SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

[TamasonicYouth]

Looking for a new set of pickups with more diversity than my current EMG 81/85 setup. I currently play a Washburn X50 Pro FE straight into a Peavey ValveKing, and while both are far from perfect, it is a setup I am very happy with and love some of the sounds I can acheive.

The EMGs handle the no nonsense metal stuff very well (somewhere between Killswitch Engage, Black Dahlia Murder, August Burns Red and In Flames), but the problem is that while this is a strong element in the music, it maybe only accounts for 40% of what I do. I have found that the EMGs are useless for clean interludes, spacey jazz sections, mathy Dillinger Escape Plan like parts, and I also find there is a distinct lack of clarity or balance when playing large chord shapes.

The Seymour Duncan set containing the SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz looks to be a great option. I am a strong believer that the lower the gain, the higher the clarity, so even when playing melodic death metal, I like to play with relatively low gain to keep things sounding tight, as long it does not get to the stage where the tone sounds too weak. Having this mindset, I think I am willing to sacrifice some of the balls to the walls beef EMGs have for riffing, in order to acheive a more cutting, precise and all round better tone the Duncans seem to offer.

Any advice you could offer on the subject would be great, or any alternatives you could suggest (The Dimarzio D Activators look to be another possibility). Thanks

 

[Hartfeltmusic2010]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

I feel you when it comes to emgs i have the 81/85 and a 81/60 combination in two of my guitars and they are great pickups but not the most versatile. I play thrash and most people are suprised when they find out i use lower output pickups (alnico2pro slash set) in my main guitar. EMG's are great for crushing riffs but when it comes to musicality and different textures they dont cut it. Ive never used the jb/jazz but there supposed to be very versatile if im not mistaken dave mustaine used them and his live wires are active versions of the two. My advice is to just try them or anything for that matter somtimes its better to sound different anyways. Good luck!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

the JB/Jazz set is the preferred pickups for the 80's hair bands

most of what you hear recorded is either Duncan JB or Dimarzio PAF

I have the Jazz (SH-2) and a Trem spaced JB (TB-4) in an RG2EX1

soon as the height was dialed in, the JB wants to be just so,
I craved a whammy bar real bad

the Jazz does cleans nicely not too harsh
some even call it sterile as it really doesnt accent the midrange as much as the JB
and it splits well too (I personally think the slug coil has a much softer and pleasing sound than the adjustable coil which I find a bit bright)

 

[mwalluk]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

I would choose the 59' over the JAZZ or a Pearly Gates or A2P

 

[andrew11]

SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

Since the guitar already has active pickups try the mustaine livewire set. It's an active version of the jb/jazz. At least that way u don't have to change any electronics.

 

[Nagash]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

Jackson USAa are high-performance guitars aimed at metal players. EVERY single model except the DK1 features the JB/Jazz set.

Because of its versatility ? noooooooooo certainly not

(sarcasm, sorry)

 

[andrew11]

SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

Jackson USAa are high-performance guitars aimed at metal players. EVERY single model except the DK1 features the JB/Jazz set.

Because of its versatility ? noooooooooo certainly not

(sarcasm, sorry)

The USA soloists actually comes with the JB/59 set.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

And the KV2 has a JB/JB set (at least the one I had).

But that aside, you can try putting the 85 in the bridge and an 89 or 60 in the neck. Those are reportedly better for cleans (especially the 89 when split, though it's only half as loud when split).

I'd say try the Custom and a 59N wired in parallel permanently.

 

[Despair]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

Most Jacksons are ebony fretboard, maple neck-through with alder wings or maple bolt-on with alder body. Bright configurations that JBs are known to excel in.

Washburn's X50 Pro FE is a rosewood fretboard, set-neck, mahogany body with a maple carved top (not clear how thick the maple is, or if they are doing the multiple separate layers (plain maple cap + figured veneer) that tends to reduce brightness). Should be a pretty warm guitar, but not lacking highs. Not guaranteed JB love, but could work.

What do you want most out of the tone? A rounder tone, more dynamic, more traditional, thicker..? There's a huge range of pickups, many of which might work for you. A few more details might help you get closer to your ideal with less trial and error.

 

[TamasonicYouth]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

What do you want most out of the tone? A rounder tone, more dynamic, more traditional, thicker..? There's a huge range of pickups, many of which might work for you. A few more details might help you get closer to your ideal with less trial and error.

Although I do play certain lead sections, a good metal rhythm tone is more of a concern when talking about the higher gain stuff. Mustaine's tone is one of my favourites, I like the dry gritty sound as opposed to a more modern gain sound, which I often find to be really over saturated and lacking presence. A tight punchy gain sound for fast riffing with clear note definition and dynamic response, but still thick enough that it will stand up against other modern metal sounds. Somewhere between maybe Megadeth's Sleepwalker, and The Black Dahlia Murder's "A Vulgar Picture". Still pretty in your face, but nice and minimal so you can hear everything little nuance in the playing.

 

[TamasonicYouth]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

What do you want most out of the tone? A rounder tone, more dynamic, more traditional, thicker..? There's a huge range of pickups, many of which might work for you. A few more details might help you get closer to your ideal with less trial and error.

Also to give you an idea of how tight Im talking, on my amp head, with the guitar on the lead channel (metal sound basically) I have the gain boost engaged, but I usually have the gain set somewhere between 10 and 11 o clock / around 3 and a half. So even if the Duncans were noticably less gainy or immediately "metal" sounding, I still have a lot to play with on the amp.

 

[Mark Le Comte]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

I would try an 89 neck. Gives you a SA ish sound in single coil mode from the neck and also the 81 bridge combined with the single coil mode in the neck works very well.

 

[Despair]

Re: SH-4 JB and SH-2 Jazz for multi-genre metal?

Although I do play certain lead sections, a good metal rhythm tone is more of a concern when talking about the higher gain stuff. Mustaine's tone is one of my favourites, I like the dry gritty sound as opposed to a more modern gain sound, which I often find to be really over saturated and lacking presence. A tight punchy gain sound for fast riffing with clear note definition and dynamic response, but still thick enough that it will stand up against other modern metal sounds. Somewhere between maybe Megadeth's Sleepwalker, and The Black Dahlia Murder's "A Vulgar Picture". Still pretty in your face, but nice and minimal so you can hear everything little nuance in the playing.

For Mustaine's tone on that you probably want the Mustaine active set, it's still mostly a JB & Jazz sound, but a bit deeper and less loose, and less finicky about woods than the passive versions from what I have heard.

TBDM has an interesting contrast on a lot of their other stuff, passive lead (likely DiMarzios given the guitar, but not the only option for that lead tone) over active rhythm.

Not easy to get both Megadeth's lead & rhythm tone and TBDM's rhythm tone (never mind the leads) out of one guitar, I think something like the active JB, or maybe a passive setup with a Blackout Modular Preamp, but that'd be more of an investment.

If you want a passive with a bit more growl and like crazy output and compression (but still articulate), you might look at a PATB-2 Parallel Axis Distortion. Check out daemon barbeque's stuff, particularly "Flagolated demon cookies" for an idea what that sounds like. Might be a bassier growl than you want, though.