JB VS Custom?

[BloodRose]

I really hate to ask this cuz I feel like im back tracking 10 yrs, but I dont have a means to compare and I havent heard a stock custom in years.
Im loved the sound of the JB in my Charvel but have wondered if Id like the custom or C8 better in it. But since the jb sounded great and cash is alil lean, I didnt wanna change. However, the jB is acting up so, Im gonna have to get another or a custom. Have to decide which.
Guitar is Charvel pro mod so cal. style of music will be 80s metal/rock. Have a Jazz in the neck.

mostly looking for comparo of the tonal differences. IIRC the custom would have more beef in the lows right?

thanks

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I have two alder strats, one with a JB and the other with a Custom. I had an Alternative 8 in another strat. The JB has lots of mids and that's what I love about it. I had a Custom 5 which sounded very good but it was missing something, so I put an A2 in it and left it that way.

I like the Custom a lot because it has better mids than the Custom 5 and is not as powerful as the Alt 8. There is no nuance with the Alt 8 as it's a very powerful pickup, even if you lower it to pickguard level. I was really surprised with the Custom because I expected kind of a sterile ceramic tone with lots of output, but it was not like that. It's fairly balanced with really nice detailed treble and high mids. It doesn't push your amp too hard so if you want to keep it clean, it stays pretty clean.

I think if you like the JB and want something with a little bit different flavor, the Custom is a great pickup. It works great in alder. I want to try it in my Ibanez and see how it adapts to basswood.

 

[devastone]

Re: JB VS Custom?

What do you mean the JB is "acting up", I've never had a pickup go bad, maybe if something got spilled on it...

I like the both the JB and Custom a lot, the JB has more high mids and is the prototypical 80s tone. The custom has the ceramic highs (not harsh, but present), slightly less mids, and tighter lows.

And if funds are really tight, re-read your sig and Aryton's John Suhr quote in his sig....

 

[Blackie13]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I kept coming to JB for years...
Used it for a EVH sound(not that great..prefer the 59)
Used it for Heavy metal(nope...CUSTOM!!!!!)
Used it for 80's metal(Custom custom)

Bought it twice(the first was stock) and sold it 3 times...

I guess it's not for me...

Custom it is....

 

[BloodRose]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I posted a thread as to why its acting up. Yeah JB is the 80s tone so that's why I'm concerned with using something else. Will the custom cop it well? I know I once had a C8 in a kramer that had the best woody 80s tone. Sounded like cc devilles solo in fallen angel. Wish I didn't sell that axe

 

[Blackie13]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I play EVH haggar era every day with the custom...

 

[JeffB]

Re: JB VS Custom?

In strat types with Fender scale, I prefer the JB. In Short scale Gibbys I prefer the Custom.

On that note, I rarely like a JB in a gibbo scale as the mids and lows tend to get too muddy, but I like the Custom in a Fender scale.

EDIT- should also note that if your guitar is warm, middy, and/or muddy naturally, the Custom can sound like complete @$$. I put one in a warm sounding Dean 79 ML, and it was the muddiest godawful sound I've ever heard. I even tried hexpoles to get some string clarity and no worky at all.

 

[John E Rokker]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I had the Custom in my WDM frenchie clone and ended up swapping it out for a JB with a UOA5. I do have a Custom in my Gibson V and my mahogany Star and love it in those guitars. But for a strat I find I like the JB and the 59b best.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: JB VS Custom?

hmm This is harder then I thought it would be..

I love Custom 8s, but have a few already in use. And honestly, the JB in sounded smoking in this axe.. I guess Ill stay with the JB. Jeez, I hope I can fix the one thats in it..

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: JB VS Custom?

hmm This is harder then I thought it would be..

I love Custom 8s, but have a few already in use. And honestly, the JB in sounded smoking in this axe.. I guess Ill stay with the JB. Jeez, I hope I can fix the one thats in it..

Bloodrose, the JB in the charvels are really great. kind of like a meant for each other tone if you ask me. i have 2 charvels loaded with JB's and a late 83 kramer baretta with a old JBJ that came stock with it. My newest pro mod so cal has a demon/59n combo that really smokes but the JB loaded charvels are "it" for that classic hair or heavy metal tones. alice in chains,megadeth,ratt,jake e lee,lynch and countless others cut magical tones with a JB in the 80's :fing2: not that the custom is not a smoker as well but the JB has a bit more "flair" overall and really sings for leads a little more than the custom sh-5 imho.:burnout:

 

[BloodRose]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I agree ED. My old kramer came with a JB and its amazing! Plus much of the music I love was played on Kramers and Charvels with JBs. So I plucked out the TZ/evo that came in the guitar and put a JB/jazz in it like the Kramer. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt missing something as I love custom 8s.

 

[gtrgrl]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I kept coming to JB for years...
Used it for a EVH sound(not that great..prefer the 59)
Used it for Heavy metal(nope...CUSTOM!!!!!)
Used it for 80's metal(Custom custom)

Bought it twice(the first was stock) and sold it 3 times...

I guess it's not for me...

Custom it is....

I can't imagine anything sounding better for 80's metal than the JB. Except for not having a Floyd Rose, my EC1000 is awesome for playing anything from a hair band.

I also have no problem playing Van Halen on it. Well, I mean, I have problems playing some things Van Halen plays LOL!, but the JB sounds good to me for things from 1984 like Panama.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: JB VS Custom?

JB = hot rodded marshall
Custom = mesa recto

 

[Shadow1psc]

Re: JB VS Custom?

JB = hot rodded marshall
Custom = mesa recto

I like this answer.

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I think of the Custom as a great hard rock rhythm pickup and the JB as the lead guitarists pickups for solos that jump out.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I agree ED. My old kramer came with a JB and its amazing! Plus much of the music I love was played on Kramers and Charvels with JBs. So I plucked out the TZ/evo that came in the guitar and put a JB/jazz in it like the Kramer. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt missing something as I love custom 8s.

I do understand that it is not a real easy choice between the two duncans since BOTH are great.:laugh2: The custom has some things about it that make it hard to put your guitar down when it has a custom in it,same goes for the JB though:smack:.
you can always flip a coin?:laugh2:

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I think of the Custom as a great hard rock rhythm pickup and the JB as the lead guitarists pickups for solos that jump out.

Yeah true but the JB also has a great rhythm tone. Tunes like man in the box,bark at the moon,ultimate sin,round and round,etc prove that:fing2:

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: JB VS Custom?

One thing about the pickup that's important besides the sound is the attack. The Custom has a better attack than the JB. I find the JB to have a very spongy attack, almost resistant to pick attack in a way. It's very unforgiving in that sense. Maybe because it's tight, or maybe because it has so many mids, I'm not sure, but I struggle squeezing out runs on my JB sometimes... or at least compared to looser pickups like the Custom Custom, PG or Tone Zone.

I find that the Custom has a great attack. It feels real natural to play. It has some of the crunchy qualities of a Custom Custom and some of the midrange qualities of a JB. It could be described as a smoother, thicker Custom Custom with a tight low end. Great pickup.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: JB VS Custom?

One thing about the pickup that's important besides the sound is the attack. The Custom has a better attack than the JB. I find the JB to have a very spongy attack, almost resistant to pick attack in a way. It's very unforgiving in that sense. Maybe because it's tight, or maybe because it has so many mids, I'm not sure, but I struggle squeezing out runs on my JB sometimes... or at least compared to looser pickups like the Custom Custom, PG or Tone Zone.

I find that the Custom has a great attack. It feels real natural to play. It has some of the crunchy qualities of a Custom Custom and some of the midrange qualities of a JB. It could be described as a smoother, thicker Custom Custom with a tight low end. Great pickup.

I agree with this:fing2: the custom has a very fast response which makes it great for shredding ala pablo gilberto style. its rhythm tone is also tighter and thicker for metal stuff.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: JB VS Custom?

I do understand that it is not a real easy choice between the two duncans since BOTH are great.:laugh2: The custom has some things about it that make it hard to put your guitar down when it has a custom in it,same goes for the JB though:smack:.
you can always flip a coin?:laugh2:

yeah. guess the only answer is to get another charvel for a Custom or C8!! haha

One thing about the pickup that's important besides the sound is the attack. The Custom has a better attack than the JB. I find the JB to have a very spongy attack, almost resistant to pick attack in a way. It's very unforgiving in that sense. Maybe because it's tight, or maybe because it has so many mids, I'm not sure, but I struggle squeezing out runs on my JB sometimes... or at least compared to looser pickups like the Custom Custom, PG or Tone Zone.

I find that the Custom has a great attack. It feels real natural to play. It has some of the crunchy qualities of a Custom Custom and some of the midrange qualities of a JB. It could be described as a smoother, thicker Custom Custom with a tight low end. Great pickup.

yeah, thats why Im struggling with this.. I really LOVE the C8! But for this particular guitar, Im going to keep the JB. it really sings in it.