Differences btwn JB and Aldrich

  • Thread starter Thread starter Beyond Black
  • Start date Start date
Beyond Black

Beyond Black

Well-known member
What are the tonal differences of a JB and a Suhr Aldrich? Ive got a JB in my Lester and I'm looking for something a little darker and warmer but still hot. Any suggestions? :confused:
 
The JB sounds more sterile to my ears. The Aldrich cleans up better. Between the two, the JB probably does the Megadeth type riffs better but the Aldrich can do metal. Hard to explain. Both pickups have their own voicing of course but they sound similar in some ways, different in other ways.
 
i played a suhr modern limited last week with the aldrich pups...i wasn't impressed with them..
sounded weak to my ears. the guitar on the other hand was awesome. :)
 
I'm not a big JB fan. Tonally, I find the Aldrich is tighter & much clearer. The highs are smoother & less squawky. They have a little more bounce to their feel/dynamics too. I also find they sound & feel more open. I believe Nick has a clip somewhere on here with an Aldrich-->LP-->Cameron. Probably worth tracking down.
 
fearhk213":1rt70dgq said:
I'm not a big JB fan. Tonally, I find the Aldrich is tighter & much clearer. The highs are smoother & less squawky. They have a little more bounce to their feel/dynamics too. I also find they sound & feel more open. I believe Nick has a clip somewhere on here with an Aldrich-->LP-->Cameron. Probably worth tracking down.
Click to expand...
I find the same thing yet I WAS a JB fan.The only thing I didn't like about the JB was the mid honk.I think the mids on the Aldrich are right in the ballpark and so far it has sounded great in every guitar I've put it in.I do also agree that the Aldrich cleans up nicely with the volume knob.I honestly wish those guys would do another pickup shootout with Superstrats this time instead of Les Pauls.I honestly believe that even though the pickup was designed with Doug's LP's in mind,they are better suited to strat style guitars and the Aldrich would be higher in the standings this time around.
 
projectx102":11bqlv99 said:
I find the same thing yet I WAS a JB fan.The only thing I didn't like about the JB was the mid honk.I think the mids on the Aldrich are right in the ballpark and so far it has sounded great in every guitar I've put it in.I do also agree that the Aldrich cleans up nicely with the volume knob.I honestly wish those guys would do another pickup shootout with Superstrats this time instead of Les Pauls.I honestly believe that even though the pickup was designed with Doug's LP's in mind,they are better suited to strat style guitars and the Aldrich would be higher in the standings this time around.
Click to expand...

I have never tried a JB in a les Paul, but I have had 3 JB pickups and they all sounded different. My favorite was an older JB standard spacing I had in a fat strat. It had lots of mids, but was pretty sweet and fat sounding. I replaced with with a trem spaced JB and that one sounded thin and washed out. I now have an Anderson H2+ in that guitar.

2 of my Les Pauls have Aldrich pickups in the bridge. I really like them, I find them very clear, pretty balanced. They split really well too. I don't think the one James Lugo had sounded right in the clips for some reason. I am a bit surprised to see you think the Aldrich is more suited for a strat style as I think the Aldrich works great in my Les Pauls.
 
I wouldn't say the Aldrich would be darker than a JB....it's not a dark sounding pickup at all. Warmer, yes...because the JB's tend to have that midrange spike that can sound a little harsh in some guitars. But a lot of this depends on the guitar you're putting it in.
 
luxxtone":waay46yo said:
I wouldn't say the Aldrich would be darker than a JB....it's not a dark sounding pickup at all. Warmer, yes...because the JB's tend to have that midrange spike that can sound a little harsh in some guitars. But a lot of this depends on the guitar you're putting it in.
Click to expand...

I've used both extensively, and this is the response with which I agree most in this thread.
 
Thanks for all the advise gents. That midrange spike is definitely what I'm not diggin about the JB. Also I'm playing through a Splawn. We all know that they don't need any help in the mids dept. I think i'm gonna pick up an Aldridge soon. Do you guys have any other suggestions for a nice hot pup in a Les Paul? :rock:
 
luxxtone":2ouf28we said:
I wouldn't say the Aldrich would be darker than a JB....it's not a dark sounding pickup at all. Warmer, yes...because the JB's tend to have that midrange spike that can sound a little harsh in some guitars. But a lot of this depends on the guitar you're putting it in.
Click to expand...

Very true. I have a JB in a very warm sounding guitar with a 250k volume pot (which I think is very important as well) and love how it sounds.

I think JB's work great in "warm" sounding guitars; not bright guitars.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top