Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

[bubbahotep2k3]

I have a 2006 Schecter C-1 Classic with the vine of life thingy.
The guitar is Mahogany with Quilted Maple Top, a Maple neck, and a Rosewood fingerboard.
Picture here:
http://www.beyondeleven.com/Schecte...t-3TSB-Guitar-p/schecter-c-1-classic-3tsb.htm

It came with a Duncan JB in the bridge. It sounds good.
(1) Clean: I really like the clean tones.
(2) Distorted: I play mostly 80s metal and and the JB in the bridge sounds good distorted, although it sounds slightly nasaly to me.

By the way, the guitar is down-tuned to Drop C: C, G, C, F, A, D.

Curiosity is biting at me, and I am wondering how a Duncan Distortion sh-6 would sound in this guitar.

I am sure the cleans would suffer but would the distortion sound better than the JB?

Any ideas or comments?

Thanks!

 

[dominus]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Go for the Duncan Custom instead.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Go for the Duncan Custom instead.

+1, I have a schecter C1+ and the custom 8 is the end of the line for me, best pickup ever. I used to have a duncan distortion, I wasn't a huge fan, I thought all the extra output would somehow make my guitar a metal monster but that just isn't the case, sometimes less is more.

If you put a ceramic magnet in your JB you'll have a distortion lite. That will be extremely close to the sound of the distortion and will only cost you $5. Various magnet swap (A2, A8) are recommended for the JB before you throw down hard earned cash on a new pickup.

Edit: mostly 80's metal in drop c tuning? Interesting.

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Good point about the Drop C Franknfilms. I mean I have other guitars that are not Drop C and I do like to play 80s style metal. Though I like melodic contemporary metal too and sometimes try to write 80s style songs but with a drop c tuning... weird I guess...

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Having gone through the stock JB, the Steve's Special and now the DD in my C1 Classic I'm the happiest I've been yet with my tone. But I always wanted to a JB with a ceramic mag myself and just never got around to it. The Steve's Special was a great pickup but it really only worked with my Mark IV; every other amp I played didn't have quite the same mid push so it was different in a way that didn't enchant me.

If you're playing mostly 80's metal I don't think you'll be disappointed with the DD at all. It takes that nasally midrange spike out and adds a touch more hair, but in a pleasing way IMO. Harmonics too just scream when I hit them right. It's pretty good for lead overall.

A Custom is something I've always wanted to try and who knows, it could be just right for you. The Distortion still has my definite vote though.

 

[surface54]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

eventually alot of people are going to have the C8 resulting in alot less threads.
go for it!

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

But I always wanted to a JB with a ceramic mag myself and just never got around to it.

I support the JB8 or the ceramic JB. Its very similar. The JB8 is more organic and a tad warmer. The ceramic JB was for me a step towards the Distortion without being too compressed and bright.

BTW the ceramic JB is a JB with a standard sized ceramic magnet. The Distortion is the same pickup but with a double sized ceramic magnet.

 

[bagouser]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

I have a 2006 Schecter C-1 Classic with the vine of life thingy.
The guitar is Mahogany with Quilted Maple Top, a Maple neck, and a Rosewood fingerboard.
Picture here:
http://www.beyondeleven.com/Schecte...t-3TSB-Guitar-p/schecter-c-1-classic-3tsb.htm

It came with a Duncan JB in the bridge. It sounds good.
(1) Clean: I really like the clean tones.
(2) Distorted: I play mostly 80s metal and and the JB in the bridge sounds good distorted, although it sounds slightly nasaly to me.

By the way, the guitar is down-tuned to Drop C: C, G, C, F, A, D.

Curiosity is biting at me, and I am wondering how a Duncan Distortion sh-6 would sound in this guitar.

I am sure the cleans would suffer but would the distortion sound better than the JB?

Any ideas or comments?

Thanks!

I play several Schecters with the same exact tuning as you.

To me, the JB sucks in Mahogany. It's tinny and has a nose crinkling mid spike at the total wrong frequency IMO. Since you play 80's metal, the JB is something I might reccomend, but if you agree that it sucks, try the Custom.

I also use the C5 but it doesnt really have too much in the midrange dept and if I know 80's Metal tones, there's midrange out the wahzoo.

The Custom is like the C5 with mids. It's really that simple. The magnets are different, but it doesnt make THAT big of a difference IMHO. Try the Custom before trying the Distortion would be my reccomendation. The posters above mentioning the A8 magnets are also onto something.....those provide great 80's (hair and non hair) tones.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

You know why we like customs? They are easy to "custom"ize with different mags and they work for virtually every form of music. They are pretty clean too, that is worth pointing out since you mentioned you'd like a clean tone.

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Thanks so much for your help guys! You are the best.
I happen to have a duncan distortion tb-6 (trem spacing) I don't know if that would be bad for the schecter c1 classic since it does not have a trem.

But I am intrigued by the custom sh-5... you guy's got me thinking...

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Thanks so much for your help guys! You are the best.
I happen to have a duncan distortion tb-6 (trem spacing) I don't know if that would be bad for the schecter c1 classic since it does not have a trem.

But I am intrigued by the custom sh-5... you guy's got me thinking...

Here's a weird thing that I noticed. My custom 5 in my schecter was not perfect spacing for some reason. The high e screw is just a tad off from the string. Almost as if trembucker spacing would have been better. I'm not sure if our guitars have the same bridge but you should try and measure/match that trembucker to your strings it might work out afterall.

Also, I have met many schecter owners who love the DD and Jazz combo. It's not my ideal set but it is pretty damn close. If you want humbucking cleans in the bridge, though, the DD is just not verstalie enough imo, even with a volume drop.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Here's a weird thing that I noticed. My custom 5 in my schecter was not perfect spacing for some reason. The high e screw is just a tad off from the string. Almost as if trembucker spacing would have been better. I'm not sure if our guitars have the same bridge but you should try and measure/match that trembucker to your strings it might work out afterall.

Also, I have met many schecter owners who love the DD and Jazz combo. It's not my ideal set but it is pretty damn close. If you want humbucking cleans in the bridge, though, the DD is just not verstalie enough imo, even with a volume drop.

Looking at my DD (standard spacing) in the bridge, I have the same issue with the high E; the string is just slightly off-center from the screw, going toward the outside. It certainly doesn't seem to have any negative effects to my ears though.

I find the cleans with the DD to be just fine and versatile enough, and fairly responsible to volume knob tweaks. Of course, YMMV. I'm going to have to try a Custom in the bridge eventually...

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

I find the cleans with the DD to be just fine and versatile enough, and fairly responsible to volume knob tweaks. Of course, YMMV. I'm going to have to try a Custom in the bridge eventually...

I did not find the cleans on the DD to be versatile or particularly responsive to the volume knob. I think the Custom does that trick quite a bit better. It's really useful in a Les Paul in the middle position. You can really select exactly how much brightness and warmth you want to mix. I think the Custom in mahogany is much, much more usable and versatile.

I've said it before, but I feel like the Distortion is like the opening scene to Austin Powers where he's HAVING TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE VOLUME OF HIS VOICE! The Custom can sing or speak softly or bark, but I don't get screaming tones out of it. The Distortion is always screaming, snarling, or growling.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Hey metalman, how do you like the air norton in you schecter? I was sooo close to installing one and then I found a deal on a 4-wire 59. I'm putting the air norton in my washburn instead.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

I support the JB8.

+1. Pop in an A8 and then decide about the JB. You can always get a new PU later.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

The Distortion is a FUN pickup. If you have it laying about, throw it in at your next string change. I like it for dirty tones, and if set up to split, gets some very nice cleans as well.

 

[Tomy]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

It's difficult... You play 80s metal, go with the JB. But you like to down tune to C, go with SH6... I have both, and i prefer SH6 coz I play modern rock at Dropped C

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Hey metalman, how do you like the air norton in you schecter? I was sooo close to installing one and then I found a deal on a 4-wire 59. I'm putting the air norton in my washburn instead.

I really like it, it's definitely more open than the 59 was. For what I'm doing now (classic and heavy rock covers, original prog stuff) it has a great clean sound, great lead tones.

I don't have any complaints about it, but I think the neck-through design makes it sound quite a bit deeper compared to a bolt-on. A friend has an Ibanez Prestige S-series with the Air Norton in the neck and it's definitely snappier, and missing some of the bass and lower mids that it has in my Schecter. It was different, but not any better or worse.

Sorry to hijack :scratchch I still say try out the Distortion if you're looking at playing heavier rock and/or metal.

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

Well, I finally put a Duncan Custom SH-5 in the bridge of my Schecter C1 classic guitar.

I also replaced my tone knob with a rothstein rg500d passive mid-cut/mid-boost. And I removed the 5 way switch and put in a 3 way switch along with a push-pull volume pot.

This way when the push pull pot is up I have all single coils (including the 2 inner coils in the middle position), and when the push pull pot is down it is all humbuckers.

I really like this combo of the sh-5 in the bridge and the APH-1n in the neck.
I can get all sorts of great metal/rock/blues tones.I am really happy with the tone... my search is over!... for now

I like the SH-5 so much more than the JB SH-4 that came in this guitar.
And for me the APH-1n is much warmer and better than SH-2 Jazz that came with this guitar.

Thanks so much to everyone for helping me find these 2 pickups!

One of these days I have to post sound clips.

Peace,
Bubba

 

[blueman335]

Re: Schecter C-1 Classic: Keep JB or SH-6 ?

To me, the JB sucks in Mahogany. It's tinny and has a nose crinkling mid spike at the total wrong frequency IMO...if you agree that it sucks, try the Custom.

The posters above mentioning the A8 magnets are also onto something.

+1. JB's have a low success rate in mahogany, at least with the stock magnet. Better options are the JB2, JB8, and C8.