Let's talk JB

[RanchManSandy]

Sentient works very well with a JB.

This is the Killer Kombo that doesn't get enough praise

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I bet the JB Jr. Neck also pairs well with the full-size JB in the bridge.

 

[Mincer]

This is the Killer Kombo that doesn't get enough praise

The Sentient isn't far off from the Jazz, so it makes sense.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I know the Jazz is the "official" neck pairing for the JB, but I wished they'd come up with something like the SH-4N much like the Distortion has the SH-6N. I don't mean just a Distortion Neck with an Alnico 5 magnet... or maybe that if they decide that would be the best pairing for it. But I suppose they already decided the SH-2N is the best pairing for it. Or maybe like a full-size humbucker version of the JB Jr.-N?

I'm just saying I'd love to them to try something a bit hotter, more overwound, and more mid-focused to match the hot, overwound, and mid-focused JB.

I feel like Duncan rarely ever venture outside their 7K-ish neck HB recipee.

 

[LesStrat]

LesStrat has a Cool Rails in the neck position.

 

[Mincer]

I know the Jazz is the "official" neck pairing for the JB, but I wished they'd come up with something like the SH-4N much like the Distortion has the SH-6N. I don't mean just a Distortion Neck with an Alnico 5 magnet... or maybe that if they decide that would be the best pairing for it. But I suppose they already decided the SH-2N is the best pairing for it. Or maybe like a full-size humbucker version of the JB Jr.-N?

I'm just saying I'd love to them to try something a bit hotter, more overwound, and more mid-focused to match the hot, overwound, and mid-focused JB.

I feel like Duncan rarely ever venture outside their 7K-ish neck HB recipee.

There are plenty of hotter bridge pickups you can put in the neck. I think they generally suggest the Jazz because it works so well. It balances pretty good, and the neck position has more mids than the bridge, so you don't need overbearing mids for the neck (well, I do, but I'm weird). Demon, Black Winter, Slash 2, or a JB2 might work.

 

[zionstrat]

I guess were talking another humbucker but if one were to go the single coil size I've found the Cool Rails works really good with the JB

I actually like this even better than a jazz!

 

[Rex_Rocker]

the neck position has more mids than the bridge, so you don't need overbearing mids for the neck

​I disagree (to an extent). I find it's very easy to end up with a neck pickup tone that's all boom in the lows and high-end attack and a sort of void in the mids, IME, especially if you set your sound up for pickups like the JB in the bridge. I find pickups like the Jazz or the PAF Pro suffer from that when paired with a mid-forward bridge pickup. And I used to not like the '59 for that either, and I've kinda learned to like it, but mostly because of it's broad and open clean tone. Once you start getting aggressive on it, it can start to suffer from that too, I find.

I know neck pickups are your prio, but for me and for the purpose of this thread, I usually work around a bridge pickup that I love and find a neck pickup that works with that.

Then again, Aceman has a fair point. Some people like huge the contrast between bridge and neck pickups.

 

[Aceman]

much like the Distortion has the SH-6N. I don't mean just a Distortion Neck with an Alnico 5 magnet...

Yeah - A JB neck would be pretty cool.

But until then...a DD with an A5, which will totally not be a JB because the DDn is a totally different beast, but that's as close as you'll get. (For the record - I get it that while conceptually it makes sense, in reality it isn't)

 

[solspirit]

Welcome to the Pickup Lounge Sol! we forget you might actually riff.

Now - what do you mean by "pair" because without knowing that, no one should even contemplate answering. \

Do you mean "match the tone curve but quieter/less output?" That could be a pair
Do you mean "fill in or balance the sonic holes when both on?" That could be a pair
Do you mean "provide something for rhythm in the neck while the JB does leads" or vice versa?" That could a pair

So my official useless answer in - depends on what you want to do.

For example - no one would say a T-Top "pairs" with a Distortion. Yet that is exactly what is in my #1, because I want to play very different things on the neck than the bridge, and don;t use the middle with that guitar.

But, my choices would be Jazz, 59, or another JB depending on the guitar, amp and musical style of interest. Or a Duncan Distortion Neck with an A5 mag swap.

I've only heard a jazz with a jb and they seem to compliment each other, one shining where the other doesn't. Thay seem to compliment each other.

 

[RanchManSandy]

The Sentient isn't far off from the Jazz, so it makes sense.

yeah, the Sentient just has that li'l extra touch of mids and doesn't get as woofy/boomy in my experience. too many neck HBs have overpowering bass or are too scooped imo

Sentient, Black Winter neck, and the Loomis Blackouts neck are my favorite Duncan that avoid this

 

[weepingminotaur]

​I disagree (to an extent). I find it's very easy to end up with a neck pickup tone that's all boom in the lows and high-end attack and a sort of void in the mids, IME, especially if you set your sound up for pickups like the JB in the bridge. I find pickups like the Jazz or the PAF Pro suffer from that when paired with a mid-forward bridge pickup. And I used to not like the '59 for that either, and I've kinda learned to like it, but mostly because of it's broad and open clean tone. Once you start getting aggressive on it, it can start to suffer from that too, I find.

I know neck pickups are your prio, but for me and for the purpose of this thread, I usually work around a bridge pickup that I love and find a neck pickup that works with that.

Then again, Aceman has a fair point. Some people like huge the contrast between bridge and neck pickups.

Any reason you wouldn't consider a Black Winter neck with a JB, then? Feels like it would tick the boxes.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Any reason you wouldn't consider a Black Winter neck with a JB, then? Feels like it would tick the boxes.

I guess it could work if you drop it way down. The BW-N is REALLY hot. I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually higher output than the JB.

 

[weepingminotaur]

I guess it could work if you drop it way down.

I mean, I find I have to drop it down even paired with a Black Winter bridge, so yeah.

 

[AdrianSD]

I guess it could work if you drop it way down. The BW-N is REALLY hot. I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually higher output than the JB.

In my Jackson DK2 the Black Winter neck feels hotter than its BW bridge pair, even though it's lowered significantly, both killer pickups still