Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

d-shep

New member
I bought a new SG Standard, with the re-designed '61 specs, and 60's slim taper neck. I HATE '57 Classics, and have a new JB I tried in a chunkier, non-weight relieved Les Paul Traditional. Sucked in that guitar, (everything sucked in it, and I hated the HUGE neck profile - sold it).

JB a better fit in the SG? It's under 7lbs., where the LP was 10.
 
Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

Not really, JB's sometimes have problems in mahogany (ice pick spike and flabby low end). Since you already have the JB, you can try it. Certainly not worth going out and buying a JB for it. There's better PU's for SG's. A few years ago, the top recommendation here for SG's was a C5 and a '59N. That changed to a C8 and '59N, which has a fuller bridge tone.

Another pair I really like in SG's is the Rio Grande BBQ set, warm and articulate. And of course, PAF's in SG's are never a bad idea.
 
Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

It is worth a shot. I would try a Custom Custom first but that is just me. I see a JB having the potential to work very well in an SG, just I recommend trying all 3 pot values (500K, 300K, and 250K) with the JB before giving up on it.
 
Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

JB "Tend" not to work well in Mahogany. As Blueman335 said. Having said that I use a JB in a Mahogany IBBY SA. And I love it. Maybe the scale length makes a diff. But as you do have one around use it and see, you may love it.
 
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Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

Best advice is to try it and see if you like the JB. It's very picky about the guitars it works in. Also a good suggestion to give a 250k vol pot a try. The C8 is always a good match for an SG. I personally haven't found the CC useful for anything (except as a starting point to add an A8).

Another pup that is magnificent in an SG is a P-90. There are many choices for hummer-sized P-90's...I really like the Mean 90 by GFS (and it's half the price of any other pup you would want to put in it).
 
Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

It's not that JB universally doesn't work in mahogany bodied guitars, it's just that sometimes, it produces a sound that for some reason or another, might not appeal to your ears (or mine).

But you'll never know until you try it. SGs, with their thinner bodies have a different tonal palette than most other mahogany guitars which usually have thicker bodies or more wood mass in the case of an Explorer for example. The Les Paul especially so.

There are many players that swear by a JB in a big slab of mahogany, Alex Skolnick of Testament for one (he's an SD endorser btw)
 
Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

The SG is a mid-focused guitar, and the JB is a mid-focused pickup. It would be overkill I imagine. Same goes for the CustomCustom. A5 magnet pickups that are a little mid-scooped do well in an SG. The 59, Custom5, and Gibson 498t sound good in the bridge. A lot of people like the C8, but I found it too aggressive.
 
Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

Richard Parker, IIRC has one in his SG. Might wanna PM him. He has poste dclips...for some things it sounds great, but overall I am in the "midrange overkill" camp.

I get my midrange from amp and speakers. I prefer the guitar to be ...cleaner...if you will.
 
Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

Since you already have the JB, try it and see.

But I'm definitely willing to bet it ain't gonna sound good. If you don't like it, figure out WHAT you are now liking about it, and you can swap out the magnet accordingly.

If you still are not liking it with multiple magnet configurations, I'd recommend a DD, Custom, C8, Super Distortion, BBQ, or Tom Anderson H3 or H3+.
(of course this all depends on the music you play which you did not mention in your post)
 
Re: Seymour Duncan JB in an SG??

I dont love the JB in my SG, but you might like it. Its a little too mushy for my taste, I played a Dimebucker recently and thought that might be a better fit (for me)
 
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