JBJ needs a mate

[Tio Kimo]

Hello, sometime lurker, first time poster.
I've got an old HB-35 (335 clone). Bought it used with the original no name covered neck pickup and an obviously aged zebra bridge. Sounded great, price was right, action was sick! Brought her home.

Finally got around to pulling the pickups, and the bridge is an unbranded JBJ! The neck wax has given way and the pup needs to go. Thinking of a jazz sh-2.

I also own a Washburn Idol with the 59/Custom Custom set-up, so i thought rounding out my rigs with two different, but classic SD configurations would be a good thing.

Here's the rub....old Tobacco Sunburst with cream binding on the f-holes...built with gold covers in mind....With this vintage JBJ, can I get an SH-2 in zebra to at least give it some cosmetic balance? SD site indicates no.

Also, how can you determine the vintage of the JBJ's? Was there a certain range of years when Ms. Juarez was doing the winding in the shop?

Here's the backplate....

Thanks in advance...this forum has dizzying amounts of info I'm just
beginning to wade through.

cheers!

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

The jazz should go great great with your JB. Those two pickups were made to go with eachother

 

[blueman335]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

The jazz should go great great with your JB. Those two pickups were made to go with eachother

Sorry, but I totally disagree. The JB is hot, sharp, edgey, and loud, & the JazzN is soft, timid, & fairly bland. Talk about the odd couple. Total mismatch tonewise. A much better neck HB for this is a '59N, which has more cut & character to it. I'm baffled that the JB/Jazz pair gets marketed as the "Hot Rodded Set" when the Jazz just isn't anywhere near that description.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

Also, how can you determine the vintage of the JBJ's? Was there a certain range of years when Ms. Juarez was doing the winding in the shop?

Here's the backplate....

To me, just that ink stamped sticker "JBJ", is gonna tell me that it's a vintage SD pup. The fact that it has no logo is also a good indicator that it's vintage. It's probably from the 80's.

I haven't used a JB with a Jazz but I have used it with a '59n. They both make a great pair, IMO.

 

[Tio Kimo]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

thanks for the feedback.

Blueman, your comment makes sense, you've obviously seen the same comments I have that the JB/Jazz set up is a great one. Wonder where's the disconnect?

With 335 in your name, is that your main axe? What do you run in it?

Anyone out there with first hand experience with this (JB/Jazz) setup?

I've got a 59N in my semi hollow Idol, and I love it. Thought it may be nice to go with something different here, as I said before. Of course the 35 is a different guitar so sounds will vary for sure.....

is there another alternative not yet mentioned?

 

[Marshall_Abuser]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

I would opt for a '59 over the Jazz.

 

[SFW]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

Pearly Gates neck. Done.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

Blueman, your comment makes sense, you've obviously seen the same comments I have that the JB/Jazz set up is a great one. Wonder where's the disconnect?

Am I reading this wrong? I though Blueman said that the JB/Jazz was NOT a good set but the JB/59 was.

Might also try Pearly Gates.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

Am I reading this wrong? I though Blueman said that the JB/Jazz was NOT a good set but the JB/59 was.

Might also try Pearly Gates.

The JB/'59N is a good pairing; I think he was surpised at my comments about the JB/Jazz since it's marketed as the "Hot Rodded Set" implying that the neck PU is equally aggressive, which the Jazz isn't at all.

 

[Tio Kimo]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

Am I reading this wrong? I though Blueman said that the JB/Jazz was NOT a good set but the JB/59 was.

Might also try Pearly Gates.

I read him right...JB/Jazz makes no sense in his book. I was saying that the "press" says otherwise, and I wonder why.

So many variables, I suppose. I've found other threads where guys do like the combo, stating that when playing switched to play both together, it creates a good contrast for the hot JB.

If a semi hollow wasn't such a bear to solder, I might try moving the 59 from my Idol and giving it a shot, but that won't happen.

PG is nearly as hot as the JB, isn't it? I'm leaning 59 probably. I love the clean tones I get with it in my other guitar and it overdrives well. I'm thinking in a 335, those singing tones will be even greater.


I appreciate the feedback. Really good to have actual users sound off.

Cheers.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

I read him right...JB/Jazz makes no sense in his book. I was saying that the "press" says otherwise, and I wonder why.

If a semi hollow wasn't such a bear to solder, I might try moving the 59 from my Idol and giving it a shot, but that won't happen.

PG is nearly as hot as the JB, isn't it? I'm leaning 59 probably. I love the clean tones I get with it in my other guitar and it overdrives well. I'm thinking in a 335, those singing tones will be even greater.

The PG's are PAF's, so they're low output, plus or minus 8,000 ohms like '59's. JB's are double that and use a thinner wire gauge.

I'm the king of import 335's and they're easy to rewire. I've rewired several dozen F hole guitars over the last 10 years.
Set up: Lay an old towel on top of the body, and gently pull out the pots (you usually don't have take out the toggle). This is best done on a table (with a towel under the guitar too), with good lighting & a fan (for solder fumes).
Tools you need: Stiff plastic-coated wire or aquarium tubing to pull the pots thru (usually only needed for the neck tone pot); a 6" curved forcept to push the pots up into the other 3 holes, & a T-nut driver for the pot nuts (keeps from scratching the finish, you should have these for solid bodies too). Armed with these, I can get all the parts back inside in 5 to 10 minutes.
Additional notes: Give an extra few inches of wire between all the pots so nothing gets pulled tight during re-entry. Test your wiring thru an amp while everything is still outside (tap on the PU pole pieces with a screwdriver). Test again after the pots are inside and screwed in, but before you put the knobs on.
Anyone who tells you it's difficult to rewire an F hole guitar either hasn't done it themselves, or doesn't know what they're talking about. It's no big deal. I've put the 4 push-pull Jimmy Page system in 335's! PM me if I can help.

 

[Tio Kimo]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

I'm the king of import 335's ..... PM me if I can help.

Right on, man. I feel like I just struck gold. Thanks. That's good to hear that it's that manageable.

Actually been holding off on the project because I feel the guitar needs it all, and given that it's supposedly so finicky, I've felt I was looking a several hundred bucks between pickups, parts and labor. Now you've got me re-thinking the whole thing.

So, if you could go either way...would you still lean towards a '59?

Ever owned a Washburn? Mine's an '88, Japanese. Well loved, but man I love this axe.

 

[bagouser]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

thanks for the feedback.

Blueman, your comment makes sense, you've obviously seen the same comments I have that the JB/Jazz set up is a great one. Wonder where's the disconnect?

is there another alternative not yet mentioned?

I gotta chime in here. I'm on the JB hater side of the fence, but I'm still very familiar with its sound and I'm not sure why SD matches it with the Jazz N.

The Jazz and JB are TOTALLY DIFFERENT in their voices so unless you want a completley different tone when you flick the toggle switch, I'd stay away from the Jazz neck. I use the Jazz neck on one guitar but match it with a C5 in the bridge and IMO they go together exceptionally well. Given the JB's sound and EQ with that pleasant little midrange spike, I'd like to say that the Full Shred neck would go AWESOME with a JB bridge. You may also want to try a PGn.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

Right on, man. I feel like I just struck gold. Thanks. That's good to hear that it's that manageable.

Actually been holding off on the project because I feel the guitar needs it all, and given that it's supposedly so finicky, I've felt I was looking a several hundred bucks between pickups, parts and labor. Now you've got me re-thinking the whole thing.

So, if you could go either way...would you still lean towards a '59?

Ever owned a Washburn? Mine's an '88, Japanese. Well loved, but man I love this axe.

I have a C5/'59N in a Sheraton 355 that sounds great, and that pair works very well in a SG & LP too. I like the '59N in everything I've put it in.

Check out eBay for used PU's, you can get a lot of them for about half price, and you can do the soldering yourself. It doesn't need to break the bank. This forum is full of Do-it-Yourselfers, and we're always glad to help.

I've had a few Washburns; the only one I have now is a J3 hollowbody, an ES175 copy that I put a pair of Carvin C22's in (sounds very nice).

The first guitar I swapped PU's in was an Echotone 335, and for the second I put the 4 push-pull Jimmy Page system in a LP. I have no electrical or handyman skills coming into this. It's obviously all low-tech. Take the mystery out of it: Every electric part in a guitar has a hot wire & a ground wire (PU's, pots, toggle, and jack). All you have to do is make the connections. All the ground wires are interconnected in one big loop that ties into the main bridge/stop bar ground wire; miss one pot, and you'll get noise. Test your soldering before you re-assemble. It's just that simple. I swear the average 12-year old kid can do this.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

thanks for the feedback.

Blueman, your comment makes sense, you've obviously seen the same comments I have that the JB/Jazz set up is a great one. Wonder where's the disconnect?

With 335 in your name, is that your main axe? What do you run in it?

Anyone out there with first hand experience with this (JB/Jazz) setup?

I've got a 59N in my semi hollow Idol, and I love it. Thought it may be nice to go with something different here, as I said before. Of course the 35 is a different guitar so sounds will vary for sure.....

is there another alternative not yet mentioned?

I put a JB/JazzN in a LP (if that doesn't make me look like a newbie!), and the neck is totally different tonewise than the bridge. They really don't belong together. To make it a bearable, I put an A2 in the JB, which gets them a little closer in EQ, but the JazzN is still a pretty shy, mellow PU. A '59N is a much better fit for an aggressive bridge HB. Seymour marketing dept pairs the JB & Jazz, I don't know why, but I don't think they work well together for the average player. Considering that they make lots of great PU's (I have more Duncans than any other brand), I can overlook this.

Another greatly loved neck HB here is the PGN, which you should also consider.

Love those import 335's, LP's, and SG's. I use an assortment of PU's in them; off the top of my head (I know there's more):
In the bridge - Duncan '59B, C5, C8, JB (A2), and Phat CatB (A8/A4); Gibson '57 Classic (A4), Burstbucker (A8), 490T (A8), 498T (A8), and 60ST (A6); DMz Virtual PAF, Fred, Al Dimeola, and Air Norton; Carvin C22 and M22; & various Schallers.

In the neck - '59N, JazzN, Phat CatN (A5/A4, A5/A5, and A5/A3), Gibson '57 Classic (A5), Burstbucker (A5), 490R (A5), DMz Bluesbucker and HFH, Carvin C22 and M22, and various Schallers.

Also have a few PU's waiting to be installed.

 

[Tio Kimo]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

Pearly Gates neck. Done.

yep. this is the decision.

Blueman, I may hit you up shortly for a parts list on the Jimmy Page 4 p/p pot mod.

 

[uOpt]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

Is that a guitar with a block tremolo?

The Jazz is really a little lame to combine with the JB - unless the trem block wakes it up.

Normally you'd use a '59 but you already have one.

 

[Tio Kimo]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

That's it exactly uOpt. I love the 59n in my idol, but want to expand my own exposure, and have some different tones available. I'm relative newcomer to electrics, so finding out how different winds and magnets affect tone is part of my education. I find it interesting how just about everything out there is a slight variation on PAF.

I noted in another thread you're not a huge fan of the PGn. Why's that?

 

[cheapkites]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

I starting to like this forum. Now if Tiger Woods can say out of trouble maybe I will get some work done.

 

[blueman335]

Re: JBJ needs a mate

I noted in another thread you're not a huge fan of the PGn. Why's that?

Many guys here love the PGN. In fact, I'm buying a guitar myself just so I put a pair of PG's in it & see what all the talk is about. The two most popular neck HB's here are the PGN & '59N. Maybe you should try both.