JB question

BOONIERAT

BOONIERAT

New member
The Karmer Baretta I just got has a JB in it. Not real familar with this pickup so I have a couple of questions:

Q1. Are JBs naturally "microphonic"?
Reason: Never played with a pickup that transmits every movement of the strings/fingers. When playing with some volume, the movement of my fingers on the strings gets picked up and causes a shrill sound that is very discomforting. Basically every movement, bump or touch of the guitar is transmitted through pickup and to the amp.

Q2. Does the JB sound a little "loose" on the bottom end. High notes are very distinct, but when playing open thur 5th fret on the 5th and 6th strings, the notes aren't very distinct. Is this a JB trait, or do I need to look at wiring and other things?

Thanks
 
Re: JB question

yes the JB has a slightly loose bottom end. not focused enough to some. its a JB trait, so dont worry about it.

as for it being microphonic, i didnt find my JB that way. been using a JB for about 7 to 8 yrs now.
 
Re: JB question

The microphonic thing kind of through me. It really picks up on the sound of my fingers changing notes and sometimes sounds almost like fingernails on a blackboard. Plus, I was changing the highth of the pickup and I could hear every turn of the screws through the amp, like I had a mic attached to the screwdriver.
Just never had a pick up this sensitive.

Thanks
 
Re: JB question

hmmm, i never had issues like that before with any duncan pup.
well hope someone who knows how to solve this comes along.

good luck on it
 
Re: JB question

Yeah, the loose bass is a JB thing. High's and mids more accentuated. I've never had a problem with my JB being microphonic.
 
Re: JB question

Thanks all.

Maybe tonight I'll pull it out, clean it and re-solder everything. See if the microphone effect is the pickup or in the wiring/pot.

I do love the mids and Highs, but the soft bottom kind of makes me think to start searching the forum for what others have used when the JB wasn't their cup of soup...so to speak.

Thanks
 
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Re: JB question

maybe u gotta re-wax the pup.
i heard that is what ppl do to kill microphonic properties. not sure though...dont quote me on that :D
 
Re: JB question

What I did to tighten up my JB a bit was replacing the adjustable screws with hex poles, like those found in Dimarzio pickups. The output lowered a bit, and it tightened things up a bit too. Much better. :deal:
 
Re: JB question

I'll give the hex screws a try, see how that works. They shouldn't look out of place on the Baretta.
As to re waxing, is that something I could do, or am I going to have to send it back in to SD?

If that doesn't do the trick, would maybe the Screamin Demon or C5 do the trick? I really like playing at the top of the neck with lots of chugging and would like the lower freq spectrum notes to be a little more pronounced.

Will do the search thing to see what others have said about this subject.

Thanks
 
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Re: JB question

Try changing your strings. The round wound strings do give off finger streaks so to speak. Get flat wound. JB pickups are so hot you need these!-
 
Re: JB question

BOONIERAT said:
The microphonic thing kind of through me. It really picks up on the sound of my fingers changing notes and sometimes sounds almost like fingernails on a blackboard. Plus, I was changing the highth of the pickup and I could hear every turn of the screws through the amp, like I had a mic attached to the screwdriver.
Just never had a pick up this sensitive.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I just sent a Custom 5 back for replacement for being microphonic and what you describe doesn't sound like that issue. It sounds like you are not used to a really hot pickup and it's sensitivity. The JB can be a pretty BRIGHT pickup and with it's high gain would really bring out those kind of string noises in a guitar with a Alder Basswood or ash body. I personally can't stand the JB in a bright bolt on guitar because of the pronounced upper mids and high end. They however can be pure MAGIC in a dark sounding Mahogany set neck or bolt on.
With mine being truely microphonic it squeeled like a PIG at high gain with any decent ammount of volume due to it not getting a good wax "pot". That is not what you are describing here.
BTW thanks to the Tec support and CS guys at Duncan for the quick replacement. I got my new Custom 5 last week and got it in and problem solved so all is well. THANKS GUYS :bigok: !
 
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Re: JB question

From what I gather from the VK site and the Kramer forum, the body on mine is more than likely maple. Guitar weighed in at 7.8lbs.

One other thing: Upon removing the Back Plate and looking at the POT, I noticed a CAP with a value of I02V100 soldered from the center post to the non grounded post. Not familar with wiring on volume pot only guitars, so should this be there?
 
Re: JB question

That's a treble bleed cap that helps retain highs when rolling back on the volume. I had one in mine and hated it so I took it out.

Try backing the pickup down away from the strings a little. If it's up too close, it'll pick up that stuff like crazy. Hotter pickups will pick up all sorts of stuff. I used to talk in to a DiMarzio X2N I had some years ago and you could hear me through the amp pretty easily. :laugh2:

To me, the JB can be pretty picky about what it's in. I like it in my Kramer, but don't like it in my Strats and can't stand it in Les Pauls.

That's a hefty guitar right there, about the same as mine which is 8 lbs.
 
Re: JB question

Also, since it's a hot pickup I suppose you're backing off the gain a bit don't you? And that you're not playing 2 feet from the amp. :D
 
Re: JB question

Thanks EricH, Will remove it and see how things sound::bigok:

ChileanGuy: Don't have a high gain Amp. Playing through a MusicMan 212HD 130 and a TS9. Plan on getting myself a good Distortion type peddle in the near future for some good 80's flavor tone:headbang: . Can't stand very close to the amp (more than 7 feet) or it starts screaming and feeding back like a scalded cat::argh:

Rid::beerchug: Starting pretty early this morning uh:banana:

Have a good one all:headbang:
Will get back later after I try some of your suggestions
 
Re: JB question

By the way got any pictures of your baby??
Love old Kramers:)
Hmm how about the springs for the pickup??
Could be those as well.
If the thing simply is not hung tight enough, they can squeal like a pig then!
 
Re: JB question

Here is a thread with some pictures:https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=105690
Just about have it completely cleaned up now. All the spray can paint is gone and the FR was disassembled, cleaned and oiled.
As for the squealing, found out it was the TS9. Went straight to the amp and no squeal. Guess I need a new pedal.
But the JB is still very microphonic. Standing out side my garage with my hands holding the strings facing into the wind, you could here the wind in the amp. JB's must be very sensitive.
ErikH,
Remove the CAP, and it does sound better, but still doesn't give that "chug" I'm looking for.
Maybe get a D type pedal and try it before giving up on the JB.

Sounds good clean though, to my surprise.
 
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