Pickup suggestions needed for my Mahogany tele with humbuckers

[Coryd]

Hey everyone,

I've decided to go with all passive pickups and want to change out the actives in one of my teles with humbuckers for some Duncan passive pickups. Normally I gravitate towards medium output pickups since I feel like they are a bit more versatile to me than high output pickups. Recently, I took a leap and got a 59/Custom for one of my teles with humbuckers and love it! I just want to try another Duncan out and hopefully love it as well. I also don't like to duplicate guitars and currently I have a PRS Mark Holcomb with the Alpha/Omega combo, another tele with the 59/Custom and that guitar is alder, so now I want to try something for my Mahogany/Maple w/Rosewood fingerboard tele.

Last time I tried a JB I didn't jive with it, but that was years ago and I feel like I have learned a lot more with recording guitars and tone now. Back then I swapped it for an EMG 81. Is it worth trying a JB out again do you think? I know those aren't super hot output. Also I was tossing around the idea of maybe a Black Winter, but I wanted to come here to ask if those would be too hot or if they are close to the JB output. Is the BW versatile at all? Is it a one trick pony? I've been hearing it is less ice-picky than the Distortion.

My go to music I write and play is in the vein of Alice in Chains, Breaking Benjamin, Sevendust, 311, Killswitch Engage, and more like 90s/2000s stuff. Also I use a modeller and plugins for my guitar tones.

Any and all input is greatly appreciated.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The Black Winter way hotter than the JB, yes. It's the hottest Duncan I've tried and easily one of the hottests overall passive I've tried, TBH. As hot as the X2N. I have both at hands and have tried both in the same guitar.

To be completely honest, my HX had trouble taking the output even with the pad engaged, so I was forced to use a pedal with a so-so buffer (Boss TU-3) which compresses a little and eats up the highest peaks just so that it didn't clip my HX's input.

I don't know if it's versatile, as I am not a versatile player at all, TBH. But people here seem to think it is. I honestly think it's EQ'd pretty metal, though, with emphasis on mids, a very particular attack, and a restrained low-end for the tightness (for a passive).

The JB in itself is pretty hot, though. I'd say it's pretty well in the range of high-output pickups, just maybe towards the lowest end of high-output.

I can't imagine the Omega being all that low-output, though. It's a pretty modest wind, but it runs on Ceramic, doesn't it?

 

[McD]

I'd recommend a set of Alnico Pro 2's if you haven't checked them out yet. I think you can get a great sound out of your Tele and then add in the crunch with your modeler. FWIW, Jerry used a JB back in the day if you didn't know that.

 

[Coryd]

Many many thanks for the response and the input! Did you say that you run a HX like Line 6? If so, then, that is good to know because I run a helix currently.

It sounds like the black winter may be a bit too hot for what I’m looking for then. Yes the Omega is fairly hot as well but lately I have really been digging it and love the tones I am getting with it. For the music I play the Omega seems to be pretty versatile, and I’m able to cover a good bit of ground with it. I would like to try something else though, and was thinking along the lines of the JB.

I’ve just heard most people either. Love it or hate it. It has been a very long time since I’ve tried one also. I did try the custom tb-5 not too long ago and I did like it. However, I thought it was lacking a little in the mids.

 

[Clint 55]

Since your influences are rawk, I might recommend a Distortion with an A5 in it. Sounds similar to the JB but not flubby, more clean and tight. Also will sound rawk / metal like your influences but not uber metal. The A5 eliminates the ice pick from the stock ceramic.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Many many thanks for the response and the input! Did you say that you run a HX like Line 6? If so, then, that is good to know because I run a helix currently.

It sounds like the black winter may be a bit too hot for what I’m looking for then. Yes the Omega is fairly hot as well but lately I have really been digging it and love the tones I am getting with it. For the music I play the Omega seems to be pretty versatile, and I’m able to cover a good bit of ground with it. I would like to try something else though, and was thinking along the lines of the JB.

I’ve just heard most people either. Love it or hate it. It has been a very long time since I’ve tried one also. I did try the custom tb-5 not too long ago and I did like it. However, I thought it was lacking a little in the mids.

You might want to look into the Gibson 498T. The EQ curve is very JB-ish, just slightly more open, and slightly lower output.

Many people seem to talk down on the 498T, but I think it's a fantastic pickup for heavy rock or dirtier metal that isn't like uber technical or mega downtuned.

Or maybe the Perpetual Burn. Never tried one, but the copy seems to suggest it's sort of a lower output more open JB as well.

I'd personally say the JB is around the same level of output as the Custom. The Custom has a stronger magnet, but the JB has a heavier wind.

 

[MikeS]

What was it about the JB that you didn't like? A couple of the bands you mentioned use the JB, and it's all over hard rock and metal from the 90s and 00s. It would be easier to suggest some other alternatives if you can note what you did and did not like about the JB.

 

[Mincer]

I'd say a Custom, as A2 mag pickups might be a little mushy in the bass.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

That as well. There are plenty of JB-inspired pickups by pretty much every pickup brand that "fix" many issues people have with the JB.

DiMarzio Tone Zone
DiMarzio AT-1
Suhr SSH+
Suhr Aldrich
Dean Baker Act
Dean Tyrant
EMG MF
Fishman Fluence Classic
Bare Knuckle Holy Diver

Just out of the top of my head. There are more.

Also, Duncan has like 10 other different takes on the JB themselves.

35th Anni
Antiquity
Thrash Factor
RTM
Eclair
Metal Fatigue
Concept
Skolnick

Not counting the pickups people suspect it's the same wind just with different polepieces, the Distortion, the Invader, and the Stag Mag. And the other loosely related members of the JB family like the Black Winter and the Alternative 8.

Yeah... as you can tell, big JB fan, LOL.

 

[Coryd]

Many thanks again everyone for the responses!!!

Hard to say what it was I didn't like years ago about the JB. I think back then I was only doing high gain stuff and when I switched to EMGs, they just fit the bill. Again, this was years and years ago and since then I think I've just stuck with ceramic mag pickups mostly. Trying to remember all of the pickups and I think of the list I did try the EMG Jim Root set, 81/85, Custom, Custom custom, Alpha/Omega, Crunch Lab, D Activator, X2N, and the Dimarzio Dominon and I liked the Dominion for the most part, but a bit too much mids for me.

The Custom custom has an A2 mag in it I believe. I didn't get along with that one either. Also a project I'm working on is tuned to drop B, so tuning down with this guitar might happen unless I use another guitar, but I think B is as low as I would go as far as tuning.

I've been researching the Aldrich set some too as well as the Dimarzion Fortitude, and one of those look like they "might" fit.I definitely don't want to go with actives though moving forward I think I just enjoy passives more.

I'm also researching the Distortion too now and I know it is high output, but can anyone here comment on how versatile it is? Can the distortion do rock/hard rock/mid gain tones? I did find a few videos showing the Distortion some and it seems like it might be versatile from the video below, but I've never tried one.

I do have a 59/custom hybrid in one of my guitars and I really like that pickup, but again I do want to try something else and I think I'm just leaning towards something from SD. Is the consensus that the JB is hotter than the 59/custom hybrid?

 

[CK71]

I have a whole lotta humbucker in a mahogany body telecaster. I find it to be a very versatile pickup that can do many different types of music. If you like the 59/custom you might like the wlh. From my experience the wlh seems to be very similar volume wise and more sweet in the high end that the 59/custom.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Hard to say what it was I didn't like years ago about the JB. I think back then I was only doing high gain stuff and when I switched to EMGs, they just fit the bill. Again, this was years and years ago and since then I think I've just stuck with ceramic mag pickups mostly. Trying to remember all of the pickups and I think of the list I did try the EMG Jim Root set, 81/85, Custom, Custom custom, Alpha/Omega, Crunch Lab, D Activator, X2N, and the Dimarzio Dominon and I liked the Dominion for the most part, but a bit too much mids for me.

Funny you mention the Dominion. I had one too. I think it's actually sort of along the lines of the Black Winter or the JB in terms of voicing. The output is very close to the JB, I found. But the voicing is more in line with the Black Winter, except for one difference: The mid-voicing is more DiMarzio with the AWWWW kinda nasal mids. Both the Winter and the JB are very mid-forward, but focus more on the aggressive, cutting, upper midrange, IMO. Not on the nasal midrange like the Dominion.

I wish I could help you more, but I don't have much experience with mid-output pickups. For me, it's one thing or the other. Either blistering hot pickups or vintage output pickups. The one mid output that did stick with me was the 498T, but since you said you'd prefer going with Duncan, I think that is out the window.

And also, yeah, the JB is hotter than the Hybrid for sure. I don't have experience with the Hybrid, TBH, but with the Custom 5 and the '59B I do, and the JB is hotter than both.

If you do decide to give actives a shot, Fishman Classics are the most passive-like actives I've found. They have one voicing that's like a hotter JB. The other is like a '59B but with a stronger output. REALLY cool pickups. I have a set in my Les Paul right now.

 

[Coryd]

Looking at the WLH now to see what kind of clips I can find. Thanks for the suggestion!

I found this between a JB and a Distortion. In this clip they don't really sound THAT much different. Very interesting to see this. Kind of has me wondering if the Distortion might work. In this clip it doesn't sound like it is a massive fire breather.

Also, found this one as well where it seems to be pretty versatile as well.

 

[Mincer]

Of course, with lower tunings, the Pegasus/Sentient set is always fantastic.

 

[Clint 55]

I'm tellin you, A5 Distortion.

 

[Coryd]

Any clips around with the Distortion with A5 mag?

I think at the moment I’m leaning towards either the JB or Distortion.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

To me, a Distortion with A5 doesn't sound radically different from a JB. Many people suspect it's even the same wind. When I tried it, it did sound more like a Distortion with an A5 magnet rather than a full-on JB. But even when the Distortion has a Ceramic magnet, it still sounds close to a JB anyways.

 

[Clint 55]

The main difference to me about the Distortion is that although it has a similar eq to the JB, it has tighter bass, rings clean bottom to top without a mid clog, and has a tad more treble spike on top.

OP what didn't you like about the JB?

 

[Ascension]

Might want to look hard at a Alt 8. I'm a huge fan of that pickup in the right guitar. IMO the Alt* with a Sentient neck like I have in my KOA Carvin DC 127 is what Hot rod JB/Jazz set always promised to be but wasn't. In particular with you coming for the clarity and articulations of actives think it might really work for you in particular with the influences you site here. What amp your running is the key also. I find the combo to be increadably versitile in my old Carvin. Have actually gotten some really nice clean country tone with both the Sentient and Alt 8 split and on together. Can get downright brutal through my PRS Archon rig but still retains articulation and definition plus the solo tones kill! I like the Alt 8 FAR FAR more with a Sentient neck than I do the Pegasus in the guitars with that set up I have played.
Here is a live clip of the Sentient Alt 8 set in my old Carvin playing with a fiend at a Worship conference. Running a little Mesa Subway Rocket combo here with almost no effects to kinda show the rang of tones and the dynamics of this set up. This set up also really rips for tight articulate metal tones through my Archon rig.

 

[Coryd]

The main difference to me about the Distortion is that although it has a similar eq to the JB, it has tighter bass, rings clean bottom to top without a mid clog, and has a tad more treble spike on top.

OP what didn't you like about the JB?

Many thanks! It has been many years since I've tried a JB. From what I remember there was something in the mids that just didn't sit right with me. Again it has been so long since I have tried one though it is kinda hard to remember. Back then I was just into brutal over the top high gain so I went with EMGs instead of the JB.