Duncan JB - Need something tighter! Custom? Distortion?

[napalmdeath]

My ESP Skolnick sounds glorious, but the bottom end is spongy. Eq in the loop, and various other tricks seem to help, but still not what I'm after. I'm wondering if the Custom or Distortion would be the better bet?

 

[sytharnia1560]

I often do a magnet swap with jb's ... put an A8 in there, sounds nice and fat and is a really cheap mod

 

[Badronald]

My Bareknuckle Painkiller is extremely tight. Very cool.

 

[raiken]

I put a Duncan Custom in my Explorer recently. So far, I really like it - a huge improvement over the Burstbucker Pros that came in there. Very tight and balanced.

I first heard a Custom in a friend's Strat several years ago, and it sounded a lot better than the DiMarzio Tone Zone I had in mine, so I have been wanting to try one. I think you'd like it.

 

[blackba]

Check out the Anderson h2+, I found it tigher than the JB and more natural sounding.

 

[Mixman]

I know a lot of people don't like it but the Duncan Distortion is tighter and may sound better in the right guitar. It is a little brighter too. Haven't tried a Custom in a long time.

 

[napalmdeath]

I know a lot of people don't like it but the Duncan Distortion is tighter and may sound better in the right guitar. It is a little brighter too. Haven't tried a Custom in a long time.

I had a Custom in a LP Classic, and it was killer. Had Distortions in my V. I'm leaning that way a bit, the ESP is traditional thickness with a chunky neck, and weighs 9.5lbs. I think that's part of the problem, it came stock with '59/JB, but a brighter, tighter bridge pickup would be more ideal for better chunk.

 

[Mixman]

Then the Duncan is what you want and it's not too much money either.

 

[napalmdeath]

Then the Duncan is what you want and it's not too much money either.

Yeah, I'm going with a Distortion.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Had a Gus G with the Distortion, it was a great fit in that ESP.

As mentioned Anderson H2+ is a great pickup, and in most of my guitars.

 

[chadprsman]

GD- its Randall Aiken responding.... he makes some awesome amps! Aiken Sabre

 

[blackie13]

My Bareknuckle Painkiller is extremely tight. Very cool.

You use painkillers on your strats?

 

[charvelstrat81]

just pop a ceramic in that JB

 

[slaveunit]

If you want a tad less high end from the Distortion try the Black Winter. I just put some in an LP yesterday and really like them.

 

[Steinmetzify]

just pop a ceramic in that JB

Or that. If you can wait a few days I got an A8 magnet coming that I'm gonna throw in my JB in my Custom. Can let you know what the difference is; supposed to tighten up the low end a lot.

 

[sytharnia1560]

just pop a ceramic in that JB

Or that. If you can wait a few days I got an A8 magnet coming that I'm gonna throw in my JB in my Custom. Can let you know what the difference is; supposed to tighten up the low end a lot.

I suggested that in the 1st post, but I assume the OP isn't a tinkerer so modding a pick up might be out of his comfort zone

 

[anomaly]

The Duncan Distortion is the tightest passive pickup I've ever used. For actives, the EMG-81 is right up there.

 

[Badronald]

My Bareknuckle Painkiller is extremely tight. Very cool.

You use painkillers on your strats?

The Painkiller/Cold Sweat is in a custom mahogany /one-piece maple cap 7 string. Sounds incredible.

 

[Sick Michael]

I have a Custom in my Ibanez. Its awesome, and I went from a JB to a Custom.

I like them both, JB is really good for 80s hair metal because it has a looser bottom (!) and to my ears sounds a little "greasier". The Custom is tight, not massive amounts of output, but its very clear and has a lot of cut.