Using JB's in the neck position

yngwie308

New member
Since I recently purchased my second Washburn Steve Stevens SS 80 model, I have been noticing that the neck JB is overpowering in that position.
My earlier SS 80 the one I ordered from the factory in 1993, it has the neck pickup farther away, (considerably) than the bridge. I knew this causes a mismatch with both pickups selected, but I remember having the bridge raised and the neck lowered at the time I bought my first one. I can't exactly remember.
I know SD recommends using a less powerful output HB with the JB, for the neck, like a '59 or Jazz, ect.
The pickup really slams any amp I try to get a decent clean tone with, even with the amp volume on 1 or so!
Excuse my naivety here, but has anyone else experienced this.
On my NOS purple quilt topped SS 80, the pickups are almost equally as close to the strings.
On my earlier guitar, I almost used the bridge pickup over 80% of the time, so it wasn't an issue so much,
On my Heritage Gary Moore models, a Les Paul design, they have EMG 81's in both positions, with the traditional stagger, the bridge being slightly closer to the strings than the neck and the neck pickup doesn't overwhelm the amp, even with these high output pickups.
Has anyone else noticed this?
The pickup distorts the signal at low volumes especially on the bass strings quite remarkably, what would be a solution to make the guitar more versatile, I am not expecting it to sound like an L-5 or something, but would like to have more flexibility with the neck in a clean setting.
Here is how I have the pickups adjusted on my black SS 80:
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I have felt for some time that the neck pickup is too far away from the strings and when I got a second guitar with the identical configuration, I noticed right away how close both pickups are to the strings.
Since the purple topped model is so rare, basically being a one off and in unplayed condition, also being quite expensive $4.5K! I am not going to be to hasty to mod it at the moment.
Here is the 'newer guitar':
DSC010851.jpg

The Barbarella SS 80, has both pickups also JB's, at a similar height:
Barbarella010.jpg

I just spoke to Jon at Funky Munky Music in Kansas and he will be measuring the #1 SS 100 guitar he has for sale to check the pickup heights.
Apparently the artists spec that SS specified has the pickups at this height.
Any of you guys with a similar style guitar with Floyd HB/HB have a similar experience?
Thanks
yngwie308
 
Re: Using JB's in the neck position

I like the JB as a neck pickup, but haven't really noticed it slamming the clean channel of my preamp. Could be the internal Compressor helping with that, though. It is a bit on the aggressive side, but nothing that'd ruin a clean track for me.


Have you tried lowering the pickup?
 
Re: Using JB's in the neck position

Sorry but I cannot help you with your problem, and I just want to say that the barbarella SS 80 looks very nice.
 
Re: Using JB's in the neck position

lower the neck pup. there is alot more string movement closer to the neck so you dont need the pup as close to have a strong signal
 
Re: Using JB's in the neck position

Do you have height adjustment with the pups mounted like that? If so then +1 on lowering it. try that.
What value of Vol. & Tone pots are in there? If the neck pup is as low as it goes, you could try using a lower value volume pot on the neck, however this would affect both pups somewhat in the middle position.
- Better yet, a series resistor, -this would only affect the neck pickup.
- If you like the basic tone of the JB in there, I would try the resistor trick first before looking for a new pickup, it can't do any harm, & would cost only pennies to try..
- If the resistor helps, but makes it sound to dark or dull (you lose some treble..) you could put a .001uF capacitor in parallel (around) with the resistor to get highs back, (like the well known volume control "treble bleed" mod.
OR - you could just try turning your neck volume control down.. :)
Let us know how it works out!
 
Re: Using JB's in the neck position

I had to sink the JB really low in the neck position for it to be nice. Then, it's really nice. :D

I split it for cleans though.
 
Re: Using JB's in the neck position

Gee, I didn't even think of that. - You could wire a switch or push/pull pot switch for split or for parallel (sounds a lot like split but remains humbucking..)
- These would reduce the output like you need, but give a quite different tone.
- You might love it, or if you like the humbucker sound better you can use my resistor idea.
- Or you could do both..
 
Re: Using JB's in the neck position

Thanks guys, there is only one volume pot and no tone capacitors on these guitars. Both if mine have DiMarzio 500K pots, I did lower the neck pickup substantially on my black one, but SS own specs have both p/u's fairly close to the strings:
Here is my first SS 80 I ordered in 1993, notice how clean the wiring and detail furnishing is in the control cavity, also the grounds are directly to the pot itself:
SS80Comparison046.jpg

Here is my $4500 purple quilt topped SS 80, notice the grounds are to a tag mounted on the side of the control cavity, same DiMarzio 500K pot, some guys put a push/pull coil tap potentiometer in this circuit:
SS80Comparison026.jpg

Also two routes for the pickup wires on the later built guitar:
SS80Comparison031.jpg

Where on the earlier one, the holes are sort of joined together, I have spoken to many owners of these guitars, that found neck pickup, they hardly used due to it's overpowering nature, sure I can take out the foam underneath and lower it, just surprised that a custom artist built guitar would have this type of setup?
yngwie308
 
Re: Using JB's in the neck position

Do you know a lot about how Steve uses the guitars?
-Like maybe into a compressor, or the low input of the amp or to drive a long cable or something?
-Anyway if it's not working for you, I'd try lowering it first, if that's not enough, then the coil split, or parallel switch, then (Or if you find you like the humbucker tone best, but still need less output..) -the series resistor. I don't know what value resistor to suggest; something small..

- Or have you already fixed it? How did you do it?
 
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