Coryd
New member
I'll have to look up the Alt 8. Haven't heard much about this one before.
Pickup suggestions needed for my Mahogany tele with humbuckers
- Thread starter Coryd
- Start date
I'll have to look up the Alt 8. Haven't heard much about this one before.
Ascension
New member
That pickup is many times ignored but is one of my favorite higher output bridge pickups.In particular the combo of the Alt 8 and Sentient in the neck to me is spectacular.
Here is a good demo.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
My one gripe about the JB coming from actives was that it was way too fat at times.
I still kinda feel like that about it. Not that its low end goes particularly low, but that it's got tons of stuffy low mids which can sometimes be hard to control, especially with something like a 5150 which can be stuffiness galore. Or some Rectifiers too.
Other than that, I think the JB is perfect. Its got tons of mids, but they're the "good" kind of mids. Cutting and aggressive high-mids. Not overly honky/nasal/vocal like the Dominion, for example.
But yeah, I think the Distortion + A5 could solve that.
But if you don't want to go through the trouble of buying a new (or used) pickup just to magnet swap (I wouldn't, personally), there's other options that will get you that off the bat. Suhr SSH+ or Duncan Thrash Factor, for example.
But that's just me assuming you didn't like something about the JB that I didn't like myself. So take that as a grain of salt.
I still kinda feel like that about it. Not that its low end goes particularly low, but that it's got tons of stuffy low mids which can sometimes be hard to control, especially with something like a 5150 which can be stuffiness galore. Or some Rectifiers too.
Other than that, I think the JB is perfect. Its got tons of mids, but they're the "good" kind of mids. Cutting and aggressive high-mids. Not overly honky/nasal/vocal like the Dominion, for example.
But yeah, I think the Distortion + A5 could solve that.
But if you don't want to go through the trouble of buying a new (or used) pickup just to magnet swap (I wouldn't, personally), there's other options that will get you that off the bat. Suhr SSH+ or Duncan Thrash Factor, for example.
But that's just me assuming you didn't like something about the JB that I didn't like myself. So take that as a grain of salt.
Explorer84
New member
If you’re looking for a medium output pickup take a look at the Screamin Demon.
Coryd
New member
I think I'm back leaning towards a JB or still maybe a Distortion, but leaning more towards a JB. The Thrash Factor looks right up the JB alley as well, but I feel like I may as well get a JB. My only thought now is that if I tune this guitar to drop B can the JB work in that tuning. I'm guessing it will and will probably do well since it has a nice midrange to it.
I'm not sure I want to go through mag swaps either. I think I want to just get something and hopefully I love it. So, at the moment I think the JB is back at the top of the list.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Well, it depends on your perspective.
Michael Amott from Arch Enemy was using for B Standard and then C Standard later.
Granted, he doesn't play like super mega techical riffs, but he still plays a form of chuggy Death Metal, that's not sludge/doom or something like that where the muddier, the better.
I use my Fluence Classic (based on the JB) in Drop C no problem. Matter of fact, I love how dirty it sounds compared to the Fluence Modern Alnico I was using before.
Plenty of downtuned metal bands use the JB, especially in the 90's and 2000's which is my favorite era of Metal tones, personally.
Again, my one gripe with the JB is that it's too fat at times. But that is also remedied by using the right amp/boost combination.
Now, I would agree with you that if you want a super tight modern-sounding pickup for fast articulate riffing, there are better choices. But I'm also under the understanding the OP doesn't intend to play tech-death or djent either.
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Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Just checked, looked like the Breaking Benjamin guy is using a JB in his baritone guitar as well. I think that's the kinda tone the OP is going for.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Haven't compared the Invader and the BW directly, but yeah, the BW is certainly hotter than the Distortion, IME. The Distortion I'd say is halfway between the BW and the JB, leaning more towards the BW. But the Invader is also REALLY hot. Don't understimate the Distortion, though. It's HOT as well. I'd even say it's hotter than an EMG 81, TBH.
From the Custom Shop, I think the Slug is hotter, though. Also, non-CS, the PATB-2 is pretty hot as well.
And also the Blackouts are REALLY hot.
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Coryd
New member
Ok cool! Thank you for the information you posted! I’ve been trying to listen to as many YouTube videos as possible on the JB and the Distortion. I can definitely hear the Distortion is hotter than the JB. There are vids I’ve seen too where the Distortion sounds nice in cleaner tones as well. Just really hard to say if it will work though. Does anyone know where it sits in relation the Omega bridge pickup? I’m almost starting to wonder if just going back with the Custom should be considered. To me it seemed like the Custom was lacking a bit in the mids.
I remember talking to John Connlly (Sevendust) online and he said they used the JB, Distortion, and Custom Custom. I know they tune pretty low so I guess the JB can work with somewhat lower tunings. I heard the guy from Make them Suffer used the JB also and I think their older stuff was in drop A. He uses a Distortion now though.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
The JB does dowtuned high-gain just fine, IME. Especially if you're not going super technical intricate Tech-Death. Or at least, if you don't mind a bit of old-school dirtiness in your tone.
I use a Fluence Classic (designed to emulate a particularly good-sounding JB the guys at Fishman have) in my Les Paul tuned to Drop C for Melodic Death Metal relatively fast palm-muted gallop-y chunky riffs, and I like it. I also really like the Black Winter, which is tighter, more aggressive, and leaner sounding, but I like a bit of character and ugliness to my tone as well because I'm into 90's and 2000's metal sounds myself.
The JB wouldn't be my first choice if I was playing Meshuggah or Aborted. But the JB is more versatile than what people give it credit for. Especially getting into heavier genre territories. But for your and my style, I think it does it fine if you like that sort of tone.
I honestly don't know how it does compared to the Omega as far as output, TBH. I'd imagine they wouldn't be like leagues different. Like I said, my experience is the JB is around the same output as the Custom because the Custom has a stronger magnet but the JB has a heavier wind. *Maybe* the JB might edge out the Custom, but don't take my word on that. It's hard to tell since their EQ profiles are so different.
IME, the JB is either at the very top of the mid-output level or at the very bottom of high-output level, if that helps any. And if it helps, I found the Dominon and JB were very close in output when I had them both.
I use a Fluence Classic (designed to emulate a particularly good-sounding JB the guys at Fishman have) in my Les Paul tuned to Drop C for Melodic Death Metal relatively fast palm-muted gallop-y chunky riffs, and I like it. I also really like the Black Winter, which is tighter, more aggressive, and leaner sounding, but I like a bit of character and ugliness to my tone as well because I'm into 90's and 2000's metal sounds myself.
The JB wouldn't be my first choice if I was playing Meshuggah or Aborted. But the JB is more versatile than what people give it credit for. Especially getting into heavier genre territories. But for your and my style, I think it does it fine if you like that sort of tone.
I honestly don't know how it does compared to the Omega as far as output, TBH. I'd imagine they wouldn't be like leagues different. Like I said, my experience is the JB is around the same output as the Custom because the Custom has a stronger magnet but the JB has a heavier wind. *Maybe* the JB might edge out the Custom, but don't take my word on that. It's hard to tell since their EQ profiles are so different.
IME, the JB is either at the very top of the mid-output level or at the very bottom of high-output level, if that helps any. And if it helps, I found the Dominon and JB were very close in output when I had them both.
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Coryd
New member
Thanks again for all the input!!!!! I really appreciate it!
When I get home I’ll post a few tracks of stuff I’ve recorded. Maybe after that it will be easier to say which one would be better for me. I’m not going to say I’m the best at mixing and master lol so please take the tracks I post with a grain of salt hahahaha! I’ll try to post maybe 5 or so clips/ideas.
When I get home I’ll post a few tracks of stuff I’ve recorded. Maybe after that it will be easier to say which one would be better for me. I’m not going to say I’m the best at mixing and master lol so please take the tracks I post with a grain of salt hahahaha! I’ll try to post maybe 5 or so clips/ideas.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
For sure, man!
Keep in mind, pickups are only a part of the puzzle. There are other things in a recording chain that make more of a difference. I have my preferences, sure, but there have been very few cases where I couldn't tweak a pickup to my liking either by choosing the right amp, boost, or EQ settings.
We are at a pickup forum, though. So I guess we're all passionate about the difference pickups make in our tones.
Keep in mind, pickups are only a part of the puzzle. There are other things in a recording chain that make more of a difference. I have my preferences, sure, but there have been very few cases where I couldn't tweak a pickup to my liking either by choosing the right amp, boost, or EQ settings.
We are at a pickup forum, though. So I guess we're all passionate about the difference pickups make in our tones.
Hsb
Well-known member
I have a BW in a mahogany LTD that came with a Custom in it. The BW is so much, to me than the Custom.
No matter what I did, the Custom didnt work for me, to the point I was considering getting ride of it, rhen I put the BW in it and finally sounded closer to what I heard in my head. Dont get me wrong, the Custom is a fine pickup, I just couldnt gel with it in that guitar
I also have a Distortion in a Mahogany/maple Iceman, that is pure 80s hard rock to early 90s harder rock. Thats probably my fave of the pickups
Honestly I dont think you can go wrong with the JB, Distortion or BW. As someone else said the Distortion sits nicely between the JB and BW, the BW being a bit hotter, middy and a bit more fuzzy but not in a bad way, to me at least.
No matter what I did, the Custom didnt work for me, to the point I was considering getting ride of it, rhen I put the BW in it and finally sounded closer to what I heard in my head. Dont get me wrong, the Custom is a fine pickup, I just couldnt gel with it in that guitar
I also have a Distortion in a Mahogany/maple Iceman, that is pure 80s hard rock to early 90s harder rock. Thats probably my fave of the pickups
Honestly I dont think you can go wrong with the JB, Distortion or BW. As someone else said the Distortion sits nicely between the JB and BW, the BW being a bit hotter, middy and a bit more fuzzy but not in a bad way, to me at least.
Coryd
New member
Many thanks for the input!!!! I think I am definitely going to go with either the JB or the Distortion at the moment.
Here are a few tracks I've written and recorded. Prob not the best mix, so please go easy on me.
Please let me know which would fit this kind of music better.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4jo1wecg8ig0lii/NEW%20DJENT%20Mix2.mp3?dl=0
Coryd
New member
Here are a couple more:
Please let me know which would fit this kind of music better. Please bear in mind that I'll be tuning these down also. I think these are in drop D or maybe a little lower.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ojc8fnermp...S%201.mp3?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vu6ke0412p...%202a.mp3?dl=0
Please let me know which would fit this kind of music better. Please bear in mind that I'll be tuning these down also. I think these are in drop D or maybe a little lower.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ojc8fnermp...S%201.mp3?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vu6ke0412p...%202a.mp3?dl=0
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Hsb
Well-known member
Based on that track, Id prob go Distortion, if nothing else little tighter base but the JB would work well there too. This is all opinion and someone else's may differ than mine. Honestly any the three I mentioned would work, kinda comes down to feel for you and what you feel works best.
