JB Sounds Dull

[redline144]

Hey all,
I've been searching and haven't really found anything pertaining to this. I have a 2009 Schecter C-1 FR (specs below on wood etc). I have a JB in the bridge and a Sustainiac in the neck. I had an Invader in there before and it was very dark sounding so I swapped to a JB, same issue, slightly better though. I'm wondering if you all have any suggestions to how to brighten this up, perhaps the wood/pickup combo is not the greatest, maybe the pickup is dead, I don't know. At this point I'm at a loss and playing the guitar is painful. I made a DI recording with no EQ or anything so you can get the raw sound of the pickup. Kind of sloppy playing so please forgive me, I did it in 2 minutes. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Recording link:


Guitar Specs
Construction: Bolt-On
Body: Mahogany
Scale: 25.5"
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Original FR
Pickups: Bridge JB, Neck Sustainiac
Electronics: 2 Volume, 1 Tone, 3 way switch

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

Hey all,
I've been searching and haven't really found anything pertaining to this. I have a 2009 Schecter C-1 FR (specs below on wood etc). I have a JB in the bridge and a Sustainiac in the neck. I had an Invader in there before and it was very dark sounding so I swapped to a JB, same issue, slightly better though. I'm wondering if you all have any suggestions to how to brighten this up, perhaps the wood/pickup combo is not the greatest, maybe the pickup is dead, I don't know. At this point I'm at a loss and playing the guitar is painful. I made a DI recording with no EQ or anything so you can get the raw sound of the pickup. Kind of sloppy playing so please forgive me, I did it in 2 minutes. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Recording link:


Guitar Specs
Construction: Bolt-On
Body: Mahogany
Scale: 25.5"
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Original FR
Pickups: Bridge JB, Neck Sustainiac
Electronics: 2 Volume, 1 Tone, 3 way switch

Thanks in advance!!!

Sounds good though....However, How close to the strings is the JB mounted? I had this same issue with my JB in my Ibanez RG and i brought it closer to the strings and it cleaned up a good bit....Are you running through pedals, processor, or anything at all other than a DI box?

 

[redline144]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I have the pole pieces all around 1/16" inch from the strings when the highest fret is fretted. In this sound demo, no. Just guitar -> DI on my Focusrite interface -> computer. I actually just did the raising of the pickup to see if that helps and it basically just got louder. It almost sounds like the tone knob is turned down with the highs getting lost.

 

[redline144]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I should also mention, I have a 59/Custom Hybrid in my LP Standard and it has very nice highs on it. When I use the guitar with the JB I have to crank the presence up on my Dual Recto to get any highs out of it.

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I have the pole pieces all around 1/16" inch from the strings when the highest fret is fretted. In this sound demo, no. Just guitar -> DI on my Focusrite interface -> computer. I actually just did the raising of the pickup to see if that helps and it basically just got louder. It almost sounds like the tone knob is turned down with the highs getting lost.

Have you tried it going through another effect chain anywhere (i.e. pedals?) I just remembered, when i had my stock INF ibanez pups in they sounded fine on one setting, when i replaced it with the JB, however, that same setting sounded really low and muddy. I switch to a different setting on my board and it sounds perfect now....All my highs and mids come through perfectly now.....If that dont work, have you looked to see what size capacitor is on the tone control?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

Sounds alright to me.

If you want a little added brightness, raise the screws a little. It won't make all the difference in the world, but it does help a little, I find.

Contrary to popular belief, I don't find the JB is a treble monster. It's bite is more high-mids than anything. A '59 or something similar has a lot more actual treble.

If you like the overall character and want to keep the JB, maybe try removing the tone pot from the circuit, and using a 1Meg volume for the JB, or swapping the flathead screws for allen ala Full Shred. If not... well... there are plenty other brighter pickups with more actual treble you might want to give a try.

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I should also mention, I have a 59/Custom Hybrid in my LP Standard and it has very nice highs on it. When I use the guitar with the JB I have to crank the presence up on my Dual Recto to get any highs out of it.

So, when you have the JB in your LP standard you have to crank the presence up. Right?

 

[redline144]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

Those are great ideas. I was using my Focusrite 2i4 interface for that. It does that thru all of my amps though too. I always hear how a JB is a treble monster that's why I'm a little confused, glad I'm not the only one with this experience. The mids are killer though, so maybe that's just how it reacts with my guitar.

guitarSQUIRELL - I've actually tried it through 3 or so amps and it's the same type of result. I'm going to take it to my tech to see if he can take the tone pot out of the circuit and put a 1 Meg volume pot in it, that may give it some life.


If that doesn't do it, what would be another SD pickup that would cut through like I'm looking for? Full-shred?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I should also mention, I have a 59/Custom Hybrid in my LP Standard and it has very nice highs on it. When I use the guitar with the JB I have to crank the presence up on my Dual Recto to get any highs out of it.

Seems pretty normal to me. I have not tried the 59CH, but like I said, I don't think the JB pumps out A LOT of airy treble higher up as something wound with a lower resistance. It does have a lot of bite, but it's mostly high mids, at least IMO.

 

[redline144]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

Seems pretty normal to me. I have not tried the 59CH, but like I said, I don't think the JB pumps out A LOT of airy treble higher up as something wound with a lower resistance. It does have a lot of bite, but it's mostly high mids, at least IMO.

I'm thinking that it's probably par for the course then. It does have a good bit of bite on my 3rd channel on the dual recto, cleans not so much, but distortion it does sound awesome. Stupid question here then - higher resistance has less treble then?

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

Those are great ideas. I was using my Focusrite 2i4 interface for that. It does that thru all of my amps though too. I always hear how a JB is a treble monster that's why I'm a little confused, glad I'm not the only one with this experience. The mids are killer though, so maybe that's just how it reacts with my guitar.

guitarSQUIRELL - I've actually tried it through 3 or so amps and it's the same type of result. I'm going to take it to my tech to see if he can take the tone pot out of the circuit and put a 1 Meg volume pot in it, that may give it some life.


If that doesn't do it, what would be another SD pickup that would cut through like I'm looking for? Full-shred?

Ok. One more thing. You dont have it wired up where only 1 coil is active at the moment do you. In my opinion, if both coils were active, the output would be brighter. I may be wrong on this but thats what i was thinking. If i remember correctly, the JBs output is somewhere around 15-16K correct? I think its an alnico V magnet as well.

However, it could be that the dense mahogany wood could be causing that....Mine is mounted on metal mounting rings and in a basswood body so it will be a tad bit brighter anyway.....Good luck and hope some of us could help in one way or another....OH AND WECOME TO THE FORUM SIR.

 

[redline144]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

Ok. One more thing. You dont have it wired up where only 1 coil is active at the moment do you. In my opinion, if both coils were active, the output would be brighter. I may be wrong on this but thats what i was thinking. If i remember correctly, the JBs output is somewhere around 15-16K correct? I think its an alnico V magnet as well.

However, it could be that the dense mahogany wood could be causing that....Mine is mounted on metal mounting rings and in a basswood body so it will be a tad bit brighter anyway.....Good luck and hope some of us could help in one way or another....OH AND WECOME TO THE FORUM SIR.

Thanks man! I've been a long time lurker figured I might as well join. And no, I do have a coil split on it but it's inactive. I'm thinking I may need to goto a lower output pickup to get the tone I'm looking for. A couple years ago when I was playing only metal this was fine, but I'm playing in a country band and a metal band now and need the variety. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

Thanks man! I've been a long time lurker figured I might as well join. And no, I do have a coil split on it but it's inactive. I'm thinking I may need to goto a lower output pickup to get the tone I'm looking for. A couple years ago when I was playing only metal this was fine, but I'm playing in a country band and a metal band now and need the variety. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

Not a problem. Glad we could help. Hope you get everything sorted out. Once you get everything like you want it, you should upload another clip of what you installed that way we can tell a difference of sound quality in pickups in a guitar like that....It would be helpful. Best of luck.

 

[redline144]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I will definitely do that, may be a little while though. My tech is so backed up with installs who knows how long it can take! Definitely going to try the tone and 1 meg pot first before buying a new pickup.

 

[Diego]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

You might have something odd going on in the tone/vol circuit.
I once had that happen in a guitar and it turns out my circuitry was on its way out, and I didn't know it.

Try soldering the JB straight to the jack and see if it comes alive.
Do keep in mind that the JB has never gotten too many points in the high-end crispness contest...

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I'm thinking that it's probably par for the course then. It does have a good bit of bite on my 3rd channel on the dual recto, cleans not so much, but distortion it does sound awesome. Stupid question here then - higher resistance has less treble then?

Not strictly, but generaly speaking, it seems to be the case. Sometimes that can be balanced out by using a magnet which emphasises highs more, like ceramic on a Duncan Distortion.

I do find the JB "bright", but "bright" can be ambiguous. I do think it's more "bitey" or "crunchy" kind of bright in the high mids than "airy" or "sizzly" higher up like a PAF, IMO. Maybe you just prefer airy and sizzly.

 

[guitarSQUIRELL]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I will definitely do that, may be a little while though. My tech is so backed up with installs who knows how long it can take! Definitely going to try the tone and 1 meg pot first before buying a new pickup.

Not a problem........this is a link to my recording i did with my Ibanez with the JB/Jazz set....take a listen and see if that sound is what you're looking for.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

You see, the problem is that JB's just suck??? Lol, no, they don't suck, but I do think they are kinda like The Grateful Dead. You either love them, I mean really love them, to the point it's just fine with you if sleep in a van & live off of veggie burritos for years at a time or you completely, totally, & unequivocally HATE them!!! I tend to sleep in the second camp, although I do love The Dead!!!

JB's get this reputation of being a very treble happy humbucker, in reality it's more of a upper mid spike that gives them that sound. I.M.H.O. a 59 or one of its cousins would be a much better place to be looking for added treble, perhaps a SH-5 if you want more output? I recently had the chance to try out a Pegasus 6, I was really blown away by the way it sounds! Super articulate and although it's technically a moderate output pickup, 12. something K, it behaves like a high output pickup, & has beautiful highs without being shrill or searing like a JB. If I were you I'd sell the JB to someone who loves them & then buy something else, a Custom Hybrid might be a good choice for your guitar? If no one buys it then take it all apart, they make great fridge magnets!!!!

 

[vinta9e]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

I'd suggest swapping the pickup for a Distortion, a Full Shred or a Screamin Demon. Some guitars and pickups just don't get along very well.

In general, higher resistance pickups tend to attenuate treble but reality is more complicated than that. There's nothing stupid about your question though.

 

[Archer250]

Re: JB Sounds Dull

As the others have stated, JBs don't really have that much treble (you can hear this on clean tones), but it has piercing high-mids. This spike makes the JB sounds great in well-rounded guitars and shrill/**** in thin, dead-sounding ones. I've never had any experience with the JB in a dark guitar.