What Humbucker and single-coils for me?

[MrFlexx]

I'm thinking of getting a Seymour Duncan JB for the bridge position in my ESP Standard Vintage Plus, but I have some questions regarding the pickup and what single coils to pair it with.

I really like the JB and already have it in multiple guitars. However, sometimes I find the top end a bit too harsh or ice-picky, especially on the high strings. Is there a good way to smooth it out without losing the JB character? Or is there another pickup with a similar feel but a slightly smoother high end? Maybe the Custom 5?

I tend to prefer lead tones over rhythm, and I sometimes feel the JB works better for rhythm than for lead.

I mainly play in the styles of George Lynch, Warren DeMartini and Dann Huff, and I know they’ve all used the JB during the 80s.

For the single coils (HSS setup), I’m looking for something that can deliver:

• nice, clear Strat-style cleans (Dann Huff / Michael Thompson type tones)
• but also enough output and midrange to sing and sustain for high gain lead playing
• great string separation and articulation

I really like the Bare Knuckle Trilogy Suite, but I want to keep this guitar all Seymour Duncan.

I mainly use a Splawn Quick Rod 100 and an ENGL Artist Edition 100 Blackout.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The Custom 5 is brighter than the JB.

I don't find the JB to have a lot of high-end, personally, but if you still find it problematic, what I would suggest is maybe using 250K pots to smooth it out a little. Or change the magnet to A2 if you already have the JB.

Or maybe look into the RTM if you like Warren DeMartini's tone. And Quarter Pounds. He uses those as well, I think.

 

[MrFlexx]

The Custom 5 is brighter than the JB.

I don't find the JB to have a lot of high-end, personally, but if you still find it problematic, what I would suggest is maybe changing the magnet in the JB to A2 to smooth it out a little if you already have the JB. Or 250K pots rather than 500.

Or maybe look into the RTM if you like Warren DeMartini's tone. And Quarter Pounds. He uses those as well, I think.

Oh, so it's actually brighter!? Is it also harsher? It's the harsh I don't want and from what I've read the highs are smoother sounding, but I actually don't know as I've never tried one out.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Oh, so it's actually brighter!? Is it also harsher? It's the harsh I don't want and from what I've read the highs are smoother sounding, but I actually don't know as I've never tried one out.

To me, it is brighter and more attacky. So yes, I suppose. But it's also not as focused in the high mids as the JB, so maybe that's what's coming across as harsh to you from the JB. Personally, I don't find either harsh, but I do prefer the JB. If anything, I find the JB the smoother of the two.

Some people here like the JB with 250K pots. I think you'll like it if you generally like the JB, but just want to smooth it out some. The Custom 5 is a very different tone profile, so I don't find it to be "like a JB but smoother" whatsoever, if that's what you're looking for.

Maybe even consider the DiMarzio Tone Zone or Breed too.

 

[MrFlexx]

To me, it is brighter and more attacky. So yes, I suppose. But it's also not as focused in the high mids as the JB, so maybe that's what's coming across as harsh to you from the JB. Personally, I don't find either harsh, but I do prefer the JB. If anything, I find the JB the smoother of the two.

Some people here like the JB with 250K pots. I think you'll like it if you generally like the JB, but just want to smooth it out some. The Custom 5 is a very different tone profile, so I don't find it to be "like a JB but smoother" whatsoever, if that's what you're looking for.

Maybe even consider the DiMarzio Tone Zone or Breed too.

I did consider a Holy Diver, but with taxes and import it would cost as much as a full HSS set of Duncans. Maybe I should try the 250K just to see how I like it

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I did consider a Holy Diver, but with taxes and import it would cost as much as a full HSS set of Duncans. Maybe I should try the 250K just to see how I like it

Yeah, I get ya. Ordering a BKP off the UK here costs about as much as ordering a Custom Shop Duncan.

 

[freefrog]

I really like the JB and already have it in multiple guitars. However, sometimes I find the top end a bit too harsh or ice-picky, especially on the high strings. Is there a good way to smooth it out without losing the JB character?

To repeat my usual stance in such cases: the sound of any passive pickup is largely defined by external factors.

*Differences due to pot values:

*Differences due to cable capacitance (itself due to the length of wire between pickup and the first buffered input):

*Simple trick to emulate cable length / capacitance (thanks to a small cap from hot to ground; I apply this solution for decades):

*Simple way to change the resistance of pots thanks to parallel resistors (see the section named FAKING OUT YOUR SINGLE COILS WITH RESISTORS: it simplifies what I've explained in a recent topic and that I've often applied too):

How To Use Resistors In A Guitar & Cool Tricks | Fralin Pickups

Resistors are basic components that add a lot of versatility to your guitar. Using Resistors in a guitar can add a whole new layer of tone.

www.fralinpickups.com

There are other solutions, a bit more tricky like swapping magnets or rewiring the pickup differently (for example, by permutating the start and finish wires of coils: red to ground, white to hot, green and black connected to each other. The pickup will still be a normal humbucker but should filter differently high harmonics, for the better or for worse, depending on the gear involved).

Non limitative list. There are many ways to "tune" the tone of passive transducers. FWIW.

 

[marcello252]

Being myself a fan of the JB with 250K, I'd try this first, this would also make easier to pair single coil pickups in the same guitar

 

[hamerfan]

The answer lies in your question:
Look into the RTM pickup (Warren DeMartini Sig pickup, a JB type with an A2 magnet) or a JB with a swapped in A2.

 

[MrFlexx]

ok...I think I'll get the JB and will try the various things you guys suggesting. When it comes to the single coils I've been looking at Seymour Duncan STK-S6 Custom Stack Plus. What's your input about those?

 

[jeremy]

if you are using 500k pots i think the stks6 is a fine choice, with 250k pots i might find them a bit dark, but it might work for you. i like the ssl6 with humbuckers (with 500k pots) and this is the stack version which is very similar

 

[MrFlexx]

if you are using 500k pots i think the stks6 is a fine choice, with 250k pots i might find them a bit dark, but it might work for you. i like the ssl6 with humbuckers (with 500k pots) and this is the stack version which is very similar

How about the SSL-5?

 

[jeremy]

ssl5 and ssl6 are the same pup basically, the 5 has staggered pole pieces, the 6 has flat

 

[MrFlexx]

ssl5 and ssl6 are the same pup basically, the 5 has staggered pole pieces, the 6 has flat

ah...ok....so which ones are the best for a guitar with 12" fretboard?

 

[jeremy]

i prefer flat poles 90% of the time. if you have a 7.25" radius and/or use a wound g string, then id go staggered. though the difference isnt huge and if i had a ssl5 sitting around, id still use it on a 20" radius

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, if I have the choice, I always go with flat poles on modern guitars with modern strings.

 

[GuitarStv]

I prefer flat poles with any fretboard radius if you're using a plain rather than wound G string.