JB light

[cthroatgtr]

I need a little help with coming up with a pickup. My first pickup is typically a JB and in general that pickup has worked well for me. Most of my guitars are floyd equipped strats, volume knob with 250k pot, no tone knob and are made of alder with maple/rosewood. I have one guitar though that is mahogany with a maple/ebony fingerboard. The JB sounded good but was a little too dark. When I record with it I have to really tweak the eq to make it sound right.

I had thought of changing the volume to 500k but really I have found I like what the 250k pot does to the tone in general when there is not a tone knob. I also think that it will add some unwanted highs due to the ebony so I first want to leave that alone.

I tried a DD and I like the tone, but I think I have gotten used to Alnico magnets and the DD is a little too "clear" for lack of a better word. It is close but still not right.

Really what I want would be a slightly brighter JB. My first thought would be a underwound JB, which would brighten up slightly I think. I also have thought about a C5, but I know the C5 has a very different tonal character than the JB.

Any ideas would be welcomed...

Here is the guitar:

 

[hamerfan]

Re: JB light

JB with a A8

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: JB light

A8 JB's don't really sound like the original JB (very different EQ). And a C5 definitely doesn't have the singing tone of a JB either. The only thing I can think of is a JB with a spin-a-split knob, but I haven't tried this before. That would lower the output and probably make the tone brighter as well.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: JB light

A neck model JB would be a good option for many if it existed. You could try a neck model Full Shred it is bright but articulate.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: JB light

Simple, low buck solution: swap he fillister screws on a JB to Demon style hex screws.

 

[Ascension]

Re: JB light

Custom 8 should get you pretty close.
I have a JB a JB-8 and a Custom-8 all in 94-95 Washburn USA MG's.
The JB 8 is tighter but not really brighter, The Custom 8 is tighter and than the JB and clearer on the top end + it has a terrific solo singing voice.

 

[cthroatgtr]

Re: JB light

The hex screws are something I thought of. I did that on one of my guitars that I put a CC in (maple/alder). I did it solely on the bottom three strings. The change was very subtle though and I suspect there will still be a lot of bottom end. Is the A8 magnet stronger output or just a different tone? I don't want to increase the DC resistance any.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: JB light

I need a little help with coming up with a pickup. My first pickup is typically a JB and in general that pickup has worked well for me. Most of my guitars are floyd equipped strats, volume knob with 250k pot, no tone knob and are made of alder with maple/rosewood. I have one guitar though that is mahogany with a maple/ebony fingerboard. The JB sounded good but was a little too dark. When I record with it I have to really tweak the eq to make it sound right.

I had thought of changing the volume to 500k but really I have found I like what the 250k pot does to the tone in general when there is not a tone knob. I also think that it will add some unwanted highs due to the ebony so I first want to leave that alone.

I tried a DD and I like the tone, but I think I have gotten used to Alnico magnets and the DD is a little too "clear" for lack of a better word. It is close but still not right.

Really what I want would be a slightly brighter JB. My first thought would be a underwound JB, which would brighten up slightly I think. I also have thought about a C5, but I know the C5 has a very different tonal character than the JB.

Any ideas would be welcomed...

Hmm. I was once told that a Pearly Gates Plus sounded like a JB, by someone on here who was listening to a clip of my Showmaster FAT HH. It's got a higher resonant peak than the JB due to having less DC resistance. I don't know if it's truly brighter, but it should be. The Tone Comparison Chart puts the Pearly Gates at a 9 on the treble, with the JB at 8, and that's the normal Pearly Gates with the Alnico II magnet. The PG+ has an Alnico V magnet, and I would think that this would make it a touch brighter.

Anyways, that's what I first thought of when I heard "JB Light". Hope that works out for you. Good luck, and welcome to the forum!

 

[cthroatgtr]

Re: JB light

A8 JB's don't really sound like the original JB (very different EQ). And a C5 definitely doesn't have the singing tone of a JB either. The only thing I can think of is a JB with a spin-a-split knob, but I haven't tried this before. That would lower the output and probably make the tone brighter as well.

I don't want to add a tone knob to the guitar. I hate tone knobs honestly.

 

[cthroatgtr]

Re: JB light

Hmm. I was once told that a Pearly Gates Plus sounded like a JB, by someone on here who was listening to a clip of my Showmaster FAT HH. It's got a higher resonant peak than the JB due to having less DC resistance. I don't know if it's truly brighter, but it should be. The Tone Comparison Chart puts the Pearly Gates at a 9 on the treble, with the JB at 8, and that's the normal Pearly Gates with the Alnico II magnet. The PG+ has an Alnico V magnet, and I would think that this would make it a touch brighter.

Anyways, that's what I first thought of when I heard "JB Light". Hope that works out for you. Good luck, and welcome to the forum!

The Pearly Gates/A2 would sound a little too vintage. Really I am looking for the warmth of the JB without the extra low midrange thud. A more articulate JB if that makes any sense. I thought of the Full Shred but a friend of mine had one and it had a searing high end. Though I believe it was a 500k pot so I thought perhaps the 250k pot would take care of that.

I really think a 14k JB would be an interesting p/u or I may be crazy. The Crazy 8 from the customer shop is intriguing as well.

 

[cthroatgtr]

Re: JB light

A8 JB's don't really sound like the original JB (very different EQ). And a C5 definitely doesn't have the singing tone of a JB either. The only thing I can think of is a JB with a spin-a-split knob, but I haven't tried this before. That would lower the output and probably make the tone brighter as well.

How would you compare the A8 JB with a Duncan Distortion? I like the DD in the guitar except it sounds sterile. Would the A8 JB fall somewhere between the DD & JB?

Regarding magnet swapping is there anywhere here that does that as a service? Though the general process looks easy I am not very good with that sort of thing so I am not sure I wouldn't just mess up the p/u in the process.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: JB light

How would you compare the A8 JB with a Duncan Distortion? I like the DD in the guitar except it sounds sterile. Would the A8 JB fall somewhere between the DD & JB?

Regarding magnet swapping is there anywhere here that does that as a service? Though the general process looks easy I am not very good with that sort of thing so I am not sure I wouldn't just mess up the p/u in the process.

The A8 JB has a very flat EQ, so it doesn't really sound like either the JB or the DD. It's a great clean, high output humbucker. But it doesn't have a lot of personality. I can see it being fantastic for someone who wants a high-output, balanced Jazz bridge sort of tone. The C8 (A8 Custom) is very, very close to a higher output, chunkier, and tighter JB.

Magnet swapping is very easy. It's one of the easiest modifications that someone can do for a guitar. No soldering or trickiness required.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: JB light

I don't want to add a tone knob to the guitar. I hate tone knobs honestly.

It actually doesn't even require a knob. You could use a small trimpot (adjustable with a screwdriver) sitting in the electronics cavity, and adjust it with a screwdriver to taste.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: JB light

Other similarities aside, the tonal difference between an alder body and a mahogany body are pretty vast. You'd probably find a tone you want faster by starting from scratch and approaching that guitar as its own animal, not trying to make it like all your other ones, y'know?

You ever try any of the Custom series pickups? The CustomCustom has almost nothing but mids...no boomy lowend or harsh highs to worry about. That might be your ticket...I sure like it in my alder/maple strat, and i'm gonna try it in my SG pretty soon.

 

[cthroatgtr]

Re: JB light

Other similarities aside, the tonal difference between an alder body and a mahogany body are pretty vast. You'd probably find a tone you want faster by starting from scratch and approaching that guitar as its own animal, not trying to make it like all your other ones, y'know?

You ever try any of the Custom series pickups? The CustomCustom has almost nothing but mids...no boomy lowend or harsh highs to worry about. That might be your ticket...I sure like it in my alder/maple strat, and i'm gonna try it in my SG pretty soon.

I have a CC in an Alder/Maple guitar and it sounds great but I have to roll some bottom off and I actually changed out the bottom three screws to hex screws as well. To me it has a great EVH/Fair Warning tone but only for that guitar. In the mahogany body is considerably darker so it would be a little too muddy in that guitar.

I agree with approaching it new. I still have lots of combos to try but I am trying to get some ideas on direction, which everyone has been very helpful. Basically the JB is always my starting point and then from there I can better find the match that I like.

 

[cthroatgtr]

Re: JB light

The A8 JB has a very flat EQ, so it doesn't really sound like either the JB or the DD. It's a great clean, high output humbucker. But it doesn't have a lot of personality. I can see it being fantastic for someone who wants a high-output, balanced Jazz bridge sort of tone. The C8 (A8 Custom) is very, very close to a higher output, chunkier, and tighter JB.

Magnet swapping is very easy. It's one of the easiest modifications that someone can do for a guitar. No soldering or trickiness required.

Does the A8 bring back some of the midrange that say an A5 lacks? I liked both the custom and C5 in different guitars but they both seem to be a little hollow in the middle. The mahogany probably brings some of that back which is why I was thinking about the C5 but perhaps the A8 would be even better.

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: JB light

Does the A8 bring back some of the midrange that say an A5 lacks? I liked both the custom and C5 in different guitars but they both seem to be a little hollow in the middle. The mahogany probably brings some of that back which is why I was thinking about the C5 but perhaps the A8 would be even better.

The A8 JB has a very balanced EQ compared to the C5, and naturally has more mids than the C5. It's an exceptional pickup for those who want a flat EQ, tightness, tons of clarity, etc. It's one of the best bridge pickups I've used.

 

[Diego]

Re: JB light

The spin-a-split knob did it for me. The full JB sounds a bit too mashed and crammed sometimes. Now I can keep the coil around half volume and it gives a more bity, open and percussive tone while still keeping the singing qualities on the high strings. Love it.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: JB light

The JB sounded good but was a little too dark.
Really what I want would be a slightly brighter JB. My first thought would be a underwound JB, which would brighten up slightly I think. I also have thought about a C5, but I know the C5 has a very different tonal character than the JB.

The Pearly Gates/A2 would sound a little too vintage. Really I am looking for the warmth of the JB without the extra low midrange thud. A more articulate JB if that makes any sense. I thought of the Full Shred but a friend of mine had one and it had a searing high end. Though I believe it was a 500k pot so I thought perhaps the 250k pot would take care of that. I really think a 14k JB would be an interesting p/u or I may be crazy. The Crazy 8 from the customer shop is intriguing as well.

Ok, let's see, JB is too dark, too much low midrange thud. Needs to be more articulate. Is this correct?

Ok, the Screamin' Demon (never used one), according to the Tone Chart, has less mids, more highs, and is lower in output (yet still classified high output IIRC), with higher resonant peak (7k versus 5.5k on the JB) and is an Alnico V magnet pickup. I'm going only by the Tone Chart here.

Have you called Seymour Duncan on this one? You can tell them what you don't like about the JB and maybe they can tell you what to try next. Also, if you're within the 21 day period, you can get it exchanged. I once had them even offer that to me even though I was beyond the window of time (because they're very gracious, and because I had been having other issues like deployments interfere with giving the guitar time and all that).

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: JB light

It totally depends on how attached you are to the JB's sound. There's really no other Duncan that has the same tonal characteristics as a JB.