Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

[ugrkoglu]

I have a JB in the bridge position of my Carvin Bolt-T. It is great for power chords, riffing, and fast solos but there is not enough body and sustain for melodic leads which I tend to play a lot. What would you guys (and gals) suggest for a sweet sounding humbucker with lots of body and sustain for leads? I am willing to give up some power but not too much as I still need to play some 80's metal with it.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

if you find the jb to toppy then a cc might be a nice choice. big warm mids great for melodic leads and enough cut for good rhythm. doesnt have a huge bottom end but i wouldnt call it thin.
what type of amp are you using?

 

[BachToRock]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

Sounds like you possibly need a different guitar... if it ain't sustaining with the JB it ain't there in the first place...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

+ 1 for the CC. I have mine in a Carvin DC127T and I couldn't be happier.

Thicker strings and higher action also gives more sustain on any given axe.

 

[Marcel]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

JB not enough sustain?!!???
Check if your pu height is adjusted "correct" Yeah thicker strings will help too
maybe you wanna raise the mids on your amp....
what amp are you using?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

Sounds like you possibly need a different guitar... if it ain't sustaining with the JB it ain't there in the first place...

My thoughts exactly...

Either a new guitar or a proper set-up on your existing guitar because it's hard to believe the JB is at fault.

Sustain isn't really a function of the pickup, BTW.



Lew

 

[nuntius]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

raise your action and go a gauge higher on strings, i've done it on all my guitars (from 9s to 10s and a higher action)

it takes a little time to get used to, but tone + sustain improve a lot imo

 

[ugrkoglu]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

Thanks everyone for your opinions and ideas. Very helpful as always.

I use a Tech 21 Trademark 60 amp. Altough it does a great job of modelling Marshall, there is nothing like the real thing. I know my quest would be helped greatly by a good tube amp.

I wil try thicker strings (currently I use 9s and tune down half a step). I will also raise the action. If it does not work, I will try a different pickup. You guys suggested CC and it makes sense. How about Alnico Pro II? Do you think it fits my requirements?

 

[ugrkoglu]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

I also wanted add that I agree with the comments about sustain being a function of the guitar and not so much of the pickups. However, I have gotten different amounts of sustain with different pickups on the same guitar. All Dimarzio Air series pickups tend to sustain better due to their low magnetic pull design (I have used Air Zone and Air Norton).

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

Dimarzio's Air technology is just a way for Dimarzio to get the benefits of Alnico II mags while using Alnico V mags.

I like Alnico II mags better than Alnico V with a plastic spacer. :burnout:

 

[Truthsayer]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

Dimarzio's Air technology is just a way for Dimarzio to get the benefits of Alnico II mags while using Alnico V mags.

I like Alnico II mags better than Alnico V with a plastic spacer. :burnout:

All a magnet does is provide a magnetic field. Provided you get the strength of magnetic field you are looking for within the design parameters of the pickup, there is no qualitative difference between different types of magnets. There is no such thing as a sweet magnet, a musical magnet, or a harsh magnet. The pickup design determines which magnet would be appropriate for the intended result.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

All a magnet does is provide a magnetic field. Provided you get the strength of magnetic field you are looking for within the design parameters of the pickup, there is no qualitative difference between different types of magnets. There is no such thing as a sweet magnet, a musical magnet, or a harsh magnet. The pickup design determines which magnet would be appropriate for the intended result.

You are right, a mag with the same gauss will give the same strength field no matter it's composition. What bothers me is Dimarzio's marketing, citing their use of "Airbucker Technology" as a means of getting low string pull without resorting to "unreliable" alnico II mags. I would like to know how many Alnico II mags have demagnetized overnight. :smack:

I like technology that solves a problem. I dislike technology as a gimmick.

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

I have a JB in the bridge position of my Carvin Bolt-T. It is great for power chords, riffing, and fast solos but there is not enough body and sustain for melodic leads which I tend to play a lot. What would you guys (and gals) suggest for a sweet sounding humbucker with lots of body and sustain for leads? I am willing to give up some power but not too much as I still need to play some 80's metal with it.

get the bridge version of this,

PA-TB1 -- This humbucker is specially calibrated for either the neck or bridge position. Its spacing is also adjusted to allow for precise string alignment. Its tone is sweet and bluesy. The more gain you add, the more it sings. Available in black only.
Four conductor cable

 

[rspst14]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

As others have mentioned, a lack of sustain is not a function of the pickup. It usually indicates a poor setup. In your case, it's likely due to the fact that you're using 9's tuned down half a step. In my opinion, 9's are too light in standard tuning. If you tune down with them, you're going to have very little string tension, which will result in less sustain. I would definitely go with a set of 10's for 1/2 step down tuning.

As far as magnets go, Alnico 2 magnets have less string pull due to the weaker magnetic field, so you may get slightly more sustain from an Alnico 2 pickup than an Alnico 5 or ceramic. Still, the difference isn't likely to be very much. I would move up to a set of 10's, and have a good tech set the guitar up for you.

Ryan

 

[mongrollo]

Re: Need More Sustain Than My JB Supplies!!!

You are right, a mag with the same gauss will give the same strength field no matter it's composition.

I agree, but a full strenth magnet of a specific composition (and shape) will have allways the same magnetic field.

What bothers me is Dimarzio's marketing, citing their use of "Airbucker Technology" as a means of getting low string pull without resorting to "unreliable" alnico II mags. I would like to know how many Alnico II mags have demagnetized overnight. :smack:

I like technology that solves a problem. I dislike technology as a gimmick.

I this case I don't see any problem in AirBucker tecnology. With a AlnicoII you get a less strength magnetic pull. The same happens with the ceramics mag but in the oposite direction. With the plastic spacer you get the magnetic field of the alnico5 weakened so it has the same a effect of a less strenth magnet. Just that.

It is just a tecnology that solves a problem.