Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

zionstrat

Well-known member
I've got a mid 90s JB in the bridge of my primary HSS cover guitar and it was perfect for a long time for two reasons-

1.The best split for a quacky 2 position that I've ever heard- Shares the glory with a cruiser in the middle position.

2. Great 80s cover tones out of the box- and good generic crunched humbuckers have been approximated with various mods.

However, it's horrible as a clean humbucker, I have practically no need for 80s sounds any more, and yes, you have to be careful with settings to not get a JB get overly bright (yes I know the spike is upper midrange:)

  • So I was thinking it might be time for a Hybrid- I want to keep the 2 position exactly as is, but would like to end up with a more balanced, slightly modern combined sound that handles classic rock well at all gain levels.
  • Not looking for a super bright/thin PAF sound, just not the horrible bland JB clean - think PGish.

  • An added benefit would be if the 2nd hybrid would make a good bridge pup for my 62 Les Paul/SG.

The guitar is a Parker Nitefly- Apparently it's a maple body, but not ridiculously bright either.

Open to all pickup, design and any magnet options that come to mind!
 
Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

I’ve always wanted to try a custom/JB but never got around to it.

You think it could be a good fit for you?


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Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

I’ve always wanted to try a custom/JB but never got around to it.

You think it could be a good fit for you?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yeah, the C was the first option that came to mind- also 59, but I'm open to anything-

The only thing I absolutely have to keep is the 2nd position split-everything else is negotiable;)
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

Two questions:

Which JB coil do you like active when combined with the middle pickup?

Which Cruiser, neck model or bridge model?
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

if it were me, id use a more vintagey coil to match with the jb coil. a 59 for example, add some air to the clean sound.
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

A Seymourizer II coil should add some brightness and touch-sensitivity while still maintaining some girth.

A Slash Bridge is another idea for even more brightness and touch-sensitivity. I'm not sure what the difference is in inductance or resonant frequency compared to the 59 Bridge, but it should add a greater contribution.

I'd probably stick with a polished A5 magnet, though you might try a standard thickness ceramic. A polished A3 could also work. I don't think an A2, A4 or A8 are going to give you the same crystalline highs.
 
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Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

Two questions:

Which JB coil do you like active when combined with the middle pickup?

Which Cruiser, neck model or bridge model?

JB is auto splitting in position 2- that should make it slug, but it's been so long I will have to check to be sure

And it's been way too long since I bought the cruiser to be sure (around 2002)- but my guess is neck because I tend to like lower output middle pups.
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

The Cruiser Bridge is only a little bit hotter than the neck model (143 mV vs. 140 mV). The main difference is that the bridge model is a touch more full.
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

The Cruiser Bridge is only a little bit hotter than the neck model (143 mV vs. 140 mV). The main difference is that the bridge model is a touch more full.

Thanks Gregory- it's not terribly full, so I'm still guessing neck
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

if it were me, id use a more vintagey coil to match with the jb coil. a 59 for example, add some air to the clean sound.

Yeah, the 59 'felt' good from the start- but I'm surprised that I'm not hearing much about a custom- Would a custom be the wrong direction?
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

Any thoughts about JB custom vs jb59?

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I want to send you a PM and got the following error:

"zionstrat has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space."
 
Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

Any thoughts about JB custom vs jb59?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Maybe you should just get a 59/Custom and use your JB to do a 59/JB and a JB/Custom. And of course you get to test the excellent 59/C :)


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Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

Maybe you should just get a 59/Custom and use your JB to do a 59/JB and a JB/Custom. And of course you get to test the excellent 59/C :)

That's a pretty solid suggestion right there!

Personally, I've always wanted to try something like a Demon/JB hybrid or, as mentioned above, the SH-6n (Distortion neck, aka: the "Seymourizer") mated with a JB. The Demon is cool because it's essentially an underwound Custom. Always thought that combo, especially using the hex coil from the Demon, would be pretty unique.
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

IIRC, the Duncan blog on making hybrid recommends not to mix coils with wire more than one gauge apart or else there would be too much phase cancellation. To you guys who have tried the '59/JB hybrid, is it not the case?
 
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Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

the SH-6n (Distortion neck, aka: the "Seymourizer") mated with a JB. The Demon is cool because it's essentially an underwound Custom.
FWIW, the Seymourizer II is also an underwound Custom.
 
Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

I want to send you a PM and got the following error:

"zionstrat has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space."
Thanks buddy. Off to clear some ancient messages

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Re: Suggestions for hybrid built on a JB

Had no idea demon was a custom derivative... Opens up more doors.

I like the 59 + custom idea very much... That's a lot of variety.

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