959 or 60.

It's about 5% brighter and cleaner than a 59N...but very similar, IMO.

Lew

 

[Farkus]

Re: JB for neck...

What about a JB junior neck version?

Good point, but I prefer full size humbuckers. I'm not a huge fan of the 'lil series.

Farkus

 

[Farkus]

Re: JB for neck...

The Jazz and JB are very differant pickups. For one thing, the JB has a DC Resistance that is more than double that of the Jazz! The JB is loud as all get out!

That's cool man, that's why I was thinking of having a 'neck version' custom wound. It should be somewhat cooler and not as thick.

The Jazz has a bright, clearish tone for chords and single note soloing. The highs are much more extended than those ina pickup like the 59N. I can hear upper harmonics that sound like little springs ringing way up high in the Jazz that are just not there with other humbucking neck pickups. The Jazz is my favorite alnico 5 neck humbucker.

Good to know.

It is not a sterile, overly clean pickup though! Played through a cranked Marshall or similar amp the Jazz gets a great tone similar to an old Gibson paf from about 1959 or 60.

It's about 5% brighter and cleaner than a 59N...but very similar, IMO.

Lew

Sounds like it might be good to round out a guitar. I'm kind of jonesing for the thick sounds of the JB in the neck, but with less output. Thanks for the post Lew, now I'm sure about what I need. Thanks!

Farkus

 

[msplines]

Re: JB for neck...

I was in contact with the custom shop a while ago about various things and I was told that the Alan Holdsworth was effectively a "soft" wound JB and could be a good choice for the neck if a bright clear pickup is required. I'm not sure if SD have continued to stock this pickup or if it is a discontinued model - either way, it would be cheaper than a custom made job and you won't have to set it particularly low.
I use a JB in the neck and I love it, but it's not a strat type guitar. It's true that you have to set it low to balance as it's fairly hotwound, but I totally disagree with Lew about the mud part - no way in a brightish (mahogany/maple/ebony) guitar, chime yes, mud emphatically not.
Ooops, I nearly forgot, an Alnico proII might fill the bill, but it's warmer than the jazz and is really nice with clear, smooth ringing tones to it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: JB for neck...

When I said the JB would never work for me as a neck pickup, that's what I meant: for me. I like a clean neck pickup tone...not a rock neck pickup tone. I know a few people really like the JB as a neck pickup and that's cool.

My Hamer Monoco came with a Duncan Custom as the neck pickup and the Duncan Custom Custom as the bridge pickup.

The 14.4K Duncan Custom is a great bridge pickup but as a neck pickup I thought it sounded like sludge at high volumes. It was ok at lower volumes: volume 2 or 3 on a 40 watt Fender amp. But it had to much output, to much midrange ( to much everything !) to get a clear tone with my Fender amps on volume 4 or 5 or more.

The 16.5K JB is an even stronger sounding pickup IMO than the Custom so that's why I said it wouldn't work for me as a neck pickup.

But try it...maybe it'll be perfect for your style.

Lew

 

[msplines]

Re: JB for neck...

Just to clarify on the JB in the neck, it has to be set VERY low to balance in terms of out put with a typical bridge humbucker and it is at this point that you get a clean, clear strattish tone (especially nice when split). If you set it at anything like the "normal" height, what Lew said about sludge will apply, not to mention mega output and turbo blart - great if you like reversing the cones on your speakers but it sure ain't that musical.