Duncan JB

[guitarnate2000]

does anyone here swear by them? I have one that I am going to drop in one of my George Lynch guitars tomorrow. its been a while since I have played one so I honestly forgot how they are tonewise. My current pickup is an Aldrich but it has become micro-phonic for lack of a better description so it needs to be changed out

 

[stephen sawall]

Been my main pickup for decades.

 

[skullfxr]

I swear at them. Lol. Overrated and generic IMO.

 

[Zado]

Imo it's not generic, has loads of personality and character. Problem is that its qualities are overshadowed by its downsides

 

[skullfxr]

Imo it's not generic, has loads of personality and character. Problem is that its qualities are overshadowed by its downsides

Maybe I used the word "generic" in a different form. I was more or less saying is that they are generic because they are so common. Truth be told that could also apply for EMG 81/85 set etc.

 

[guitarnate2000]

Imo it's not generic, has loads of personality and character. Problem is that its qualities are overshadowed by its downsides

what are the downsides in your opinion? My biggest peeve in any pickup is potential muddiness. I don't play with tons of distortion but when I do, I have had pickups that just flat out suck. I totally moved off from Dimarzio pickups because of that. I have had the most success with Duncan's but not all of them either. A friend of mine gave me this one to try out. I am hoping for good things but I really love the Duncan RTM. that, so far, has been my favorite pickup from their lineup. In Houston, that seems to be a special order because nobody actually stocks them for whatever reason.

 

[napalmdeath]

Go for a Custom. My favorite Duncan, (though I've grown quite fond of the Custom Custom in my Schecter.

 

[Riggins1966]

I have TB-4 trembuckers (trem spaced JB) on all my floyd guitars, and a mini JB in my strat.

Been that way for going on 20 years now. It's my go-to pickup.

 

[Zado]

Imo it's not generic, has loads of personality and character. Problem is that its qualities are overshadowed by its downsides

Maybe I used the word "generic" in a different form. I was more or less saying is that they are generic because they are so common. Truth be told that could also apply for EMG 81/85 set etc.

About that I can agree. It's an extremely versatile pickup, so no surprise it's a big seller.

Imo it's not generic, has loads of personality and character. Problem is that its qualities are overshadowed by its downsides

what are the downsides in your opinion? My biggest peeve in any pickup is potential muddiness. I don't play with tons of distortion but when I do, I have had pickups that just flat out suck. I totally moved off from Dimarzio pickups because of that. I have had the most success with Duncan's but not all of them either. A friend of mine gave me this one to try out. I am hoping for good things but I really love the Duncan RTM. that, so far, has been my favorite pickup from their lineup. In Houston, that seems to be a special order because nobody actually stocks them for whatever reason.

The muddiness is one of those downsides. It can be fixed a lil by adjusting the poles properly and by swapping magnets with something tighter (Ceramic or A8) or with less bass (A2, A3). But it wont make a world of change if you dont like it. I will sound like a broken record, but back in the day it just sounded better, more articulate, airy-er, less conjested. At SD headquarter they day the recipe is the same, so maybe the way they wind is different? No idea.
Still, the RTM is supposed to be at least similar spec wise, but ime it sounds way more alive and clear.

 

[skullfxr]

Obviously a little different than the JB, but the custom and pearly gates are my SD go-to pick ups. Saying again, yes they are a little different.

I will say that for the neck '59's are hard to beat

 

[guitarnate2000]

I love the 59... the pearly gates is a little lower output than the 59, right?

 

[skullfxr]

I love the 59... the pearly gates is a little lower output than the 59, right?

I have never had them in the same guitar to compare but spec wise yes.

 

[jabps]

Strat style Alder body guitars...yep, swear by them. Even better if you can get an old one.

 

[thrashinbatman]

Go for a Custom. My favorite Duncan, (though I've grown quite fond of the Custom Custom in my Schecter.

Agreed. Had a JB in my ESP V for a while, I didn't like it at all. It worked with some amps, but when I switched to the Engl Savage it sounded terrible. The Custom has a similar feel to the JB without that infamous upper-mid boost.

The JB is fine, but I've always felt that the Custom is a better pickup.

 

[Exo-metal]

I do...and its Seymour's personal favorite, how can you go wrong?!?!

 

[Rex Rocker]

I'm the other way around. I love the JB in the bridge, can't stand the '59 in the neck, lol.

The '59B in the bridge is pretty cool, though.

 

[Exo-metal]

Always wanted to try the Custom Custom because Gary Holt user it for a while I believe.

 

[thrashinbatman]

No, I'm pretty sure he used just the Custom.

 

[skoora]

I wouldn't use a stock one again as I used them for a long time and prefer a lower output now but I must admit I would be curious to try the antiquity version. In a Gibson they have output and a certain mid characteristic but I eventually found the low end to be to indistinct and lack character. Lower output pickups got me that back and I actually found perceived overdrive wasn't really any different, just the response.
Favorite pickup right now is the Wolfetone Marshallhead I've had for a long time in my 80's Alder V and I also dig older Dimarzio Super Distortions, not new ones. 70's and early 80's ones. One of those in my other mahogany V is a nice change in flavor from the Wolfetone.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

JB is my favorite pickup, particularly for a mahogany bodied guitar. Great in a LP.