Why is the JB/59 so popular?

[TimmyPage]

I know they sell the JB/Jazz as the 'Hotrodded' set, and they seem to be the big set suggested by Seymour and his company, but as I was looking through youtube demos today and also looking at what various manufacturers put in their guitars, I see that the JB/59 seems a lot more popular. Is it just that the 59 is better suited to the JB, or is it a matter of the perceived tone of the 59 being 'better' (in a subjective fashion).

 

[SFW]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

Some people just prefer the tone of the 59n. I'm one of those people. I like the Jazz neck, but the 59 is my perfect neck pickup.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

Those three have easily processed tones for recording and live situations for most rock-guitar-oriented situations. They don't have wild spikes in opposite directions which give amps and sound engineers fits. As such, they lend themselves to tone-shaping EQ and can work for most every style of music depending more on the amp and effects/outboard gear that is applied.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

Because it works. I mean that in all seriousness, and respectfully. It just works. I can't bring myself to swap out the '59/JB in my ESP EC-1000QM. Why? Because it just freaking works! This is why it's my backup guitar: when all else fails, this just works. It's perfect for almost everything I need to do, and while it may not be ultra-death-metal-omg-awesome, it can do metallica convincingly enough for me. And the '59 can do sweet cleans. And the JB does what it does best: cuts through. It's just as versatile as the Jazz/JB combo.

Now I love me the Jazz/FS combo in my Showmaster HH, but trust me, that guitar seriously needed a realistic useful pickup combination. If Fender had put the FS combo in it (FSn and FSb), it would've done far better. And, to appease the metal-heads, a floyd rose, maybe would've done better on the market. I love the loud but clear sound. But every once in a while I go back to the '59/JB.

In my opinion everyone who starts with Seymour Duncan ought to rent a '59/JB guitar for a month just to get their feel for where to begin on their tone quest, but I'm also one of those weirdos that only plays SD pickups

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

I'm one of those that personally doesn't understand the popularity of the JB/59. Yes, it works in some guitars and for some types of sounds, but, IMHO the JB has a very unique tone to it. It should therefore only be popular to those players who want that specific tone. Oh well, I guess there are more of those players than I can imagine.

 

[Brian Griffin]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

In the spirit of all that work for just about any ear of every living soul, we have the Seymour Duncan JB/59 and the EMG 81/85. Now what would be the DiMarzio equivalent?

 

[synzzzer]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

In the spirit of all that work for just about any ear of every living soul, we have the Seymour Duncan JB/59 and the EMG 81/85. Now what would be the DiMarzio equivalent?

Dimarzio usually combines the Super Distortion in the bridge and the 36th Ann. PAF in the neck.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

The '59 and JB are two Seymour Duncan pickup models of which the majority of people will have heard. Unlike, say, the Distortion model, there is no possibility of confusing these model names with anything vaguely similar from another manufacturer.

This recognition factor helps to sell non-American guitars. It also gives owners something they can brag about in the certain knowledge that other guitarists will understand the bragging.

Some teenager, telling other teenagers about a Fuglybucker or an S-Deco, is just going to draw blank looks.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

I also ordered and installed/use the Concept Set....similar, and have that set waiting to be installed too. In my opinion, people prefer for both recording and live and to me they create a great vintage sound. I haven't experienced great fluctuation even during high gain and volume. They've worked very well for me and others in my band in many settings and for rock, jazz and R&B. My Concept Set is in a rosewood tele........will use the JB/Jazz set for a strat if not used first in a Warmoth Les Paul-like build I'm working on. Nothing's for sure and everyone has their preferred sound, but my bet is you will enjoy any of the combinations above. Good luck!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

I also ordered and installed/use the Concept Set....similar, and have that set waiting to be installed too. In my opinion, people prefer for both recording and live and to me they create a great vintage sound. I haven't experienced great fluctuation even during high gain and volume. They've worked very well for me and others in my band in many settings and for rock, jazz and R&B. My Concept Set is in a rosewood tele........will use the JB/Jazz set for a strat if not used first in a Warmoth Les Paul-like build I'm working on. Nothing's for sure and everyone has their preferred sound, but my bet is you will enjoy any of the combinations above. Good luck!

can you speak to the differences between the production set and the concept set?

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

Before Seymour started selling the JB JAZZ as a set, in one box (i.e/ The hot Rodded Humbucker set). The 59 way way more popular to match with the JB, or any other Duncan pickup. IMO this was because of the names 59 sounds nice and cool, it instantly tells you what it is, a PAF. The name Jazz was a turn of, and it still is. Many did not want to install it, me too included, and I tell you if it was not for this forum, I would have installed the 59 with my JB, and never even bothered to try the JAZZ. Even though the description clearly said it was great match to the JB, and was Seymours fav combo..
If you look at much older threads (say as early as 2004)-before the Hot Rodded set was introduced. There are a lot comments stating that the JAZZ is underrated. Introducing the Hot Rodded set has opened guitarist to the JAZZ much more IMO. Also a lot of manufacturers paired the JB with the 59 a lot. For exapmle I remember all Jackson that had the JB in the bridge were paired with the 59.
The 59 works very well too with the JB, but IMO the Jazz is definitely a better match.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

In the spirit of all that work for just about any ear of every living soul, we have the Seymour Duncan JB/59 and the EMG 81/85. Now what would be the DiMarzio equivalent?

I think the ideal all around Dimarzio set is Super Distortion/PAF Pro. I probably would not have chosen the JB/'59 combo had it not come with my Charvel San Dimas Style 1, but there is no need to replace it AFAIK, it works for what I wanted for that guitar!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

Before Seymour started selling the JB JAZZ as a set, in one box (i.e/ The hot Rodded Humbucker set). The 59 way way more popular to match with the JB, or any other Duncan pickup. IMO this was because of the names 59 sounds nice and cool, it instantly tells you what it is, a PAF. The name Jazz was a turn of, and it still is. Many did not want to install it, me too included, and I tell you if it was not for this forum, I would have installed the 59 with my JB, and never even bothered to try the JAZZ. Even though the description clearly said it was great match to the JB, and was Seymours fav combo..
If you look at much older threads (say as early as 2004)-before the Hot Rodded set was introduced. There are a lot comments stating that the JAZZ is underrated. Introducing the Hot Rodded set has opened guitarist to the JAZZ much more IMO. Also a lot of manufacturers paired the JB with the 59 a lot. For exapmle I remember all Jackson that had the JB in the bridge were paired with the 59.
The 59 works very well too with the JB, but IMO the Jazz is definitely a better match.

As I understand it, Randy Rhoads' black Jackson (not sure of the Concorde) was built with a Jazz in the neck, so at least someone knew how good it was way back when.

As well, most of the early San Dimas Rhoadses were built with Distortion/Jazz sets. The Original 1990 USA and Professional series RRs also came with the DD/JZ combo. It was not until they changed to the USA Select line (RR1 designation, etc) that they put JBs in them. I do think they still come with a Jazz neck.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

I think because its a combo that works well for a variety of types of music and sounds very good in general. Opinions vary, and we're all freaks about tweaking pick ups and tone. But I think we're the exception, and the vast majority of players who get a guitar loaded with a JB/59 would just leave it alone. (And I don't blame them!)

 

[JeffB]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

No clue. I it is a horrendous EQ mismatch. Dial in enough lows for your bridge at the amp, and the 59 woof is out of control. Same goes for the midrange, dial it backto avoid overkill mids from the JB and the 59 is so scooped and icepicky it sounds like garbage. Jazz is a much better match for the JB.

IMO, the pairing is all about marketing...jazz will never sell as well as 59 will, and guitar manufacturers know it.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

No clue. I it is a horrendous EQ mismatch. Dial in enough lows for your bridge at the amp, and the 59 woof is out of control. Same goes for the midrange, dial it backto avoid overkill mids from the JB and the 59 is so scooped and icepicky it sounds like garbage. Jazz is a much better match for the JB.

IMO, the pairing is all about marketing...jazz will never sell as well as 59 will, and guitar manufacturers know it.

I just go the other direction when it comes to EQ. At all 5's the '59, to me, is perfect. Then the JB, when I need it, is a kick in the teeth. But that being said, the JB isn't necessarily the best suited for cleans, so yeah, my method is a bit lacking in versatility, to an extent.

Still, to my ears, the Jazz has almost too much bass. On the one in my Schecter C-1 Classic, I had to back the low string side of the Jazz away in order for it to balance out. On my Showmaster I have to back the pickup the max recommended distance away from the strings and then raise the treble side until it works for me (but that's when using it with the Full Shred).

 

[epi]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

I don't know why, I honestly don't like either pickup I am more of a Jazz/Invader or Blackouts for 6 string and for 7 string I like Sentient/Pegasus (not to much of a fan of the Pegasus might switch to BKPs)

 

[gtrgrl]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

I love the JB and 59 combination in my ESP/LTD EC-1000

I have a Jazz neck in my other guitar. I really like both sounds. The 59 and the Jazz are different but both cool.

The 59 just sounds like rock to me. That's good because it's in my rock guitar! :wink:

I do notice that I play more effects on the guitar that has the Jazz neck usually, than the 59, kinda like DrNewcenstein said above. The Jazz is just a cool even modern sound to me. I like the clean sounds and delay or chorus with that more than the 59. That just might be the guitar it is in.

I play a Marshall DSL401, and I don't notice any boom or mud in the neck, and switch back and forth between the pickups. I also like the JB and the 59 together in the middle position. It's a really full sound on my EC-1000 and great for dirty rhythm.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Why is the JB/59 so popular?

I can't pick a favorite. Too many styles of music, too many sounds. They are all good!