JB2 parallel - almost perfect.

CarlosG

New member
Hi!
I've been experimenting with pickups a lot lately. I really like the JB with the Alnico 2 magnet in parallel.
I like this sound, no band dominates for my ear, it sounds almost as I want it to. It cleans up great with the volume knob, it has great dynamics.
But especially E6 is a bit flabby. In E standard it is OK. But when you go down to drop C sharp, it sounds bad.
I also tested Tone Zone, Super D and Alternative 8 in parallel.
Tone Zone had all the worst features. Super D was also not to my taste. Alternative 8 came out quite well. Surprisingly dynamic for such a powerful driver. Cleans up very well. More controlled bass than JB2, but too big. Sounds very fat as "inflated", I didn't like it​.
I was wondering how JB8 would compare to Alt8? Are they very similar?
I want the tone, dynamics, cleanup of JB2 but with a more controlled low end like Alt8.​
I like the parallel wiring because it gives me more dynamics, better control, better articulation and a single coil bite.
I was also thinking of testing some PAFs (in series). I saw that the 59 can sound like a humbucker with a single coil bite, but it sounds a bit harsh, compared to my JB2 parallel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7USw3vMyPOg
In general, from the options besides JB8 parallel I considered:
- shorten the pole pieces
- 59
- paf 36 anniversary (maybe, but I noticed that I haven't liked any dimarzio so far)
- Alnico II Pro (here I'm afraid of a loose bottom and lack of clarity)
- Pearly Gates (Apparently it has a tight bass despite being A2)
- maybe Custom Custom parallel? (here I'm also afraid of a loose bottom, because A2)
Best regards​​
 
Swapping a magnet takes a few minutes. So, the fastest way to obtain a legit reply should be to try the A8 of your Alt8 in your JB...

The last "Hot" JB style PU that I've tweaked, in a Super Strat with Floyd Rose, received a single push - pull volume pot enabling series / parallel modes. It ended with a not too gaussed single thickness ceramic bar, after various attempts with A2, A5 and A8.

That being said, a few indifferent comments:
-A8 vs A2 should typically give a stronger magnetism and a lower inductance, giving therefore a brighter and louder signal (EDIT- I suppose that's what you feel respectively as "more controled bass" but "inflated" tone with the Alt8, whose perceived fatness is potentially a byproduct of its loudness).
-shortening the pole pieces should make the sound brighter by lowering inductance + making the magnetic circuit more efficient. EDIT: shorter screw poles under the bass (wound) strings alone might be something to try if it comes to tighten the bassrange.
-A 59 in series would have TWICE the inductance of a JB in parallel. Same thing with 36th, A2Pro, PG.
For the record, a JB in parallel in not far to have the specs of... a Filter'Tron. :-) No P.A.F. style pickup in series will exhibit similar DCR / inductance, except maybe something like the DiMarzio "Humbucker from Hell" or EJ.
-A2 in itself is not synonym of loose bottom end: all depends on the origin and magnetization of the bar used and on the properties of the other parts. Some of the tightest humbuckers that I've played and exhibiting the most percussive attack were actually loaded with A2. Hand wound coils would be to consider here (lower parasitic capacitance > faster transient with more amplitude > crisp and strong attack).

As usual, think and do what you want, and be happy.
 
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I had all kinds of magnets in my JB. A2, A3, A4, Unoriented A5, A8 and standard sized ceramic. I liked the UO A5 and the ceramic best in humbucker mode, but only the UO A5 and stock A5 in parallel. Sorry never tried it in the neck.
I was a bit disappointed with the Alt8, no other magnet than the stock A8 sounded good in humbucker mode imo. So i did not dive deeper into the parallel modes with it.
Just my 2 ct.
 
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id try an a3, a little flatter response than a2 but a cleaner bottom end in my experience
 
Does this mean that Pafas will have more output and less dynamics?

I'll leave dynamics aside since we've already discussed this idea here many times but all other factors being equal, more inductance gives more output, yes. And slower transients.

Now, the "single coil bite" that you evoke (and due in your case to the low inductance of a JB in parallel) should for instance be there with coils compensating their higher inductance thx to a low parasitic capacitance - property often present with hand wound coils and explaining why I've talked about this option above... Some users (would) find hand wound HB's too crisp n' bright because of that and (would) prefer the response of machine wound coils (which are historically correct, anyway) but maybe it's something to try in your situation. I don't remember if you've already tried BK pickups but many hand winders offer similar products (hand wound pickups being easier to build with less gear), and not necessarily at high price.

FWIW.
 
I'll leave dynamics aside since we've already discussed this idea here many times but all other factors being equal, more inductance gives more output, yes. And slower transients.

Now, the "single coil bite" that you evoke (and due in your case to the low inductance of a JB in parallel) should for instance be there with coils compensating their higher inductance thx to a low parasitic capacitance - property often present with hand wound coils and explaining why I've talked about this option above... Some users (would) find hand wound HB's too crisp n' bright because of that and (would) prefer the response of machine wound coils (which are historically correct, anyway) but maybe it's something to try in your situation. I don't remember if you've already tried BK pickups but many hand winders offer similar products (hand wound pickups being easier to build with less gear), and not necessarily at high price.

FWIW.
I haven't tried BK, they're too expensive. Out of all the pickups, most Duncans sounded good, that's why I'm a fan.
I see you have a lot of knowledge. The difference in volume depending on the strength of the picking (I call it dynamics) is what I care about the most. Will JB or JB2 (parallel) be more dynamic than Pafs such as 59, Pearly Gates, Paf 36 anniversary? Will Custom Custom parallel be more dynamic than JB2 parallel?
 
I haven't tried BK, they're too expensive. Out of all the pickups, most Duncans sounded good, that's why I'm a fan.
I see you have a lot of knowledge. The difference in volume depending on the strength of the picking (I call it dynamics) is what I care about the most. Will JB or JB2 (parallel) be more dynamic than Pafs such as 59, Pearly Gates, Paf 36 anniversary? Will Custom Custom parallel be more dynamic than JB2 parallel?

I use Duncan's for more than 40 years so I suppose we agree. :-)

Yes, BK are expensive, also they have a cheaper line named "Boot Camp". But I was evoking this specific brand as an example among others and not as a recommendation : my stance was about hand wound VS machine wound coils, knowing that Duncan doesn't make hand wound humbuckers (that many local winders sell at decent prices and whose many iterations have a bright broad clean character absent with most machine wound models).

For the rest... I've done my best to share all I could but, knowledge or not, I'm unable to project myself in someone else's perceptions. I can't tell if YOU would find a Custom Custom in parallel more or less dynamic than a jB with the same wiring. Although they have different DCR's, these PU's have close inductive values. The CC appears to have slightly more capacitive coils. That's all I can tell for the moment... HTH to some extent.
 
I had an JB with an rough cast A3 magnet in the neck spot of a Tokai LP Custom.
This was one of the best neck sounds for Dave Murray style leads - and it nailed the "Fear of the Dark" neck humbucker sound he had on that album (which I was trying to get for decades).
Like an idiot, I sold the guitar with tha humbucker but I'm currently ordering another JB for the neck position of my Strat and will again put am A3 magnet in there.
For me, it magically transformed the pickup to a sweet and hot neck humbucker sound. Try it!
 
I had an JB with an rough cast A3 magnet in the neck spot of a Tokai LP Custom.
This was one of the best neck sounds for Dave Murray style leads - and it nailed the "Fear of the Dark" neck humbucker sound he had on that album (which I was trying to get for decades).
Like an idiot, I sold the guitar with tha humbucker but I'm currently ordering another JB for the neck position of my Strat and will again put am A3 magnet in there.
For me, it magically transformed the pickup to a sweet and hot neck humbucker sound. Try it!

I have been a huge proponent of A3 in hotter winds, but it hasn't really taken off yet. Glad to see someone else giving it a try!
 
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