Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

[suaveymcsuave]

Not to be Blasphemous towards Mr. Duncan but why is this supposed to be such a great combo? I've never experienced it so I'm not knocking it I'm sincerely asking. Something I've noticed on some of the posts that I've started is whenever the topic is about "which custom is better" or "how about the distortion" (not real threads by me fyi) somebody shoots in "GET THE JB!" Besides if I like the sound of a JB/JAZZ I might as well buy the combo instead of seperately I would save a few bucks.

 

[NavarroNavarro]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

I don't have the answer, but I do have questions on a similar line. I am looking to upgrade my stock PUs. This combo is reccomended by SD, so who am I to question it? But, I do wonder if I should install it with the standard 3-way LP switch. Any feeedback will be appriciated. Will a fender type 5 way switch fit in my Epi LP without modification? Is there a reason (or a reason not) to utilize the 4 wire constuction of the sh2 sh4 combo?

 

[aldu74]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

Not to be Blasphemous towards Mr. Duncan but why is this supposed to be such a great combo?

Because it is a very versatile combo, and both pickups balance really well together. And yes, you would save a few bucks if you get the set.

The only way you'll know for sure is actually getting them & trying them. If you don't like them you have 21 days to exchange them.

 

[aldu74]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

I don't have the answer, but I do have questions on a similar line. I am looking to upgrade my stock PUs. This combo is reccomended by SD, so who am I to question it? But, I do wonder if I should install it with the standard 3-way LP switch. Any feeedback will be appriciated. Will a fender type 5 way switch fit in my Epi LP without modification? Is there a reason (or a reason not) to utilize the 4 wire constuction of the sh2 sh4 combo?

1) Just because SD reccomends it doesn't mean it will work for you. Try it and find out!

2) No, you cannot use a 5-way switch in your Epi without modification.

3) Not sure what you mean about utilizing the four wire conductors, since they are standard on those models.

Good luck!

 

[gripweed]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

As with any pickup/guitar combination, some like it and some don't. There are plenty of players here that don't like that combo. I think part of it is that they may be using it in the wrong guitar, or with the wrong pots.

 

[suaveymcsuave]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

so how about with a Epi Goth LP? So many people said yes to the JB even if I didn't ask anything referring to the JB.

 

[ljberbi]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

I just put a Jazz neck/JB combo in my Les Paul and split both with series parallel wiring. I got this combo just to see and hear for myself what all the hype was about. As far as the jazz goes, if you like to play clean with your neck pickup it is pretty sweet. Reminds me of a Tele neck tone, crisp and articulate. If you want to play roadhouse blues I would choose another neck pickup. The jazz is fine for many styles, and works fine for overdriven blues however it would not be my first choice for this style. As far as the JB goes, I don't understand what everyone is complaining about. This pickup absolutely rips in my Les Paul. I hear guys talk about too many upper mids, etc. I don't hear anything negative with the JB. It seems a great match with a Les Paul anyway. Good Luck!

 

[theodie]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

The JB is a LOVE it or really dont like it pickup. The ones who love it think it is the greatest invention since sliced bread. I just dont like it myself! Thats just me though. There are always these threads where someone is looking for a pickup and someone always says "get a JB". Dosent matter if the person is looking for a pickup for classic rock, metal, pop, jazz, country, musical masterbation, elevator music, cookie monster metal, etc. Alot of folks dont like the upper mids of a JB, some folks dont like the super loose bottom end, some think is the best thing ever.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

I don't have the answer, but I do have questions on a similar line. I am looking to upgrade my stock PUs. This combo is reccomended by SD, so who am I to question it? But, I do wonder if I should install it with the standard 3-way LP switch. Any feeedback will be appriciated. Will a fender type 5 way switch fit in my Epi LP without modification? Is there a reason (or a reason not) to utilize the 4 wire constuction of the sh2 sh4 combo?

Hey guy, welcome to the forum...
What excactly are you trying to do with a 5 way switch on a 2 pickup guitar?

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

Hey guy, welcome to the forum...
What excactly are you trying to do with a 5 way switch on a 2 pickup guitar?

PRS has them and you can get some pretty neat combinations.

You can do it with little or no modification, but you'll need a rotary switch. That may look kind of weird on your LP. :eek13:

You could get most of those sounds and a few others by using push/pull pots, though. That's probably what I'd do.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

Off topic, if anyone ever figures out how to fit a replacement 5 way switch into the regular Gibson 3 position hole, I predict they will get rich- I hate the PRS dial thing and bet there are hundreds of others who would love some kind of knife switch that doesn't requre cutting a slot in the top-

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

I really like the JB in a guitar with Fender style construction, but I detest it in an axe with Gibson style construction.

Some people just automatically recommend the JB for everything on reflex. Kind of like a gag reflex or knee jerk. Its funny, actually.

 

[Marcel]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

Hey guy, welcome to the forum...
What excactly are you trying to do with a 5 way switch on a 2 pickup guitar?

haha I've wired two humbuckers with a 5 way switch
Bridge / Bridge split / B+N / Ns / N

But to the question why not push and pull pots?

 

[aldu74]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

This might be a good alternative to a 5-way switch in a Les Paul:

http://www.dimarzio.com/media/diagrams/D.pdf

 

[JeffB]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

I really like the JB in a guitar with Fender style construction, but I detest it in an axe with Gibson style construction.

Some people just automatically recommend the JB for everything on reflex. Kind of like a gag reflex or knee jerk. Its funny, actually.

Agreed +100000.

JB in a bolt on strat/tel type with alder body is decent. Anything else..no likey.

I've never really liked the Jazz..in anything. Too.....hmmm...non-descript? Not really vintage sounding..not really modern sounding. Just kinda bland. does everything OK, nothing real well (kinda like the JB).

I'm talking for me of course...I hear other use them and get great sounds (like Jolly and the Jazz in his Paulas). I had a JB in my Edwards (as well as a Paula and an Explorer many moons ago) and I personally think it's about the worst pup in the Duncan line you could load into the bridge of a Gibson type construction guitar...others would disagree.

Utilize the exchange policy if need be

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

Remember that Seymour uses the Jazz and JB with 250K volume and tone pots. With 500K pots both pickups are a lot brighter and the JB exhibits that hardness to the upper mids that some find annoying. With 250K pots that hard quality disappears...along with some treble.

Lew

 

[JeffB]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

With 500K pots both pickups are a lot brighter and the JB exhibits that hardness to the upper mids that some find annoying. With 250K pots that hard quality disappears...along with some treble.

Lew

True Dat Lew it would def help..though for me personally regardless of "high end"..A JB in a Paula defeats the purpose of having a Paula..takes it too far away from it's characteristic sound. A Duncan Custom or DiMarzio SuperD is a much better choice IMO for one if ya need something hot.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

Remember that Seymour uses the Jazz and JB with 250K volume and tone pots.
Lew

In a tele, no less.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

I can honestly say I haven't used a JB with 250k pots and I probably should have before selling it. But, I still have the Jazz neck but it has long legs and won't fit in my Strat. It works really well in my LP and that's where I prefer it really but a JB in a LP just doesn't sound right to me, speaking from experience. It's better in a Strat body, or Tele.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Not to be Blasphemous JB/Jazz

I think the JB/Jazz is popular because it's the most likely set to sound better than stock pickups and give instant gratification upon installation. It's hard to hate either of those 2 pickups in most guitars.

I agree with everyone who said they sound better with 250K pots in bolt on alder guitars. Those guitars can benefit from the JB's frequency, which happens to be the same frequency that you bump on a mixing board to make guitars pop out of the mix better. That's the secret of the JB.

As far as LP/PRS type guitars, I still favor any of the 3 Customs, Seths, or 59's.