JB vs Full Shred

Re: JB vs Full Shred

Output levels, mid range and other frequencies, and how articulate.
How do they compare to each other?

I would say the JB has more "sag" and is softer and prettier sounding, while the full shred cuts better and is tighter sounding, thus more responsive. The midrange in the full shred is more pronounced, while the JB seems to have that high mid "sheen" for lack of a better description.

Both have similarly high output - not much difference there.

I prefer the full shred in my Jackson soloist, but that's just me...
 
Re: JB vs Full Shred

I guess I need another Soloist, because I really like the JB in the one I've got.
 
Re: JB vs Full Shred

hmm.
Full-Shred is everything what JB isn't..It's articulate .it's precise ,it's exactly "transfering" what you play...

JB is a "soulfull" thing...But we don't like every soul are we :D
 
Re: JB vs Full Shred

^I know there are samples on the website, but they go for about 40 seconds are something, and to my mind, doesn't really compare to asking for opinions from people that have played them over and over again in their own guitars. Plus I was interesting how the Full Shred performed under both clean, overdrive and ultra high gain, the sound samples don't really give us an indication of a pickups versatility.
 
Re: JB vs Full Shred

I like the Full Shred for its clarity and articulation. You can use lots of distortion, and it still comes thru with detail and tone. The JB is like other SD pickups and probably has more "character" than the FS. Clean, I would probably go with the JB for that reason.

Just thinking, my FS is in a '65 Melody Maker that is real resonant and has lots of character. Something less resonant might favour a JB. ;)
 
Re: JB vs Full Shred

In most of my guitars that had JB's, the lower mids were missing. The JB sounded jangly and clear, which would be great for string-strummy alternative rock tunes, but there was no chunk there for power chords in rock or metal tunes.

The Full Shred has lots of chunk, lots of crunch, and lots of definition.

I do have one guitar with a JB that sounds great, and strangely sounds nice and chunky and crunchy. Totally unlike the other guitars, from which I removed all the JB's. If not for the sticker on the bottom of the pickup, I'd think there was a Custom in there. But that guitar may have a 250K pot, which I'm told makes a great difference with the JB.

I removed JB's from all guitars except one. I put Full Shreds in 3 of my guitars and I love them.
 
Re: JB vs Full Shred

The Full Shred is fantastic under high gain. Rhythm can be a boxy buzzsaw if you choose, it has a wall of lowermids like nothing else I've played. Solos have almost a wah-like voice going on due to how some of the frequencies seem to have different attacks. For lack of a better word, on rhythm, it "grunts". Overall, it is superprecise and articulate, in a word "dry" and "complex". Not a warm pickup, but very alive. A lot of high end, but the tone knob really opens it up.

I've had a few JBs and always usually up pulling them because of icepick highs. (Yeah, 500k pots, I know). Other than that, yeah, I agree, they sound a bit hollow compared the FS, but they do also sound wetter and more open.
 
Re: JB vs Full Shred

Okay well here's my take:

Full Shred for rhythms has a bit of high end fizzle, but nothing excessive. The midrange is quite smooth with a lower mid emphasis, yet the bass response is tight.
For leads it does have a very subtle sort of vowel sound, like "ohhh!"

JB for rhythms, is really crunchy. It has a high mid emphasis that makes your riffs grind in that eighties sort of way. Very distinct. For leads, hmm, I dunno yet... I will update you...

Because I am in the process of replacing the Full Shred with a JB in my favourite guitar RIGHT NOW! I have submitted to the fact that I love the raunchy crunch of this pickup after playing other guitars with it and being all "oooh! Oh, it has a JB..."

Happy first post to me
 
Re: JB vs Full Shred

Okay so I've had the JB in now for a while. Here is my verdict:

Yes I've got the crunch I wanted. The lead tone I think has improved also... where the Full Shred "tried" to sing, the JB just does.
However I'm really missing the chunk factor that the Full Shred had. It just doesn't sound as mean when I palm mute.

BTW the guitar is maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, mahogany body with a maple cap.
 
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