what's up everybody! first post on here, and i need some advice. i've got an ibanez rgt220h. the stock pickups are dimarzio ibz's, which are way to harsh (read ceramic) for my tastes. it's got a maple neck thru, so i'm thinkin i want something that will warm it up a bit with good bass and mids. i've thought about going the jb/jazz route, but also maybe just go classic with the '59's for both. anyways, my more important question is about trem spacing. i've got the edge pro trem, so do i need trembuckers in both spots or just the bridge? anyone got any opinions?
noob question
- Thread starter mcguffin
- Start date
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: noob question
If you find ceramics too harsh (I do too) then you may not be thilled about the JB, which although it is Duncan's biggest selling HB, it's also the most disliked. Its tone has been often likened to an icepick & a dentist drill. Bright & harsh. While some guys love them, many are sold used by disatisfied players. The JB's a gamble. No matter how good a PU is, and how well it works for other players (in their guitars thru their amps), there's no way to know in advance just how it'll will react with your wood & guitar.
Before you get into the cycle of buying & selling PU's, try swapping magnets. That can greatly change the EQ. There's many old threads on what each alnico magnet does to tone. I'd try an A5 in your current neck (or an A4 if you wood is bright), and an A4 in the bridge for a warm blues/rock tone, or an A8 for high output rock/metal. If the bridge needs further warming, try a 250K pot or two (volume/tone).
You can get pots & magnets cheap, and many of us use them regularly to dial in our tones, no matter who makes the PU. Guys that don't do this, usually end up buying many more PU's, and selling the old ones at a loss. My advice is to not pour hundreds of dollars in a series of PU's that turn out to be different than what you expected. You'll get all kinds of PU recommendations, often contradictory, but you're better off learning about PU's, magnets, pots, and caps and deciding yourself what is best.
If tweaking your existing PU's doesn't give you what you want, & you end up getting replacements, you can go with a trem spaced PU for the bridge if you want; not needed on the neck. Many players say there's little difference in the sound of trem and non-trem, so don't sweat that.
If you find ceramics too harsh (I do too) then you may not be thilled about the JB, which although it is Duncan's biggest selling HB, it's also the most disliked. Its tone has been often likened to an icepick & a dentist drill. Bright & harsh. While some guys love them, many are sold used by disatisfied players. The JB's a gamble. No matter how good a PU is, and how well it works for other players (in their guitars thru their amps), there's no way to know in advance just how it'll will react with your wood & guitar.
Before you get into the cycle of buying & selling PU's, try swapping magnets. That can greatly change the EQ. There's many old threads on what each alnico magnet does to tone. I'd try an A5 in your current neck (or an A4 if you wood is bright), and an A4 in the bridge for a warm blues/rock tone, or an A8 for high output rock/metal. If the bridge needs further warming, try a 250K pot or two (volume/tone).
You can get pots & magnets cheap, and many of us use them regularly to dial in our tones, no matter who makes the PU. Guys that don't do this, usually end up buying many more PU's, and selling the old ones at a loss. My advice is to not pour hundreds of dollars in a series of PU's that turn out to be different than what you expected. You'll get all kinds of PU recommendations, often contradictory, but you're better off learning about PU's, magnets, pots, and caps and deciding yourself what is best.
If tweaking your existing PU's doesn't give you what you want, & you end up getting replacements, you can go with a trem spaced PU for the bridge if you want; not needed on the neck. Many players say there's little difference in the sound of trem and non-trem, so don't sweat that.
KeeperOS
New member
Re: noob question
HERE you can read about changing magnets, haven't done it YET but seems easy enough, especially since your pickups don't have covers.
Forum bro martin6stringcustoms carries all types of magnets.
Yes, you'll need a trembucker spacing pickup but only for the bridge, for the neck ordinary humbuckers will do.
Other than that, what tone4days said
HERE you can read about changing magnets, haven't done it YET but seems easy enough, especially since your pickups don't have covers.
Forum bro martin6stringcustoms carries all types of magnets.
Yes, you'll need a trembucker spacing pickup but only for the bridge, for the neck ordinary humbuckers will do.
Other than that, what tone4days said
hanumanlangur
New member
Re: noob question
To be fair, though, it's probably the most liked Duncan as well (in the real world, and among famous guitarists). It's even pretty popular on these forums in maple and alder guitars with 250k pots (like it was originally made for).
To be fair, though, it's probably the most liked Duncan as well (in the real world, and among famous guitarists). It's even pretty popular on these forums in maple and alder guitars with 250k pots (like it was originally made for).
KeeperOS
New member
Re: noob question
JB in a Basswood guitar with a Maple top = ALL THE 80s GOODNESS!!!
The problems start BECAUSE of its' popularity, people just assume it's the be all end all pickup for every possible scenario and while it IS one of the most versatile pickups out there it has its' applications and its' non-recommended uses like every other pickup...
JB in a Basswood guitar with a Maple top = ALL THE 80s GOODNESS!!!
The problems start BECAUSE of its' popularity, people just assume it's the be all end all pickup for every possible scenario and while it IS one of the most versatile pickups out there it has its' applications and its' non-recommended uses like every other pickup...
so, here's a pic of the guitar.
as you can see the bridge string spacing is a little off on the stock bridge pup. i would like to learn how to replace the magnets, but in this case i'm thinking i want to keep the ibz's in original condition in case i want to sell later. i did a bit more reading and i'm thinking patb's. the neck-thru is maple and walnut and the body sides are mahogany. i want something that will warm it up a bit. patb-3? any thoughts? neck pup suggestions?
as you can see the bridge string spacing is a little off on the stock bridge pup. i would like to learn how to replace the magnets, but in this case i'm thinking i want to keep the ibz's in original condition in case i want to sell later. i did a bit more reading and i'm thinking patb's. the neck-thru is maple and walnut and the body sides are mahogany. i want something that will warm it up a bit. patb-3? any thoughts? neck pup suggestions?
Iron Horse
New member
Re: noob question
Made for? wasn't it originally copy after Jeff Beck's Lesters bridge bucker?
Made for? wasn't it originally copy after Jeff Beck's Lesters bridge bucker?
Iron Horse
New member
Re: noob question
Yes, PATB-3 is your best bet, with perhaps '59n or PATB-1n
so, here's a pic of the guitar.
as you can see the bridge string spacing is a little off on the stock bridge pup. i would like to learn how to replace the magnets, but in this case i'm thinking i want to keep the ibz's in original condition in case i want to sell later. i did a bit more reading and i'm thinking patb's. the neck-thru is maple and walnut and the body sides are mahogany. i want something that will warm it up a bit. patb-3? any thoughts? neck pup suggestions?
Yes, PATB-3 is your best bet, with perhaps '59n or PATB-1n
hanumanlangur
New member
Re: noob question
+1. It's a great pickup, even though it's not for everyone.
As I understand it, the JB was originally wound for a Tele-Gib that Seymour put together for Jeff Beck. I'm fairly sure that the earliest pickups such as the '59, Jazz, and JB were originally made for 250k pots.
JB History: http://www.seymourduncan.com/news/newsletter/winter-04/product_spotlig_6/
+1. It's a great pickup, even though it's not for everyone.
As I understand it, the JB was originally wound for a Tele-Gib that Seymour put together for Jeff Beck. I'm fairly sure that the earliest pickups such as the '59, Jazz, and JB were originally made for 250k pots.
JB History: http://www.seymourduncan.com/news/newsletter/winter-04/product_spotlig_6/
