Duncan JB - Love it or hate it? Why?

[JohnnyGtar]

@JackBootedThug was kind enough to send me a care package full of pickups and pots, etc...and some amazing candy that he made. Thanks again, brother!

Anyhoo, one of the pickups is a MINT double black Duncan JB. For over 40 years, I've never really given that pickup a fair chance. But, a lot of the YouTube videos I've checked out tonight featuring the JB are killer.

Now, just like the video below I have a Peavey Triple XXX and a Duncan JB. Pretty cool combination. I'm looking forward to trying it out.



Love the JB? Please describe why.

Hate the JB? Please describe why.

Thanks!

 

[cobrahead1030]

I love them. They were my go to pickup for playing live forever.

Probably because 20+ years ago we didn’t have the vast selection of pickups available today, and most of us didn’t know about matching them to the correct pots, caps, et

A used JB was affordable, and sounded good in most guitarist dependably.

I mainly use other pickups these days, but I still have a couple of JB’s in the herd.

 

[SoooRad]

I like it, as it’s definitely the sound of my “heroes”. JB into the right stuff is instant 85-91 VH, instant Demartini, etc. I don’t know if it’s exactly the sound in my head, but it’s very closely adjacent to that.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Love the JB in a Les Paul. The natural big-boned LP toan seems to balance it very well.

Not always a hit in a small body superstrat, can sometimes be all honk. But sometimes it works there too, especially for neck thrus. Hasn't been the std pickup in hi end Soloists for so many years by coincidence.

 

[Rackman]

I like them OK, but don't have them in any guitars. The most similar thing I use is a Suhr Aldrich in a couple guitars.

 

[JohnnyGtar]

 

[novosibir]

I like the Bare Knuckle Holy Diver more than the SD SH4/TB4 (JB) and in my ears it is kinda JB+

 

[BeZo]

I like a JB in a mahogany bodied guitar. That's where they fit.

 

[Frehley12]

I have an early 1990s JB with the JBJ sticker. A Jazz is in the neck. Guitar is an Ibanez Paul Stanley Iceman. Talk about a match made in heaven!

 

[Spaceboy]

It's my "home" pickup, out of my starting point of reference points when comparing any other pickup. I deviate all the time but anytime I toss a JB into a guitar it's like coming home. It doesn't work for every tone, and sometimes the mid-peak honk and get annoying when playing alone, but in a full band it really shines IMO.

 

[67mike]

Put one on the bridge of my Ibanez Prestige. Perfection.

 

[angelspade]

Generally, I am fairly positive regarding my experiences with the JB. That said, I have found that the Duncan Custom suits me better for most applications.

 

[JackBootedThug]

Got to be honest. I despise the jb. But…but… the one I had with an a2 installed…fuckin killer…. Would rock…

 

[romanianreaper]

The JB is a good pickup but just kind of vanilla compared to all of the other choices. I have a JB in my Chubtone and a Mexican Charvel. My Chubtone is Alder and I think I'd rather have a different pickup in there.

 

[101B /^/]

I really like the JB. For me, it's basically the benchmark for the Marshall tone laden music I love. In an all mahogany neck-thru, it’s just so very good - smooth or raunchy. Nice and thick, but in all the right places and not bloated. Love the mids & and good output - bass could be tighter. I’ve had lots of guitars and swapped pickups in basically all of them except for my baby shown below. Aside a player 2 strat it’s my only guitar and the pickups haven't ever been removed..no need, the JB sounds amazing. Jazz in the neck for cleans is fantastic..cleans are nice and full w/good richness. I confess not liking the JB/Jazz together (mid switch pos) and can’t comment on how they split, but I love the JB in the bridge. I recall it being quite good in a Les Paul, too.

 

[CarlF]

I always liked the JB humbucker. Currently have one in my Jake.

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

I love my little JB!

 

[NorCal_Val]

Not a fan.
JBs have that mid-range spike that I just don’t dig.

 

[Nigel]

Not a fan.
JBs have that mid-range spike that I just don’t dig.

500K pots? Obligatory JB's were designed for 250K pots or about 125K total load.

Gotta add a 333K resistor from hot to ground on guitars with 500K pots or that edge will cut you.

 

[Speeddemon]

I like a JB in a mahogany bodied guitar. That's where they fit.

This! I had one in various guitars with various results (either kinda sluggish low-end and screechy high-mids...something that the DiMarzio Norton fixes on both ends! and still gives you that mid 80's harmonic kerrang), but when I had a JB in an mahogany Hamer Californian import, that's where it shined the best.

Currently the only guitar I have with one is my Kramer SM-1. It works well there for that 80's shred thing.
I took the stock JB (and '59 neck) out of my ESP Horizon NTII and replaced it with an SH-14 Custom 5 (And SH-12 Screamin' Demon for the neck position). Tighter bass and a more relaxed high-end.