Vintage JB Experts...

Re: Vintage JB Experts...

revolution said:
I know the JBJ is supposedly the good one, I had one in the 90s and loved it, but I am curious about the ones that just say JB. Namely this one right here that I just bought. Thank you!

https://reverb.com/item/20464751-vintage-seymour-duncan-15-35k-jb-sh4-1980-s-humbucker-pickup
Click to expand...

IIRC, those stickers were used in OEM p'ups, meaning those p'ups were factory-installed by one of several american and overseas guitar brands. They're not in any way "special", other than being from the '80s.

/Peter
 
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Re: Vintage JB Experts...

Actually, that would be a '90s-era JB, not '80s.

The one thing I can't confirm for sure is the reason for lack of a winder initial...On the ink-stamped paper label versions that were common in the '80s, lack of winder initial often indicated that Seymour himself had wound the pickup. However, that seems to have changed going the '90s when he was pretty much dedicated to the Custom Shop exclusively.
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

Ive seen identical JB's come out of Japanese Jacksons from the 90's There is no way that is an early one, the pad stamp on the bobbins the base plate all say its a later pup.

The good news is it probably still sounds fantastic
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

It should sound great, but, looking at the listing, that seems like a LOT to spend on what is actually a '90s-era JB!

Heck, that seems like a lot to spend on all but the earliest '80s JB's and that's coming from a guy who has sold literally dozens of truly vintage JBs.

OP, if you were expecting true '80s vintage, I would contact the seller and consider holding off until you get what you're after. Just my 2 cents
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

Just being JBJ doesn’t guarantee it’s better, but the oldest ones had different construction and sound different from current production. I have a Seymour-wound one and one just like yours with the same black no-initial label and they are both better sounding then my current production JB - in particular both of the older ones have a slight touch of some nice bright treble, which allows me to roll the volume and they clean up nicely and sound even and full. My current production JB only sounds good when dimed and is a bit dark so when I roll the volume down it sounds murky and dull. YMMV
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

chris effect said:
i thought the older ones had these type stickers

View attachment 97959
Click to expand...

Depends on how you define "older" :)

The one you have pictured is circa 1983-1986, for example. My guess is that's the type the OP was really after.

But, yes, generally speaking, the "old" ones had ink-stamped paper labels like the one you show above. However, there's really no difference between the very last of the paper label versions, which ceased in the early '90s, and the mid-'90s simple printed-sticker versions which followed immediately after.
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

masta' c said:
Depends on how you define "older" :)

The one you have pictured is circa 1983-1986, for example. My guess is that's the type the OP was really after.

But, yes, generally speaking, the "old" ones had ink-stamped paper labels like the one you show above. However, there's really no difference between the very last of the paper label versions, which ceased in the early '90s, and the mid-'90s simple printed-sticker versions which followed immediately after.
Click to expand...
Cool. Is there really any difference between the ones made back then compared to one off the shelf today?

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

chris effect said:
Cool. Is there really any difference between the ones made back then compared to one off the shelf today?

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Butyrate bobbins and roughcast mags originally, mainly. I don’t recall which year each was changed.
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

Polished mags started entering production around 1983, but there have been instances where JB's allegedly from as late as 1985 or so have been found with roughcast. It's a bit of a crapshoot, honestly, but the majority of the mid-'80s "hair metal" JB's actually used polished mags. There are other, subtle differences between the early '80s and late '80s models, including the change to polycarbonate bobbins, likely changes in magnet wire suppliers, different spacer material, etc. How much each change really matters in terms of "tone" is debatable, but I would say there is a lot more different from a big-logo baseplate era JB and a modern production model than a late-'80s JB and a modern production model.
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

Thank you all! The gentleman offered me a refund...I may reconsider and keep it. It isnt here yet.
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

masta' c said:
Actually, that would be a '90s-era JB, not '80s.

The one thing I can't confirm for sure is the reason for lack of a winder initial...On the ink-stamped paper label versions that were common in the '80s, lack of winder initial often indicated that Seymour himself had wound the pickup. However, that seems to have changed going the '90s when he was pretty much dedicated to the Custom Shop exclusively.
Click to expand...

That kind of labeling done by a printer appeared after 1996. I saw Ant Humbuckers with rubber stamps and printed label for the N and B labels with 97 serial numbers.
 
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Re: Vintage JB Experts...

To be fair, the Antiquity pickups have always had ink-stamped paper labels, so not a reliable indicator of the precise year of the switch to digital labels, but I agree it was around 1996
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

masta' c said:
To be fair, the Antiquity pickups have always had ink-stamped paper labels, so not a reliable indicator of the precise year of the switch to digital labels, but I agree it was around 1996
Click to expand...

No, its only the N and B labels that were printed, the serial is still stamped. Later on they changed them to saying Neck and Bridge. Look here:

Stamped:

https://en.audiofanzine.com/humbuck...an/Antiquity-Humbuker-Bridge/medias/pictures/

Both a stamped 97 and a printed 99:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/seymour-duncan-antiquity-humbucker-511940713
 
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Re: Vintage JB Experts...

beaubrummels said:
Just being JBJ doesn’t guarantee it’s better, but the oldest ones had different construction and sound different from current production. I have a Seymour-wound one and one just like yours with the same black no-initial label and they are both better sounding then my current production JB - in particular both of the older ones have a slight touch of some nice bright treble, which allows me to roll the volume and they clean up nicely and sound even and full. My current production JB only sounds good when dimed and is a bit dark so when I roll the volume down it sounds murky and dull. YMMV
Click to expand...

^^^ this ^^^
 
Re: Vintage JB Experts...

masta' c said:
Polished mags started entering production around 1983, but there have been instances where JB's allegedly from as late as 1985 or so have been found with roughcast. It's a bit of a crapshoot, honestly, but the majority of the mid-'80s "hair metal" JB's actually used polished mags. There are other, subtle differences between the early '80s and late '80s models, including the change to polycarbonate bobbins, likely changes in magnet wire suppliers, different spacer material, etc. How much each change really matters in terms of "tone" is debatable, but I would say there is a lot more different from a big-logo baseplate era JB and a modern production model than a late-'80s JB and a modern production model.
Click to expand...

The bobbin material has changed twice, there are some out there between the butyrate and polycarbonate ones that were done on nylon.
 
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