jb vs screamin demon

[babaker1014]

I am battling myself on whether to put a jb (my old fav) or a screamin demon in the bridge of my ibanez s620ex. It has a mahogany body w a bound rosewood fingerboard. My main playing interests are 80s metal, classic rock, and blues. What say the experts. I've heard a great argument for the demon, where are the jb people with their side? HELP

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

Either will do what you want. The JB may have a bit of distortion in it that the Demon doesn't. But I don't think it is a matter of which one will do those types of music better, but which has the tone that you like best. The Demon has a very even EQ while the Jb has an upper mid spike that many people just don't like or get tired of after a while. Also, the Jb is very quirky about mahogany guitars...sometimeds it sounds great other times it just doesn't seem to work at all. The Demon is very universal.

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

Either will do what you want. The JB may have a bit of distortion in it that the Demon doesn't. But I don't think it is a matter of which one will do those types of music better, but which has the tone that you like best. The Demon has a very even EQ while the Jb has an upper mid spike that many people just don't like or get tired of after a while. Also, the Jb is very quirky about mahogany guitars...sometimeds it sounds great other times it just doesn't seem to work at all. The Demon is very universal.

I appreciate the advice you have given me. I'm one of those people who find it hard to change, and I've always used the jb. But the truth is the demon is the pickup that I like the sound of best (on the duncan website). Unfortunately I dont even have a music store less than 60 miles from me, so I cant go check out the pickups through different amps etc. I play through a line 6 pod xt into a practice amp (old crate) on a clean channel. I am just getting back into playing after a10+ year break.Really I usually play straight through a boss br80 MTR most of the time. It has built in processing. The phrase trainer/speed control etc. make it the perfect practice tool. The EMG designed pickups in my guitar are ok for what I do, but I know how much difference a good pickup makes in tone. Especially considering how little they cost in the overall scheme of things. I am going with your advice (and my gut feeling) and buying the sh12. Like you said before it is the clean pickup that can handle distortion. Thats what I'm looking for. One other thing, would you buy the trembucker?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

I've had both those pups in several of the same guitars (alder, mahogany, poplar, maple) for lots of the same types of music that you play. I cleaned out the Demons years ago. at the end of the day, I discovered I liked the hype of the Demon more than the tone. the JB is the model that other models measure themselves against, and for good reason.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

Never understood the comparison between these two pups, the JB is the prototype high output pup and the Demon is a moderate output pup, some say it's a high output pup, my friend said it best, it's a "high" output for guys who don't like high output....

I think the JB8 is pretty rad for mahogony....

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

I've had both those pups in several of the same guitars (alder, mahogany, poplar, maple) for lots of the same types of music that you play. I cleaned out the Demons years ago. at the end of the day, I discovered I liked the hype of the Demon more than the tone. the JB is the model that other models measure themselves against, and for good reason.

What was the difference in tone between the two? The demon seems to have more of a presence, where as the jb has a mushier kind of sound. On the duncan soundbites the demon sounds alot clearer, like I can hear the note seperation better (in the chords etc). I liked that about the demon. But I have always preferred the jb. Truthfully I'd imagine either would serve my purpose, and would be worlds better than the EMG designed pickups that are in it now. They are terrible, and I havent even put them in a high volume situation. I wouldnt even want to. How do you feel about the jazz in the neck for that music. I love the tone from that pickup, but alot of people go with the 59 for the paf tones. Its a confusing prospect for sure. Thanks for chiming in, I appreciate the help.

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

Is the jb8 for the 8 string? I dont know anything about them.

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

Never understood the comparison between these two pups, the JB is the prototype high output pup and the Demon is a moderate output pup, some say it's a high output pup, my friend said it best, it's a "high" output for guys who don't like high output....

I think the JB8 is pretty rad for mahogony....

Is the jb8 a special pickup? Dont know alot about the different models.

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

I found the wide frequency response and percussiveness of the demon didn’t sync with my vintage clean to medium gain style. I felt that power chords where too clear and lacking in fullness with the demon and cleans sometimes slightly plasticky. This was in an all mahogany hamer with 500k pots. I lean towards a JB or a 59. I found the original SH-5 Custom definitely respectable for Rock if you can hang with the ceramic clean sound.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

Is the jb8 a special pickup? Dont know alot about the different models.

It's a JB with an alnico 8 magnet in it.

What was the difference in tone between the two? The demon seems to have more of a presence, where as the jb has a mushier kind of sound. On the duncan soundbites the demon sounds alot clearer, like I can hear the note seperation better (in the chords etc). I liked that about the demon. But I have always preferred the jb. Truthfully I'd imagine either would serve my purpose, and would be worlds better than the EMG designed pickups that are in it now. They are terrible, and I havent even put them in a high volume situation. I wouldnt even want to. How do you feel about the jazz in the neck for that music. I love the tone from that pickup, but alot of people go with the 59 for the paf tones. Its a confusing prospect for sure. Thanks for chiming in, I appreciate the help.

The Demon is very much so more articulate, clearer, more note separation than the JB. But if you like the JB, go with it.

Many people really like a Jazz in the neck. Many like the scooped midrange, PAF tone of the 59. My favorite neck pups for mahogany are Demon or Pearly Gates (in that order). The 59n is way too scooped for my taste. The 59b in the neck is much better IMO. I also prefer it with a UOA5 magnet to soften that high end and even add a little more mid to it.

 

[Diego]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

Those two pickups have been my favorites for years and at this moment, both sit at the bridge position of my two humbucker-loaded guitars.
I've had them in alder, ash and mahogany guitars. JB loves alder and ash, the Demon loves mahogany. But that's not written in stone because each guitar has it's own thing.
You just have to try.

For 80s metal the JB is better than the Demon IMO.
Leads are thicker and because it has more mids and output, it crunches more easily than the Demon, which sounds more open and it's less compressed.

For classic rock the Demon should be better, particularly if paired with a vintage-style overdriven amp or pedal.
The JB is too hot for that and not open enough, so it will be mushy and flat, while the Demon's clarity will cut through the mud and make everything sound OK.

If you style has lots of distorted chords, particularly with voicings like 7ths, 9th and what have you, the Demon will win because notes are very distinguishable with it,
whereas the JB will turn to mashed potatoes with that sort of playing.

If you're gonna pummel power chords and flashy solos away, you'll like the JB better.
For more elaborate, varied playing and a more unique sound, you'll love the Demon. But you'll have to play a bit harder because it's more unforgiving.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

^ +1.

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

Those two pickups have been my favorites for years and at this moment, both sit at the bridge position of my two humbucker-loaded guitars.
I've had them in alder, ash and mahogany guitars. JB loves alder and ash, the Demon loves mahogany. But that's not written in stone because each guitar has it's own thing.
You just have to try.

For 80s metal the JB is better than the Demon IMO.
Leads are thicker and because it has more mids and output, it crunches more easily than the Demon, which sounds more open and it's less compressed.

For classic rock the Demon should be better, particularly if paired with a vintage-style overdriven amp or pedal.
The JB is too hot for that and not open enough, so it will be mushy and flat, while the Demon's clarity will cut through the mud and make everything sound OK.

If you style has lots of distorted chords, particularly with voicings like 7ths, 9th and what have you, the Demon will win because notes are very distinguishable with it,
whereas the JB will turn to mashed potatoes with that sort of playing.

If you're gonna pummel power chords and flashy solos away, you'll like the JB better.
For more elaborate, varied playing and a more unique sound, you'll love the Demon. But you'll have to play a bit harder because it's more unforgiving.

From what you are saying I should like the jb better for the style I play. And in truth I have always liked the jb. Heres the thing though, I love clarity in chord voicings etc. Queensryche, Rush, etc have alot of bigger chord voicings in their songs and I like to be able to distinguish the notes when they are played. As far as you saying that you have to play a bit harder w the demon, what do you mean by that? I intend to buy a strat (sss) in the near future to play blues, country, etc with. So I want the ibanez set up to do the 80s stuff. I really likeJoe Satriani, vivian campbell (dio era), george lynch, and randy rhoads. Thats the type of thing I play most of the time, coupled with a new interest in andy james, yngwie, the edge(U2) and john petrucci. And while a couple of those players lean on power chords, the bulk of them play alot of stuff with open string voicings etc. I'm a huge stevie fan but that will be solved with the strat. I'm sure that I am making a mountain out of a mole hill (both would work), but I just want to make the right decision. Was the demon designed for george lynch? I LOVE his sound. I play through a line 6 podxt (into a clean amp). It gives me alot of versatility for a reasonable cost. Thanks for the post. I appreciate the help. I guess I just need the "have to play harder" thing clarified, and to see what you think after knowing my influences (as far as tones).

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

I found the wide frequency response and percussiveness of the demon didn’t sync with my vintage clean to medium gain style. I felt that power chords where too clear and lacking in fullness with the demon and cleans sometimes slightly plasticky. This was in an all mahogany hamer with 500k pots. I lean towards a JB or a 59. I found the original SH-5 Custom definitely respectable for Rock if you can hang with the ceramic clean sound.

Are you saying that the power chords sounded thin in clean to medium gain only, or with high gain also?

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

It's a JB with an alnico 8 magnet in it.



The Demon is very much so more articulate, clearer, more note separation than the JB. But if you like the JB, go with it.

Many people really like a Jazz in the neck. Many like the scooped midrange, PAF tone of the 59. My favorite neck pups for mahogany are Demon or Pearly Gates (in that order). The 59n is way too scooped for my taste. The 59b in the neck is much better IMO. I also prefer it with a UOA5 magnet to soften that high end and even add a little more mid to it.

You like the demon bridge pickup in the neck? How does the tone compare to the jazz or 59?

 

[chadd]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

I love the demon, one of my favorite pickups of all time. It will do what you are looking for, but you will probably have to turn up the gain slightly from the settings you use for the JB.

 

[Diego]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

What I meant by 'playing harder' is that the JB is a bit more compressed in it's response, so for example it's much easier to get pinch harmonics and fast runs out of it.
Whereas the Demon is a lot more dynamic and open, so if you get sloppy on a legato run, it won't help you.

In the other hand, that 'dynamicness' pays off when playing distorted chords because each note jumps on it's own.
I think you'll end up just like me: Having both pikcups in two guitars, and finding out on your own what you prefer each one for.

If I'll play King's X or Stone Temple Pilots, I'll use the Demon.
If it's gonna be Megadeth or Whitesnake or something, I'll use the JB.

Now, you can always boost a Demon with a Tubescreamer and make it more compressed and louder, but that's a different story.

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

W

It's a JB with an alnico 8 magnet in it.

When wiring the demon for neck, does it have to be done in parallel? Think I'm going demon with both pickups now. Do they work good as a tandem?

The Demon is very much so more articulate, clearer, more note separation than the JB. But if you like the JB, go with it.

Many people really like a Jazz in the neck. Many like the scooped midrange, PAF tone of the 59. My favorite neck pups for mahogany are Demon or Pearly Gates (in that order). The 59n is way too scooped for my taste. The 59b in the neck is much better IMO. I also prefer it with a UOA5 magnet to soften that high end and even add a little more mid to it.

 

[babaker1014]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

It's a JB with an alnico 8 magnet in it.



The Demon is very much so more articulate, clearer, more note separation than the JB. But if you like the JB, go with it.

Many people really like a Jazz in the neck. Many like the scooped midrange, PAF tone of the 59. My favorite neck pups for mahogany are Demon or Pearly Gates (in that order). The 59n is way too scooped for my taste. The 59b in the neck is much better IMO. I also prefer it with a UOA5 magnet to soften that high end and even add a little more mid to it.

Do you have to wire the demon in parallel in the neck position? I am using the demon for both positions I think. Do they work good in tandem? Thanks

 

[KBliss]

Re: jb vs screamin demon

I would base on your picking. The Demon is for people who want their JB to sound Stratier, more single coil bite & expression. But youve already got a Strat. The JB (& better the JB8) is for mean chords then throwing out leads practically onehanded, just lightly kissing the string with your pick hand, & they always come out at the right volume as your chords (compressed.) So the JB would make it play more different from your Strat. How much texture do you want in your leads? & how badass do the chords have to sound? cuz your pick hand will want one more than the other.