Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

Steve R.

New member
Titles says it all... Curious if the JB would be considered a bit gritty and fizzy compared to other pickups.

Also, if I wanted something a bit smoother with lower output what would you suggest? (Alder superstrat with Floyd.) I was wondering about '59/Custom Trembucker, but I don't hear much about it. Would it work well with a Cool Rails neck? Would the '59/Custom be less scooped compared to the Custom 5?

Cheers.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

59/c hybrid is less scooped than a C5 but it sounds to me like you want a Custom Custom. I wouldn't call the JB "fizzy" at least not as much as something like the Distortion or Dimebucker, which are hotter pickups than the JB.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

It depends on the wood of the guitar. Perhaps in your guitar it might. For a comparison point, I recently had a production JB in the bridge of my SG (solid mahogany) and it wasn't fizzy or gritty. The highest top end was smoothed off a bit. Didn't have a lot of deep bass either. It had strong mids, but didn't have a tight chunk/bite to it as compared to a '59 or even the stock Gibsons that were in it when I bought it.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

Try putting a UOA5 in it. It opens it up a bit and shaves the top end.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

Thanks, guys. I'm not actually sure fizzy is the best word... I hear the top end is rolled off a bit, but there seems to be a certain grainy or gritty quality that is there in the uppermost mids. It's too aggressive for the style music I'm playing lately.

I haven't really considered the CC as a bridge pickup because of the lack of low end. (Although, I haven't tried one in ages.) This is a fairly bright guitar without much bottom end and I suspect it needs a meaty (but not muddy) sounding pickup to keep things from sounding too thin.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

Or an A4? Could also give the full shred a shot, or if that is too hot, the WLH or the Perpetual Burn.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

The Jb is not fizzy. It is present, punchy and harmonically rich. Amps and pedals can be fizzy.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

Or just try a roughcast A5. It smooths out that part that you think of as fizzy. Though I really like what the UOA5 does to the JB. Lots more bloom from the notes.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

I would describe it as nasally in the upper mids. or honky. But not fizzy
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

Can't stand the JB, too much midrange, the "lower output" pickup you're describing sounds like a SH-5.
 
Re: Would you consider the JB to be a bit fizzy?

I have a TB-4 in an ASAT Deluxe, maple over mahogany, 250 k pots. No fizz; just focused mid-range...a great tone for rock solos. No twang, unlike a Gibson BB2. Splits well, a usable single coil tone. Bass is not boomy. Blends well with the '59N.

I think the pots make a huge difference with these pickups.

Bill
 
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