JB versus Custom

Mr_X

Mr_X

New member
Well people, i m unsure on which pickup to choose. Firstly my guitar sounded bright on its own. So i fear that having a JB inside would be ice-picky. At the same time another veteran told me that the Custom would be too nasal. Too much mids and recommended the JB. having said that, which of these would be a good pair with the little 59 in the bridge? are there other better alternatives as well?

i m looking for a darker sounding pickup for my bridge. feel free to state ur opinion and thanks in advance.
 
Re: JB versus Custom

my jb is to bright in my RG, i dont like it, need more bass in my palmmutes, it just sounds pathetic now.

i play through a Laney TT100h
 
Re: JB versus Custom

Mr_X said:
Well people, i m unsure on which pickup to choose. Firstly my guitar sounded bright on its own. So i fear that having a JB inside would be ice-picky. At the same time another veteran told me that the Custom would be too nasal. Too much mids and recommended the JB. having said that, which of these would be a good pair with the little 59 in the bridge? are there other better alternatives as well?

i m looking for a darker sounding pickup for my bridge. feel free to state ur opinion and thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

The custom is anything BUT NASAL????
dude it is so balanced much more than a JB is which has a big upper mid peak.\
I do like the JB but the custom shames it! the custom has more growl less icepickyness,and a great omph in the rhythm tone
highly recomened
 
Re: JB versus Custom

custom is great for rhythm eh? some said that JB is well balanced too. its kinda hard choice cause i want to make the right decision. poor kid here, can't afford to experiment. can someone fill me in on the 21 day policy? cause i stay in singapore, we get SD pickups through a distributor. forgive me if i sound stupid.
 
Re: JB versus Custom

lemme break it down really easy... if you want a screaming lead tone go with the JB, if you want good rhythm sounds go with the custom.
 
Re: JB versus Custom

vinterland said:
lemme break it down really easy... if you want a screaming lead tone go with the JB, if you want good rhythm sounds go with the custom.
Click to expand...


I think the custom also has a great lead tone? mine screams,moans,shrieks,cries,etc and is tighter than the JB's lead tone is :)
 
Re: JB versus Custom

which one would be better for rhythm? is the custom or jb or perhaps something else? though i m leaning towards the custom, but i just have this fear of getting something not right.
 
Re: JB versus Custom

Mr_X said:
which one would be better for rhythm? is the custom or jb or perhaps something else? though i m leaning towards the custom, but i just have this fear of getting something not right.
Click to expand...

I vote custom because it has a real good punch and is a lot clearer than the JB is :)
 
Re: JB versus Custom

Hi ther Mr X. I own a V styled guitar ... and the only thing i could play on it was leads.. because it sounded do bright that rhythm was out of the Q...the out put was low too...even the leads were ice picky...When I dedided to change the PUP . I could only afford one, I was in the same boat like u . I could not decide I wanted more output and a lead tone that could cut through, but yet smooth. I finally made the choice for the JB .... And I am very very happy with it. The Jb is the only pick uip on the guitar and yes it is a bit bright but I believe that can controled... I think the best way to describe the JB is BALANCED ! And yes depending on what u play it can work for rhythm as well... and i dont play heavy metal or thtash rock in fact my style ranges from classic rock, blues,poprock to hard rock.. Yes i need a neck pick up too but got to wait for now......
 
Re: JB versus Custom

Oh yes all that said I cant say much abouth the Custom as i dont have first hand exp with it.....
 
Re: JB versus Custom

You can't go wrong with either pickup. The JB is the standard that others are measured by, but the cutoms are great also!
 
Re: JB versus Custom

Yeah GRC You are right... I do get biassed toward the JB... but it was grest choice.. adn yes my guiar does not sound ICE PICKY... I absolutly hate that..I love warm tones.. but not muddy warm tones that can cut..
 
Re: JB versus Custom

I believe if you want a good rhythm sound, go for the Custom.
If you want screaming harmonics for leads, I believe the JB may be a tad easier to work with.
I tried both in the same guitar and it was a tough choice. I play both rhythm and lead and in a way both pickups worked good for me. My opinion is that getting those harmonic overtones is a tad easier with the JB. But I may be wrong, or it's just my guitar.
 
Re: JB versus Custom

What kind of sound are you going for?

I had a JB for a while. It had a nice singing quality to it with great sustain, but also sounded a little too smooth and trebly for my taste. Kind of tame.

I had a Custom too, which is (to me) more versatile. I think it can get way more aggressive and heavy and punchy. You can really lay into it and kick some a$$.

So...

JB: warm and trebly, great harmonics, high-mids hump--"sings"

Custom: Punchy bass with cut, nice crunch, slight mid scoop--"growls"
 
Re: JB versus Custom

I like the soloed lead tone of my Custom, but I can see why it might seem too thin for some people or in some applications. It definitely tends to sit IN a mix rather than on top of it. But for those times when I want something thicker and more dominating, I can always switch to the neck pup. It's a perfectly reasonable setup to me, given how amazing the Custom is at riffing. I've tuned a 24 3/4" scale guitar with 11s all the way down to Drop B-flat and this thing STILL sounds tight.
 
Re: JB versus Custom

Here is my take, the custom is a great rhythm and lead pickup!!!! It does alot of things well!!! I find the JB anything but balanced! It has this huge high-mid spike in it! I find the JB to not be all that tight on the bass strings and there for, I think it sucks for rhythm!!! I hate the JB!!! I will give it a bit of credit though, if you want to play 85% leads and solo's, it will be good for ya!!!! I actually like the high three strings on the JB but, I hate the way the bass strings sound!!!! BTW, the custom will give you alot more beef than the JB.

The custom is my favorite Duncan pickup, the JB is my least favorite by far!!!!
 
Re: JB versus Custom

Jocelyn, I think a big difference is the fact that he already said that his guitar is bright. You played a FlyingV clone. Chances are, it had a darker sounding wood.

I think the recommendations for the Custom are the best. IMHO.
 
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