TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

[Birdman642]

I'm trying to decide on a replacement pickup for a Fender Deluxe strat. I found out the routing is HSH (Which is perfect because it opens up so many options) I've narrowed my options down to a Seymour Duncan TB-4 JB and Seymour Duncan TB-14 Custom 5. I can't decide which to go with. I play old school metal (Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Old Metallica), Punk (The Damned, Rites of Spring), some jangly pop stuff and even a little blues. I'd be running this through a Jet City 1x12 20 watt combo amp.
I have a JB in an Explorer, which I like quite a bit, after I raised the pole pieces.
I watched Keith Merrow's pickup demo, and the Custom 5 seems to have a tighter bottom end (Who doesn't like a tight bottom end, amirite?) But the Custom 5 seems to be more scooped in the mids than the JB. I understand that the guitar/ amp he's running it through would sound different than what I'm running. Would I be able to dial the mids back in at the amp?
What does the forum think?

 

[gregory]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

The tone stack in the Jet City is post gain, so no, you can't use it to alter the voicing of your pickups.

The JB and Custom 5 are miles apart. You shouldn't have any trouble deciding what you need. Based on the music you cited I'd go with the Custom 5 out of the two, unless your guitar is devoid of midrange.

 

[devastone]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

As gregory said, those 2 pickups are very different, but either would work for what you are trying to do (I know, seems contradictory).

I personally am not a big fan of the C5, it's too scooped for me, but I've only tried it once, in a different guitar it might work great. The JB has a big spike in the upper mids that people either love or hate, I like the JB, probably my favorite pickup, but it can definitely cut through.

The regular Custom is another good/versatile choice, it's my choice over the JB or the C5.

The DiMarzio Super Distortion is another good choice for the sounds you are looking for.

 

[gregory]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

59/Custom Hybrid is another.

 

[Birdman642]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

I have a super distortion in an all mahogany Agile I have. The Super Distortion was my go-to pickup for a while. But after messing around with the JB, It sounds really muddy

 

[Nightburst]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

Tough choice! Both would work well and both are very different.
Jet City has plenty of mids to dial in if you need them. Otherwise I would strongly recommend an EQ pedal no matter what.
I tried the Custom 5 in a strat and I found it surprisingly nice, though the JB is hard to beat. I too love big bottom end and since the Jet City has bottom end issues by itself (for this reason I don't like a regular tube screamer pedal with this amp since it shaves off some bass) a JB would probably make it worse. I'm leaning toward the C5 in this case.

 

[Demanic]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

C5.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

What is the inherent voice of the guitar? Does it have mids already, or is it lacking in mids?

 

[Birdman642]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

FWIW It's an ash body. It's a little on the bright side

 

[Mincer]

Re: TB-4 JB or TB-14 Custom 5 in bridge of strat

Then I don't know about the Custom 5. Perhaps the 59/Custom Hybrid, or the regular Custom. The JB has a lot of upper mids, which many people like- it doesn't work well in bright guitars for me, though- everyone is different, however.