Why does everyone hate the JB ?

[Bombay]

So after going through the Duncan forum I've noticed that people have a hatred for the JB. What's the story ? I know that in certain guitars the PU works and in some it sounds like ****.

What's the overall take on the JB ? Why do guys hate it so much ? Also, what guitars have you put it in ? And let me ask this - what is the alternative ?

Personally, I'm looking for something with some decent output, that is evenly balanced EQ wise and that is toneful - not just brash and loud or scooped sounding.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

I don't

 

[joelap]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

I think this might have to do with theOdie's (I think?) "Friends Dont let friends play a JB" thing. I think that was a joke if it was

I love the JB.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

The mids are too obnoxious for me!

 

[italic zero]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

It's too harsh for me, but if you want an aggressive, cutting sound it's great. Somehow it's also still quite versitile. The voicing just isn't quite to my taste.

 

[Faraday]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

The hi-mid spike

 

[Imp]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

i love the JB. it's a very effective pup for a twin-guitar band, and it has a lovely aggressive voice for strong rhythmic phrasing.. it's great for blues and heavier, whilst having awesome cleans..

the downside? it won't do sicker-than-sick satan-sneezing distortion.. neither will the twangbanger, or the jazz bridge.. not much else to say IMO

tom

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

It's Duncan's #1 selling bridge humbucker...lot's of players love it and lot's of great, great players (like Seymour, Jeff Beck, Robben Ford and George Lynch) have made great recordings with it.

Many of those who don't care for it are, IMO, players who tend to play alone or at home sitting to close to thier speakers.

I've found that I like the JB when I use it with with a band but that when I play it at home by myself that midrange spike that allows the JB to cut through so beautifully with a band sounds a bit to agressive.

So I think the JB is great in a band setting but I can't quite get comfortable with it when I'm rocking out by myself...and rocking out alone is the way I suspect most of us play most of the time.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

It's great for 80's crunch and searing leads. I agree with Imp that a dual guitar band would sound good with a Custom and a JB. In my case it's a good specialty pickup, I like the Custom for my main sound, I need a guitar to put the JB in for the few times I want it.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

Too much of a high mid spike, not a tight enough or big enough low end, not punchy or aggressive enough, and too bright.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

Trust me. Not everybody hates the JB. In fact, it's the biggest selling after-market and OEM pickup in the history of the known universe.

But that doesn't mean it's everyone's cup o' tea. That's why we make 108 different families of pickups: the JB being just one of them.

 

[TENAX]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

having played the the famed jb/jazz combination all weekend, i can see why that combo was a popular one for seymour..i get a pretty fat smooth sound from the jazz to compliment the jb's higher highs and mids in my les paul. i think between the 2, it's a very versatile combination of sounds available for my purposes. i'm not done playing with different combos, but if i had to stay with this, i don't think i'd be unhappy.

 

[DracoAran]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

I love it on hefty Les Pauls or Explorers with rosewood fretboards. I hate it on Strats, super strats and light set necks.

But I guess that makes me a bedroom player right?.

 

[neosadist]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

If you look at the Jazz/JB combo and the styles that the pickups are meant for, it seems that Seymour seems to think that for clean and jazz, switch to neck, for middle ground between clean and metal switch to middle, and for heavy stuff switch to bridge. At least that's how it looks to me. The JB, like the others said, if you listen to it, seems to be for cutting through in a band environment. When I get mine installed I'll let you know how it works out for church music

 

[TENAX]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

If you look at the Jazz/JB combo and the styles that the pickups are meant for, it seems that Seymour seems to think that for clean and jazz, switch to neck, for middle ground between clean and metal switch to middle, and for heavy stuff switch to bridge. At least that's how it looks to me.

i'd agree with that, neo.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

I hate it in anything resembling a Gibson. In a fender style axe, though, it's pretty cool.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

I'm always surprised to see anything negative written about the JB or 59 neck.
People say the JB has an upper mid spike, but guess what?? That's the same frequency band that a mixing engineer usually bumps up to make a guitar track pop out of the mix better. That's why Lew's assessment about it being better in a band mix than playing alone is pretty accurate.

I've noticed a few negative comments about 59 necks too. I guess I don't hear the bassiness everyone describes, because THAT'S the whole reason the pickup sounds good, because it's fat enough to make single note solos sound big and round.

I don't have much criticism for most pickups in the line, because like Evan said, there's enough of them to satisfy any type of player.
If I have any complaints, it's that guitar stores carry a handful of the most popular ones, but don't even scrape the surface of the product line.
I've not once seen Surfers, Custom 5, Tele Hots, 5/2's, or even Seths in stores, and those are some of the best Duncan pickups.

 

[59 Fan]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

For me it just isn't as flexible as some other choices. Lots depends on the player and the equipment he uses. For what I use the JB isn't a good choice, but know lots of great players with great tone that use them. We stick with what works best for us as individuals.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

I dig the JB. In a quality guitar goin through a nice tube amp, it'll sound like god. In a ****ty guitar goin through a bottom line crate combo with a boss metal zone, it'll sound like ass on a stick.

Course, its not everybody's cup of tea...but it perfectly compliments my EBMM and my KRANK

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Why does everyone hate the JB ?

I had a JB in my LP for a while. It did cut thru in a live situation and harmonices seem to jump out with ease. But That All I liked about it. On the down side I found it very harsh especaily playing clean and Waaay to bright. I'm more of a A2 guy. I prefer the CC over the JB. I own a lot of Duncan PuPs.
The only one I own with a A5 mag is my 59's. If I still had the JB ,I'd try swapping the mag to a A2. I might like it then? IDUNNO.