JB is driving me NUTS!
- Thread starter Noisembryo
- Start date
Noisembryo
New member
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Just to clarify...
I'm not trolling, why would I be trolling? I came here to get suggestions for pickup swap because I'm not satisfied with current ones. Seems like there is trend on forums whenever someone offers their subjective opinion is considered a troll...
On to the topic...
I just checked electronics and here they are if that means anything to you:
Volume pots: CTS 500-B 1225
Tone pots: CTS 500-A 1225
Caps: TK 223J (red ones)
Just to clarify...
I'm not trolling, why would I be trolling? I came here to get suggestions for pickup swap because I'm not satisfied with current ones. Seems like there is trend on forums whenever someone offers their subjective opinion is considered a troll...
On to the topic...
I just checked electronics and here they are if that means anything to you:
Volume pots: CTS 500-B 1225
Tone pots: CTS 500-A 1225
Caps: TK 223J (red ones)
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Ignore them, they don't know how to deal with this. To some of the more fanatical people here, anyone who doesn't love the JB in it's stock form is a heretic, raving lunatic, or tone deaf. Remember, your opinions are subjective, theirs are objective. You can't argue with logic like that.
Ignore them, they don't know how to deal with this. To some of the more fanatical people here, anyone who doesn't love the JB in it's stock form is a heretic, raving lunatic, or tone deaf. Remember, your opinions are subjective, theirs are objective. You can't argue with logic like that.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
I get that you are not satisfied with them. But like I was trying to say, there are cheaper options to significantly change the tone of the existing pickups. The guitar I have a JB in, it's no LP, but when I first put it in, it was with a 500k volume pot. Similar to your complaint, I found it way too bright, grating, harsh, and thin. I've played other guitars with JBs that didn't sound like that. After replacing the volume pot with a 250k it got a LOT better, much more usable, and after replacing the polished magnet with an RCA5 like the original JBs had, that pretty much fixed all the complaints I had about it. It is more versatile than you give it credit for, but if you haven't had the opportunity to hear what it can do... well, spend a couple of bucks on a pot and maybe a new magnet, and see if it floats your boat. It just might, and it's a lot cheaper than buying a new set of pickups.
As people have said before, in non-strat/non-fender type designs, it tends to be more nitpicky about whether or not it'll sound good, and really that all comes down to the woods, the type of guitar and electronics. There are however, lots of players who love the sound of a JB in a LP, so at the very least it's worth investigating.
But if you're dead set on a PAF type bridge pickup then yeah, get that JB out asap.
I get that you are not satisfied with them. But like I was trying to say, there are cheaper options to significantly change the tone of the existing pickups. The guitar I have a JB in, it's no LP, but when I first put it in, it was with a 500k volume pot. Similar to your complaint, I found it way too bright, grating, harsh, and thin. I've played other guitars with JBs that didn't sound like that. After replacing the volume pot with a 250k it got a LOT better, much more usable, and after replacing the polished magnet with an RCA5 like the original JBs had, that pretty much fixed all the complaints I had about it. It is more versatile than you give it credit for, but if you haven't had the opportunity to hear what it can do... well, spend a couple of bucks on a pot and maybe a new magnet, and see if it floats your boat. It just might, and it's a lot cheaper than buying a new set of pickups.
As people have said before, in non-strat/non-fender type designs, it tends to be more nitpicky about whether or not it'll sound good, and really that all comes down to the woods, the type of guitar and electronics. There are however, lots of players who love the sound of a JB in a LP, so at the very least it's worth investigating.
But if you're dead set on a PAF type bridge pickup then yeah, get that JB out asap.
hamerfan
Well-known member
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
If you can purchase a 500k resistor and solder it across the volume pot, then you can mimik a 250k pot, which would tame the highs. If you need more information, do not hesitate to ask.
If you can purchase a 500k resistor and solder it across the volume pot, then you can mimik a 250k pot, which would tame the highs. If you need more information, do not hesitate to ask.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Just like your opinion that JBs are bad in mahogany... its very objective...
Just like your opinion that JBs are bad in mahogany... its very objective...
darthphineas
New member
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Another JB sucks thread....another Phineas mention of maybe I like the JB because it was my first Duncan and my tone has been built around it since 1985.
When someone else starts with the 59 or the Custom, they are going to have a different opinion.
Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk
Another JB sucks thread....another Phineas mention of maybe I like the JB because it was my first Duncan and my tone has been built around it since 1985.
When someone else starts with the 59 or the Custom, they are going to have a different opinion.
Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Wrong again. You're on a roll today. As I've said many times, sometimes JB's work very well in mahogany and there's plenty of examples of it. But they also seem to be very erratic, hit or miss. Many posts to that effect, either you've missed them or blow them off. When JB's don't work out in mahogany, they tend to fail in a spectacular fashion, more so than most other PU's. That's why I don't think it's a particularly good idea to recommend them to someone new to aftermarket PU's who has a mahogany guitar. Sure, he may love them, some guys do. But if he doesn't, he'll probably never try another Duncan again (I know guys like this). Which is a shame, as Duncan has so much more to offer, there's no need to fixate on JB's, like the entire company revolves around them. And maybe to your ears, you can play everything with a Custom, Distortion, and JB. But some of us are more discerning.
Wrong again. You're on a roll today. As I've said many times, sometimes JB's work very well in mahogany and there's plenty of examples of it. But they also seem to be very erratic, hit or miss. Many posts to that effect, either you've missed them or blow them off. When JB's don't work out in mahogany, they tend to fail in a spectacular fashion, more so than most other PU's. That's why I don't think it's a particularly good idea to recommend them to someone new to aftermarket PU's who has a mahogany guitar. Sure, he may love them, some guys do. But if he doesn't, he'll probably never try another Duncan again (I know guys like this). Which is a shame, as Duncan has so much more to offer, there's no need to fixate on JB's, like the entire company revolves around them. And maybe to your ears, you can play everything with a Custom, Distortion, and JB. But some of us are more discerning.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
I think all new Les Pauls should come with a 500T.
I think all new Les Pauls should come with a 500T.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Well, this one was started by the OP, a new guy here, and he apparently does not like his JB. That's naturally going to bring out the standard responses:
- that he's not the first guy to experience this in that kind of wood. Long term members have seen this said many times, but a few are always blinded-sided.
- someone will give examples of JB's working well in mahogany and state that they will in all mahogany guitars. If they don't, it's probably incompetence on that person's part.
- that JB's are great for just about everything (which usually turns out to be the metal they play).
- that JB's are not great for everything, which is why Duncan's gone to great lengths to create so many different kinds of HB's.
- that with different pots and/or magnets, JB's can work in more situations.
- that real men like their JB's stock, and those needing mods should look into a testosterone supplement.
- that some trouble makers hate JB's simply just because they're popular. these people are most likely communists.
And on and on. Happens every time. We should be used to it by now.
Well, this one was started by the OP, a new guy here, and he apparently does not like his JB. That's naturally going to bring out the standard responses:
- that he's not the first guy to experience this in that kind of wood. Long term members have seen this said many times, but a few are always blinded-sided.
- someone will give examples of JB's working well in mahogany and state that they will in all mahogany guitars. If they don't, it's probably incompetence on that person's part.
- that JB's are great for just about everything (which usually turns out to be the metal they play).
- that JB's are not great for everything, which is why Duncan's gone to great lengths to create so many different kinds of HB's.
- that with different pots and/or magnets, JB's can work in more situations.
- that real men like their JB's stock, and those needing mods should look into a testosterone supplement.
- that some trouble makers hate JB's simply just because they're popular. these people are most likely communists.
And on and on. Happens every time. We should be used to it by now.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Right, except for guys that play blues and classic rock, or jazz and country...
Right, except for guys that play blues and classic rock, or jazz and country...
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Especially those guys. They will love it. And not just Les Pauls, but all guitars. Put them in Fenders and watch country players with thumb picks explode.
Especially those guys. They will love it. And not just Les Pauls, but all guitars. Put them in Fenders and watch country players with thumb picks explode.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
let's not forget danelectros.
and what about in jazz boxes with a neck humbucker? They're especially good candidates for a 500T.
let's not forget danelectros.
and what about in jazz boxes with a neck humbucker? They're especially good candidates for a 500T.
darthphineas
New member
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Yes. There has been an recent onslaught of newbs here, no doubt prompted by the flaccid FB musings (i.e. What's your favorite color/band/coffee/season/etc.), that think the search feature is scanning the first page and then dropping a new thread on an ages-old discussion.
Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk
Yes. There has been an recent onslaught of newbs here, no doubt prompted by the flaccid FB musings (i.e. What's your favorite color/band/coffee/season/etc.), that think the search feature is scanning the first page and then dropping a new thread on an ages-old discussion.
Sent from my armored battle station using Tapatalk
Harvesterofsorrow
New member
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Slash set is great but I'm a sucker for a good old fashion super distortion
Slash set is great but I'm a sucker for a good old fashion super distortion
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Two excellent choices for what the OP wants.
But I still think we should try to force a JB on him...
Two excellent choices for what the OP wants.
But I still think we should try to force a JB on him...
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L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
Put a DuckBlaster MegaStack in it.
Put a DuckBlaster MegaStack in it.
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: JB is driving me NUTS!
the problem you're describing sounds very much to me like you've got both pickups too close to the strings.
i've had the same pickups in a guitar that is basically the same shape and made out of the same woods as yours, and had the very same problem before i lowered the pickups.
through the theory out the window RE height adustments; just check the pole screws aren't too high or low, and tweak the height until it sounds good (do this while plugged in). if the pickup is sitting down in the ring before it sounds good, so be it.
you may want to try something else anyway, but don't write these pickups off too quickly.
APH-1s and phat cats sound good in mine, and the screamin demon could be another one to consider if you get no satisfaction from adjustments.
the problem you're describing sounds very much to me like you've got both pickups too close to the strings.
i've had the same pickups in a guitar that is basically the same shape and made out of the same woods as yours, and had the very same problem before i lowered the pickups.
through the theory out the window RE height adustments; just check the pole screws aren't too high or low, and tweak the height until it sounds good (do this while plugged in). if the pickup is sitting down in the ring before it sounds good, so be it.
you may want to try something else anyway, but don't write these pickups off too quickly.
APH-1s and phat cats sound good in mine, and the screamin demon could be another one to consider if you get no satisfaction from adjustments.