The JB "I call BS on everyone" thread

[Lewguitar]

But if you do the test right, even just the differences between the new and Antiquity are audible to anyone loosely skilled in the art, and also you can feel the differences under your fingers.

And that is the very skill that I get flamed for mentioning everytime I mention it. Most of these guys doing comparison videos are simply not skilled players who can shape a note with their fingers. They don't notice nuanced differences under their fingers because they can't play with any nuance. They don't hear differences because they lack the skill to take advantage of those differences. Boy do they hate to have that pointed out.

 

[Aceman]

Which means that almost every other player, and a good chunk of the listeners, can't tell the difference.

Either the player is too "weak" to sustain the sonic vicissitudes out of it - so the listener has no chance anyway,
Or, my belief, that the listeners are not that astute in hearing
And that EVEN if they are, they will not necessarily prefer the amazeballs JBJ to a factory fresh JB - even IF they can tell them apart.

You are welcome to come over and play Lew - being such an amazing nuanced player. Or is Dave a hack?

 

[Aceman]

Lots of companies make running changes that they think are performance neutral, and then later they decide (whether through customer input or internal efficacy) that they are not performance neutral.

And lots of changes happen that are totally sound and performance neutral. For example - Gibson changed from long to short tenon necks and no one knew forever. People ONLY started to care once someone showed/told them. Then suddenly the sustain sucked on short tenons. Yeah...right, sure.

And - as with most guitar products, they are NEVER blind tested for sound or preference by the *ahem* vocal public. Which is everyone here saying they want a JBJ or whatever - that I believe couldn't tell which is which.

What your ears say vs what your eyes say when combined with what your mind thinks can all be cleared up with the right presentation.

Let me know when you are gonna be in FL Frank. Unless Lew says you are hack without nuanced fingers too.

 

[Securb]

And that is the very skill that I get flamed for mentioning everytime I mention it. Most of these guys doing comparison videos are simply not skilled players who can shape a note with their fingers. They don't notice nuanced differences under their fingers because they can't play with any nuance. They don't hear differences because they lack the skill to take advantage of those differences. Boy do they hate to have that pointed out.

You seem to contradict yourself with the quote you cited. You claim only people with the highest acumen can tell the differences between various musical products. FF just stated even product managers and others with no discernable musical skills could hear the difference in the different models of the JB. There are other guitarists beside you and Jeff Beck that can hear and feel the differences in a piece of gear.

 

[Lewguitar]

Let me know when you are gonna be in FL Frank. Unless Lew says you are hack without nuanced fingers too.

Nice try Troll. No, it's very clear that Frank can hear and take advantage of subtle qualities that you cannot.

But if you do the test right, even just the differences between the new and Antiquity are audible to anyone loosely skilled in the art, and also you can feel the differences under your fingers.

So you, Ace, are clearly not "anyone loosely skilled in the art", or able to "feel the differences under your fingers".

Now are you going to insult Frank Falbo for saying the same things I've been saying?

 

[LLL]

Hm. Wanna know what I really think? :13:

I call BS on "Vinny" doing whatever he claims he's gonna do in this thread.

It'll never happen, because this thread is just another cry for attention.

BTW, I have an 80's JB with the JBJ sticker and it is a phenomenal pickup.

Been digging JBs since the 80's.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Well, this is all completely on-brand.

 

[Aceman]

Hm. Wanna know what I really think? :13:

I call BS on "Vinny" doing whatever he claims he's gonna do in this thread.

It'll never happen, because this thread is just another cry for attention.

BTW, I have an 80's JB with the JBJ sticker and it is a phenomenal pickup.

Been digging JBs since the 80's.

Yes - but is it any more or less phenomenal than a JB I go over to GC and purchase today? Is it even different? And if different - is it preferable to that one? And who can tell and who can’t...

 

[Clint 55]

Not necessarily more phenomenal, but different. Also cool for a gear head to have a piece of history. I don't think non musicians could tell a difference, but I think most guitarists could tell a difference in the room or playing them. I would be able to demonstrate the difference to 100% of guitarists.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

It depends on the age of the person doing the test. As you get older you lose the ability to pickup up certain frequencies. It's not an opinion, it's a fact and has been proven scientifically. Google it.

That said, the BS is on anyone over 60 claiming to be able to distinguish between a regular JB, a JBJ, Antiquity JB, Chinese JB, etc. Except maybe Keith Richards...lol.

 

[Lewguitar]

That said, the BS is on anyone over 60 claiming to be able to distinguish between a regular JB, a JBJ, Antiquity JB, Chinese JB, etc.

It's not all about ears.

But if you do the test right, even just the differences between the new and Antiquity are audible to anyone loosely skilled in the art, and also you can feel the differences under your fingers.

I've always said that. When Frank says "...you can feel the differences under your fingers" I believe he's referring to how a sound or the feel of the strings makes the person doing the playing feel and respond in the moment of creation.

It's not all about ears. It's about feeling. And feeling is something that distinguishes us from robots.

I can't help it if some of us don't feel the differences under their fingers. But that doesn't make that feeling that some of us do feel unreal.

If you're color blind it doesn't mean color doesn't exist. It just means you, one particular observer, can't see it.

 

[Aceman]

I have never said that you can't tell the difference between two notably different pickups. (or maybe not...) If they were made that different, of course a musician, even one potentially hard of hearing may notice. The question there is not "Can you hear a difference". but "Which do you prefer?"

Remember - the JBJ is a fabled pickup highly sought for its Uber-tone. Man - it would suck if you paid $$$ for one of those an preferred an HB 10whatever the Duncan Design JB is! You might go "Wow - that one sounds smooth" or you might go "Wow...that one sounds muffled"

And of course - if it is a quiet room guitar > cable > amp. But what about Stage > Guitar > Wireless > Pedalboard > Amp? Can you tell then???

There are BS and perception traps everywhere!!!

 

[Bogner]

There are BS and perception traps everywhere!!!

They call that marketing.

 

[Clint 55]

I like all 3 of my JBs. The new one is max aggression with the slammin mids plus as much highs to go with for a pup that hot. The JBJ sounds like a different pup. You can tell it's related but it's by far more open. Actually sounds like a hot PAF with cool vintage character. The Ant is insane and clanky. Works perfectly for my clanky mustang.

 

[formula73]

I thought you were gone?

 

[Securb]

It's not all about ears.

I can't help it if some of us don't feel the differences under their fingers. But that doesn't make that feeling that some of us do feel unreal.

Touch sensitivity is all about how the amp, speaker, effect, pickup sound/react based on your touch. So yes it is all about your ears. Please tell me you can tell the difference purely based on touch the difference between any two pickups. If I blindfolded you and gave you a guitar with Black Winters v. a guitar with 59s unplugged could you tell the difference based on touch? Hell no! You would need them plugged in to "feel" (dare I say hear) the amplified sound, the sustain, the sensitivity and the bloom of the note. No pick up will change the physical feel of an instrument, it can change the attack when touched, but not the physical characteristics of the instrument. Unless you are telling us somehow your fingers can detect magnetic fields.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Unless you are telling us somehow your fingers can detect magnetic fields.

I bet they can predict a change in the weather. Is this really that different?

 

[Securb]

 

[Aceman]

Now are you going to insult Frank Falbo for saying the same things I've been saying?

And Frank has my phone number if he has a problem with me....and I got a Jamocha shake that can fix it.

 

[beaubrummels]

Touch sensitivity is all about how the amp, speaker, effect, pickup sound/react based on your touch. So yes it is all about your ears. Please tell me you can tell the difference purely based on touch the difference between any two pickups. If I blindfolded you and gave you a guitar with Black Winters v. a guitar with 59s unplugged could you tell the difference based on touch? Hell no! You would need them plugged in to "feel" (dare I say hear) the amplified sound, the sustain, the sensitivity and the bloom of the note. No pick up will change the physical feel of an instrument, it can change the attack when touched, but not the physical characteristics of the instrument. Unless you are telling us somehow your fingers can detect magnetic fields.

Now there's the root of the problem. Half of us are discussing a blind test, the other half are discussing a deaf test. It's all clear to me now.