JakeBluesRocker
New member
Reviews?
JB opinions?
- Thread starter JakeBluesRocker
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J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: JB opinions?
Half the threads in The Pickup Lounge are about the JB -- the best and worst pickup ever made, depending on whom you ask. Knock yourself out.
Half the threads in The Pickup Lounge are about the JB -- the best and worst pickup ever made, depending on whom you ask. Knock yourself out.
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: JB opinions?
I have one installed in the bridge of a:
So, I suspect it's response will be a bit different than if it was in a proper Les Paul.
The bass strings sound smooth, but with a little bit of distortion. Not tight, but those strings are nice to "thwack" around. And, the treble strings offer mighty highs and will cut through anything; you can smooth them out at the amp.
A great heavy rock pickup and good for old-school Metal, but it can cover Thrash and Death Metal styles too; that's where a high gain amplifier will help out.
Well, that's my review of the JB. It also can be sweet and have a little singing sound to it. And, it's has solid harmonics.
I have one installed in the bridge of a:
So, I suspect it's response will be a bit different than if it was in a proper Les Paul.
The bass strings sound smooth, but with a little bit of distortion. Not tight, but those strings are nice to "thwack" around. And, the treble strings offer mighty highs and will cut through anything; you can smooth them out at the amp.
A great heavy rock pickup and good for old-school Metal, but it can cover Thrash and Death Metal styles too; that's where a high gain amplifier will help out.
Well, that's my review of the JB. It also can be sweet and have a little singing sound to it. And, it's has solid harmonics.
zakk_speed
New member
Re: JB opinions?
Its the original love-hate pup. There are no rules, but generally it doesn't like mahogany or basswood bodies, and shines in alder or ash.
That said, i've a basswood guitar that the JB sounded stellar in.
The other general comment is that a lot of folks who gig for money in front of an audience and need one pup that will cut through the mix and do it all from clean to metal love the JB.
Its the original love-hate pup. There are no rules, but generally it doesn't like mahogany or basswood bodies, and shines in alder or ash.
That said, i've a basswood guitar that the JB sounded stellar in.
The other general comment is that a lot of folks who gig for money in front of an audience and need one pup that will cut through the mix and do it all from clean to metal love the JB.
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: JB opinions?
I tried the DD5 in my Les Paul (a close approximation to a real JB), and I didn't like it either. I like the Custom much, much better. But I've been told the JB is just picky about the guitar it's in.
I tried the DD5 in my Les Paul (a close approximation to a real JB), and I didn't like it either. I like the Custom much, much better. But I've been told the JB is just picky about the guitar it's in.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: JB opinions?
+1. It's all about the wood and the guitar. Like Babe Ruth, it's either a home run or a strike out.
+1. It's all about the wood and the guitar. Like Babe Ruth, it's either a home run or a strike out.
zenmindbeginner
New member
Re: JB opinions?
It's harmonics jump out with excited intensity. It has a singing violin-like lead tone on the upper strings. You don't need to even use much treble at the amp end. It is sensitive to pickup height like any pickup but it's harmonics are so good that it still sounds incredible further away from the strings.
+1 on the alder/ash and 25.5" scale lengths
I like the sound of JBs in hollow bodied or chambered mahogany 24.75" lengths too.
JBs are great for rosewood and Pau Ferro fretboards.
Under high gain, it likes a fairly hard pick attack... 10 gauge strings and up give the JB it's necessary authority to churn out some serious presence and tightens up the bass that so many people find loose.
There's nothing out there like it except for it's cousins (the DD and Invader).
Fantastic pickup for magnet swaps.
The JB sounds great for flat Eq'd set-ups, an amp with too much upper mids or highs will render the JB as harsh. I like a nice flat EQ with maybe even a little low mids and mids thrown in for an extra thick sound... the treble on my amp is on 2. lolz!
It's harmonics jump out with excited intensity. It has a singing violin-like lead tone on the upper strings. You don't need to even use much treble at the amp end. It is sensitive to pickup height like any pickup but it's harmonics are so good that it still sounds incredible further away from the strings.
+1 on the alder/ash and 25.5" scale lengths
I like the sound of JBs in hollow bodied or chambered mahogany 24.75" lengths too.
JBs are great for rosewood and Pau Ferro fretboards.
Under high gain, it likes a fairly hard pick attack... 10 gauge strings and up give the JB it's necessary authority to churn out some serious presence and tightens up the bass that so many people find loose.
There's nothing out there like it except for it's cousins (the DD and Invader).
Fantastic pickup for magnet swaps.
The JB sounds great for flat Eq'd set-ups, an amp with too much upper mids or highs will render the JB as harsh. I like a nice flat EQ with maybe even a little low mids and mids thrown in for an extra thick sound... the treble on my amp is on 2. lolz!
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: JB opinions?
The JB sucks...worst pickup ever!
Only IDIOTS who like killer rock sounds with amazing response, incredible versatility, fantastic harmonics and awesome lead tones go for those pieces of crap! I wouldn't touch one with a 10-foot pole. Terrible waste of plastic, metal and wax if you ask me!
:wizard:
The JB sucks...worst pickup ever!
Only IDIOTS who like killer rock sounds with amazing response, incredible versatility, fantastic harmonics and awesome lead tones go for those pieces of crap! I wouldn't touch one with a 10-foot pole. Terrible waste of plastic, metal and wax if you ask me!
:wizard:
lazyfinger
Member
J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
Re: JB opinions?
I put them in awesome guitars, the way God intended. Soloist, Soloist, RG. The seven-string RG has a basswood body. The result doesn't sound like any other guitar I've ever played, but it's still made of win.
I put them in awesome guitars, the way God intended. Soloist, Soloist, RG. The seven-string RG has a basswood body. The result doesn't sound like any other guitar I've ever played, but it's still made of win.
Re: JB opinions?
Well I have a maple body (tank) 84 Kramer Baretta. I swapped the Schaller Golden 50 for a CC in 94' and although I liked it, it never really did it for me. So I swapped in a DD, and I didn't like it as much as the CC. Then I tried a A8 mag in both the Schaller and CC. Then I purchased a JB last year, and dropped it in my baby (Original owner of the Kramer).
I play a lot of Van Halen, Warren Demartini, George Lynch, Jake E Lee, and Yngwie style riffs and leads. Whether I'm hitting some Van Halenish low string harmonic, or some Demartini super bend on the E 15th fret, the result is a raw tone with infinite sparkle. I can still get it with other PUPs and guitars but it doesn't have the magic that the JB produces.
I also play Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer, with amp EQ settings I can pull off the general sound I need out of it. Especially when playing Marty Friedman leads. Don't have to worry about Slayer solos lol, and playing A Minor Pent scales from Metallica, a JB only makes those sound better lol.
I recently put the DD I had on the shelf into an 86 Charvel Model 2 (import Basswood body). I got it at a pawn shop and it had an EMG 81 in it, I knew right a way that I wanted that PUP in my ESP LTD because an EMG doesn't care about wood. The DD in my Charvel sounds fantastic, now that I have the right volume POT in it.
I keep switching now between my Charvel DD and my Kramer JB and they both sound killer but are different, they very much capture the 80s vibe whether it be Hair Metal or Kill em All, Piece of Mind, Ozzy.
When I want a little heavier drop D I'm using my LTD with the EMG 81 in it.
Well I have a maple body (tank) 84 Kramer Baretta. I swapped the Schaller Golden 50 for a CC in 94' and although I liked it, it never really did it for me. So I swapped in a DD, and I didn't like it as much as the CC. Then I tried a A8 mag in both the Schaller and CC. Then I purchased a JB last year, and dropped it in my baby (Original owner of the Kramer).
I play a lot of Van Halen, Warren Demartini, George Lynch, Jake E Lee, and Yngwie style riffs and leads. Whether I'm hitting some Van Halenish low string harmonic, or some Demartini super bend on the E 15th fret, the result is a raw tone with infinite sparkle. I can still get it with other PUPs and guitars but it doesn't have the magic that the JB produces.
I also play Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer, with amp EQ settings I can pull off the general sound I need out of it. Especially when playing Marty Friedman leads. Don't have to worry about Slayer solos lol, and playing A Minor Pent scales from Metallica, a JB only makes those sound better lol.
I recently put the DD I had on the shelf into an 86 Charvel Model 2 (import Basswood body). I got it at a pawn shop and it had an EMG 81 in it, I knew right a way that I wanted that PUP in my ESP LTD because an EMG doesn't care about wood. The DD in my Charvel sounds fantastic, now that I have the right volume POT in it.
I keep switching now between my Charvel DD and my Kramer JB and they both sound killer but are different, they very much capture the 80s vibe whether it be Hair Metal or Kill em All, Piece of Mind, Ozzy.
When I want a little heavier drop D I'm using my LTD with the EMG 81 in it.
John E Rokker
New member
Re: JB opinions?
Probably my favorite strat humbucker, but with an UOA5.
Probably my favorite strat humbucker, but with an UOA5.
J.LaGrassa
New member
Re: JB opinions?
I love the JB I have one in my Les Paul and use that guitar for everything which is clean to heavy rock.... it just sounds right!
I love the JB I have one in my Les Paul and use that guitar for everything which is clean to heavy rock.... it just sounds right!
75lespaul
New member
Re: JB opinions?
And in my experience, the amp being used as well! Of course it is ALL subjective and just my preferences, but I had JBs in my Epiphone Casino, where it rocked--as long as the feedback was tolerable, lol. I also had them in Jacksons and Charvels, where through a preamp distortion type amp, or modeler, they sounded buzzy to me, but through a power tube distortion or non-master amp they sounded freaking awesome, and I also had one in a 1973 Les Paul Deluxe bridge that sounded fantastic through everything. In that guitar, straight through a Univox U-45B with no pedals, I got what I considered to be an incredibly vintage early Led Zeppelin lead type tone as can be heard in my recordings posted below of "We're Gonna Groove" and "That Kinda Man".
And in my experience, the amp being used as well! Of course it is ALL subjective and just my preferences, but I had JBs in my Epiphone Casino, where it rocked--as long as the feedback was tolerable, lol. I also had them in Jacksons and Charvels, where through a preamp distortion type amp, or modeler, they sounded buzzy to me, but through a power tube distortion or non-master amp they sounded freaking awesome, and I also had one in a 1973 Les Paul Deluxe bridge that sounded fantastic through everything. In that guitar, straight through a Univox U-45B with no pedals, I got what I considered to be an incredibly vintage early Led Zeppelin lead type tone as can be heard in my recordings posted below of "We're Gonna Groove" and "That Kinda Man".
JakeBluesRocker
New member
Re: JB opinions?
Will the JB sound good on a cheapo 90s ibanez?
The body is probably made of agathis or basswood
Will the JB sound good on a cheapo 90s ibanez?
The body is probably made of agathis or basswood
Soulcrusher_X
New member
Re: JB opinions?
Haha. Im going to have to open the control panel on my LP and verify that it also is made of win.
Haha. Im going to have to open the control panel on my LP and verify that it also is made of win.
Re: JB opinions?
My 84' baretta came stock with a JBJ?
83' was the last year they used schaller pu's so you have a 83' bro
My 84' baretta came stock with a JBJ?
83' was the last year they used schaller pu's so you have a 83' bro
SteveGangi
New member
Re: JB opinions?
I got very good results putting a bridge SH4 JB in a Les Paul Custom.
I got very good results putting a bridge SH4 JB in a Les Paul Custom.
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