Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Mac-P

Mac-P

New member
WELL,

I am pleasantly surprised and a bit embarassed that I didn't listen to the man who MAKES the pickups.

I've tried just about every combo of pickups that fall into my taste. I have spent mucho $$$. Never thought for a second that the Jazz neck would be what I was looking for. I imagined it would be weak sounding.

Surprise surprise surprise. The problem I was having with both the '59 neck and the Pearly Gates neck was that the same amp settings that made the JB nice and warm made the neck pickup too bassy and unclear.

If I added treble to clear up the neck pickup, it made the bridge pickup too bright.

I was always experimenting with different bridge pickups looking for more warmth, more warmth.

Never did I even consider changing the neck to the clearest pickup possible.

What a difference. Now the same amp settings that make the JB sound good also make the Jazz sound good. :cool3:


There is a very seamless blend between the bridge and neck pickups now. Better than it has ever been. Why didn't I do this years ago?

Seymour has been saying that this is his favorite combo since I read my 1st Duncan catalogue back in the 80's. Why did I think I was smarter than him? He DESIGNED these pickups! :notworthy

The only thing I can imagine being better is to try the CC in the bridge. Maybe that is next. Uh oh, I am second guessing him again....

:burnout:
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

JB + Jazz is my favorite combination for a double hum guitar (narrowly beating out JB + 59).

The cliches are true! JBs and Jazz's are the best!
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Custom & Jazz ain't too shabby neither. :smokin:
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Mac-P said:
The problem I was having with both the '59 neck and the Pearly Gates neck was that the same amp settings that made the JB nice and warm made the neck pickup too bassy and unclear.

If I added treble to clear up the neck pickup, it made the bridge pickup too bright.

Never did I even consider changing the neck to the clearest pickup possible.

What a difference. Now the same amp settings that make the JB sound good also make the Jazz sound good. :cool3:

There is a very seamless blend between the bridge and neck pickups now. Better than it has ever been.

:burnout:
Click to expand...

I agree totally! Having a clearish vintage style neck humbucker and a fatter, hotter, more modern bridge humbucker sounds great. Let's me get the clear jazz/blues lead and chord tones I like from the neck pickup AND more overdriven rock/blues tones form the modern bridge pickup for soloing.

And like you said, it's easier to find one tone on my amp that works well for both pickups.

The Seth Lover and Custom Custom is also very good for an alnico 2 flavored combo.

Lew
 
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Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

I like a jazz/jazz:1:
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Lewguitar said:
I agree totally! Having a clearish vintage style neck humbucker and a fatter, hotter, more modern bridge humbucker sounds great. Let's me get the clear jazz/blues lead and chord tones I like from the neck pickup AND more overdriven rock/blues tones form the modern bridge pickup for soloing.

And like you said, it's easier to find one tone on my amp that works well for both pickups.

The Seth Lover and Custom Custom is also very good for an alnico 2 flavored combo.

Lew
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Exactly. The neck is great for that "almost" strat-ish beautiful neck pickup thing. Great blues tones, Hendrix shimmer, Allmansy, Jerry Garcia-esq clean lead sounds, and then you can kick it into the bridge position and bear down on some more ballsy "rock" type sounds from Stones to Van Halen depending on the type of amp you use and how much gain you like.

:burnout:
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

What about CC/APH2, is that going a bit off the track?
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

The JB Jazz combo was my first taste of SD pups and I chose them solely on Seymour's story of their creation for the Tele he made for Jeff. I love the tones I can get... :dance: weeeeeeeeee hehe The formula works!
1062781245_103_0382_IMG.jpg
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

butnut said:
The JB Jazz combo was my first taste of SD pups and I chose them solely on Seymour's story of their creation for the Tele he made for Jeff. I love the tones I can get... :dance: weeeeeeeeee hehe The formula works!
1062781245_103_0382_IMG.jpg
Click to expand...
this tele is awesome :)
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

I love hearing these responses since I made part of my choice based on the tone wizard then reading the descriptions. It say that this combo was one of his favorites. I have listened to them on other setups and on the deom cds. I can only hope that I will get close to all of the examples that I have listed to. I love the blues but like to bust out with some Megadeath or Godsmack. I am 40 but I love the new sounds of toady as well. Its a wide spectrum but I think I can still hang in there with the kids.
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Young Angus said:
What about CC/APH2, is that going a bit off the track?
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No, that'd be a nice combo too. Same concept! If you know you like the APH2 as a neck bucker, go for it. They're both alnico 2 and should compliment each other nicely.

Lew
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

CC/Jazz is a great combo. That's what I had in my LP Custom before I sold it. I've also heard that the infamous "Black Backs" are actually a CC/Jazz.
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Mac:

In my experience, the Jazz sounds really nice split in the neck. Might be something you want to look into doing if you are interested.
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Hey Mac, thanks for the review. How would you describe the Jazz under heavy distortion? Probably clear and articluate but, does it have some wicked snarl to it?
I always overlook the Jazz because of the name and from what people tell about it it might be a bit plain?
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

I've got the C5/Jazz combo and love it! As you mentioned, when switching from one to the other it is a seamless transition. No huge output differences (both Alnico5) just tone differences!!! And they sound killer when combined in the middle position!!!!

I think the Jazz neck is the obvious choice. As far as the bridge goes, I think they'll all (JB, C5, Custom) sound pretty good, I just tend to stick with the same magnet for both.
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

One thing I am not too happy with is the 59 in the neck......I still say it is muddy. The JB I like, but find the C-5 to be beefier and more full.....not as overly hot like the JB. That's the other thing, I have friends who were hardcore Duncan guys back in the day when the JB measured more like 13 or 14K......they saythe current day JB sounds too bright at 16k. I have nothing to compare since I don't have an old JB around so I can't comment.

I personally feel that added tight bass in a pickup adds tons of body and that is why I think the Custom series would be more balanced and full sounding.

I had the JB in teo Hamers and noticed an improvement in going to the Rio Geande BBQ. I also am liking the C-5 in my LP. Maybe for kicks I'll grab a Custom, JB, and then try my Rio BBQ so I can know for myself the differences in the same guitar. :smack:
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Nightburst said:
Hey Mac, thanks for the review. How would you describe the Jazz under heavy distortion? Probably clear and articluate but, does it have some wicked snarl to it?
I always overlook the Jazz because of the name and from what people tell about it it might be a bit plain?
Click to expand...

The Jazz to my ears is similar to the '59 but with a bit less bass and it is a bit brighter. It sounds to me like there is a little more upper midrange as well which adds up to clearer, more well balanced pickup, better suited for the neck position in my opinion.

It distorts exactly like the '59. A little less muddy with more clarity.





papersoul said:
That's the other thing, I have friends who were hardcore Duncan guys back in the day when the JB measured more like 13 or 14K......they saythe current day JB sounds too bright at 16k. I have nothing to compare since I don't have an old JB around so I can't comment.
Click to expand...

I think that is a rumour about the "changing" of the output in the JB.

I haven't measured my JB , but it is a pre-logo one from the 80's and sounds great.

Wouldn't 16K be LESS bright than 14K? More windings = more midrange, more output, and less top end.......
:rolleyes:
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

Mac-P said:
The Jazz to my ears is similar to the '59 but with a bit less bass and it is a bit brighter. It sounds to me like there is a little more upper midrange as well which adds up to clearer, more well balanced pickup, better suited for the neck position in my opinion.

It distorts exactly like the '59. A little less muddy with more clarity.







I think that is a rumour about the "changing" of the output in the JB.

I haven't measured my JB , but it is a pre-logo one from the 80's and sounds great.

Wouldn't 16K be LESS bright than 14K? More windings = more midrange, more output, and less top end.......
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

So a JB would be less bright than a C-5?

The old JBs do measure less though.
 
Re: Seymour had it right years ago: Jazz & JB the perfect combo

papersoul said:
So a JB would be less bright than a C-5?

The old JBs do measure less though.
Click to expand...


I find the JB to be less bright than a C5. The JB has more (MUCH more) mids than a C5 and the overall tone of a JB is more "middy". My ears hear that as "warmer" and less bright although there is plenty of treble there.

The C5 has very little mids, so you hear the treble a lot more.

That is just the way I hear it. Peace!
 
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