JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

N

Nico 666

New member
Also, I realised that I don't need so much output from my bridge pickup.
I tried everything from height adjustment to tweaking my amp but I can't stand any sound with Volume or Tone above 7. That is of course my personal taste, the JB really is good pickup with great definition of notes, artculation and warmth but it is "too much" for me.
The JB is in my LP Std, matching a neck 59 which I really dig.
So, I guess I need a bridge '59 but I was wondering if a PG could fit?
Any help or advice welcome.
Thanks
Nick
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

Either the 59 or PG would do the job. My pesonal choice is the PG, but it does have a bit of a bump in the high mids which some people don't like.
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

I was thinking of going to a jb from my 59 in my les paul where do you live???
I find the 59 too bright
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

Nico 666 said:
Also, I realised that I don't need so much output from my bridge pickup.
I tried everything from height adjustment to tweaking my amp but I can't stand any sound with Volume or Tone above 7. That is of course my personal taste, the JB really is good pickup with great definition of notes, artculation and warmth but it is "too much" for me.
The JB is in my LP Std, matching a neck 59 which I really dig.
So, I guess I need a bridge '59 but I was wondering if a PG could fit?
Any help or advice welcome.
Thanks
Nick
Click to expand...

I like the PG but an Alnico II magnet at the bridge isn't my thing. What about a Screaming Demon or a 250K pot on your JB? ...a C5 will give a good bass presence..
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

SH-14 Custom 5.

The guys on this board that first started making this pickup were doing it to counter the JB's powerful treble response.
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

Evan Skopp said:
SH-14 Custom 5.

The guys on this board that first started making this pickup were doing it to counter the JB's powerful treble response.
Click to expand...
My thoughts exactly, a custom 5 is a nice step down from a JB trebble wise...
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

I was thinking of getting a JB but was worried about it sounding really trebly . How would the Custom work out?
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

Evan Skopp said:
SH-14 Custom 5.

The guys on this board that first started making this pickup were doing it to counter the JB's powerful treble response.
Click to expand...

Wow. I would never, under normal circumstances disagree with Evan (sorry in advance man!), but in my opinion the C5 is MUCH brighter and less "thick" sounding than the JB.

In my experience, the lack of mids in the C5 leaves a trebly "tinkle" in the high end and a "hole" where the body of the guitar sound is - the mids (especially noticable when playing with a live band).

In contrast, the JB has abundant mids and since they are the prominent frequency, the pickup (to my ears) seems much warmer and thicker.

I would say to those who like the "vocal" quality of the JB but for some reason hear a bit too much brightness - install a 250k pot to replace the 500k. This is what Seymour originally designed the JB for - to warm up Jeff Beck's Telecaster (which had 250k pots).

Also, I know this is asking for it, but the older JB's (like my 1982) can sound a bit warmer, no doubt due to the Alnico V magnet (and other components) aging. This is the fodder of endless debate, but my old JB is a VERY warm and vocal pickup. The C5 was anything but. But ANY JB is a midrange oriented pickup - very "throaty" sounding.

A pickup that LACKS mids will sound bright and boomy. Chimey with a big bottom. But in a band mix the bottom gets swallowed by the bassist, and the chimey can get eaten up by the cymbals.

The guitar really wants to cut through in the MIDS. So a guitar that does that is more audible and percieved as "warmer" and "bigger" even though it is taking up a narrower frequency spectrum.

Just my ears, my taste and my own personal insanity. Don't mean to offend or spread misinformation.

Peace. :burnout:
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

Mac-P said:
Wow. I would never, under normal circumstances disagree with Evan (sorry in advance man!), but in my opinion the C5 is MUCH brighter and less "thick" sounding than the JB.

In my experience, the lack of mids in the C5 leaves a trebly "tinkle" in the high end and a "hole" where the body of the guitar sound is - the mids (especially noticable when playing with a live band).

In contrast, the JB has abundant mids and since they are the prominent frequency, the pickup (to my ears) seems much warmer and thicker.

I would say to those who like the "vocal" quality of the JB but for some reason hear a bit too much brightness - install a 250k pot to replace the 500k. This is what Seymour originally designed the JB for - to warm up Jeff Beck's Telecaster (which had 250k pots).

Also, I know this is asking for it, but the older JB's (like my 1982) can sound a bit warmer, no doubt due to the Alnico V magnet (and other components) aging. This is the fodder of endless debate, but my old JB is a VERY warm and vocal pickup. The C5 was anything but. But ANY JB is a midrange oriented pickup - very "throaty" sounding.

A pickup that LACKS mids will sound bright and boomy. Chimey with a big bottom. But in a band mix the bottom gets swallowed by the bassist, and the chimey can get eaten up by the cymbals.

The guitar really wants to cut through in the MIDS. So a guitar that does that is more audible and percieved as "warmer" and "bigger" even though it is taking up a narrower frequency spectrum.

Just my ears, my taste and my own personal insanity. Don't mean to offend or spread misinformation.

Peace. :burnout:
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. To my ears, there's a hard edge to the upper mids/lower treble of a JB that might be the source of what players hear as being to bright. But in terms of extended highs, upper harmonics and overall treble, I think the C5 and 59 are "brighter" than the JB. But they don't hurt my ears the way that "edgier" tone of the JB sometimes can. Lew
 
Re: JB is too trebly for my taste... Where to go?

Evan Skopp said:
SH-14 Custom 5.

The guys on this board that first started making this pickup were doing it to counter the JB's powerful treble response.
Click to expand...

I actually find the C-5 sounds more trebly in the same guitar. I find the JB has a lot of mids and some say high mids so maybe that is what we all hear. I found the JB personally to be like the Rio Grande BBQ in that it is rich and full with thick mids but it does have more highs than the Rio with less bass. I found the highs smooth. The C-5 with it's much lower mids, sounded ics picky in the same guitar to my ears. Again, this is my opnion and what I had heard. Opinions vary.

I agree with everything Mac-P mentioned above, but this really is like ice cream in that we all have a favorite flavor. Give me mids and I am happy! I can't get enough of it........I don't care how much midrange is in the natural voice of my guitar, pile on the mids with a midrange heavy pickup. I just live for that thick, throaty tone that I only find in p'ups with lots of mids. I could never get that thick, warm, deep snarl out of the C-5 like I can the JB or the BBQ.

You also may want to try the Custom as some do like it as an alternative to the JB.
 
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