Back in love with the Duncan JB

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rex Rocker
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An alnico 2 JB ? Thats cool !? Probably not that mid heavy as the regular JB with alnico 5 mag ?
 
Metalhex said:
That is a big factor indeed. Do you just like the feel of that bigger string? Have you tried a 50?
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I haven't. Lightest I've tried is 52, and it's too little for me. 59 in C is actually roughly the same tension as a 46 in E, so I don't think it's too unreasonable.
 
hopkinWFG said:
An alnico 2 JB ? Thats cool !? Probably not that mid heavy as the regular JB with alnico 5 mag ?
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Oh, I think it's Alnico V. The specs on the Long and McQuade site (this is an LM special edition) state it's A5. It certainly doesn't sound like 2.
 
Rex Rocker said:
I haven't. Lightest I've tried is 52, and it's too little for me. 59 in C is actually roughly the same tension as a 46 in E, so I don't think it's too unreasonable.
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Sure, it's all preference. I like a little bit lighter. I use a 50 or 52 and play in Drop B.
 
Metalhex said:
Sure, it's all preference. I like a little bit lighter. I use a 50 or 52 and play in Drop B.
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For sure! I much prefer the tone from lighter strings. They sound crunchier and more lively and tighter if you know how to control them. I unfortunately don't. I tend to pick pretty hard, so I try to find a happy balance between what sounds good and what I can play.

I actually recently made the switch. I used to play a 56 in there for years. But I also mostly played 25.5" guitars. But I find the 59 works better for me on my 24.75" guitars, and I don't find a night and day difference in tone between it and the 56, so it kinda just stuck.
 
There's a reason it's probably the most popular pickup in the world, it seems to work well in so many different guitars.
 
The Suhr Aldrich is where I've settled on as it is a better more balanced JB. :m17:
 
Me personally, i'm back in love with the EMG-81 but with the 18 volt mod. Seems to give it more dynamics or something?? Sounds great in my LTD Viper.
 
anomaly said:
I don't think it sounds like a JB, it's more scooped, bigger low end for sure.
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Correct the Aldrich is much better. My point is the JB was the spring board plat form for many pick ups to improve on it with a more balance eq and not the harsh top end
 
cragginshrd said:
Correct the Aldrich is much better. My point is the JB was the spring board plat form for many pick ups to improve on it with a more balance eq and not the harsh top end
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It doesn't really have a harsh top end either, it's more of a high mid spike around 2k or so. The highs are actually rolled off on the JB believe it or not. I don't get the shrill high end comments on the JB, it must be the way people are dialing in their gear??
 
one came in the bridge of my LTD 1000.
also have a super D in my 80 LP. pretty much same output/specs

I Find The JB to be a lot more sweeter, warmer and chimey over the super D
not sure why.
 
anomaly said:
There's a reason it's probably the most popular pickup in the world, it seems to work well in so many different guitars.
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Yes works well in almost any guitar it seems, but has never been one of my top choices to really optimize the guitar
 
+1 on the JB not having harsh highs. It does have the cutting/focused upper mid spike, but I think that's a good thing. Helps it sound so up-front. But the highs are definitely not as present as a Duncan Distortion, or any of the lower output PAF-ish offerings. It's just not possible with such a high DCR and the Alnico magnet.

I've heard people like it with 250K pots to smooth it out. I personally cannot see myself using it that way.
 
JB is a great pickup! I’ve got one in a guitar tuned to drop B. Started a new band as well and I’m using one in drop C as well.
Just a classic pickup!
 
I first got it years ago because of Arch Enemy.

I mean... it can do C Standard and sound killer. You just kinda need to tweak accordingly. Like I said, I think it likes the SD-1 better than the TS808, but as far as I know, Anthems of Rebellion is a JB into an unboosted Peavey XXX with some boosted 5150 blended in.
 
Scott Ian uses the JB and gets such crushing tone. I think it depends on the guitar and amp. The JB is a solid pickup but not doing anything super amazing. It is a great pickup to have but better options obviously.
 
romanianreaper said:
Scott Ian uses the JB and gets such crushing tone. I think it depends on the guitar and amp. The JB is a solid pickup but not doing anything super amazing. It is a great pickup to have but better options obviously.
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Exactly. No doubt if the guitar and all else in the rig is great, the results will be great. It’s a good pickup to choose I think if you’re a high gain player that’s a bit lost and doesn’t know which direction to take. It’ll get the job done and fit well in most setups. As obsessive gear heads though here I think a lot of us like to dig as deep as we can and see what the even better stuff is and then what’s even better than that and then even better than that, etc.
 
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