Van Halen Tone With a Duncan JB Pickup test

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Its such a great and versatile pickup. Height adjustments can take you from PAF sounding to thick and more modern. Same can be said for others too, but there's a reason why the JB is such a standard for many.
 
Do you guys use 500k or 250k pots with the JB? I found it way too bright and hot with the 500k. Especially in a strat type guitar. 250K was better but I ended up with a tone zone for VH tones.
 
High mids are key for good VH tone - and the JB is all high mids!

Love the JB in my Charvel!

I can't open your soundcloud file - it must be private?
 
Can't access. says it's gone. I can get EVH with my JB's but the EVH frank pup works as advertised.
 
I got an early 80's JB in my northern ash Franky & it sounds awesome!

Also got a EVH Frankenstein in my basswood 5150 & it also sounds totally legit!
 
I have a Custom 78 in my Frankenstrat and am ditching it. The AT-1 in my Bumblebee sounds soooo much better. I ordered another AT-1 from MF last week and they sent me the wrong one, so I'll have to use the SD for my gig tomorrow. Though I have a JB laying around and may just slap it in there when I change the strings tomorrow.
 
I slapped the JB in there tonight and it totally kicks ass. I like it so much more than the Custom 78, which I would list for sale here, if I had the post count.
 
Rick Lee":35vfi2w5 said:
I slapped the JB in there tonight and it totally kicks ass. I like it so much more than the Custom 78, which I would list for sale here, if I had the post count.
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Makes sense, since the AT-1 is pretty similar to the JB output and tone wise (more refined though). And the 78 is a low output, PAF type pickup. You like the higher output! :rock:
 
The JB is a great pickup. I have numerous JBJ's in guitars, but most of the time I prefer the Custom.
 
I like the JB but prefer the Suhr Aldrich much better for high gain.
 
The JB is a great pickup... in SOME guitars. I've had in quite a few over the years and it was pretty polarizing. I found it sounded PERFECT in the first USA Charvel San Dimas I bought way back, but pretty mediocre in a couple of USA Jacksons and Charvels I bought later. Both of the superstrats I have kicking around now had the original JBs swapped out for other pickups due to the previous owners' preferences for other models.

W.
 
AndyK":1ksx52v2 said:
High mids are key for good VH tone - and the JB is all high mids!

Love the JB in my Charvel!

I can't open your soundcloud file - it must be private?
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Uploaded again. Don't know what happened :confused:
 
vh1tone":3gp0tbfg said:
Uploaded again. Don't know what happened :confused:
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Sounds awesome, great job on the recording. :thumbsup:

The SH-4 is one of my all time favourite's, I have one in the bridge of my Ibanez Jem. :)
 
I found an old JB I had lying around at the shop and stuck it in the bridge position of my Telecaster (routed out for a full-sized humbucker) while waiting for a DiMarzio Super Distortion to arrive.

I have to say, I really like the JB, a nice full tone, lots of low end. I haven't yet taken it out to try the DiMarzio, so I'm not sure what's going to end up in there.

Oh, and by the way, the VH clip sounds great!
 
MichaelR/T":348z3e41 said:
vh1tone":348z3e41 said:
Uploaded again. Don't know what happened :confused:
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Sounds awesome, great job on the recording. :thumbsup:

The SH-4 is one of my all time favourite's, I have one in the bridge of my Ibanez Jem. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you very much :)
 
I have the EVH Frankenstein in my custom guitar and really like it. I have a JB in my G&L Legacy and it is perfect in that guitar. My Warren DeMartini Charvel has the RTM pickup which is basically a JB and sounds great in there.

I hated that JB in the Jackson RR V. Waaaayyy too middy!!!!
 
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