Duncan JB

[Detroit1973]

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

Holt used the Custom. It was a Big part of his tone before he switched to EMG's.

 

[stephen sawall]

I'm using a JB in the bridge and P-Rail in then neck. Pair of Triple Shot pickup rings and a out of phase switch.

I recently changed from a 300K pot to a 500K pot and was amazed how much the sound changed.

 

[romanianreaper]

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.

I have a love/hate with the JB and as others have mentioned, just depends on the guitar and setup. The JB is the base of the RTM, so if you like that pickup you'll dig the JB IMO. I have the RTM in my USA Demartini. I had a JB in a G&L Legacy and was perfect in that guitar. Sounded fantastic. I think it works great in Les Pauls as well as others mentioned.

I'm a huge Suhr Aldrich pickup fan and surprised you are not gelling with that but if it is microphonic, then definitely time for a change.

If I was shopping for a new pickup, the JB wouldn't be my first choice with so many other options out there but that is just me. I have a Motor City 2nd Degree Blackbelt in my Les Paul and love that pickup.

 

[Zado]

I'm using a JB in the bridge and P-Rail in then neck. Pair of Triple Shot pickup rings and a out of phase switch.

I recently changed from a 300K pot to a 500K pot and was amazed how much the sound changed.

Always use 500k pots. Low value pots are imho the finest way to castrate humbuckers

 

[FourT6and2]

Used one for years in a Les Paul Custom. Haven't tried one in a long time though. Went to BKP, then back to Duncan. But I use the Nazgul now and an Aldrich in another guitar. The Aldrich is nice. I had one that was microphonic as well. Suhr sent me a replacement.

 

[Racerxrated]

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

Man, I had an incredible sounding Hamer Diablo with a JBJ, that guitar was the best sounding guitar I've played. I found that playing with the pickup height was very important..more than any other Duncan I've owned. Can make or break the JB experience.

 

[SFW]

The JB is one of my all time favorite pickups. I think to truly be appreciate it, you need to hear it in the context of a band. It cuts through the mix like nothing else. Listen to the first AIC album. I always have one ready to go in a guitar that I don't know what to do with. The Aldrich is super cool as well. The BKP Rebel Yell is based on the JB. I'm currently rocking the Duncan PATB-1b which is basically a JB with different pole pieces. I think you will dig it with your 5150 III EL34 amp Nate.

 

[rstites]

I'm another that prefers the Custom to the JB for that level of output from a bridge humbucker. The Custom has more definition, especially in the bass, and flatter response overall. The JB tends to get flubby in the bass and has a lot of high midrange (presence). It is good for cutting through the mix, but the lows on it just never worked quite right for me. I mostly play super strats, so maybe in other applications they work better.

The Custom/'59 or Custom/Jazz are the most common pickups I've had in guitars over the years, though I use a lot of different combinations of various brands pickups throughout my different guitars.

 

[angelspade]

When I play my LP Custom with a JB in the bridge straight into my EVH 5150 III 6L6 Stealth, it sound unbelievably good.

 

[stephen sawall]

I'm using a JB in the bridge and P-Rail in then neck. Pair of Triple Shot pickup rings and a out of phase switch.

I recently changed from a 300K pot to a 500K pot and was amazed how much the sound changed.

Always use 500k pots. Low value pots are imho the finest way to castrate humbuckers

From the Seymour Duncan website...
"Use it with a 500k volume pot for great high-end cut, or try a 250k pot to sweeten and soften the tone for smoother styles."

Seymour prefers the JB with a 250K pot. That is what he uses and recommends. It's more bright and aggressive with 500K. 300K was more balanced. With some amps the highs are harsh with 500K.
I did not like one better than the other....they are just very different.

 

[Speeddemon]

In the right guitar (i.e. lots of mahogany) the JB can work wonders. Loved it in a Hamer Californian I had. Enjoy one now in my Kramer SM-1.

But for a few other guitars, there are better alternatives that can cover roughly the same ground;
if you want tighter, leaner, still with crazy harmonics and that 80's hair/shred tone to a T, without going ceramic=DiMarzio Norton
if you want tighter, but big low-end, more relaxed mids and less shrill highs=Duncan Custom-5 (SH-14).

 

[Zado]

I'm using a JB in the bridge and P-Rail in then neck. Pair of Triple Shot pickup rings and a out of phase switch.

I recently changed from a 300K pot to a 500K pot and was amazed how much the sound changed.

Always use 500k pots. Low value pots are imho the finest way to castrate humbuckers

From the Seymour Duncan website...
"Use it with a 500k volume pot for great high-end cut, or try a 250k pot to sweeten and soften the tone for smoother styles."

Seymour prefers the JB with a 250K pot. That is what he uses and recommends. It's more bright and aggressive with 500K. 300K was more balanced. With some amps the highs are harsh with 500K.
I did not like one better than the other....they are just very different.

Honestly Seymour might prefer whatever he wants, but I've always found the JB being even more annoying with 250k pots. It's al already smoothed humbucker with 500k pots, 250k always made it worse for me.

 

[some dude]

I have a JB that’s been installed in probably 5 or 6 different guitars and I hated it in all of them except the last one.

In some of them the low end felt like a sponge. In others the midrange wasn’t right. I really didn’t see what people liked about the JB.

Then a couple years ago I stuck it in a Les Paul as a temporary solution while I ordered another set of pickups. It’s still in that guitar and it sounds great for some reason. It’s the third Les Paul that pickup has been in and it sounded terrible in the first two, so there’s something about this specific Les Paul that that specific JB really likes.

 

[shredhead7]

I have one in a Prestige, mahogany body, maple top. It has a nice even tone, a little on the brighter side, but that could be the wood. It's not overly hot, especially compared to some of my Dimarzio's. My amp settings are modeled after Paul Gilberts Marshalls (start with the Scorpions Blackout sound and boost). With those settings, it is very articulate, but I can also roll it back to a great breakup tone.

The only thing that I find lacking is that I'm used to my other guitars being hotter, so I have to clean up my picking and left hand, it's not as easy. But, it is a great "all around" pickup.

 

[Purpleibby]

I'll 2nd(or 3rd) this, in an Alder Body/Rosewood FB strat this pickup can be magic....I've had it in other guitars(koa/rosewood) and it was bright and thin.....but put it in that strat and it just is an awesome combo. I wish I remembered if it was in the strat with 500k or 250k pots because I'm thinking of trying one again after all these years.

 

[WashburnX50]

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

The SD Pearly Gates is really overlooked as a bridge pickup for heavier styles. I have one in my Fender Showmaster. Thru my EVH, it can be a firebreather, but back off the gain, and it's a really sweet sounding pickup. the SD Custom in My SE Singlecut is fantastic as well.

 

[zz666]

Bland sounding pup in my opinion, get an Aldrich

 

[angelspade]

Bland sounding pup in my opinion, get an Aldrich

My understanding is that the two are quite similar in many respects...If what ways is the Aldrich superior?

 

[zz666]

They sound totally different IMO - Aldrich has killer tone, the JB has no tone.

 

[Zado]

The JB has character. The old JB had character AND tone.