Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

[evh_slash]

Hey guys,
So i'm going for Custom 8 in the bridge and I was tempted to take the jB out of the bridge of another guitar, stick an Alnico 8 magnet in it and then wire her in parallel in the Neck position in my Gibson SG standard.

My logic is that the JB or JB8 in series in the neck will be way too much and overpowering... Plus i'd like a quackier/snappier sound in the neck.

The Al 8 will provide an output boost (to make up for the parallel wiring output drop), tighter bass, and more mid punch to the JB (again to make up for some of the lost mids from wiring in parallel)

Could it work well and balance output-wise with the C8 in bridge?! I only shred on the neck pickup - fast picking/sweeping or play single note lines.
For cleans i rarely use a HB alone... I split to the coils in the middle pos.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

It will for sure balance output wise, 8k is the ballpark that most neck pickups are in. It'll sound interesting too. It's definitely worth trying.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

But thats 8k of 44 gauge wire.....expect approx 35% less output than the typical PAF pickup at 8k

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

With a stronger magnet.

 

[gregory]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

The DCR of a JB wired in parallel is 4k, not 8k.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

I would really be interested in how this sounds. I am not sure I've ever heard one.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

The DCR of a JB wired in parallel is 4k, not 8k.

Well eff

 

[gregory]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

No matter. DCR is a horrible way to compare output level; especially regarding singles vs humbuckers.

I think JB8 in parallel in the neck is totally worth trying!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

Remember in parallel that you have effectively 2 batteries side by side......not 2 resistors. K is a reading of resistance, output is measured in V (well mV in the case of pickups).
Whilst the K reading will be 4, the relative output if you were to scale the full 16K reading down would be more like 7k......each 8k coil putting out its full measure but with the cancellations you typically get from parallel wiring.

FWIW, the JB in parallel is quite chimey.....if I remember it correctly from the import Parker I bought. And thats with the A5. The A8 could have more muscle.

 

[gregory]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

Remember in parallel that you have effectively 2 batteries side by side......not 2 resistors.

In parallel, each coil (AC source; not a battery) sees an inductive load which primarily serves to bleed off the lows. The inductive load has an ESR and parasitic capacitance, also influencing the frequency response. Variations in the AC sources due to location provide the secondary effect of combing, etc. The magnet of choice will alter the gain and frequency response of signal generated by each of the AC sources.

This whole business of treating coils like resistors and concluding that a bigger resistor means more output needs to come to an end. A coil of wire comprises a physical inductor which is most properly characterized as an ideal inductor with parasitic properties; rather than improperly characterized by one of the parasitic properties.

 

[evh_slash]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in Series vs Parallel in the neck

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in Series vs Parallel in the neck

In parallel, each coil (AC source; not a battery) sees an inductive load which primarily serves to bleed off the lows. The inductive load has an ESR and parasitic capacitance, also influencing the frequency response. Variations in the AC sources due to location provide the secondary effect of combing, etc. The magnet of choice will alter the gain and frequency response of signal generated by each of the AC sources.

This whole business of treating coils like resistors and concluding that a bigger resistor means more output needs to come to an end. A coil of wire comprises a physical inductor which is most properly characterized as an ideal inductor with parasitic properties; rather than improperly characterized by one of the parasitic properties.

How about a jB-8 in series, in the neck position, with a nickel cover, no tone pot, 500k volume pot, backed off the strings a bit .... haha
I'm considering trying that with a Custom 8 in the bridge of my Gibson SG. i have a feeling that guitar is gonna friggin RAWWWWR !! So much gain and output! haha

 

[gregory]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

People run/have run JBs in the neck. Washburn's Steve Stevens signature model had a JB in the neck and the bridge.

I'd be leery of a JB in series with an A8, but hey, give it a try. The thing about stock JBs in series that can make for good high gain tone in the neck, I think, is that they are predominantly upper mids. I don't know how much of the upper bass/lower mids accentuated by an A8 over an A5 will translate into mud.

Hand waving out of the way, this is way beyond my area of expertise. I'd defer to guys with similar interests/playing styles as you who've actually done it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

doesn't the Tommy Thayer Epi LP have 2 JBs? I am not aware if he has any special switching, but I do know they are stock JBs (although one is white, and one is covered, for some reason). A parallel neck JB8 is a worthy experiment, though.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in Series vs Parallel in the neck

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in Series vs Parallel in the neck

How about a jB-8 in series, in the neck position, with a nickel cover, no tone pot, 500k volume pot, backed off the strings a bit .... haha
I'm considering trying that with a Custom 8 in the bridge of my Gibson SG. i have a feeling that guitar is gonna friggin RAWWWWR !! So much gain and output! haha

I tried it in series with a 1 meg volume and no load tone. It's pretty sweet, not quite as epic as you think it would be since it mellows out a lot because of the position, but it's still pretty cool. You'd probably be good to go if you added a bass cut knob for it.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

Hey guys,
So i'm going for Custom 8 in the bridge and I was tempted to take the jB out of the bridge of another guitar, stick an Alnico 8 magnet in it and then wire her in parallel in the Neck position in my Gibson SG standard.

My logic is that the JB or JB8 in series in the neck will be way too much and overpowering... Plus i'd like a quackier/snappier sound in the neck.

The Al 8 will provide an output boost (to make up for the parallel wiring output drop), tighter bass, and more mid punch to the JB (again to make up for some of the lost mids from wiring in parallel)

Could it work well and balance output-wise with the C8 in bridge?! I only shred on the neck pickup - fast picking/sweeping or play single note lines.
For cleans i rarely use a HB alone... I split to the coils in the middle pos.

I've got the solution for you: Install that JB in the neck p'up on a Triple Shot p'up ring. It offers series/parallel and every coil by itself. But, I wouldn't use an A8 mag, but an A4. It'll balance better with the Custom 8, tone-wise.

But, TBH, the perfect neck p'up companion to the Custom 8 is an A4-modded '59 neck p'up. If I was you, I'd simply sell the JB and get a second-hand '59n. That you can buy for next-to-nothing.

I've personally used the A4'59n/A8Custom combo for over four years, so I have a firm grasp about what I'm talking about.

HTH,

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

I could do a kind of deduction: i had a Jb8 in parallel in the bridge spot of a superstrat (alder, maple neck, hardtail). it sounded fuller and low middier than the stock JB parallel, which were kind of thinner sounding than Fender style single coils parallel sound. So a JB8 parallel in the neck should give quite a good image of low wound single coils in parallel.

 

[Flake]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

why JB8 though, wouldnt A8 translate to tighter bass and less cream, I feel A2 is a better choice

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Opinions on a JB-8 wired in parallel in the neck

Flake, a parallel wiring takes a lot volume / inductance away. An Alnico can make up for that and brings the inductance up, while a A2 next to the A3 has the least magnetic strength of the common used magnets.