Jb Versus Custom

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

Custom scooped? No bass for the JB? :wrf: I'm gonna stay outta this one.

My impressions are that the Custom is rounder, more mids, a great classic tone that works great for blues, rock, and metal. It sounds quite good split as well. A warmer pickup for sure. Beefy, but versatile.

The JB is very articulate, twangier, more high-end focused but NOT lacking in bass. Low-mids maybe, but not bass. The bass I thought was rather full and tight. Famous for sounding stratty when split, a favorite pickup of Dave Mustaine's. Beautiful sweet cleans, plenty of output for thrash or speed metal, great for soloing. An alnico II magnet will virtually erase the upper-mids, giving it a completely different tone. Good if you find the stock version ice-picky.

How's that for to compare?

 

[Dills]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

After reading about the shrillness and high mid peak of the JB, i decided the custom would suit my bill.But now that ive tried the custom, my ideal sound would be the tone of the custom with a little less growl on the low end (smoother) and less brightness iin the high end. In other words a smoother Custom would be my ideal pickup but still retaining its agrressiveness

 

[SOLO GUITAR STEWIE]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

After reading about the shrillness and high mid peak of the JB, i decided the custom would suit my bill.But now that ive tried the custom, my ideal sound would be the tone of the custom with a little less growl on the low end (smoother) and less brightness iin the high end. In other words a smoother Custom would be my ideal pickup but still retaining its agrressiveness

IF YOU WANT TO SMOOTH OUT THE CUSTOM I WOULD SAY TO TRY SWAPPING MAGNETS....THERE CHEAP AND A GREAT WAY TO TRY NEW
PICKUP SOUNDS,,,,IN YOUR CASE I WOULD TRY THE A2 AND A3 MAGNETS
IN YOUR CUSTOM. MY .02 CENTS.

STEWIE

 

[Troy T. Blues]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

I prefer the JB, but it can get really too bright in some guitars for me. I put a JB in my strat once, and hated it. I don't think a JB should go in anything but a mahogany body only guitar, but when you do, it's perfect tone.

Hmmm...I just a bought a JB Trembucker and a '59 neck for my Strat. I'll let you know how that works out. The other Strat is getting a '59 Trembucker (SSH).

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

no offense, but it seems like these pickups are the ONLY ones people ever talk about round here! There's probably a good reason for that, I don't know it though. Oh well. I'll probably wind up putting one of the two in my Schecter as soon as I get a chance to play either of them anyway from the way you people talk about it... until then... GO DISTORTION!!! :headbang:
dan

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

it still amazes me to how many use or have used the JB :saeek:
i may get another one to give it a second chance :dance:

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

Find a Duncan retailer, buy the Custom, JB, and C-5. Spend a week hearing each one through your amp/s. Record them.....listen again. Return the other 2.
That's the ONLY way to know.

 

[ranalli]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

I find it funny how almost every pickup out there seems to "sound like a PAF".....yeah ok....

I hear this about the CC, C5, and Custom mostly yet I don't think ANY of those sound like a real PAF by a longshot. And that's not even to mention that there isn't even a "real" PAF....there was no consistency back then.

 

[FuelGTRX]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

For high gain tones, I preferre the JB. I find it to be more articulate and it has a nice tight low end. I found the Custom to be good for high gain as well, I just didn't like the more promenant low end and brightness.

I like the Custom more for lower gain amps. Everytime I play a JB through a low to mid gain amp, I find it to be a little harsh and hard. It's like it's begging for more gain from the amp. I like the Custom more for this purpose, it's hot PAF inspired tone works great with these kind of amps.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

I find it funny how almost every pickup out there seems to "sound like a PAF".....yeah ok....

I hear this about the CC, C5, and Custom mostly yet I don't think ANY of those sound like a real PAF by a longshot. And that's not even to mention that there isn't even a "real" PAF....there was no consistency back then.

Sure, they don't sound like real PAFs, but that's their magic. They blend the PAFish sound with their own cool and more raw way!
I remember the first time I listened to the Custom...It was like :eek2:

 

[therottingsun]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

i just replaced a jb with a custom with great results....the jb was kinda thin..but the custom really filled out my sound...i use a jackson usa warrior wr1..and a randall cyclone stack with a boss metalzone as an overdrive..i play black/death doom/thrash...if you would like to check out my band www.goatwhore.net

 

[ranalli]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

I remember the first time I listened to the Custom...It was like :eek2:

I don't think they sound like PAFs at all or even PAF-like.....too many pickups claim to be PAF's on steroids....BUT


YES.....THE CUSTOM IS GREAT!!!

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

Boy, that was a tough one. I use two Customs and two JB's right now in different guitars. The JB I use in my black Pauly is aged and sounds warmer than a newer one....alot like an original PAF, and is currently a favorite pickup. But the Custom is such a great all-around humbucker, and I use it in an Epi Standard LP and G400....they sound really nice in both.
So based on if I was buying a new pickup, my vote went to the Custom.
....Bob

 

[papersoul]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

Do you guys find the Custom warm???? To me, ceramic loaded pickups lack some of the roundness and warmth of a good alnico V magnet pickup.

 

[fenderiarhs]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

i voted for the JB.......very nice pickup.....i find it only lacks a little bit on the bass/low mid department......if duncan did that then it would be perfect.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

i voted for the JB.......very nice pickup.....i find it only lacks a little bit on the bass/low mid department......if duncan did that then it would be perfect.

Want a little more lows and low mids? You just described the Rio Grande BBQ.

 

[Dills]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

Even tho the custom is ceramic It is a pretty dynamic ceramic pickup and no where near as harsh as other pickups, I also have a breed which has lots of mids both low and high, and a fat low end it sounds very big and it is warmer but it dosent cut through the mix as well as the custom, ive heard the BBQ has the same kind of eq as the breed. I find the warmer pickups sound better only in a situation where there are less band members or where you need 1 guitar to do most of the work in the band, when youve got lots of other instrtuments tho the pickup kind of gets lost in the bigness of the other instruments.

With the custom I solved that problem, it cuts through very nicely but still has a big enough sound in the mix. The custom lets you play big open chords that ring out with enough articulation under distortion so that you can hear every note and it is not muddy.So id say the custom is fairly warm, but it also cuts through.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

Even tho the custom is ceramic It is a pretty dynamic ceramic pickup and no where near as harsh as other pickups, I also have a breed which has lots of mids both low and high, and a fat low end it sounds very big and it is warmer but it dosent cut through the mix as well as the custom, ive heard the BBQ has the same kind of eq as the breed. I find the warmer pickups sound better only in a situation where there are less band members or where you need 1 guitar to do most of the work in the band, when youve got lots of other instrtuments tho the pickup kind of gets lost in the bigness of the other instruments.

With the custom I solved that problem, it cuts through very nicely but still has a big enough sound in the mix. The custom lets you play big open chords that ring out with enough articulation under distortion so that you can hear every note and it is not muddy.So id say the custom is fairly warm, but it also cuts through.

Actually you are correct. I used the Custom on a jam session and remmeber really liking the tone and thinking it sounded thick and cut fine. It even sounded good clean! I would like to do a comparison with the C-5 and Custom...that would be interesting. i think the C-5 cuts regardless of what I have heard.

My issue is that I am usually in a band with two guitarists so cut is important. I talked to Tom Anderson and he recommended the H2+ saying it was fatter in the mids and bass like the BBQ and fatter than the Custom.....but this could get away from the cut. Same thing with the C-5.

The Custom and C-5 both cut well but the C-5 wins with the clean tone. The JB I am not a big fan of....

Currently though I have gained a big intesrest in the PRS Dragon II.

Lot's of people say the Custom is like the PRS HFS which most people don't like...so go figure. That is a big reason I have been looking into the D II since it pretty fat and thick, but still an alnico V magnet and rich and warm.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Jb Versus Custom

Wantr a Dragon (I) Treble?? Trade you flat out for a JB if ya gots one

 

[TheBozz]

So...

So...

Anybody could post a conclusion about this? Like, in what cases you should use which pickup? Would be a lot of help. Still can't really make my mind between those pickups.