PUP Merry-go-round (JB/JBJ & CC content)

[benvigil]

Sorry for the long post...

Axe #1
I just picked up a EBMM Sterling AX4 (Jabon wood, which I have no tonal reference for) and I'm super impressed with it overall, but the bridge pup is really HOT, bright and sizzling sounding -- way too brittle and very "DiMarzio" if that makes any sense. It clocks in at about 17.6k. WOW! The neck pup runs about 8k or 9k if I remember correct.

Axe #2
My main axe is a custom built Swamp Ash tele-style body with a CC in the bridge and Hot Rails tele in the neck. That thing sounds monstrous... just HUGE, it just growls so well and has such nice creamy lead tones, it's just sick. But it's also quite dark. In fact, it's so dark that I need a whole 'nother set of presets because none of my amps sound good with that guitar and the others I have without changing the settings up. I have the CC/bridge in there because most of the parts migrated from a Hard Rock Maple super strat that was super bright and needed the CC to round it out some.

In the parts box, I have an old JB/bridge -- old, as in mid-80s JBJ wound by Maricela Juarez -- just measured it at 16.07k.

Anyway, I'm considering putting the JB in the Swamp Ash tele to brighten it up, and putting the CC (@ 14.62k) in the new AX4 to gain it down a bit and warm that guitar up. The CC is supposed to be more "Eddie" anyway.

What does everyone think? Any other suggestions?

 

[Demanic]

Re: PUP Merry-go-round (JB/JBJ & CC content)

Give it a shot, if you don't like it, you can change it out.

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[Demanic]

Re: PUP Merry-go-round (JB/JBJ & CC content)

Or you could just put an A5 in the CC. Then stick the from the CC into that hot bridge pickup.

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[benvigil]

Re: PUP Merry-go-round (JB/JBJ & CC content)

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has experience with the CC vs JB in Swamp Ash, or if anyone has heard the pups in the new Sterling SUB Ax4 guitars and has any advice.

 

[Mincer]

Re: PUP Merry-go-round (JB/JBJ & CC content)

In ash, which can be bright and snappy, I like the CC if you are going for heavier crunchy rock tones. Switching the pickups is easy, and won't cost you anything to start. I have an Music Man SUB1 (made in USA) that is made of poplar, and it is all mids- I switched the magent for an A5, and now it is perfect. I have no idea what jabon wood is, though.

 

[benvigil]

Re: PUP Merry-go-round (JB/JBJ & CC content)

OP here... thread resurrect!

In ash, which can be bright and snappy, I like the CC if you are going for heavier crunchy rock tones. Switching the pickups is easy, and won't cost you anything to start. I have an Music Man SUB1 (made in USA) that is made of poplar, and it is all mids- I switched the magent for an A5, and now it is perfect. I have no idea what jabon wood is, though.

I've read that Jabon is similar in tone to basswood. I do know that it's bright.

My Swamp Ash modern tele is pretty dark sounding.

Anyway... I ended up swapping pups and the results are stellar. The Custom Custom really rounded off the brightness of the jabon EBMM Sterling AX4 and the mid scoop of the JB added some grit and sparkle to the Swamp Ash. Every time I take a break from that guitar and come back to it, I'm surprised at how good it sounds. I mean, holy smokes it sounds huge.

Thanks guys!