Duncan JB replacement.... recommandations

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MKibanez

MKibanez

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Have a Strat alder body, maple neck with rosewood FB. Have a JB on the bridge that I love. Would like something that sound like the JB but with a little more gain. What do you recommand? Heard that Anderson makes very good pups!
 
As far as easily available pickups go you may need to go ceramic to get more "gain" than a JB. You might like a Duncan Distortion which is basically a JB with a ceramic magnet or a Gibson 500 T.
 
The RTM has a touch more gain, but that cool upper-mid spike goes away with the A2 magnet. That's been my experience. Suhr pups don't sound like the JB in my experience. Anderson pickups are good and have the lower mids which the JB lacks. If I were you, I'd check out a Dean Baker Act pickup. Its similar to a JB and is often overlooked. The Gibson 500t isn't bad either. There's also the Seymour Duncan Dave Mustaine Livewires, which are an active JB/ Jazz set of pups. They sound a little hotter than a standard JB.
 
Just ordered a BKP Holydiver bridge, Emerald neck for my new Charvel. It had a JB and a 59 originally.
Was told this was the absolute best option.
 
The RTM. The previously mentioned loss of that JB upper mid-spike is what makes it better for most players...the rossness is the first person I've ever heard speak of that spike like it's desirable. That's akin to using the noise of a single coil as a selling point ;)

As for Anderson, they're my favorite pickups...especially the H2+. If you want a bit more heat than a JB, the H3 is probably about right for you. The Andersons will be a bit more refined sounding and dynamic than the JB, which can be good or bad depending on what you're going for.
 
The Motor City Garuda could be a good choice depending on how much hotter you're wanting to go. It has the JB character, but the low end has more shape & separation to the notes. Also, it has the high-mid push, but it's not strident or wiry. The only thing is it's not really hotter, but the top end is definitely juicier feeling while playing in the upper-registers and the low notes have a little more punch, so it feels like you're playing with a little more gain. Great pickup, but if you're wanting something to noticeably hit your amp harder and have a more powerful sound and feel, then it may not fit your needs. All depends how much more heat you need. Could always shoot Wade an email and see what his thoughts are. He's always been spot when he's made recommendations for me. Best of luck!
 
fearhk213":1vn8ogpy said:
The Motor City Garuda could be a good choice depending on how much hotter you're wanting to go. It has the JB character, but the low end has more shape & separation to the notes. Also, it has the high-mid push, but it's not strident or wiry. The only thing is it's not really hotter, but the top end is definitely juicier feeling while playing in the upper-registers and the low notes have a little more punch, so it feels like you're playing with a little more gain. Great pickup, but if you're wanting something to noticeably hit your amp harder and have a more powerful sound and feel, then it may not fit your needs. All depends how much more heat you need. Could always shoot Wade an email and see what his thoughts are. He's always been spot when he's made recommendations for me. Best of luck!
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This for sure. Have these in two guitars and fearhk213 is dead on with his description. Another great option that would be quicker and cheaper is the Manlius Asphalt.
 
If you like Dimarzio's you may like the AT-1 which is Dimarzio's take on a JB or the new Transition pickups made for Lukather. I have them in a L3 with all rosewood neck and they sound great.
 
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