New SD, Custom or JB?

[causticmind]

Hey, i'm a brand new user and i need some help deciding between a JB and a Custom. I like strong mids and highs, but i really need a pickup that will handle palm muting really well. I play modern and eighties punk stuff mostly, Green Day and Offspring and Ramones and stuff. I have a Standard Fat Strat and a Peavey Bandit 112 amp. Thanks

 

[Rleague]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

Custom 5 it's what I use for that type of style..
It's clearer but gutsy with the right amp and guitar combo.
Gibson Studio w/ C5 and Marshall Dsl 100/ 4x12 with (Vintage 30 Hellatones)

Custom not Custom 5 is okay but not as expressive to my liking as well.
Jb doesn't have enough bass for my ears...

J

 

[Kac]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

Some people say JB is lacking in the bass department, but I think that they work perfectly fine for the types of music you described. If I had a fat strat and planned on playing some punk and so on... I would go with the JB.
Rock On :smoker:

 

[Stratcat]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

Hey, i'm a brand new user and i need some help deciding between a JB and a Custom. I like strong mids and highs, but i really need a pickup that will handle palm muting really well. I play modern and eighties punk stuff mostly, Green Day and Offspring and Ramones and stuff. I have a Standard Fat Strat and a Peavey Bandit 112 amp. Thanks

I recommened the Duncan Distortion bridge for the tone you are looking for.

 

[Guitarist]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

Both the JB and Custom will suit you great in little different ways.

Problem with the C5 is the scooped mids.

The JB definetely has the mid-highs that you're talking about. I also think that the JB has a pretty tight bass response - however not quite as powerful or responsive as the Custom. The Custom, also has great mids and very clear highs.

Overall, I think it'd be a guarantee love with the SH-5, just because of the somewhat soft bottom end on the JB.

 

[jeremy]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

the custom sounds great for what you want. thick mids and a great palm muting tone with a tight bottom

 

[aestus]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

I know that billie from Green Day used a JB pickup in his mint green strat through a modded Marshall 4 input super lead on all his early albums up to dookie. He still uses it on some songs, but also has a les paul jr with p90's style pickups and even a hollow body guitar. The guitar tone in their early albums sound very hot and gainy due to layering of guitar tracks and of course the modded marshall. If you hear him live, his tone is not really that distorted and rather has a light crunch to it. Now he uses both the marshall and a mesa boogie.

The early offspring albums were recorded with ibanez guitars through an old modded Marshall Super Lead. I'm not exactly sure on the pickups. Now they use ibanez guitars and mesa boogies.

Bad Religion used gibsons loaded with either customs or custom customs through a JCM 800.

Ramones used strats and gibsons through a Marshall master vol head of some type, either a super lead or a jcm 800.

The key is the Marshall for the punk sound

Blink 182 I believe uses a strat with an invader through a Mesa Dual Rectifier. Can't really stand the sound of the boogie personally, but he achieves a very percussive and gainy sound.

 

[StrangeSound]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

I would go for the Custom. Mids are very important und the JB is imho too high.
Depends on your guitar of course. My guitar is made of basswood and it´s too shrill.

 

[primo]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

I just put a JB in my LP, and love it. I did have some reservation initially because I had one in another LP and could never get any bottom end out of it. Entirely different with my new one. I think the JB can do what you want quite easily, and sounds awesome! I did try out a Custom in the same guitar and didn't care for it. It was well balanced but it sounded brighter than the JB. I would definately recommend the JB or a Distortion.

Cheers Primo.

 

[TechMetalMan]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

I would do a Custom...i just got my custom and it has very thick mids, a solid and tight low end and an articulate high...

 

[causticmind]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

I appreciate all the help, but i'm still torn. Both got basically equal votes. At the moment i'm kinda leading towards the custom. What are the downfalls of both? Maybe the bad will outweigh the good.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

get one, try it. SD has a 30-day return policy...so if you don't like the one you tried, try the other one.

But always remember...your pickups, guitar and amp will never make you punk.

Only clothes can do that.

-X

 

[causticmind]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

But i'm not getting it for Seymour Duncan, i'm doing it all at a local shop, so it's still a big decision for me. Are they similar enough that i won't be disappointed either way?

 

[theodie]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

The Custom is what you are after for the sounds you are looking for!!! Most folks seem to LOVE the JB but, everytime I have played one, I HATED IT!!!!

 

[Marcel]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

if you like strong mids and highs I would say the JB. Both pups are cool. I like the JB for punk better.

 

[Marcel]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

I would go for the Custom. Mids are very important und the JB is imho too high.
Depends on your guitar of course. My guitar is made of basswood and it´s too shrill.

My guitar is made of basswood too and the Custom was a bit shrill and compared to the JB....

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

You get the return from that store too. You have proof of when you bought it. It will take a month to get a new one though. Get on ebay. Buy one to try and sell it if you do not like it.

 

[causticmind]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

This may be the hardest decision i've even had to make.

 

[causticmind]

Re: New SD, Custom or JB?

Anyone know any bands that use the custom? I've been listening to Dookie since someone said the billie joe has the jb in Blue, his strat copy, and he uses only that guitar on the whole dookie album, so i need to compare it to something.