Duncan JB vs Suhr SSH/SSH+/SSV/SSV+?

[MrFlexx]

I have an ESP E-II Standard Vintage Plus that I will upgrade to a HSS. I just can't figure out what pickups are the best ones for what I'm after.
I want great articulation, string separation and dynamics but I don't want it to feel harsh och icepicky. I'm gonna have it as my session guitar and I want it to cover as much ground as possible in the styles of Dann Huff, Michael Thompson, George Lynch, Warren DeMartini and Andy Timmons. Which one of the ones in the title would be the best fit using a Bogner Helios and an ENGL Artist Edition 100 Blackout? Those are the amps I'm using most of the times as they cover a lot of ground.

Then I need 2 single coils to match the humbucker. I'm thinking of Duncan SSL-6 if I go for the JB and the Suhr V63+ "Old ML" if going with a Suhr humbucker.
I also have a brand new Alnico 4 Rough Vintage Alloy Bar Magnet that I can swap in the JB if needed.

So what's your input about this?

 

[Nitrobattery]

The V63+ are great. If you want them to play really well with gain, I'm a huge fan of the V60lp's. I have several Suhrs with mixes of V63+'s, V60lp's, SSV's, SSH's, SSH+'s, Aldrich and even have some Suhr pickups in my non-Suhr guitars. Highly recommended.

A Thornbucker II with a pair of V63's would cover a lot of ground. An SSH or Aldrich in the bridge would be great if you want a little more heat. The Suhr pickups sound great in parallel as well. So if you wire the bridge for series/parallel, you can get some great lower output, quasi-Tele tones out of a mean humbucker as well.

 

['63-Strat]

I have an LP an SG with JB in bridge and a Suhr Modern (basswood body, maple top) with SSH+ I liked so much I put one in my US Select San Dimas (alder) also. The SSH+ is similar to JB but smoother in mids. JB is a little more raw. Depends what you want, both are great. My modern has an SSV in neck and V60lp in middle I believe. My main amp is a bogner xtc classic also. So based on that and your description of what you want, I'd lean SSH+.

 

[MrFlexx]

The V63+ are great. If you want them to play really well with gain, I'm a huge fan of the V60lp's. I have several Suhrs with mixes of V63+'s, V60lp's, SSV's, SSH's, SSH+'s, Aldrich and even have some Suhr pickups in my non-Suhr guitars. Highly recommended.

A Thornbucker II with a pair of V63's would cover a lot of ground. An SSH or Aldrich in the bridge would be great if you want a little more heat. The Suhr pickups sound great in parallel as well. So if you wire the bridge for series/parallel, you can get some great lower output, quasi-Tele tones out of a mean humbucker as well.

I think an Aldrich will be far to much for what I'm after in this guitar. I'm leaning more for the SSH. How would you compare it to a JB? is V60lp better for high gain than the V63+? How do they clean sound on them?

 

[MrFlexx]

I have an LP an SG with JB in bridge and a Suhr Modern (basswood body, maple top) with SSH+ I liked so much I put one in my US Select San Dimas (alder) also. The SSH+ is similar to JB but smoother in mids. JB is a little more raw. Depends what you want, both are great. My modern has an SSV in neck and V60lp in middle I believe. My main amp is a bogner xtc classic also. So based on that and your description of what you want, I'd lean SSH+.

When you say it's smoother...does it translate to being less articulated and have less string separation?

 

['63-Strat]

When you say it's smoother...does it translate to being less articulated and have less string separation?

No, if anything I would say more articulation/string separation with SSH+ vs JB. The JB has a peak in mids, that the SSH+ while similar, to me is just a little less.

 

[MrFlexx]

No, if anything I would say more articulation/string separation with SSH+ vs JB. The JB has a peak in mids, that the SSH+ while similar, to me is just a little less.

That sounds very promising. But do you think it's good for te styles I listed? And how would the SSV compare to both the JB and SSH+?

 

['63-Strat]

Yes, and they’re definitely in the same vein IMO. SSV is much lower output, still great but much more of PAF type. And I’m still a big fan of the JB, is nice to have both.

 

[Music&Chaos]

I am not the biggest fan of the JB all the time but love me some A4 magnets!

I tend to recommend Planet Tone to anyone looking for pickups in general, I really dig em.

 

[njshred]

I have 40 guitars with JBs and they have been my go to option for 35 years. They work for my needs.

 

[BlueParfait]

FWIW, the SSH+ is brighter than the JB

It just doesn't have that obnoxious high mid spike.

IMO, Suhr pickups are some of the most trebly pickups on the planet. Which, btw, if that is your definition of "articulate", then that's great

IMO EQ-wise both the SSV (and SSV+) and SSH+ mix better with the Suhr single coils than the JB

Output-wise... lol

 

[SFW]

I would highly recommend the V63+ for the singles. I have used the SSV, SSV+, SSH, SSH+ and the Aldrich. I've also used the Thornbucker+, Thornbucker II and Asatobucker.

The SSV+ and the Asatobucker are my favorites to pair with the V63s. The SSV+ is John Suhr's favorite pickup, according to a post he made on TGP. I really like the Asatobucker as it just has a warm fat tone while still being articulate. I also prefer the Aldrich over the SSH and SSH+.

Asatobucker and V63+:


Aldrich:


Thornbucker + / V60LP:


SSH:


SSV+:

 

[MrFlexx]

I would highly recommend the V63+ for the singles. I have used the SSV, SSV+, SSH, SSH+ and the Aldrich. I've also used the Thornbucker+, Thornbucker II and Asatobucker.

The SSV+ and the Asatobucker are my favorites to pair with the V63s. The SSV+ is John Suhr's favorite pickup, according to a post he made on TGP. I really like the Asatobucker as it just has a warm fat tone while still being articulate. I also prefer the Aldrich over the SSH and SSH+.

Asatobucker and V63+:


Aldrich:


Thornbucker + / V60LP:


SSH:


SSV+:

From your clips I feel the SSV+ is more for me. I have that Splawn myself and it really reveal the character of a pickup.

 

[Classic]

FWIW, the SSH+ is brighter than the JB

It just doesn't have that obnoxious high mid spike.

IMO, Suhr pickups are some of the most trebly pickups on the planet. Which, btw, if that is your definition of "articulate", then that's great

IMO EQ-wise both the SSV (and SSV+) and SSH+ mix better with the Suhr single coils than the JB

Output-wise... lol

My experience is much the same. Suhr pickups can have a lot of treble and need careful adjustment to avoid being too bright.

I have the SSH+ and JB's in different guitars. Whilst they can't be exactly compared in these circumstances, the JB's seem darker and have a push in upper mid frequencies. The Suhr's are more articulate but still have a lot of push.

Only the player can decide which is best. The JB's just rock. The SSH+ can arguably cover a lot more ground.

 

[SFW]

From your clips I feel the SSV+ is more for me. I have that Splawn myself and it really reveal the character of a pickup.

The SSV+ is one of my favorite pickups. It has some push and handles gain very well. It also pairs well with single-coils.

 

[BlueParfait]

My experience is much the same. Suhr pickups can have a lot of treble and need careful adjustment to avoid being too bright.

I have the SSH+ and JB's in different guitars. Whilst they can't be exactly compared in these circumstances, the JB's seem darker and have a push in upper mid frequencies. The Suhr's are more articulate but still have a lot of push.

Only the player can decide which is best. The JB's just rock. The SSH+ can arguably cover a lot more ground.

I would say the SSH+ seems more dynamic

It's a high output pickup that doesn't really feel like a high output pickup.

I play mine next to a JB and a Tone Zone and the latter two just go BRRRT

Back when I was using Suhr pickups all the time, my strat had an SSV+ and two V60LPs. The SSV+ was later replaced with a Thorn 2

The Rangka in my pfp, now using a Tone Zone and Fast Track 1, was using an SSH+ (and then Aldrich) and two V63+s (or MLs)

Suhr pickups all mix with each other amazingly well. I've done SSH+ and Thornbucker neck, Aldrich + Thornbucker neck, Aldrich + SSV, SSH+ and SSV, SSV + Thornbucker, etc etc

Can't really go wrong

 

[Deleted member 8175]

An SSH or Aldrich in the bridge would be great if you want a little more heat. The Suhr pickups sound great in parallel as well. So if you wire the bridge for series/parallel, you can get some great lower output, quasi-Tele tones out of a mean humbucker as well.

My Aldrich in parallel is beautiful!!

 

[cobrahead1030]

I’ve got a Suhr with the SSV bridge & v63+ combo.

I like the SSV for classic rock to 80’s metal kind of gain levels; great clarity but doesn’t get muddy as I roll the tone knob back, gets nice and aggressive of you dig in but isn’t too hot.

The v63+ have a bit of a hi fi thing going on, especially with super clean sounds, but they have a nice attitude with some dirt.

 

[MrFlexx]

I went for the SSV+ and 2 V63+. Will receive them next week. Thanks for all input. It was really helpful.