nienturi
Active member
Difference doesn't come through too well, but the BW's insulation is a lot more "red" than the many examples of the JB and Distortion I have here:
It has clearly reddish color:
The Seymour Duncan Ryan “Fluff” Bruce FLF Signature Pickup!
- Thread starter Mincer
- Start date
It has clearly reddish color:
Capacitance, of course matters. The measured capacitance of BW bridge is 145.56pF while calculated cap. of JB is 128pF. That's a difference. But, I generally don't think about the insulation material much because, according to my experince winding tension effects much more than the insulation. Yes, i have not tried all the wires with different insulations BTWAnd the achieving methods are different on those two tests. On the other hand, you might be very right about it, too
Nevertheless, my claim is still valid
Well, that's the real question. Does this design make a small difference that's measurable and repeatable, even if it's subtle enough to not matter to a lot of people; or is it just marketing BS with no sonic difference at all? Is it a true tweak, or just snake oil? Sometimes a subtle difference is all it takes to get the right playing feel or make a guitar track sit better in a mix. Especially when it's a pickup like the JB in a very high gain situation, where the sweet spot feels non-existent and it's never articulate enough.
nienturi
Active member
Masta' C
Well-known member
Because marketing. If it was just a JB4, no one would get excited. But turn it into a "hybrid" of 2 of SD's most popular models and now you've got something that stands out.
Interestingly, SD's own description mentions A4 "magnets", so I'm curious if this is using A4 flanking mags. Now THAT would be interesting!
in that case, the BW should have gotten the same wire as a JB, and just new magnets. But it didn't. It's a whole different beast.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Not sure what you're saying here. Marketing is a thing.
Also, the use of poly wire in place of enamel does have a subtle effect on tone and response that, in theory, would suit the triple-ceramic nature of the BW design well. As a complete package, it works.
I'm not sure what "magic" people think is going on with the BW, but it's pretty well established that it's just a "tweaked" Distortion, as suggested by its very creators. Take the core Distortion formula, add additional flanking mags from an Invader, swap the plain enamel out for poly, and you get a more modern, tighter sounding pickup with added clarity.
As for Fluff's sig pickup, I think it IS marketing to a large extent...
By "hybridizing" the JB and BW, you're really just taking away half of what makes each of those pickups unique unto themselves. If it was a JB/Custom or JB/59, it would have been a much different story.
Regardless, the change in magnet type to A4 is really the biggest thing going on here.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
To add to the discussion, I'm pretty sure the JB is poly as well.
That being said, I'm sure there is a difference, small as it may be.
That being said, I'm sure there is a difference, small as it may be.
Masta' C
Well-known member
JB is plain enamel
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I thought plain enamel was normally dark brown? Most PAF-types (PE 42AWG) have a dark wire poking through the hole on the bobbin. The JB is pretty bright golden-ish copper.
https://www.amazon.ca/Remington-Industries-42PEP-Magnet-Diameter/dp/B007FF09EA
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
My bad, just googled. You're right. Seems like the JB is plain enamel. I did not know that!
Masta' C
Well-known member
You're absolutely right about the color differences. When you see the dark stuff, that's typically plain enamel. Brighter copper is more commonly formvar or poly. There is some overlap in terms of what colors different insulation types are available in, especially when you get to the "poly" varieties.
Using the picture below as a reference, what we do know is that the bottom left is essentially what the magnet wire of the JB/Distortion looks like, the top is vintage PAF-style plain enamel like you mentioned, and bottom right would be more like what we see on the Black Winter:
zz0.reemypn75bzz
Using the picture below as a reference, what we do know is that the bottom left is essentially what the magnet wire of the JB/Distortion looks like, the top is vintage PAF-style plain enamel like you mentioned, and bottom right would be more like what we see on the Black Winter:
Masta' C
Well-known member
Interesting side notes:
I have 3 original "The JB Model" pickups here with me and they all have bright copper windings.
I have 3 '80s "JBJ" pickups sitting here, one of them is NOS in the box. Get this...1 has bright copper wire. The other 2 (1 used, 1 NOS) are both RED like the Black Winter! Guess I never thought to look that closely at them, as I assumed they would all be the brighter copper!
My newer production JB's are all the bright copper color.
However, my Custom Shop "JB Rails" pickups (not the newer production version) all have the red colored wire, as well!
I have 3 original "The JB Model" pickups here with me and they all have bright copper windings.
I have 3 '80s "JBJ" pickups sitting here, one of them is NOS in the box. Get this...1 has bright copper wire. The other 2 (1 used, 1 NOS) are both RED like the Black Winter! Guess I never thought to look that closely at them, as I assumed they would all be the brighter copper!
My newer production JB's are all the bright copper color.
However, my Custom Shop "JB Rails" pickups (not the newer production version) all have the red colored wire, as well!
RanchManSandy
New member
So "fluff" is a person?
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Allegedly. :lol:
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I remember my CS Antiquity JB's wire being slightly different color than my production JB's, FWIW. I never gave it much importance, but I guess that's part of the CS mojo.
Ascension
New member
What we need are some real clips of the pickup so we can actually hear what it's about. The clips we have are pretty useless because of the gain and how the amp is set plus processing, We need a real demo.
I have found A 4 to have a pretty different feel and attack. I really like the SNS set, but had problems running just the neck due to the attack and feel of the A 4 when I try to pair it with a different bridge pickup. This is interesting as it may give a decent feel match with a hotter bridge pickup.
I have found A 4 to have a pretty different feel and attack. I really like the SNS set, but had problems running just the neck due to the attack and feel of the A 4 when I try to pair it with a different bridge pickup. This is interesting as it may give a decent feel match with a hotter bridge pickup.
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