nightwing122087
New member
I was just wondering what were some of your personal opinions about the JB. What would you consider some of its pros and cons?
Pros on Cons of the JB
- Thread starter nightwing122087
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Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
Pros: Plenty of high mids that make for a singing lead tone like no other pickup SD offers, and cuts through the mix very well. Great, thick crunch/grind on open power chords.
Cons: Bass does not hold up well under gain and can get muddy at hard rock and metal levels of distortion. Cleans are not all that great IMO.
Pros: Plenty of high mids that make for a singing lead tone like no other pickup SD offers, and cuts through the mix very well. Great, thick crunch/grind on open power chords.
Cons: Bass does not hold up well under gain and can get muddy at hard rock and metal levels of distortion. Cleans are not all that great IMO.
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MonkeyDungologist
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
re the loose low end: light-fingered players seem to be able to get around this; with this in mind and depending on their gear, heavy-handed players probably could as well IMO.
i use 11-49s, have big hands and was weaned on thrash; so for me, a JB in my LP was really hot, thick and over the top. i loved it but it certainly didn't have EMG81-esque tightness in my hands.
i lent it to a friend who was using 9-42s (i think) and whose fingering/picking was more precise and lighter, and had more finesse and self-control in general; in his hands the 'loose low end' wasn't an issue, the tone was still thick and that "harsh ice-pick noise" everyone b1tches about became definition (he also had a sweet mesa rig which wouldn't have hurt).
a little of the aggression attributed to the JB wind was lost, but IMO it stands to reason that backing the p/up off the strings a bit and EQing carefully could balance it all out.
it's commonly compared to the custom or C5 - IMHO in stock (A5) form the JB will likely sound 'looser' than the custom winds in most applications, as the custom's mid-range spike is lower and is usually heard as 'low-mid tightness'.
mag swaps will shift that focus in both p/ups though.
it's an excellent choice for players who like to 'tweak' as well. the invader, distortion, holdsworth, RTM and bug-sey didn't happen by mistake...
i like the JB.
re the loose low end: light-fingered players seem to be able to get around this; with this in mind and depending on their gear, heavy-handed players probably could as well IMO.
i use 11-49s, have big hands and was weaned on thrash; so for me, a JB in my LP was really hot, thick and over the top. i loved it but it certainly didn't have EMG81-esque tightness in my hands.
i lent it to a friend who was using 9-42s (i think) and whose fingering/picking was more precise and lighter, and had more finesse and self-control in general; in his hands the 'loose low end' wasn't an issue, the tone was still thick and that "harsh ice-pick noise" everyone b1tches about became definition (he also had a sweet mesa rig which wouldn't have hurt).
a little of the aggression attributed to the JB wind was lost, but IMO it stands to reason that backing the p/up off the strings a bit and EQing carefully could balance it all out.
it's commonly compared to the custom or C5 - IMHO in stock (A5) form the JB will likely sound 'looser' than the custom winds in most applications, as the custom's mid-range spike is lower and is usually heard as 'low-mid tightness'.
mag swaps will shift that focus in both p/ups though.
it's an excellent choice for players who like to 'tweak' as well. the invader, distortion, holdsworth, RTM and bug-sey didn't happen by mistake...
i like the JB.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
For blues & classic rock in mahogany bodies & 335's, the "ice pick" spike is too much for me. Too harsh & annoying. Tried several JB's (with the stock magnets & 250K's) in several guitars, and it didn't work in any of them. Couldn't tame the "dentist drill" sound. Still have one JB left (that I didn't sell) and eventually I'll try that with an A2, as there are favorable reports on that.
For me the C5 & C8 (both with 250K's) are much better for my needs.
For blues & classic rock in mahogany bodies & 335's, the "ice pick" spike is too much for me. Too harsh & annoying. Tried several JB's (with the stock magnets & 250K's) in several guitars, and it didn't work in any of them. Couldn't tame the "dentist drill" sound. Still have one JB left (that I didn't sell) and eventually I'll try that with an A2, as there are favorable reports on that.
For me the C5 & C8 (both with 250K's) are much better for my needs.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
Don't think I've ever tried a JB with a 250K, but I much prefer that pickup in the neck than the bridge.
I'm glad others have found it to be so great, but for me, it lacks something. Nice for leads and half-crunch rhythms when mixed with a punchy bass guitar and drums, but nutless and choked by itself.
Don't think I've ever tried a JB with a 250K, but I much prefer that pickup in the neck than the bridge.
I'm glad others have found it to be so great, but for me, it lacks something. Nice for leads and half-crunch rhythms when mixed with a punchy bass guitar and drums, but nutless and choked by itself.
FrankyBoy
New member
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
I've just changed my stock bridge pickup in my PRS SE Custom for the JB and I simply love it. Sometimes I feel like I have to boost the lows and the highs, but that's not much of a problem. I dig the clean and the distortion of this pickup, but it isn't the EMG81 yet...
I've just changed my stock bridge pickup in my PRS SE Custom for the JB and I simply love it. Sometimes I feel like I have to boost the lows and the highs, but that's not much of a problem. I dig the clean and the distortion of this pickup, but it isn't the EMG81 yet...
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
with distortion, maybe overdrive, the pickup is great. full 'n' chunky in all the right ways, at least in a band mix. but clean, it just doesn't sound right to my ears. it's got decent treble and bass response for clean tones, but the upper mids are just too overbearing. split however, and that upper mid hump is replaced with a very stratty tone. i imagine parallel is similar but with less strat "glass" in the tone.
with distortion, maybe overdrive, the pickup is great. full 'n' chunky in all the right ways, at least in a band mix. but clean, it just doesn't sound right to my ears. it's got decent treble and bass response for clean tones, but the upper mids are just too overbearing. split however, and that upper mid hump is replaced with a very stratty tone. i imagine parallel is similar but with less strat "glass" in the tone.
GaryCancer
New member
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
From my expierience it's a hit or miss pickup. I switched it out of a mahogany bodied Warmoth because the rhythm sounded was too "wooly" for lack of a better term (although the lead tone was brilliant)... meanwhile it sounds excellent in my maple neck strat.
From my expierience it's a hit or miss pickup. I switched it out of a mahogany bodied Warmoth because the rhythm sounded was too "wooly" for lack of a better term (although the lead tone was brilliant)... meanwhile it sounds excellent in my maple neck strat.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
That's the curse of the JB. It does not like a lot of guitars.
That's the curse of the JB. It does not like a lot of guitars.
Johtosotku
New member
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
I've had a couple of JBs in two guitars, a Jackson superstrat and a Gibson SG.
The JB to me sounds very present and natural. I've never heard the ice-pick effect that many complain about but I do agree that it has a powerful midrange that can scream a bit too much in some guitars for sure. I also haven't really ever found anything lacking in the bottom, there's plenty of it for me and it's not overly loose either. I suppose picking styles can have a big effect in it. I have to agree that the JB shines the most in leadwork but I find it a good all-around pickup as well.
I've had a couple of JBs in two guitars, a Jackson superstrat and a Gibson SG.
The JB to me sounds very present and natural. I've never heard the ice-pick effect that many complain about but I do agree that it has a powerful midrange that can scream a bit too much in some guitars for sure. I also haven't really ever found anything lacking in the bottom, there's plenty of it for me and it's not overly loose either. I suppose picking styles can have a big effect in it. I have to agree that the JB shines the most in leadwork but I find it a good all-around pickup as well.
Brown Note
New member
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
Jb is the jeep of pickups, it does everything well but throw in a bit of grit and gravel and nothing compares to it. With any amount of distortion JB has the greatest dynamic sound; it starts a very rough and mean and while you hold the note, decay gets this sort of wailing tone that cleans up nicely before fading out(depending on amp settings, of course) and that's the singing JB. For distorted rhythms, JB has a very percussive attack to the sound that's not too tight and this gives it a more natural feel.
It's no wonder jackson throws in jb for nearly all their USA guitars!
Jb is the jeep of pickups, it does everything well but throw in a bit of grit and gravel and nothing compares to it. With any amount of distortion JB has the greatest dynamic sound; it starts a very rough and mean and while you hold the note, decay gets this sort of wailing tone that cleans up nicely before fading out(depending on amp settings, of course) and that's the singing JB. For distorted rhythms, JB has a very percussive attack to the sound that's not too tight and this gives it a more natural feel.
It's no wonder jackson throws in jb for nearly all their USA guitars!
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GoDrex
Riffologist Extraordinaire
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
Actually the first JB was in the TeleGib - and that's the one the Jeff Beck played on Blow By Blow.
Actually the first JB was in the TeleGib - and that's the one the Jeff Beck played on Blow By Blow.
dani
Active member
Re: Pros on Cons of the JB
For me personally:
Pros: Great crunchy midrange like no other pickup I've tried. HOT. Killer harmonics. Great for leads and slick rock riffs.
Cons: Can be overly bright in alder/ash guitars, need to use a 250K pot to tame the extreme treble (unlike most humbuckers with sound best with a 500k), low end a tad bit too loose for tight rhythm work.
I've got a JB8 going live in a Strat I'm assembling next week, so we'll see what happens.
For me personally:
Pros: Great crunchy midrange like no other pickup I've tried. HOT. Killer harmonics. Great for leads and slick rock riffs.
Cons: Can be overly bright in alder/ash guitars, need to use a 250K pot to tame the extreme treble (unlike most humbuckers with sound best with a 500k), low end a tad bit too loose for tight rhythm work.
I've got a JB8 going live in a Strat I'm assembling next week, so we'll see what happens.
