What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

[metalvocalist]

I'm replacing my pickups in my PRS SE Custom, I'm going to replace the bridge pickup for now. I acquired a SH-8 Invader installed it and didn't like it.
I have always liked the JB, but i want something with a little higher output.
so I was thinking on getting SH-6 Duncan Distortion...
I read a few reviews saying to use 250k pots for the JB and 500k pots for the SH-8 or SH-6.
What should I do?

 

[kaligula11]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

Yes, JB is often used with 250k pots and I admit it's reasonable. I changed the pots from 500k to 250k and it's much better now. Some say that to make a 500k sound like a 250k you just have to turn the tone knob down. I was doing so but anyway I decided to change them to 250. Now with 250k pots I like my sound much more. Not so long ago there was a thread here on humbuckers with 250k pots, you might find some useful info there.

 

[metalvocalist]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I just want some mean output, I play Metal, chunky and heavy but melodic and progressive as well.
I like the sound of coil pickups the best, I don't want to go to active pickups.
I think I will get the SH-6 for my bridge along with 500k pots so I have the full output and see how that turns out.
Here is my tuning/setup:
-Drop-C
-D A F C G C
.11 .15 .18 .28 .42 .54

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

Try both and see what you like.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I use 500k pots on every humbucker. If I want less highs I can turn teh knob or roll them off on the amp.

 

[blueman335]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I changed the pots from 500k to 250k and it's much better now...Now with 250k pots I like my sound much more. Not so long ago there was a thread here on humbuckers with 250k pots, you might find some useful info there.

+1. For me it's ridiculous to put 500K pots on a JB. The PU wasn't designed for that; it's bright to begin with. Having the additional treble of 500K's on top of that is an exercise in pointlessness. The JB really needs warmth to make it useable for a lot of players. For some guys 250K pots aren't enough, and they put in a warmer magnet, like an A2 or A8.

 

[metlking]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I have an SH-6 in both my PRS McCartys. I love that pickup! I'm using the stock pots (500K) I also use the SH-6 in my Les Pauls and my Explorer. Did I mention I love that pickup? I recomend it for the style you're looking for.......in my opinion.

I use 500k pots on every humbucker. If I want less highs I can turn teh knob or roll them off on the amp.

+1

 

[metalvocalist]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

Thanks alot for your help guys. I just want the full output of my pickups.
I think I will change out my stock pots and get the Sh-6 for my bridge and the Sh-2 jazz for my neck.

One question though: from what I've read so far 500k pots basically give you more overall highs, but does it give you more output for your high output pickup?

 

[B2D]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I have a JB in a basswood electric and it's about as bright as I'd like to go with a 250k. I'm afraid it might be piercing with a 500K pot.

I recently went from 250K pots (volume and tone) to a single 500K volume pot in my Music Man (Dimarzio FRED/PAF Pro) and I got more highs overall but also more output and tighter bass.

 

[metalvocalist]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

Ok, so I was thinking on getting a SH-6 Duncan Distortion for my bridge, but after some more research I think I'm gonna go with the SH-4 JB.
I was gonna change out my stock pots to 500k for the Sh-6, but I think going with The JB I might not need to change the pots.
Does anyone know what kind of output pots are in a PRS SE Custom, if not how do I find out?

 

[TSE]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

300K might be more middle of the road. I recently switched from 500k in my volume pot with the JB and it is more usable in my opinion. I put a thread on this earlier.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I've said it before, I'll say it again: For any high output boosted treble pup (distortion, JB, whatever...)

I like stock Gibson 300k in the bridge. Otherwise 500k, and always 500k in the neck.

I'm a Les Paul player...

 

[metalvocalist]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

Alright this is going to be my last message on this inquiry.
So I opened up the back panel on my guitar and looked at the pots and they are 500k Alpha's. So now I don't think I should put in a JB because it might be to bright on the highs, unless I change to 250k pots. I like the JB, but I think I want a little more output and chunkiness and I should just go with the Duncan Distortion.
So since I have 500k's in my guitar already they should be good for the SH-6.
I'm just stuck, I know I like the JB and from what I've heard the SH-6 is similar but with more output for distortion. I know I don't like the Invader, I installed one in my bridge a while ago and put the stock pickup back in because I didn't like it. It didn't even sound that chunky, the highs sucked, and it was too muddy.
I just don't want to buy SH-6 and it not be what it's all cracked up to be, help me decide.....

I play Metal, I do play some clean for intros and some breaks, but for the most part I'm going balls out distortion. I just like my distortion cutting by chunky too, I don't play with my gain full blast, just enough to be clear, sharp and chunky.

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I play Metal, I do play some clean for intros and some breaks, but for the most part I'm going balls out distortion. I just like my distortion cutting by chunky too, I don't play with my gain full blast, just enough to be clear, sharp and chunky.

go for the Distortion.

to answer your earlier question, the potentiometer will not change the overall output of the pickup very much - you won't be making the pickup sound weaker or less "hot." The SH6 with a 250K will be just as loud as with a 500K. I'd leave the 500Ks in for now and see what happens.

buy the way, the JB and Distortion use the same coils. The difference is that the JB uses a regular alnico 5 magnet and the Distortion uses a thicker ceramic magnet. you could buy a JB, and if its not quite right for you, swap in a regular ceramic mag, and it would sound nearly identical to the Distortion. not everyone wants to deal with swapping magnets but there's no soldering involved and they cost $5 each.

 

[DonP]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

You can try the JB with the pots rolled down a little. 250K pots just kill more of the output than 500K's (and mostly the highs). For maximum output, you would not use a pot (wire the pickup straight to the output jack).

 

[metalvocalist]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I'm gonna get the JB and the 59n, should I change out both my volume and tone pots to 250k? they are 1 500k vol and 1 500k tone alpha's right now.
I know I like the JB, and it seems like the 59n would be better for the solos that I do, rather than the jazz. The over all clean and distortion clarity I think will be better than the Distortion set. I had a seven string that I just sold a few months ago that had the JB-59n set in it and I like that setup.
So I think I can just replace my tone and a vol pots to 250k and I should be all set to install the JB and the 59n.
I swear this is the last post about this, lol Thanks

 

[Hecubus]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

You do not want to use the 59n with a 250K pot. Go with the 500K. If it is too much on the JB, turn it down. If you are worried about losing something when turning down the pot, there is a treble bleed mod that involved soldering a resister to the pot. I don't know the details, but a search should provide you with what you need. Good luck.

 

[metalvocalist]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I have 500k's in there already, should I just use a 250k in the volume pot and keep the tone 500 or vise versa?
I don't wanna just turn it down because I always play at full blast, I don't want to always have to adjust my volume to where I want to be at.
I have 1 vol pot and 1 tone pot, they are 500k stock right now...
should I just install the JB and the 59n and see how it sounds or should I change my pots?, that's all I want to know.

-------------------------------------------------
PRS SE Custom-
D A F C G C
.11 .15 .18 .28 .42 .54

Line 6 HD-147 threw Ampeg Cab with Celestions / 5150 MK II sound setting

 

[Thurisaz]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

I say keep them 500k because of the Drop D a step down tuning you use. Just my 2 cents.

 

[metalmachine]

Re: What kind of pots for JB or SH-6b?

i like the alternative 8 for what you play, distortion is my next choice