Long time JB user… Need some advice - good PAF style pickup

[SQUAREHEAD]

Since day one I have had JB's in the bridge positions of all my guitars… I know, deep down that a good PAF style Pickup has better tone, have any of you guys changed from High Output pick ups to lower PAF style pick ups and been totally content? I think at this point, I am addicted to the glorious sustain, singing qualities of the JB etc. etc. etc.
The thought of switching to a pick up that won't sing and have good sustain scares me, although I know the tone will be better…
Anyone been down this road?
I have heard extremely good things about the Bareknuckle VHII, which is a PAF style pick up with a little more juice, and A5 magnet, correct?

 

[screamindemon]

Since day one I have had JB's in the bridge positions of all my guitars… I know, deep down that a good PAF style Pickup has better tone, have any of you guys changed from High Output pick ups to lower PAF style pick ups and been totally content? I think at this point, I am addicted to the glorious sustain, singing qualities of the JB etc. etc. etc.
The thought of switching to a pick up that won't sing and have good sustain scares me, although I know the tone will be better…
Anyone been down this road?
I have heard extremely good things about the Bareknuckle VHII, which is a PAF style pick up with a little more juice, and A5 magnet, correct?

I can totally relate to this post ! I have been asking myself the exact same question !

Check out the custom 78, they have a demo on their website.

I am going thought the exact same thing, looking for replacement for my JB's? Maybe ?

 

[Steinmetzify]

Dude check out ReWind. James is a monster with low output PAF types. Shoot him an email, tell him about your rig and what you're looking for and then just do what he tells you. Dude knows what he's doing with these types of pickups.

http://www.re-wind.net

For the record, I have all types of guitars and all types of pickups, but the last year or so I've really been digging lower output stuff. Seems like I have better control under gain and use less in the long run.

 

[paulyc]

Stock Duncan '59, I like it way better than the JB

 

[The Traveller]

Since day one I have had JB's in the bridge positions of all my guitars… I know, deep down that a good PAF style Pickup has better tone, have any of you guys changed from High Output pick ups to lower PAF style pick ups and been totally content? I think at this point, I am addicted to the glorious sustain, singing qualities of the JB etc. etc. etc.
The thought of switching to a pick up that won't sing and have good sustain scares me, although I know the tone will be better…
Anyone been down this road?
I have heard extremely good things about the Bareknuckle VHII, which is a PAF style pick up with a little more juice, and A5 magnet, correct?

Man, I hear ya. I think I'm growing out of the high gain pickup thing as well. I'm trying to decide between these 2.

 

[halebox]

I think other pickups sustain a little better up high in the neck. My vote is motor city 2nd degree blackbelt for lower wind or afwayu for higher wind. I am just starting to like jb's though for a different flavor

 

[Stradazone]

Since day one I have had JB's in the bridge positions of all my guitars… I know, deep down that a good PAF style Pickup has better tone, have any of you guys changed from High Output pick ups to lower PAF style pick ups and been totally content? I think at this point, I am addicted to the glorious sustain, singing qualities of the JB etc. etc. etc.
The thought of switching to a pick up that won't sing and have good sustain scares me, although I know the tone will be better…
Anyone been down this road?
I have heard extremely good things about the Bareknuckle VHII, which is a PAF style pick up with a little more juice, and A5 magnet, correct?

I can totally relate to this post ! I have been asking myself the exact same question !

Check out the custom 78, they have a demo on their website.

I am going thought the exact same thing, looking for replacement for my JB's? Maybe ?

The Duncan CS '78 is great, way more balanced than a JB, plenty of output

 

[the rossness]

tone is subjective. The are some JB's which sound great in the right guitar and lousy in others. The JB has sizzle, a singing tone and a cool high-mid peak. The JB tends to be more "musical" while something like a distortion has more clarity. Think Ratt (JB) vs Dokken (distortion). My first thought would be to try an antiquity JB. Next would be the Jason Becker perpetual burn, which I've heard is like a lower output JB. After that, the world is your oyster when it comes to PAF's as there are a TON of them from different manufactures.

I've had good experience with the SD Custom Custom and Gibson Burstbucker 3. Maybe others can chime in.

 

[mentoneman]

yo squarey!

been down this road eons ago and now i'm addicted to low output PAF.

had a few JB's, pearly gates is cool (original not plus)and vh 78 which was neat and strangely both gates and 78 sounded similar in a spanky spitty single coil way but gates was thicker in mids

, duncan custom custom, dimarzio distortion, tone zone, high order, played a few bare knuckles and those are nice, wold love to try/hear the arcanes,

but i am happiest with my tom holmes 450 and yes i tried the 455 too.

 

[metalmaniac93]

MCP Angel Dust for me. Love the JB is some guitars like Mahogany LP or Explorer style guitars.

Rob

 

[Bronco]

MCP Angel Dust for me. Love the JB is some guitars like Mahogany LP or Explorer style guitars.

Rob

I have an Angel Dust in my LP, and I agree it is an outstanding match. That said, I wouldn't categorize it as a PAF type pup...it's very hot for sure.

The Arcane Brownbucker is outstanding, particularly if your guitar is bright sounding. The MCP 2nd degree BB is really really cool. And lastly, don't overlook the Suhr Thornbucker -- very chewy, but not quite as bright as the BB.

 

[memberzonly]

Honestly, you are going to get a TON of different responses and recommendations. All are good.

The term PAF is meaningless unless you familiarize yourself (you may have already) with the various materials & wind techniques offered. DC resistance may run from the high 7's for an under wound to 10k for an over wound. Bareknuckle has a nice magnet reference on their site.

Magnets - A2, A3, A4, A5, regular? degaussed?
Wind - Scatter, machine, hand wound.
Wire used and how full the coil is wound.
Where does the resonant peak fall?

My 2 cents - Find a tonal reference that speaks to you and work backward from there.

 

[hammered]

Since day one I have had JB's in the bridge positions of all my guitars… I know, deep down that a good PAF style Pickup has better tone, have any of you guys changed from High Output pick ups to lower PAF style pick ups and been totally content? I think at this point, I am addicted to the glorious sustain, singing qualities of the JB etc. etc. etc.
The thought of switching to a pick up that won't sing and have good sustain scares me, although I know the tone will be better…
Anyone been down this road?
I have heard extremely good things about the Bareknuckle VHII, which is a PAF style pick up with a little more juice, and A5 magnet, correct?

If you want to go the Hot PAF route I`d recommend the BK VHII or Seymour Duncan Whole Lotta Humbucker , if you want a pickup that`s kinda like the JBs little brother the Seymour Duncan Prepetual Burn is really nice , what guitar and ap are you using ?
https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/produ ... erspective

 

[SFW]

My two favorite lower output sets are the Duncan Slash set and the Bareknuckle Mule set. Both sound great with high gain and seem to have just the right amount of push to their feel to not make you feel like you should have a boost on all the time. Good luck in your search.

 

[Adambomb]

Since day one I have had JB's in the bridge positions of all my guitars… I know, deep down that a good PAF style Pickup has better tone, have any of you guys changed from High Output pick ups to lower PAF style pick ups and been totally content? I think at this point, I am addicted to the glorious sustain, singing qualities of the JB etc. etc. etc.
The thought of switching to a pick up that won't sing and have good sustain scares me, although I know the tone will be better…
Anyone been down this road?
I have heard extremely good things about the Bareknuckle VHII, which is a PAF style pick up with a little more juice, and A5 magnet, correct?

I'll tell ya I played a JB live for years and finally switched to PAF style pickups. The one that was the best of both worlds and similar to the wonderful JB sound was the Wolfetone Marshallhead, it's a great transition pickup and still has that high-output bite, punch, and still screamed but with PAF clarity and zing.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Yup...down that road myself as we speak. I've got a set of Wizz PAF's in my R9 and they sound absolutely amazing. Don't forget how much of a difference new pots, caps etc make as well.

What guitar are you looking to install them in? Sounds like you're just looking for a bridge pickup from your initial post...

 

[mdc1mdc11]

WCR Darkburst and don't look back.

 

[LP Freak]

The best PAF style pickup I've owned is the Wolfetone Marshallhead. It sounds vintage but has lots of muscle when gain is thrown at it. It stays focused and never falls apart. It also sounds really sweet when you roll back the guitars volume.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Thanks a lot for your advice, guys! I appreciate it…

 

[glassjaw7]

Motor City 2nd Degree Blackbelt for my LP. I hear the MCP Detroiter is great in a super strat. I'm sure any of the great recommendations in here would make you happy.