Why don't people like JB?

[brisk]

JB was my first aftermarket pickup about 10 years ago. Since then, I tried many many different pickups in bridge. APS, PG, C, CC, C5, dime and dimarzio pups. I've gone the full circuit and I am back to JB. JB always delivers in any guitar. Strat (with 250k pot), LP, V, Brian Moore, Ibanez, Charvel ... It's thick and have a great lead sound. Cleans nice, great harmonics and great distortion sound, easy for pinch harmonics, split nice. I don't know what you can ask more for a bridge pickup. Nevertheless, I hear time to time people posting disatisfaction to JB. I can see JB doesn't work for some people but I can't see JB being a bad pickup. Any thought or insight on this anyone?

 

[ranalli]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

JB is a great pickup IMO. Actually most pickups are...even Dimarzios(sorry Dimarzio haters).

However I do see why people may not like it...I found it to sound nothing short of fantastic in some guitars...and not so good in others.

I think the key to the success of pickups is mating them with the right guitar.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

And that leads us to the question that hopefully will answer all the questions..

What type of body wood?
What type of fretboard wood?
What type of tremolo?

 

[59paul]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

JB is a great pickup IMO. Actually most pickups are...even Dimarzios(sorry Dimarzio haters).

However I do see why people may not like it...I found it to sound nothing short of fantastic in some guitars...and not so good in others.

I think the key to the success of pickups is mating them with the right guitar.

Right !!!
and also, the JB needs to be matched up with a neck pickup that compliments it. The Jazz neck, for one, really seems to match up well.
I Like the JB, I think it's extremely versatile and a super pickup..........

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

Well, I don't like it simply because I don't think it fits my style of music, which is metal. I can play through it for any style all the way up to Hard Rock, it's just that when I need the tight, aggressive, bottom end, it's just not got my back. It's not that it's a poor pickup, not at all. Simply that it doesn't suit my style, not as well as other pups. I'm a picky sunnava bitch.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

The people who don't like the JB tend to complain about bright upper mids. I like the JB, and have used them off and on since they first became available. But they're a little to loud for my tastes...and those upper mids do hit my ears pretty hard sometimes. Every time I install one in a customers guitar tho, I'm always impressed with the JB...it's a classic and a great pickup. Especially if you're playing vintage style non-master volume amps and you need something to overdrive the front end of the amp a little. To me, that's what the JB does best: push a non-master volume amp into singing overdrive. Lew

 

[flank]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

well. it is seymours most popular pickup ever.......eh...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

Not good for metal? Ask Lynch or Cantrell?

My favorite Humbuckers are the Custom 5, JB, Custom, CC, and Seth/Antiquities.
I guess that's why I like Duncans...you just try your best to tailor the pickups to your guitars. It's also why pickup advise seem ridiculous. It's best to listen to your guitar, figure out what you want, ask for suggestions, then buy 3, install them, return the 2 that didn't do it. Sometimes, you don't really realize which pickup is your favorite till you hear a bunch side by side. I prefer suggestions from guys like Dr. Barlo, who've taken the time to listen to lots of A/B/C tests.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

To each their own. I prefer the meat of a Custom over the twang of the JB. But I certainly would never dismiss it as a "bad" pup.

 

[hernia]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

Well I just got a Jb Trembucker installed into my bridge of my fender deluxe fat strat and I think that with this pickup....WHAT MORE DO YOU REALLY NEED!?!? If you love to play loud distortion this pickup is for u!!! :fing25:

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

Right !!!
and also, the JB needs to be matched up with a neck pickup that compliments it. The Jazz neck, for one, really seems to match up well.
I Like the JB, I think it's extremely versatile and a super pickup..........

I agree with Rob. It does depend a lot on what axe you're putting the pickup in. Different woods in the body and neck make unique sounds when a certain pickup is used in 'em.
I'll be installing a Jazz/JB set in my Pauly here pretty soon when I get all the parts together, and I think it's going to give me pretty much exactly what I want to hear from a guitar made out of mahogany.
The type of amp you use can play a role in the difference in tone as well.
And, by the way....at last count the JB is still SD's biggest seller.
Scroll down to the Top 10 Best Sellers at this link and you'll see for yourself!
http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/news/newsletters.shtml

Rock On!!

-Bob

 

[Dime59hum]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

Hey I like it.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

I am one of those who cannot stand a JB because of its uppermids. It is loud has those uppermids that I could never like. Then I again I don't like C5's, BBQ's, MegaDrive's, etc.

But in PAFs I love A5s in the bridge.

It's all about tastes and individual differences. And I can see why many love its upfront nasal thick and screaming tone.

B

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

Count me as one who wasn't thrilled with the upper mids of the JB. However, that just means it didn't work in the guitar I tried it in. Every guitar has a different voice, combine that with the like/dislikes of the player and the amp and effects he/she plays through...and it's a wonder any of us agree on any pickup.

I think the JB would be a great pickup in certain guitars. I would also agree that for my tates that Lew's statement of the JB working well to push older non MV amps is correct. Isn't that one of the things that Seymour was trying to achieve for Mr. Beck when he wound it?

I did my recordings of Plush and Interstate Love Song with the JB in my Hardtail. I love the tone on those recordings...especially Plush. Maybe I was too hasty in my opinion on the JB...I just think I prefer others.

I ramble..... :smack:

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

I put the JB into the Bridge position of my Yamaha AES first. It was nice, but kind of generic sounding. I took it out and replaced it with a 57 classic+ and now that guitar has it's own character. I hten put it into my LP Standard and it was great, until the time came to play with the clean channel. With the JB and the Paul, I didn't have one. I replaced it with a PG and haven't looked back. I then put that same JB into my friend's alder/maple Carvin DC127 hardtail and BAM! There it was. It sounds great clean or distorted, very balanced with a very nice snap that kinda reminds me of a Tele. SPlitting this pickup only further enhaces those qualities.

The moral of the story: match the pickups to the axe. Lots of players install the JB into their axes thinking it'll automatically sound good without thinking of other factors.

That's why there are so many used JB's on ebay.

 

[7th Hell]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

JB is perhaps the best all around pup there is out there. Very musical, sweet singing response with plenty of harmonics. Not too hot output make it a great pup choice. If I had to choose only 1 pup to play on for the rest of my days, I think it'd be a JB, gosh darnit.

 

[Stratsky]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

I installed a JB bridge and Jazz neck in my CE22 last weekend. I really like the JB in this guitar. It sounds great overdriven and the Jazz neck is a good match for it. I think I'll leave this combo in. I had a set of Virtual PAF's in it and although they are good sounding pickups they lacked something in this guitar.

CE22 with JB bridge and Jazz neck

 

[Hellion]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

I think they're a really good pickup.

 

[msplines]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

I found it a little too upper mid spiky in the bridge of my LP, so, just for a laugh I installed it in the neck with a split option and I've never looked back - great pickup, but, like all 'o them, you have to move them around from guitar to guitar until you say "that's it there, that's the one"!

 

[papersoul]

Re: Why don't people like JB?

I put the JB into the Bridge position of my Yamaha AES first. It was nice, but kind of generic sounding. I took it out and replaced it with a 57 classic+ and now that guitar has it's own character. I hten put it into my LP Standard and it was great, until the time came to play with the clean channel. With the JB and the Paul, I didn't have one. I replaced it with a PG and haven't looked back. I then put that same JB into my friend's alder/maple Carvin DC127 hardtail and BAM! There it was. It sounds great clean or distorted, very balanced with a very nice snap that kinda reminds me of a Tele. SPlitting this pickup only further enhaces those qualities.

The moral of the story: match the pickups to the axe. Lots of players install the JB into their axes thinking it'll automatically sound good without thinking of other factors.

That's why there are so many used JB's on ebay.

That's exactly why i like to buy a guitar that sounds good stock......no p'up swapping hassles. I have come to that realization over the recent months and years of swapping hell.