The debate about the JB in a Les Paul

[STLMTLHD79]

This has been mentioned here quite a few times. Just thought I would throw my 2 cents in. I currently have 3 Les Pauls with JB's in them of different eras: 1977 LP Custom with an Antiquity JB/Jazz set, a 1976 LP Deluxe routed for bridge humbucker that has an early 80s vintage JB-M, and a 1999 Epiphone LP-80 standard Made in Japan with an AH1BJ (basically a double screw JB). The 76 and 77 both have maple necks, the Epiphone is of course mahogany. The JB sounds incredible in the 2 with the maple necks-tight, sparkly top end, and great clarity. The Holdsworth in the Epiphone sounds very good however, seems a bit more dark with the mahogany neck.

SO can it be said that JB's sounds GREAT in Les Pauls with Maple Necks? Anybody else have this experience?

With that said, I have 2 sets of 35th Anniversary JB/Jazz that I considered putting into Mahogany necked Les Pauls (94 Standard and 01 Custom). I may have to consider something else.....

 

[AlexR]

What can be said is that you like the JB in the 2 Gibson guitars you have it in.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

I agree with AlexR.

 

[Supernautilus]

I have my JB/Jazz set in a Harley Benton Single Cut. I call it my "Less Paul".

Anyways, it's Honduran mahogany body and neck. Sounds great to me. Though to be fair, I've never owned a legit Les Paul as I'm not exactly a wealthy man. But if my guitar is anything close to a real Les Paul, I can see why this is a popular set. These pickups scream. Especially the JB. It can do blues, rock, and even metal. Most versatile pickup I've ever had.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Much prefer the SH-5 / 59 combo in a LP.

 

[GuitarDoc]

My personal experience with a JB in a mahogany guitar (even with a maple neck) and every type of magnet, has not been good. I just can't live with the upper mid spike it's so famous for. Some people love it and feel it really helps cut through the mix, but it's just not my sound/tone. I haven't tried it in a Strat but I haven't heard many complaints about it there...maple body and neck and 25.5" scale makes it more doable.

 

[Mincer]

I don't like a JB in anything, but I am clearly in the minority. Lots of people love the sound of JBs in LPs.

 

[GuitarDoc]

As I have said before, I really don't like the JB in any guitar with any magnet or any pot. Some people, actually a lot of people love it, so I am also in the minority.

Dave and I seem to have very similar tastes...must be something in the name.

 

[jeremy]

different taste, different rigs... if it works for ya, run with it!

 

[SweetClyde99]

I have a 2013 Gibson LPJ that has a maple neck and a mahogany body with a maple cap, and now that you mention it, it would probably sound pretty good with a JB. The guitar naturally has a pretty tight low end response (possibly due to the maple neck, if Zakk Wylde is right on that front), and I’ve tried a lot of pickups in this guitar, and I’ve never needed to pull a pickup out of it because the upper mids were grating on me, unlike a number of my other guitars. I’m pretty happy with the pickups in there now, but I’ll keep that in mind in the future. So far, the best I’ve heard the JB sound was is an alder HH Tele. The low end got a bit flabby for me when I went down to drop D though.

 

[beaubrummels]

A stock recent-era production JB in my all-mahogany LP was a fine rock pickup, but would never clean up with the volume rolled back, and was missing top end I wanted and didn't have the bottom chunk I wanted either and had a strong mid character that wasn't the character I wanted. It didn't sound like a spike to me, but it was prominent.

However, a late 70's "The JB Model" that Seymour wound was a different animal. It cleaned up with the volume and had a more fuller range of sound, more top and bottom end and the 'spike' of mids wasn't strong. It was more even. It actually sounded closer to Custom variant, but it wasn't a Custom. It was warmer and thicker than a Custom.

It's worth remembering that the JB was designed for an ash-body Tele with maple neck and Fender 250k pot wiring. It seems to work best in brighter guitars.

 

[Gstring]

I have never owned a real JB but have messed with guitars that did..I do own guitars (mahogany with maple cap) with DD 102s and an Irongear Dirty Torque.which are very similar Agree that it is not the greatest pup for playing clean in stock series wiring. But a PP to put it in parallel sweetens it up

 

[Supernautilus]

It's worth remembering that the JB was designed for an ash-body Tele with maple neck and Fender 250k pot wiring. It seems to work best in brighter guitars.

It's funny you mention this because I've noticed the JB sounds best in my guitar when I roll the volume knob back to about 8 or so. With it wide open it's almost too hot. Not just bright, but too...loud somehow. It's hard to put a finger on it. I was seriously considering replacing the volume pot with a 250K just to see what happens.

 

[Inflames626]

Just thought I'd offer to try the JB in the neck. Like Mincer I don't like the JB, but it sounds great to me as a hot neck pickup and when it splits it cleans up so nicely.

Probably going to pair it with a Dimebucker to see what happens.

 

[Mincer]

Just thought I'd offer to try the JB in the neck. Like Mincer I don't like the JB, but it sounds great to me as a hot neck pickup and when it splits it cleans up so nicely.

Probably going to pair it with a Dimebucker to see what happens.

If you dig hot pickups, I can see this working.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I love the JB, myself, in any guitar I've tried it in. It's just *that* sound for me. Sounds great doing late 90's style of metal, IMO. Very Arch Enemy-ish.

I have never thought it sounded "loose". Some may argue it's a bit stuffy in the low mids, and I kind of agree, but it's also got the high mids to counter that.

I've always been confused about people who think it's too bright, but then reach out for PAF-types, LOL.

JMO.

 

[jeremy]

i only have a jb in one guitar and it kicks as, its an ash hh tele. go figure

 

[chadd]

This has been mentioned here quite a few times. Just thought I would throw my 2 cents in. I currently have 3 Les Pauls with JB's in them of different eras: 1977 LP Custom with an Antiquity JB/Jazz set, a 1976 LP Deluxe routed for bridge humbucker that has an early 80s vintage JB-M, and a 1999 Epiphone LP-80 standard Made in Japan with an AH1BJ (basically a double screw JB). The 76 and 77 both have maple necks, the Epiphone is of course mahogany. The JB sounds incredible in the 2 with the maple necks-tight, sparkly top end, and great clarity. The Holdsworth in the Epiphone sounds very good however, seems a bit more dark with the mahogany neck.

SO can it be said that JB's sounds GREAT in Les Pauls with Maple Necks? Anybody else have this experience?

With that said, I have 2 sets of 35th Anniversary JB/Jazz that I considered putting into Mahogany necked Les Pauls (94 Standard and 01 Custom). I may have to consider something else.....

I had a bunch of Norlin era Deluxes over the years and loved those maple three piece necks. Solid as a rock and adds a little more snap to the high end. Sadly, most weighed north of 12 pounds and were less than stellar guitars overall. I was astounded when people started paying $2k or more for them and sold the last of mine back then. Current prices for them are just ridiculous.

 

[krovatron]

I am more in the JB works for so many things but hasn't been my cup of tea in mahogany LP styles. Yet: I had one in an SG that totally ripped...go figure.
However, the antiquity with the aged RCA5 is a different animal. I do prefer the JB with RCA5 or UOA5. It is even sweet in a Super Strat with A2 IMO.

The wire of the JB wind makes it unique too, right? Its DC output can throw people off. ( I know, DC should not be used as an adequate measure of output...more factors, etc.)
It sits in this weird more than medium but not high output IMO. It is a very unique wind that has its place in history. I have seen winds vary from 14-17k and seem to prefer the lower end ones.

 

[Supernautilus]

I think I just discovered this pickup needs a lower height than usual, at least in my guitar. My JB is in a project guitar I just put together and I hadn’t given this much thought. I had set it at the SD recommended 3/32 spec and forgot about it. Today I lowered it to around 4-5 and that seemed to take the harsh edge off a bit. I like it a lot more now.