TB-4 vs TB-6

[Sifat Khan]

So,I've decided I wanna go with the Sh-2 for my neck, but Im kinda confused about what bridge pickup I should buy.
Im leaning towards either a Duncan Distortion or a JB (Trembuckers). My guitar is a Fernandes Monterey deluxe, with a Mahogany body, a set mahogany neck and a rosewood fretboard. I play mainly progressive metal/rock ( in the vein of Opeth if you're familiar with them). I want some versatility, since I have to switch from pretty heavy death metal-ish riffs to pretty clean stuff. However I mainly use the neck for the cleans. Oh, and also the other guitarist in my band has a JB in the bridge. Any advice would be really helpful and appreciated.Thanks

 

[El Supremo]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

The guys in Opeth use to use the Full Shred and Screamin' Demon if I remember correctly. Tight and articulate with a useable clean sound to them (especially the Demon). They're medium output though, so you'll need an amp with plenty of gain to go full blast death metal.
Between the choices given though, I'd probably go for the Distortion as it's tighter for rhythms and less picky about guiitars than the JB. The JB has a better lead tone to my ears
though.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

As a huge fan of the JB, I started out with a Distortion in my Jackson SL3, and I think it really is the better choice for tighter, more aggressive rhythm styles. As El Supremo mentioned, it does have kind of a surgical edge that might make it less desirable for leads. The JB on the other hand has some quirks that have been reported in various guitars.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

Lots of mahogany? Distortion.
Short scale? Distortion.
Low tuning? Distortion.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

TB-6 over TB-4. Perpetual Burn over either of those two.

 

[Sifat Khan]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

The guys in Opeth use to use the Full Shred and Screamin' Demon if I remember correctly. Tight and articulate with a useable clean sound to them (especially the Demon). They're medium output though, so you'll need an amp with plenty of gain to go full blast death metal.
Between the choices given though, I'd probably go for the Distortion as it's tighter for rhythms and less picky about guiitars than the JB. The JB has a better lead tone to my ears
though.

Thanks for the advice man! I was actually thinking about the Full Shred, and it sounded pretty tight. Almost a little too tight and refined for my tastes; if that makes any sense. I think the JB and the Distortion have that extra bite I'm looking for so I took the full shred out of contention.As for the leads you've mentioned I also think that the JB has more more organic lead tones than the distortion, but I'm mainly thinking about my rhythm playing for the bridge pickup. I'll probably be toiling over this for the next few days haha. Thanks again

 

[Sifat Khan]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

TB-6 over TB-4. Perpetual Burn over either of those two.

The perpetual burn is amazing for leads but I don't think it's what Im looking for in a Bridge pickup.Thanks man.

 

[Sifat Khan]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

Lots of mahogany? Distortion.
Short scale? Distortion.
Low tuning? Distortion.

Haha that makes the decision easy. Thanks man!

 

[Sifat Khan]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

As a huge fan of the JB, I started out with a Distortion in my Jackson SL3, and I think it really is the better choice for tighter, more aggressive rhythm styles. As El Supremo mentioned, it does have kind of a surgical edge that might make it less desirable for leads. The JB on the other hand has some quirks that have been reported in various guitars.

I presume that the JB would be suited to the mahogany body, but you're right I've heard some complaints from some people too. As for the lead tone I fully agree, the JB has much more rich sounding leads than the distortion. You know, I'll probably just end up flipping a coin, both of them have their merits and demerits!

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

I just finally tried a JB with an A8 magnet and it honestly sits well between both of those pickups..
You may give that a try. It was very impressive!

 

[LazNovak]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

I'll have to pimp the Alternative 8 again.

 

[Mincer]

Re: TB-4 vs TB-6

My vote would be the Alternative 8, the DIstortion, or the Pegasus. Any of them will get you what you want, with slightly different EQ profiles. I am not sure if a JB would do it for you, especially if the other guitarist uses one- I would tend to go for a different sound, especially with lower tunings. There are better choices than the JB here.