The SH-4 JB is amazing!

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r34vspec

New member
I borrow a nickel covered duncan JB from my friend and put it in my PRS Custom 24. It's much better than the stock pickup. More organic, no more "honky" midrange, and great upper mid cut. The bass response is so massive, it sounds brutal even with standard tuning.
My only complaint is the low E string sounded a little undefined for fast palm muting, but after lowering the pickup and raising the low E polepiece, it tightens up the response considerably. It's completely usable with drop tuning.
Now I'm looking for neck pickup to pair with the JB, the stock neck pickup certainly lack detail and complexity in comparation. Any recommendation?
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

I would pair it with a Jazz Neck, but that is me. The first thing I noticed when I put in the Jb from the stock pickup in my Ibby SA was a very lively tone. The stock neck matched the JB where output was concerned. But not tonally. It felt like moving form bright well light room to a darker room, if you get what I am saying. I put a Jazz in the neck. Perfect match.
 
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Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

Depends on what you are using it for. The 59 would probably be closest to what's already in the neck. The Jazz is closer, but a little less gain. Then there is the Full Shred if you want something with a little more bite. All are fine with the stock A5, but if you find if any of those need a little more articulation try a polished A4. And all of those will clean up nicely.


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Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

My usual go to with a JB is the '59 but I've grown fond of the jazz, especially in conjunction with a split JB. Splitting the JB takes some of the high gain out and balances well with the Jazz. Either are good choices with a JB IMHO.
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

Thanks for the advice so far.
I need a neck pickup that work well in a 24 fret guitar. I'm looking for full-bodied jazzy clean tone, and liquid bubbly sound for lead/shredding. I'm thinking george benson's tone, particularly in the song "breezin' " (ft. Al Jarreau) as an example of great clean sound.
I read about magnet swapping in this forum, I'm certainly interested in trying A4.
I have a few more things I'd like to ask.
How difficult it is to swap magnets on a covered humbucker?
Is there any tonal difference between SH and TB pickups? I think I read somewhere, the trembuckers sound hotter, since there's more wire inside the bobbin.
Is there any online shop that sell pickup polepieces similar to seymour duncan's ? I like the look of gold polepieces on a chrome covered bucker.
 
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Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

Stewart McDonald comes to mind. They sell everything. www.stewmac.com

Honestly, If I were going for a GB tone I'd dump the JB and maybe get a matched set of Jazz pickups. Maybe a Pearly Gates. The one I had made the best clean tone. Wasn't my cup of tea for gain though.

Just my 2 cents. BTW for jazz, you can't get much better tone than Benson.

Do you own an Ibanez GB model? If so I'd need your address and the date of your next vacation. LMAO! Seriously, I'm jealous. I'm a true blue Ibeenahd fan boy for sure.
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

On a covered pup, you'll have to remove the cover. I think the 'project guitar' site has detailed info, but you just really need a soldering iron.

As for the SH vs TB, you'll have to get hardcore to tell any difference worth mentioning.

The JB/Jazz is a good combos and it'll serve you well. You may like the Jazz just like it is for the tones you ate chasing. Give it a shot.


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Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

r34vspec said:
Thanks for the advice so far.
I need a neck pickup that work well in a 24 fret guitar. I'm looking for full-bodied jazzy clean tone, and liquid bubbly sound for lead/shredding. I'm thinking george benson's tone, particularly in the song "breezin' " (ft. Al Jarreau) as an example of great clean sound.
I read about magnet swapping in this forum, I'm certainly interested in trying A4.
I have a few more things I'd like to ask.
How difficult it is to swap magnets on a covered humbucker?
Is there any tonal difference between SH and TB pickups? I think I read somewhere, the trembuckers sound hotter, since there's more wire inside the bobbin.
Is there any online shop that sell pickup polepieces similar to seymour duncan's ? I like the look of gold polepieces on a chrome covered bucker.
Click to expand...

You want the Jazz. The Trembuckers are simply sized to fit Fender's designs. Both work fine in either guitar but the harmonics quality will be slightly more tuned if you used the right humbucker SH for Gibsons and TB for Fenders. Someone else will have to tell you which fit the PRS better. Call Duncan, they'll help you out and have great service.
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

If you're stuck between the jazz and the 59, on a 24 fret guitar I would say the 59. Because your neck pickup is pushed back a bit because of those 2 extra frets it's gonna sound brighter, so I would recommend the warmer sounding pickup, which is the 59.
 
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Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

I would agree that the Jazz would be the way to go too. I have the JB (TB-4)/Jazz setup in my Jackson and I absolutely love that combo!
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

jpistolas said:
My usual go to with a JB is the '59 but I've grown fond of the jazz, especially in conjunction with a split JB. Splitting the JB takes some of the high gain out and balances well with the Jazz. Either are good choices with a JB IMHO.
Click to expand...

+1 to This. I love the tone of the JB split with the Jazz Split. A really great tone for some clean chord work, kick in a little dirt and nice for soloing too.

Falloffthebonetone said:
If youre stuck betwen the jazz and the 59, on a 24 fret guitar I would say the 59. Because your neck pickup is pushed back a bit because pf those 2 extra frets it's gonna soud brighter, so I would fecommend the warmer sounding pickup, which is the 59.
Click to expand...

Have to agree with you. My first choice with a JB is always a Jazz, but on 24 fret I would go with a 59n.
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

My go to is the 59. It's really warm, so it will make up for the extra two frets on your guitar.
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

Johnny the Kid said:
My go to is the 59. It's really warm, so it will make up for the extra two frets on your guitar.
Click to expand...

I would definitely pick the '59.

There is a very good reason why the JB/'59 combo is standard on many San Dimas Charvels. It works. :D Especially in a superstat style guitar, I believe in a very full sounding neck pickup. A massive guitar like a LP can get away with the Jazz.
 
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Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

Falloffthebonetone said:
If you're stuck between the jazz and the 59, on a 24 fret guitar I would say the 59. Because your neck pickup is pushed back a bit because of those 2 extra frets it's gonna sound brighter, so I would recommend the warmer sounding pickup, which is the 59.
Click to expand...

would you recommend him the jazz bridge? to compensate for the lost of the sweet 22frets spot and get a warmer one sound -not at all like the 59- but keeping in the jazz model route.

Good day to all.
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

you are not going to get george benson type tones out of that guitar because it is so far removed from his axes its not funny so forget that and just go for a well balanced pair of pickups.
Simplest option is seeing as you love the JB, just drop in a jazz neck and enjoy.
However, you mentioned you like drop tunings and that the JB is only borrowed.
So make use of the SD 21 day returns policy and try a custom in the bridge paired with a 59 neck. The custom will hold together better than the jb for your drop tuned stuff, and the 59 has more low end than a jazz so you'll get nicer fatter jazz (genre not pickup) tones in the neck.
The other cool thing about custom/59 combo is that they both are perfect templates for magnet swapping madness.
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

still one of the most common pickups that i have little QT with. would love to try JB8 tho!!!!!!!
 
Re: The SH-4 JB is amazing!

The first piece of advice I have for a CU24 is that you need to go with a bridge pickup for the neck if you want it fairly warm. After lots of pickups and incarnations of other pickups I settle on a PG(b) for the neck slot of my CU24.

Luke
 
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