What pickup if JB doesn't sound good?

[CarlosG]

Hi!
I love JB. But my 1991 mexico strat (poplar body, maple neck with thin rosewood fretboard and stainless steel frets) doesn't like JB.
My steinberger spirit (probably basswood body, maple neck, composite fretboard) sound great with JB.
But JB with my strat has ugly top end, too bright, glassy and at the same time it is muddy in the bass.
What is the cure for such a case?
250k doesn't work, it only tames the high tones, but the muddy bass remains.
I was thinking about JB2. I heard in demos that it softens the treble and bass a bit.
I have a dimarzio FS-1 middle and a 59 neck which I like.

 

[jeffb1979]

I'm NOT any sort of expert, but having recently taken a couple of these apart, one from a band new guitar, and another of unknown age but probably within the last 10-20 years. The newer one has a bare lead soldered directly on the wires from one coil to the other, the older one does not. The JB in my RR24 is beefier than the ones in my pro plus dinkys I just purchased which all sounded identical until I modified the pickups and changed strings/tunings. I haven't tried to figure out why. Factory variation? One off that has a difference in wind that got out the door? It's impossible for any factory to be 100%, 100% of the time. Perhaps it's the capacitor ?

 

[AdrianSD]

Even after playing with the pickup height you still don't like it? I have 2 JBs with Alnico 8 mags and one stock, all sound great. Custom Custom might work for that Strat, who knows

 

[CarlosG]

Even after playing with the pickup height you still don't like it? I have 2 JBs with Alnico 8 mags and one stock, all sound great. Custom Custom might work for that Strat, who knows

I don't like A8.In any humbucker it made the sound very compressed. Custom Custom is a nice option. I'm a bit worried about the loose bass, but from what I've seen Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge) uses it and they play heavy metal, so it must be good.

 

[Mincer]

I never thought the JB2 was that big of a difference. Everything I don't like about the JB is still there. It just might not work in that guitar.

 

[beaubrummels]

JB2 or Custom Custom would probably solve it. JB2 sounds like a really loud Whole Lotta Humbucker, like a JB with the tone rolled off a quarter turn. For tighter bass, though, that usually require ceramic, but that would make it even brighter. Maybe a Whole Lotta Humbucker would work, since it's roughcast and softer on the top, but it's A5 which might give some tightness to the bass?

 

[Masta' C]

JB's aren't a fit for every guitar. Every once in a while, it manages to find a guitar it simply doesn't gel with. That said, you can usually dial them in with height adjustments and tweaks to the individual pole pieces.

I would try lowering the entire bass side of the pickup and then raising the pole pieces under the lower strings a couple turns. Should reduce the muddiness and give you a little more clarity on those strings.

Side Note: An A2 mag isn't really going to get you the tighter bottom end you're after.

I think the Perpetual Burn might be something you should look at if you decide to replace the JB entirely.

 

[zionstrat]

Second on custom custom although there's lots of other pups that can fit the bill..

JB's are absolutely incredible until they don't work in specific guitars.

 

[Top-L]

Have you ever tried a Dimarzio Tone Zone? That is the generic medium high output pickup they put in many of the Ibanez guitars, including J-custom. It has a big bass response. Someone said it is Dimarzios answer to the JB, and of course Dimarzio pickups tend to have more low end.

 

[ICTGoober]

When all else fails - a Bill Lawrence will make you happy.

 

[jeremy]

ehhh... i dont know if thats true. though he made great pups

 

[GuitarStv]

Have you ever tried a Dimarzio Tone Zone? That is the generic medium high output pickup they put in many of the Ibanez guitars, including J-custom. It has a big bass response. Someone said it is Dimarzios answer to the JB, and of course Dimarzio pickups tend to have more low end.

The Tone Zone is a great pickup if you want something that's not too bright in the bridge.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm thinking Suhr Aldrich might be worth taking a look at as well.

 

[AdrianSD]

The Tone Zone is a great pickup if you want something that's not too bright in the bridge.

I have a Super distortion in the bridge of my Jackson DK2, had in the RG550 before. Compared to the other bridge pups, all Duncans, it's rather loose, it has a big bottom and low mids. Still, very defined and sweet sounding, great for single note leads but not so great for tight and fast riffs. I also played a Tone Zone once which felt darker than the Super distortion, was just alright. Maybe I just lean more towards Duncan bridge pickups?

 

[GuitarStv]

I have a Super distortion in the bridge of my Jackson DK2, had in the RG550 before. Compared to the other bridge pups, all Duncans, it's rather loose, it has a big bottom and low mids. Still, very defined and sweet sounding, great for single note leads but not so great for tight and fast riffs. I also played a Tone Zone once which felt darker than the Super distortion, was just alright. Maybe I just lean more towards Duncan bridge pickups?

For sure, the Tone Zone isn't a bright pickup and has lots of low mids. I found that it worked better with a 1 meg tone control, and that it was extremely sensitive to position from the strings. I was mostly using it for single note lines, and thought it was pretty great for that purpose but didn't have any problems riffing with it. Most of the SD pickups I've tried have more of a sharpness or edge to them that the TZ definitely didn't, so it might just be that you like that articulation better.

 

[marcello252]

if you find the JB muddy on bass I strongly not recommend an A2 magnet, I'd say stay with a ceramic (a Custom or a Super distortion for example) or an overwound A5 PAF

 

[Top-L]

Most of the SD pickups I've tried have more of a sharpness or edge to them that the TZ definitely didn't, so it might just be that you like that articulation better.

That pretty much sums up SD vs Dimarzio.

If looking for more brightness from Dimarzios: Fred, PAF Pro, Evolution.

I thought the TZ was too thick 20 years ago, but I might love it now.

I really appreciate the D-Sonic / Crunch lab style pickups. They have strong bass representation so single notes sound thick. The SD Full Shred for instance is vry articulate but sounds harsh and a bit thin in comparison.

 

[AdrianSD]

For sure, the Tone Zone isn't a bright pickup and has lots of low mids. I found that it worked better with a 1 meg tone control, and that it was extremely sensitive to position from the strings. I was mostly using it for single note lines, and thought it was pretty great for that purpose but didn't have any problems riffing with it. Most of the SD pickups I've tried have more of a sharpness or edge to them that the TZ definitely didn't, so it might just be that you like that articulation better.

I think you're right, my signal chain is clearly eq-ed for Duncans.