Ever since reading the blog post I wanted to build this same strat with minor changes but sticking to the aesthetic. It's gonna be basswood and maple on maple with a floyd. I want utmost versatility out of that single humbucker. It'll mostly be used for heavy blues and metal. The vol pot will be a push-pull to split it for bluesy tones. The bucker in series should be able to pull off a convincing thrash metal tone though. I've narrowed it down to the FS and the old soldier, the JB. What do you guys say?
JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
- Thread starter h3r3t1k
- Start date
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
I prefer the JB in the bridge of a Strat. There are some issues with this though. JB's are a pickup that I always view as a bit of gamble, tonewise. It is impossible to guess what a JB will sound good in, I've put it in a really dark Lester and ended up with a harsh midspike, only to transfer the same unit to a Tele (as it was designed for) and it was quite close to perfect. It splits fairly well too.
If you go with a JB I'd recommend the volume pot to be 250k, I've also seen a JB with a single 100k volume pot with good results. An A2 or A8 mag swap might also be in order.
The Full Shred is quite a safer bet, it's just a Custom 5 with two rows of hex screws. It is quite a deal brighter than a standard Custom 5. I've liked it in most guitars I put it in.
Another option to look into is the Perpetual Burn. It's not unlike a JB without the mid spike.
I prefer the JB in the bridge of a Strat. There are some issues with this though. JB's are a pickup that I always view as a bit of gamble, tonewise. It is impossible to guess what a JB will sound good in, I've put it in a really dark Lester and ended up with a harsh midspike, only to transfer the same unit to a Tele (as it was designed for) and it was quite close to perfect. It splits fairly well too.
If you go with a JB I'd recommend the volume pot to be 250k, I've also seen a JB with a single 100k volume pot with good results. An A2 or A8 mag swap might also be in order.
The Full Shred is quite a safer bet, it's just a Custom 5 with two rows of hex screws. It is quite a deal brighter than a standard Custom 5. I've liked it in most guitars I put it in.
Another option to look into is the Perpetual Burn. It's not unlike a JB without the mid spike.
gregory
New member
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
I'd consider mating the JB slug coil with the screw coil from a Custom.
Volume, tone, variable shunt on the Custom coil. Series/parallel toggle that will move the shunt pot so that it's in series with the Custom coil, though I would try it with the JB coil too.
One may also get creative with magnets and inductors.
I dare say that in the right axe a JB/Custom Hybrid can do more things better than a stock TB-5 (or TB-16).
I'd consider mating the JB slug coil with the screw coil from a Custom.
Volume, tone, variable shunt on the Custom coil. Series/parallel toggle that will move the shunt pot so that it's in series with the Custom coil, though I would try it with the JB coil too.
One may also get creative with magnets and inductors.
I dare say that in the right axe a JB/Custom Hybrid can do more things better than a stock TB-5 (or TB-16).
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Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
You mean the inside coil? Outside coil (toward the bridge) is probably gonna be too trebly...
You mean the inside coil? Outside coil (toward the bridge) is probably gonna be too trebly...
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
I would think any JB coil would be too trebly, but if you are going to split, use the inside coil unless you had a neck pickup to blend it with, and are going for a Tele ting. But with one pickup, I always use the inside coil. I do think a JB that is in parallel tends to work well, too.
I would think any JB coil would be too trebly, but if you are going to split, use the inside coil unless you had a neck pickup to blend it with, and are going for a Tele ting. But with one pickup, I always use the inside coil. I do think a JB that is in parallel tends to work well, too.
Butch Snyder
ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
I am known around these parts as Tele guy; pretty much exclusively. I do have a wide breadth of experience with other pickups and guitars. One of my alltime favorite humbuckers is the SH-5 Custom. It's fat and powerful and does well in most guitars. Here of late, I have been finding and new favorite in the SH-4 JB. It's also fat and powerful; but has a cool midrange "chirp" that works very well for me. I have it in a Strat. The guitar has an alder body and maple fretboard. I also have it connected to the 250k volume pot and no tone pot (like standard Strat wiring). Works very very well for me.
Worth noting, I had an EMG SL-20 Steve Lukather pickguard assembly. It was nice, but didn't really have any personality. It didn't respond back to me like passive pickups do. That said, the JB has a really neat "personality". The SH-5, SH-11, and SH-14 are very nice; but I like the personalities of say, the JB, Pearly Gates, and Pearly Gates Plus better. I don;t have any experience with the Full Shred.
I am known around these parts as Tele guy; pretty much exclusively. I do have a wide breadth of experience with other pickups and guitars. One of my alltime favorite humbuckers is the SH-5 Custom. It's fat and powerful and does well in most guitars. Here of late, I have been finding and new favorite in the SH-4 JB. It's also fat and powerful; but has a cool midrange "chirp" that works very well for me. I have it in a Strat. The guitar has an alder body and maple fretboard. I also have it connected to the 250k volume pot and no tone pot (like standard Strat wiring). Works very very well for me.
Worth noting, I had an EMG SL-20 Steve Lukather pickguard assembly. It was nice, but didn't really have any personality. It didn't respond back to me like passive pickups do. That said, the JB has a really neat "personality". The SH-5, SH-11, and SH-14 are very nice; but I like the personalities of say, the JB, Pearly Gates, and Pearly Gates Plus better. I don;t have any experience with the Full Shred.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
Ive made a JB/Custom hybrid before and the results were underwhelming. It loses whats great about a JB and gives nothing special in return. Not all hybrids are succesful
Ive made a JB/Custom hybrid before and the results were underwhelming. It loses whats great about a JB and gives nothing special in return. Not all hybrids are succesful
gregory
New member
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
Suffice it to say you don't speak for everyone.
Here's one of a few topics on the subject...
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?241087-For-those-who-ve-done-the-JB-custom-hybrid
While I prefer somewhat lower output pickups, I liked my experience with the JB/Custom 5.
Suffice it to say you don't speak for everyone.
Here's one of a few topics on the subject...
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?241087-For-those-who-ve-done-the-JB-custom-hybrid
While I prefer somewhat lower output pickups, I liked my experience with the JB/Custom 5.
To each his own. Not everyone is gushing over the moon for a TB-16 either.
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Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
So? What is your point? A thread in which most people are underwhelmed by a pickup that you are advocating yet never tried?
The OP wants thrash and heavy blues, neither the JB nor the FS are highly regarding for their split tones at best they are passable. One sound or another will be a comprise and no amount of hybridizing humbuckers will cure that.
My vote would actually be to use series and parallel instead of split. Its not a classic blues tone but is a much more passable tone than splits
So? What is your point? A thread in which most people are underwhelmed by a pickup that you are advocating yet never tried?
The OP wants thrash and heavy blues, neither the JB nor the FS are highly regarding for their split tones at best they are passable. One sound or another will be a comprise and no amount of hybridizing humbuckers will cure that.
My vote would actually be to use series and parallel instead of split. Its not a classic blues tone but is a much more passable tone than splits
gregory
New member
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
Did you fart? You never said you tried it. Your posts indicate speculation, then instead of trying to refute my opinion of the pickup by saying "well in my experience blah blah blah woof woof woof" you linked a thread. So you can see how it would be easy for one to wind up with the conclusion that you have never tried it.
Did you fart? You never said you tried it. Your posts indicate speculation, then instead of trying to refute my opinion of the pickup by saying "well in my experience blah blah blah woof woof woof" you linked a thread. So you can see how it would be easy for one to wind up with the conclusion that you have never tried it.
gregory
New member
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
I'm not feeling particularly humorous today, sorry.
I'm not feeling particularly humorous today, sorry.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
Nice series of edits
And no I don't speak for everyone I sure wasn't trying to either.
Nice series of edits
And no I don't speak for everyone I sure wasn't trying to either.
gregory
New member
Re: JB vs FS for single bucker strat with split
But yeah, if you don't want to tinker*, a stock JB is not a bad candidate for thrash. I never bought into the "Jazzy-Blues" business.
(*) Pickups can do wildly different things in different guitars. Sometimes a bit of refinement can turn a just-meh pickup into something glorious. ...and no, I haven't tried the variable parallel thing, but variable shunt can be quite effective.
But yeah, if you don't want to tinker*, a stock JB is not a bad candidate for thrash. I never bought into the "Jazzy-Blues" business.
(*) Pickups can do wildly different things in different guitars. Sometimes a bit of refinement can turn a just-meh pickup into something glorious. ...and no, I haven't tried the variable parallel thing, but variable shunt can be quite effective.
