JB & Jazz combination.

Sune

New member
Yeah, I've been thinking about getting the JB & Jazz set, I'm just wondering if it would be good for hard rock, and different types of metal. "Classic" metal like Judas Priest and newer styles. The reason of my doubt is the Jazz pickup I must admit..Just the name "Jazz" makes me wonder if it's capable of being "brutal" enough for hard rock and metal ;-)

Of course I could switch between them so I used the JB for hard rock/metal styles and the Jazz for cleans for example, but that would only be in case that the Jazz can't handle those styles together with the JB.

So I would appreciate answers from people who knows about this stuff. Thanks in advance.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

From my experiences, the JB's sound varies directly as the guitar it is in. It's very mid based, and while it doesn't deliver low-end chunk like a Dimebucker or DD, I'm sure Dave Mustaine would put up an argument for it's ability to handle metal. Remember though, just because Dave can pull off the JB in his ESP doesn't mean you can crank those tones out of your Les Paul, persay.

I wouldn't doubt the Jazz. It is an extremely versatile pickup. Ask Jolly, I know he's put out some pretty heavy stuff with it.

--Watroba
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

The problem with that combo is not the jazz, its the JB which I think sounds like straight unadultereated A$$. A custom will be better in my opinion but, thats just my opinion.
Dont worry about the jazz, it should work well for you.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Well, I have heard the JB in the kind of guitar I want, and the first thing that went through my mind was actually "Megadeth!!" before I even knew Dave used one. But the one I was most nervous about is the Jazz, but I trust you when you say it's fine, and versatile.

One thing I would like to know from someone who has the combination is: does it sound good when you use both pickups simultaneously? I know it's Seymours favourite combination, but the problem is I don't know why it is his favourite. It is because you can get "brutal" with the JB alone, and sweet with the Jazz alone? Or is it because of the tones you get with them simultaneously?

Also - this question is to anyone who knows about this stuff. Would you recommend me to get one tone knob, or two?
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

This post is only in response to the tone knob question... I have an American Deluxe with 1 Volume and 2 Tone pots... I installed a L'il 59 in the bridge position, and did the Spin-a-Split mod that uses the 2nd tone pot to split the SC-sized Humbucker... I do NOT miss the second tone knob at all in regards to controlling tone... Now, I have more simple controls... One knob for Volume, One for Tone, and one to control the amount of splitting on the HB.... no second guessing which tone knob I should turn...

Also with the HH setup, I can't see why you would need 2 tones.... With the SSS setup on the strat, you can argue the need to control the bridge separately of the mid and neck pups, but as I said, once you drop the extra tone pot, you dont miss it!!!

Hope that gives you some advice you can use,
Allen
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Oh yeah, thanks, the plan was to go with one tone knob, I was just asking to be sure.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Personally I'd go with two tone knobs for the simple reason it provides more versatility if needed.

The JB and Jazz combo is great in the right guitar. I had that combo in my Schecter which I used as my metal guitar....and pumping thru the Soldano it was hard to beat.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

gordon_39422 said:
This post is only in response to the tone knob question... I have an American Deluxe with 1 Volume and 2 Tone pots... I installed a L'il 59 in the bridge position, and did the Spin-a-Split mod that uses the 2nd tone pot to split the SC-sized Humbucker... I do NOT miss the second tone knob at all in regards to controlling tone... Now, I have more simple controls... One knob for Volume, One for Tone, and one to control the amount of splitting on the HB.... no second guessing which tone knob I should turn...
Allen

I used the 2nd tone knob as a tone pot AND splitting at the same time:
0-9 = tone pot 10 = splitted.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Thanks guys, I'm more comfortable in buying it now. I've chosen to use 1 tone knob, as I had planned before. I don't think it will give me any problems.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

theodie said:
The problem with that combo is not the jazz, its the JB which I think sounds like straight unadultereated A$$. A custom will be better in my opinion but, thats just my opinion.
Dont worry about the jazz, it should work well for you.

LOL....I don't think I could have said that any better whatsoever at all.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

I've heard alot of things about these two pickups, but never heard them together. If possible could someone post a clip of them being played together?
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

I had that combo in my Les Paul for awhile. I had to ditch the JB for a Distortion as it was just too harsh in that particular guitar. However, I thought that the combined tone was fantastic and as close to an "acoustic" tone as I've ever got with an electric. Check out "Let it Be" at my Soundclick, it was recorded with that setup.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/writePage.cfm?myType=_music&bandid=188031&bandnamesave=jammermatt

I also had that combo in a Jackson and it freakin' rocked. It was an HSH so I never heard them combined in there. I'm with Jolly et al, the Jazz is solid, it's the JB you have to be careful with. It's beautiful in the right axe, and not so great in the wrong one.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

JOLLY said:
LOL....I don't think I could have said that any better whatsoever at all.

At least there is one other person that sees it my way on here. Thanks, Jolly!!!!
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

I had the Jazz/JB combo in my Standard for a short time. I love the Jazz, but the JB was like an icepick in the forehead to me. I swapped them out for some Seths and I'm a happy camper now.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Sune said:
Yeah, I've been thinking about getting the JB & Jazz set, I'm just wondering if it would be good for hard rock, and different types of metal. "Classic" metal like Judas Priest and newer styles. The reason of my doubt is the Jazz pickup I must admit..Just the name "Jazz" makes me wonder if it's capable of being "brutal" enough for hard rock and metal ;-)

Of course I could switch between them so I used the JB for hard rock/metal styles and the Jazz for cleans for example, but that would only be in case that the Jazz can't handle those styles together with the JB.

So I would appreciate answers from people who knows about this stuff. Thanks in advance.
I would recommend 2 tone knobs, to answer your question. But the reason it's so popular is because the JB is all high output and a monster that can bite or growl... it's very versitile. The Jazz apparently has the nicest clean tones known to man, but listen to Jolly's clips and you can see it can do dirty quite well too. I personally am not a fan of the JB, so if I were you I'd go with a Distortion/Jazz if that'd work or a Custom/Jazz. The Ceramic mag will sound better for Priest and Maiden.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Thanks for your inputs. Obviously alot of you hate the JB, but the JB was the reason why I got interested in this setup in the first place, I just wasn't sure about the Jazz, but I am now. And to my ears the JB sounds great, but as you say it has alot to do with which guitar it is.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Personally, I love the JB. It's the perfect pup for my Jackson, at least for what I'm looking for. They're right, though. It depends on what guitar it's in. If it sounds good in yours, go for it. The jazz sounds good in any guitar, so you shouldn't have any problems there.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Well yeah, I guess if the first thing that popped in my mind when i heard it in the guitar was "Megadeth!", then it can't be bad, and I didn't even know that Dave Mustaine used it, at the time I heard it.
 
Re: JB & Jazz combination.

Sune said:
Well yeah, I guess if the first thing that popped in my mind when i heard it in the guitar was "Megadeth!", then it can't be bad, and I didn't even know that Dave Mustaine used it, at the time I heard it.
That's pretty cool. It should mean that your ears aren't lying to you. So trust them, and go with what sounds the best to you.
 
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