JB in neck...?

LuijoC

New member
I'm not sure if this have been asked or discussed before (the search feature doesn't give me anything on this), but have any of you guys tried a JB in the neck position of a Strat (or any other guitar for that matter)?
Thoughts, opinions and/or experiences welcome.
Thanks.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

It would be a great pickup if you had a coil splitting switch, since the split sound is close to a vintage single coil. Otherwise, if you just use the neck pickup for leads or soloing, it's good as-is.

It doesn't do low-gain rhythm too well when it's not split, though....

I'd imagine that two JB's in a Strat would be great with a coil splitting switch or a spin-a-split knob. That would cover everything from decent Strat tones, to all-out metal.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

I had one in the neck of my '95 PRS CE22 maple top. That was a very bright guitar and no "normal" neck pickup gave me enough volume to keep up with the Dragon I bridge pickup. Many people used to comment how good it sounded and I have to agree.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

It's not really muddy -- just a bit thick and compressed. In comparison, the '59 and Jazz are more open and balanced for lower gain clarity.

Actually, this has gotten me to start scheming.... Two JB's in a Strat with one rotary 3-way switch (neck/combined/bridge) and two 3-way toggle switches (split, 1/2 split, and full coils for each pickup) could be an extremely versatile setup. Having one pickup reverse polarity to get notch positions would be cool too. :)
 
Re: JB in neck...?

This is a question for Zerb. He's the resident JB neck monster.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

Thank you guys for your opinions.
Right now I'm having second thoughts on the JB on the neck, maybe I'll try a Distortion neck with an A5 mag, any thoughts welcome.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

Thank you guys for your opinions.
Right now I'm having second thoughts on the JB on the neck, maybe I'll try a Distortion neck with an A5 mag, any thoughts welcome.

A distortion neck with an a5 IS a JB neck model...shhhhh! Just do it. Don't ask any questions. delete this thread immediately
 
Re: JB in neck...?

That's exactly why I was thinking of the neck Dist. with A5!
I've been thinking for a while that if the Dist. Bridge is the same as a JB( but with a ceramic mag) and it has a neck counterpart (whereas the JB doesn't), all you have to do to get the "JB neck" is substitute the ceramic mag on a Dist. neck for an A5 mag!
 
Re: JB in neck...?

OK, thanks for the link, somehow the search feature doesn't work too well with more than one word in my browser...:(
I'll try it anyway, I already disassembled it, so...why not go all the way?
Besides, if it works, won't have to buy another PU for the neck since I already have this one.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

Hey, I'm the guy with the JB on the neck on the guitar. Mine it's an Ibanez RG1550; basswood body, maple fretboard and neck, floating trem.

I like it, a lot. It sounds very middy and really thick, unlike most pickups on this position for this kind of guitar, which tend to be kinda scooped and picky so they sound more "precise". It isn't that tight; to me it sounds sort of what you expect an LP to sound like. How accurate that really is I don't know, but it's that kind of flavor, I'm sure of it. The highs sound just right, and the bass sounds a bit bloated but nothing terrible, it's more than worth it.

It's very screamy, very unpolite, and really fun to play with. What can I tell you? Give it a shot, it's the best neck pickup I've ever tried!
 
Re: JB in neck...?

Thanks, ChileanGuy (BTW, my wife is from Santiago, Chile!)
By your description I think I'll pass on the JB at the neck. I want clarity but not too much thickness.
I'm almost done modifying the Dist. neck substituting a regular-thickness mag for the double thickness one it came from. I'm doing this so it balances better volume-wise with the Dragon I I have at the bridge.
I'll keep you guys posted with the results.
Problem is I'm too lazy to take the guitar apart right now! :1:
 
Re: JB in neck...?

I installed the modded Dist. neck on the guitar yesterday and now I'm a happy man!
I'm glad I didn't go with the JB at the neck, the Dn is quite fat with the ceramic mag and lower wind so I don't think I would have liked the extra fatness the JB would have given me.
This PUP splits really well and has a warm tone which doesn't lose definition.
As I said before, I substituted a regular thickness ceramic mag for the double thickness original so maybe this has to do with the split sounding really close to a real single and not an overpowering version of it. It also explains why it behaves so politely as a HB and not as an all-hell-breaking-loose neck PUP.
Thanks again guys for your time and patience dealing with me, I hope this info can be of service to someone else too.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

Hey, good to know it worked for you. Hope I was of any help!

Frankly I like the balls to the wall neck pickup approach :D But to each his own! Enjoy that guitar.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

Your comments DID help CG!
I's not that I didn't like the sound of the JB at the neck (re-reading my posts I realize it sounds like I didn't try it), it's just that I didn't keep it there for the reasons stated above. Maybe for another guitar it will be the right choice, but not on this one.
And the modded Dn is no kitten with the weaker mag, it can still holds it's own against most bridge PUPs I guess, but now it is more dynamic and controllable.
 
Re: JB in neck...?

Yep, that was it!
Same tone, lower output (but still a high output unit), less compressed.
 
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