New Les Paul Bridge PU : JB or Custom Custom ?

[Lorenzar]

Hi guys !

I've got a Les Paul Classic currently loaded with Slash Alnico II Pro set.

The neck Alnico II Pro will stay in place but I'd like to try a new pickup in the bridge (not that I dislike Slash bridge, it's more for the sake of changing the scenario for a while and see which I prefer in the long run).

I do like the look of Reverse Zebra in the bridge position.


So I took a look at what Reverse Zebra pickups available around me, and there's only 2 models : JB (SH-4) and Custom Custom (TB-11, yes it's a trembucker but since Gibson bridge pickups are wider spaced that SD SH ones, I guess it's not much of an issue, is it ?)


I've never tried those pickups. I had some of their cousins (SH-6 and SH-5), but only played them on an SG (preference for the SH-5 Custom in SG), never on a Les Paul (this Les Paul only saw Gibson Classic 57 and Slash set and that's my first and only LP).

I play stuffs ranging from blues to classic rock to hard rock to stoner to doom and thrash metal.

Currently I play in a project influenced by Black Sabbath, Corrosion Of Conformity, Metallica, Down, Trouble, Clutch. Think some heavy crunchy groovy organic riffs.

I currently play on a JVM 205H, most of the time on the OD channel "amber/orange" mode which is pretty hi gain with plenty of tight bass (use sometimes clean channel and crunch orange or red) with my other guitar which is an SG with Seth Lover neck and Hybrid 59/Custom bridge.

Nothing wrong with it, Hybrid 59/Custom is sometimes quite bright with my SG on the JVM, but when it's annoying, I just tame the treble a little on the amp and it's fine.

I just want to use the Les Paul again for that project and I'm entertaining the idea to use a different bridge.

So which option you guys would try ?

Custom Custom ? JB ? Neither, Slash is just fine and I wouldn't get any significant benefits with the others 2 ?

P.S : With the Slash set, my LP is definitely not dark. I'd say it's quite bright, but not in an unpleasant way.


Cheers !

 

[Nagisa]

Re: New Les Paul Bridge PU : JB or Custom Custom ?

For Metallica I would vote for the JB, between those 2, but I never had a JB in a LP. The custom family is well regarded in LPs but the custom custom is A2 which while higher output than the slash, I wonder if it will sound strong enough.

Some people here may suggest magnet swaps like a ceramic or a5 in the custom custom.

 

[Nickmag01]

Re: New Les Paul Bridge PU : JB or Custom Custom ?

Im running a jb in a bridge only config and while it is great for thrash/Death i think a super distortion is your best choice for heavier stuff as it can really give a saturated punch.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: New Les Paul Bridge PU : JB or Custom Custom ?

I mentionned Metallica, because this influence will always be in me riff-wise, the "chuga-chuga" grooves stuff mainly maybe not so much the fast stuffs that I love too, but I'm not really a fast player.

So riff wise, yeah, Metallica is part of the deal, not so much tone-wise here, or maybe the Load era perhaps...which is quite influenced by COC, Kyuss etc...

It's definitely more leaning on the Sabbath worhsip, COC/DOWN/90's Trouble kind of thing, with a more rock n'roll edge like Clutch maybe.


About the Super D, I've never tried a Di Marzio, could be fun !

But if I want to stay on the reverse zebra look (also to narrow the huge number of different directions to choose!), I'm really torn between CC and JB.

In case some people don't know much about the JVM, this amp got plenty of gain on tap.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New Les Paul Bridge PU : JB or Custom Custom ?

For the doomy downtuned stuff, I like the Custom Custom. The low end isn't tight, but that is sort of the charm of that kind of music. Plus, the CC is great with magnet swaps, so you can transform it into a Custom (ceramic) or a Custom 5 (Alnico V for just a few bucks. The CC and Slash pickups go really well together, btw.

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: New Les Paul Bridge PU : JB or Custom Custom ?

Yeah that's what I thought also about the low end and the JVM got really tight bass already.

I'm still tuned to standard so far, but yeah, I'm definitely looking for some fat, loose and chunky lows here and I think my SG with the hybrid already gives me something quite tight.


I also thought about the pairiing (and even a regular Custom would go well with a Slash neck I guess since some pair them with Pearly Gates neck for instance) and the magnet swaps (although, I'm a bit reluctant to mess with a pickup like that but why not). Sure if the CC is not what I'm looking for and I want something tighter and more aggressive, I guess turning it into a custom 8 or regular Custom would do the trick.

I will also give another go to the Slash bridge with the JVM, cause since I have the JVM, which looks like it's my perfect amp (so versatile!), I've played mainly with the SG.


Possible downside for the CC, in reverse zebra it's only available in trembucker model where I live as of now. Not sure it's a problem but still. And the JB is cheaper too. But in the long run, I don't care about a 20 euros difference.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New Les Paul Bridge PU : JB or Custom Custom ?

It is a strong enough pickup that I am sure you won't lose any string volume. I wouldn't worry about it.