Duncan JB in a dark sounding guitar?

[MrDan666]

I have a Burny Les Paul Custom, which is a very dark/deep sounding guitar. It has a mahogany body without a maple top, mahogany neck and a rosewood board. While it is a killer sounding guitar, it needs a bit more bite/aggressiveness in the tone.

I know lots of guys don't like the Duncan JB in a brighter sounding guitar, but how would a JB sound in a dark guitar like mine?

I already bought one for cheap on eBay, but i won't get chance to try it for a while yet, so thought I'd see if i can get some opinions in the meantime!

 

[Digital Jams]

I have one in my Monaco and like it, imo adds some bite to that set neck mahagony guitar.

 

[duesentrieb]

Have you checked the values of the pots, Dan?

And yes, why not a JB in a darker LP.

 

[tonmazz]

Dan,

I had a Mahogany Ibanez that was really dark sounding and I had the JB in that. While it definately had grind, there was nothing brightening up that thing. I ended up selling it which is a shame because it played great, just couldn't bond with the dark tone.

 

[MrDan666]

Have you checked the values of the pots, Dan?

And yes, why not a JB in a darker LP.

Hey Olaf!

I already double checked the pots, but they're all 500K. With that said, i do plan on putting in a fresh set of pots just because these ones are old and they're just some cheaper chinese pots. I'll put in some new Bourns or CTS pots when i install the JB

 

[MrDan666]

I have one in my Monaco and like it, imo adds some bite to that set neck mahagony guitar.

Good to hear Scotty! I know we have similar ears for tone, so i look forward to trying the JB in my guitar

 

[MrDan666]

Dan,

I had a Mahogany Ibanez that was really dark sounding and I had the JB in that. While it definately had grind, there was nothing brightening up that thing. I ended up selling it which is a shame because it played great, just couldn't bond with the dark tone.

Hey Tony! I know what you mean about some guitars just being crazy dark. Luckily, while this guitar is dark.. it's not 'too' dark if ya get me? It just needs a little bit of extra grind to make the tone happening Hopefully the JB might help!

 

[tonmazz]

Dan,

I had a Mahogany Ibanez that was really dark sounding and I had the JB in that. While it definately had grind, there was nothing brightening up that thing. I ended up selling it which is a shame because it played great, just couldn't bond with the dark tone.

Hey Tony! I know what you mean about some guitars just being crazy dark. Luckily, while this guitar is dark.. it's not 'too' dark if ya get me? It just needs a little bit of extra grind to make the tone happening Hopefully the JB might help!

If you need the grind, I think you'll be happy. My problem was I had some really good open sounding bright guitars with JBs and the contrast always made me hate the sound on the Ibanez. Check back and let us know how you made out.

 

[MrDan666]

If you need the grind, I think you'll be happy. My problem was I had some really good open sounding bright guitars with JBs and the contrast always made me hate the sound on the Ibanez. Check back and let us know how you made out.

Sure man, when i get round to trying the JB in the Burny LP, i'll put up a review!

 

[JakeAC5253]

Dan,

I had a Mahogany Ibanez that was really dark sounding and I had the JB in that. While it definately had grind, there was nothing brightening up that thing. I ended up selling it which is a shame because it played great, just couldn't bond with the dark tone.

Hey Tony! I know what you mean about some guitars just being crazy dark. Luckily, while this guitar is dark.. it's not 'too' dark if ya get me? It just needs a little bit of extra grind to make the tone happening Hopefully the JB might help!

I have found that the JB has a good amount of those 'air' frequencies, which makes it sound wide and uncompressed. It may work out, I've recently swapped out the JB in my dark sounding body for a Duncan Distortion and I may keep it. The low end is tight on the distortion while the JB was large and fat.

This thread may actually help you:
viewtopic.php?p=906555#p906555

 

[Code001]

I usually prefer the Distortion, but the JB should work. I don't find the JB to be dark like donbarzini said. I find it to have this thing in the treble that can be real annoying in certain guitars.

 

[MrDan666]

I have found that the JB has a good amount of those 'air' frequencies, which makes it sound wide and uncompressed. It may work out, I've recently swapped out the JB in my dark sounding body for a Duncan Distortion and I may keep it. The low end is tight on the distortion while the JB was large and fat.

This thread may actually help you:
viewtopic.php?p=906555#p906555

Thanks for the link! I'll listen on my headphones later

If the JB has a fatter low end than the Distortion, then that will be a good thing for me. I tried the Distortion in another LP and while it sounded great, i found it a bit on the percussive side. A little too much so for my taste and for the tones i go for. So i think the JB might work for me!

 

[MrDan666]

I usually prefer the Distortion, but the JB should work. I don't find the JB to be dark like donbarzini said. I find it to have this thing in the treble that can be real annoying in certain guitars.

I'll give the JB a go and see how it sounds in this guitar, fingers crossed! If it doesn't work, i'll pull it and look into other pickups!

 

[Code001]

If the Distortion was a little too much, the JB might just be your best bet!

 

[MrDan666]

This clip is one of the reasons i decided to try out the JB in my Les Paul, i asked Doug recently and he said it's a JB in his black Les Paul. That was with a CCV-100, and i use my 'Cali Mod' Marshall JMP which isn't far off that tone anyway

 

[JakeAC5253]

This clip is one of the reasons i decided to try out the JB in my Les Paul, i asked Doug recently and he said it's a JB in his black Les Paul. That was with a CCV-100, and i use my 'Cali Mod' Marshall JMP which isn't far off that tone anyway

A JB wouldn't be my first choice for a Les Paul.

 

[locoed]

I have JB's in my Horizon and LOVE the way it sounds,mahogany body with a maple top.
They are in my Charvel too but I hate the way they sound.
I think the mahogany brings them to life IMHO

 

[bigangryguitar]

I have a JB in my Custom 22 (mahogany\maple set neck stoptail) and it sounds killer. I will say though I used to think it was too bright until I put in a 250k volume pot. I read that those pickups were designed around a 250k pot and it sounds amazing to my ears with it. Still plenty of bite but very musical this way.

 

[MrDan666]

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

If i end up being unhappy with the JB in this guitar, then i'll try it with a 250K pot and see how it goes.

 

[RockStarNick]

I have a JB in my Custom 22 (mahogany\maple set neck stoptail) and it sounds killer. I will say though I used to think it was too bright until I put in a 250k volume pot. I read that those pickups were designed around a 250k pot and it sounds amazing to my ears with it. Still plenty of bite but very musical this way.

Makes sense, since the "testing" guitar that Seymour used was most likely his "Tele-Gib" hot rodded Telecaster with 2 buckers.