The Duncan JB. Who is a fan, why?

[mooncobra]

I recently got a bitchin Soloist, and it came with a JB and a 59. I have always liked the 59, but have never really been a fan of the JB. The soloist has an alder wings on a maple neck through. This time, the guitar and my amp, the Masotti x100m(which rules by the way)have made the JB tolerable. I usually cant stand the JB, but a combo of the guitar and amp make it ok. I will change it out eventually, but I am not in a rush like I usually would be to get rid of a JB. Its amazing that certain combinations of guitars and amps can make such a big change in sound and feel occur in a pickup.

 

[reverymike]

I like the JB. Keep in mind a lot of guys who talk about 'magic' JBs are talking about the old JBJ pickup. . .it was a JB that was wound by a certain worker at Seymour Duncan. I think her name was Juanita (hence the second "J" in JBJ).

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Cool, Rez, how does the Alnico 8 compared to the 5 in terms of tone and feel?

 

[clcwarlock]

I agree, I have the same issue with certain guitars and pickups. They all sound different with different guitars into different amps. The JB doesn't sound bad in a Marshall type amp.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

I love JB's in a Les Paul or other Mahogany/Maple body. I had one in an Alder Jackson SL3 and did not like it in there.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

SH-5 ...

 

[HilltopExplosion]

I have a Jackson Dinky Pro that came with a JB TB4, and a 59 SH1N. At first I thought they were junk, but the more I messed with my settings, I like 'em. Great for cleans to great rock tone. They clean up real nice with the volume knob, and when in single coil have nice twang/spank. Wide open I give em 4 1/2 out of 5 bottles of Aqua Net

 

[sjk]

Always depends on the guitar for me, sublime in some horeshit in others!

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I installed an old MJ wound 80's JB in my relic strat years ago. Tried several high end pickups and the JB sounds best to my ears. It's just hot enough and has that alnico magnet smoothness to it (not harsh like a ceramic magnet). Plus, it has a lot of mids (which I love) and a full bottom end...which helps fatten up a superstrat.

 

[glip22]

JB is very touchy. It likes the heights about the same on the high and low side. I tweak mine and I like it. I raise the pole pieces. G and D higher. B a little. High E a very small amount. Low E flush. I then adjust the pickup to a little over 3 32nd's on each side and tweak a little from there. I usually wind up with the low E at just over 3 32nds and the high E at 3. Makes a huge difference with th eJB. When I hit the sweet spots it's not shrill and has a massive punch. For a darker guitar I raise them more and then lower teh pickup. Makes the tone brighter and clear. Depends on the guitar how I adjust.

 

[psychodave]

I like the JB. Keep in mind a lot of guys who talk about 'magic' JBs are talking about the old JBJ pickup. . .it was a JB that was wound by a certain worker at Seymour Duncan. I think her name was Juanita (hence the second "J" in JBJ).

I use a JBJ bridge pickup in the neck spot of my Les Paul.

 

[mchn13]

JB is very touchy. It likes the heights about the same on the high and low side. I tweak mine and I like it. I raise the pole pieces. G and D higher. B a little. High E a very small amount. Low E flush. I then adjust the pickup to a little over 3 32nd's on each side and tweak a little from there. I usually wind up with the low E at just over 3 32nds and the high E at 3. Makes a huge difference with th eJB. When I hit the sweet spots it's not shrill and has a massive punch. For a darker guitar I raise them more and then lower teh pickup. Makes the tone brighter and clear. Depends on the guitar how I adjust.

Same here. Once I get it adjusted right. It's my favorite. Was using mcp's for awhile, but I'm back to my les Paul with the jb/'59 in it.

 

[mchn13]

As to why; it just cuts in the right frequencies in a band mix and has enough output to do rock and metal..

 

[romanianreaper]

Its a riffers pickup. not for the guys that want all the greasy smear.

That is pretty much it in a nutshell. If you want palm-muting and chug, it does it.

Like others have said, I like it in a Les Paul. I despised it in the Randy Rhoads flying V. Felt like it had EQ sliders built into the pickup and it was a "frown" shape with a huge mid that was too much. If I was playing early Stryper, it would have worked great. For anything else, I wanted to hang myself.

 

[Racerxrated]

JB is very touchy. It likes the heights about the same on the high and low side. I tweak mine and I like it. I raise the pole pieces. G and D higher. B a little. High E a very small amount. Low E flush. I then adjust the pickup to a little over 3 32nd's on each side and tweak a little from there. I usually wind up with the low E at just over 3 32nds and the high E at 3. Makes a huge difference with th eJB. When I hit the sweet spots it's not shrill and has a massive punch. For a darker guitar I raise them more and then lower teh pickup. Makes the tone brighter and clear. Depends on the guitar how I adjust.

Same here. Once I get it adjusted right. It's my favorite. Was using mcp's for awhile, but I'm back to my les Paul with the jb/'59 in it.

Yup. Height is more touchy in a JB than any other pickup I've had...but when you find that right distance, it sounds great! Perfect lows, mids highs..its all there.

 

[mooncobra]

Cool, Rez, how does the Alnico 8 compared to the 5 in terms of tone and feel?

TIGHT, BIG low end, FAST tracking. No flub. Clear and punchy. Its a riffers pickup. not for the guys that want all the greasy smear. It holds together and has lots of harmonics. I get them about 13-15k and they have plenty of output. This was my goto when Arcane made pickups for me, he makes the best version of this, but he is REALLY busy, so its hard to get them fast.
I found the MJ at the SD custom shop gets pretty close (hers a bit brighter) but that was fine in all my LP's

Pretty much every hum bucker equipped guitar I have has them, except for one which I put a Rebel Yell set in for kicks. (and that pickup is pretty great too)

tried the Custom 5?

 

[Rick Lee]

Reza, how much does it cost to order a customized JB? I've never bought one, just always had one or two laying around from other guitars I tore apart.

 

[Rick Lee]

That's good to know. I don't need one at the moment, but I'm sure another project guitar is around the corner.

 

[VoodooChild24]

I like the JB. Keep in mind a lot of guys who talk about 'magic' JBs are talking about the old JBJ pickup. . .it was a JB that was wound by a certain worker at Seymour Duncan. I think her name was Juanita (hence the second "J" in JBJ).

Here's a pic of what reverymike is talking about. Her name is actually "Maricela Juarez".
I had these vintage JB's on my old Les Paul.

 

[guitarobert]

SH-5 ...

+1. I prefer the Custom SH-5. I found the JB to sound flat. But I've only used the stock JBs and not this other JBJ version.