P/U's for USA JACKSONS

Shock Me

New member
Any suggestions for replacing stock duncans in a USA MADE JACKSON King V. Came with JB trembucker bridge and JB in the neck. Alder body, maple neck, Ebony fretboard.

Don't care for the JB in the bridge. Seems dark and middy. The JB in the neck overall sucks! Why would Jackson put that p/u in the neck? When other USA models have a Jazz or 59?

I am leaning towards the Jazz in the neck and a Screamin Demon in the Bridge. I like a crunchy bright chug sound and chimey cleans. Play mostly old school metal, 80's hairbands through a Hughes and Kettner Triamp MK1 with a VHT Deliverance 4x12.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

Stock or BachToRock?

Stock: Duncan Custom or CustomCustom
Shop: 1978 or BroBucker OR...one of BachToRock's supreme hybrids. You've already got half the pickup with the JB bridge!:fingersx:
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

The Deamon/Jazz combo might be cool. I've never heard of anyone using that combo, though. I'm not real familiar with the Deamon, so I'll leave that to someone else.

Another bridge pup you might consider is the Custom or Custom 5. They're both great pups for that style of music. I'd even try a Custom Custom.

There's several other Jackson guys that have tried a lot of different pups in their guitars. I'm sure they'll chime in with some good experience. I've got a Livewire Metal set in mine, FWIW.




Actually, now that I mention livewires, the new Dave Mustaine set might be cool in that guitar. No one on here has actually tried them though, AFAIK.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

Not to sound contradictory folks but I think a Jazz would be awful bright in that King V...maybe I'm wrong.

Chimey cleans...Seth Lover? Blues Trembucker over Lynch Demon. A cheap idea? Send the Trembucker to SDuncan and put a Ceramic Mag in it.
 
Last edited:
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

revolution said:
Not to sound contradictory folks but I think a Jazz would be awful bright in that King V...maybe I'm wrong.
I wouldn't think so, but I've never tried it myself. I know a lot of others have in similarly constructed Jacksons.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

In my Soloist, I've run the gamut. I use Distortion or Custom in the bridge. Distortion if you're really going metal, and Custom if you want more of both worlds - actually I think they'd either do you fine - I go back and forth. I think the Custom has a better overall tone, but the Distortion is more of a rager and more aggressive. For neck, I've never played a V-style guitar. But, I think the JB is my all-around favorite neck pup - I'd go there.

As for the Demon, I've never tried it in my Soloist. I like the sound of the Demon real well, but the USAs seem to want a little more umph like a Distortion or a Custom.

To me, hair metal screams Distortion.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

#1 = Distortion
#2 = Custom

For the neck, the Jazz or 59 (if you want versatility) or another Distorion (if you want an all out metal assault).
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

I was thinking the '59 for the neck myself. In a non Les Paul type I think the '59 rules as a neck pickup. That Jazz is really,really BRIGHT. If you wanna save $$ put a Ceramic magnet from a Duncan Custom in that JB...cost ya 20.00 A buddy of mine just put one in a. original Parallel Axis and it sounds great.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

Avoid the "Screamin' Demon" for hair metal. It isn't, and it doesn't.

+1 on Distortion, and also consider the Full Shred. Works fine for spandex-tainted rock. It will definately get you "chimey" cleans....
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

Seems like the Distortion is the fav around here. When I say chimey cleans I am referring to the neck p/u. I don't really use the bridge for cleans. Am I right to say the jazz in the neck will give the chimey clean in my V?
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

Also- I checked out that link about the ceramic magnet in the JB. That came across as more mids witht that magnet, or I could be mistaken. The JB is middy in this guitar, so I don't know that the JB with a ceramic magnet is the right direction. Wouldn't that really be a Distortion. (JB+ceramic magnet). Opinions please.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

It's nearly a Distortion. The Distortion has an oversized ceramic magnet. If you put a standard size ceramic magnet like used on most other ceramic pups it will be a little different.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

After digging around a bit I think your best off going with one of the three Parallel Axis in the Bridge and the PATB-1 in the neck. That Jazz is going to be freakin BRIGHT in a V and I don't think you'll like it. Here's a (working) link to the axis p'ups...they look cool,too. I'd start with the Saraceno model in the bridge and work up in output.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/humbuckersdescr.shtml#OriginalParallelAxisTrembucker153
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

I have a Bill Lawrence L450/XL500 in my Jackson Kelly Japanese import. The sound is killer. By far the best guitar I've played. I can only imagine how a USA Jackson would sound.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

I'm going with the Jazz in the neck + Splitting it. Screamin demon in the bridge-no split. I should have my guitar back on Saturday and will let you know how it sounds. My Triamp is high gain and the clean channel is great too. I really didn't want a super hot output pickup like the Distortion. If I want more gain I 'd turn up the gain on my Triamp- it has plenty! I am looking for definition and clarity and that is the reason for my choice. If it does sounds like crap I will let you know and you can tell me "I told you so." Looking to be a little different.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

A lot of people love using lower output buckers and letting their amps do the work. It usually works quite well. I'm interested to hear how the Demon works for you. There's some mixed feelings about it around here, but I think it's probably a really good pup. I'm certain you'll like the Jazz.

Let us know.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

Shock Me said:
Any suggestions for replacing stock duncans in a USA MADE JACKSON King V. Came with JB trembucker bridge and JB in the neck. Alder body, maple neck, Ebony fretboard.

Don't care for the JB in the bridge. Seems dark and middy. The JB in the neck overall sucks! Why would Jackson put that p/u in the neck? When other USA models have a Jazz or 59?

I am leaning towards the Jazz in the neck and a Screamin Demon in the Bridge. I like a crunchy bright chug sound and chimey cleans. Play mostly old school metal, 80's hairbands through a Hughes and Kettner Triamp MK1 with a VHT Deliverance 4x12.



JB dark in a USA Jackson with an ebony fretboard??? God.....NEVER heard that one before.


I usually yank that damn JB out of those guitars because it's like a bright ice-pick to the ears.


I usually go for a Super3 or something myself.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

Back with the results of the Jazz and Screamin Demon in my Jackson V... I am loving the Jazz in the neck and it's even better split! The demon is another story. It has this swam of bees sound to it. Very articulate though. Goes well with the Jazz. The demon is coming out and will be exchanged with a Distortion The demon is a decent pickup, just not the sound I am looking for.
 
Re: P/U's for USA JACKSONS

I had to order a trembucker distortion pu and it finally arrived! YES! Sounds amazing in my V. Paired up with the Jazz in the neck SWEET tone. In the middle position with the jazz split on clean is Heaven.

I bought a new head the other week- Engl Savage 120. This amp with my USA Jackson King V brings me back to that early Metallica tone and 80's metal/hairbands. I wish I had pics of this set up for you.
 
Back
Top