Hey AT-1 users, what's the final verdict vs JB?

[Kapo_Polenton]

Yeah THIS topic again! I have read very different things on this pup.. some say it is mush, others say it has tighter bottom than a JB and a mellower top. Which one is the more true statement in Alder? What i'd be looking for is a tad mellower top and i'll take tight bottom all day long. ..

 

[6string40]

This is jogging my memory b/c it's been a few years and I no longer own the Charvel it was in.

Let me start by saying I have never met a JB that I liked in an alder bodied guitar. I tried probably a dozen different Dimarzio pickups in various alder Charvels and the AT-1 was by far my favorite. While I can't recall how tight the bottom end was, I certainly would not consider it to be "mush." I do recall the smoother top however and I believe that to be what really turned me on to that pickup.

 

[bulletproof_funk]

I actually really like the JB in my alder Horizon-III w/Floyd, it's bright-ish sounding without being anemic or harsh, handles the shred/metal stuff well, the maple top probably fills in the lower highs a bit somewhat.

I can't really compare apples to apples since I've never put my AT-1 in the H-III, it's currently in my Ibanez RGT with mahogany body. I do find the RGT to sound very bright in general and the AT-1 doesn't hide that. To my ears, the AT-1 has tighter bass than the JB but it could be the difference in guitars. I've never found the JB's bass to sound flubby, the Rhodes Colossus I play through tightens up the bass well though.

 

[MrDan666]

I got to compare the JB in my Jap Charvel SoCal vs the AT-1 in my friend's Jap Charvel SoCal. Different guitars obviously so it's not a real true comparison, but here's my thoughts :

The JB and AT-1 do not sound very much alike IMO. Many people seem to think the AT-1 is like Dimarzio's take on a JB with some improvements... and from my experience, that isn't the case at all.

To me, the AT-1 is like a really well balanced sounding pickup, hotter than the JB, more compressed and less bright too. It reminds me of the bridge pickup in the Ernie Ball EVH/Axis guitars. Good mids and chunky lows, definitely tighter than the JB. Kind of like a mix of old school hard rock tone, mixed with a bit of modern too.

The JB has more of those 80's cocked wah style upper mids, way more open sounding and less compressed.. also slightly cooler output compared to the AT-1 too. The JB is undoubtedly the brighter pickup of the two. It has that classic old school 80's hard rock tone nailed.

So yeah.. that's my thoughts on the topic