Next step up after the JB

[beerinoculum]

Looking for my next bridge pickup that has similar qualities to the JB - except, more chunk and rattle to it, but not too much?

I love the clean to dirty volume roll up, and the bright cleans, but its gotten too chimey and shrill for my ear - so what would be the "next step up" in terms of aggression but, if possible, similar qualities in cleaning up with lowering your guitar volume? For example, I have an Invader in another guitar, but not a fan of how its just instantly on when the volume is barely rolled up.

Looking for something that can give me a good clean up like the JB, but less shrill/high and good chunk and aggression

I play dynamic/progressive heavy music (Mastodon, LoG, A7X, Tool..) thru a Schecter Platinum C-1 25.5 scale

 

[AdrianSD]

Welcome to the forum, a great deal of knowledge over here.
I like quite a bit the JB with the Alnico 8 magnet, it evens out the EQ making it tighter and less shrill, it sounds more aggressive than the A5. But it doesn't really clean up very well. Pickup height matters too, I have mine lower than the average recommended numbers. For cleans you can try parallel wiring.

 

[misterwhizzy]

PATB-1 is what you’re looking for.

 

[uOpt]

DD

 

[Chistopher]

For example, I have an Invader in another guitar, but not a fan of how its just instantly on when the volume is barely rolled up.

That sounds like it's worth checking your volume taper.

 

[Binnerscot]

I would echo Duncan Distortion. There's a lot to like about the JB, and if more chunk and aggression is the ask, DD is the answer. Never had many issues getting a reasonable clean out it for being fairly high output.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Duncan Distortion for sure. There's rumor it's the same wind as the JB, except with a different magnet. It's not been confirmed, but even if it's not, it sits firmly in the same family.

If not, try swapping a standard-sized ceramic into the JB to make it the JB+ AKA Distortion Lite. I think it's the pickup George Lynch used in the 80's.

Another one to consider is the Black Winter. Even if it's higher output than the Distortion, I'd say the EQ more closely resembles the JB, except less stuffy in the low mids and with a more immediate attack.

 

[Chistopher]

If not, try swapping a standard-sized ceramic into the JB to make it the JB+ AKA Distortion Lite. I think it's the pickup George Lynch used in the 80's.

The Dokkenbucker is what it was informally known as, it eventually got a CS release as The Hunter