For the Love of JB

[grapeskeletons]

One I got a JB I stopped swapping bridge pickups. It was what I was looking for all along.

JB/'59n is my formula now.

[JPH118]

Popped one in the bridge of my old SG years ago as a replacement for the (terrible) Spotlight pup... it was a huge improvement. However, when looking for better sounds in my other guitars, i've found better Duncans for my tastes.

[darthphineas]

first pup upgrade was from stock to a Duncan, and it was the JB. it's been the bar that any other pickup I've tried is measured against. I've never had the JB not work in a guitar.

[dr. ad]

and my vote makes it 66.67%.

[eschoendorff]

I have a JB in an Epi Korina V. It kills in that guitar.

For those who love the JB, I'd be interested to hear thoughts on the SD Mustaine Livewire pups. The bridge pickup in that set is thought by some to be an active JB. I absolutely love it in a mahogany guitar. Very full, very clear.

[Ed Hunter]

The JB is like the dimarzio tone zone in that some love it and some hate it. it is overly obviously it is a great model as is the tone zone.
What cracks me up is when a new guy comes on here and asks "is the JB any good"? and one of the SDUGF members who is a JB hater says it sucks and is complete ****e the new guy may listen to that remark and pass and move on to something else even if the JB may have been PERFECT for him,
I think it is best to just tell the "character" and general tone of the JB and let the guy make up his own mind, they are a few guys here that are really good at giving info on the sound of the pu's so that a new player to duncan will know pretty much what to expect from a duncan.

[jumble jumble]

Had one in an SG, it was great. About to put a TB in the bridge of a Floyderised Strat w/500K - we'll see how that goes.

[Jeff5]

The JB is a fantastic pick up. It definitely has a tone all it's own though and some will not like it. For leads, I can't find a better sounding pick up. For heavy rhythm work, especially thrash/speed, I found the bottom end a bit too loose. So I went with a Custom which is fantastic too. Actually I use a Custom/JB hybrid right now!

[Jocelyn]

I like the the stock JB works well for me. I do believe it works better on Bolt on Style Guitars though. And the JB works well with the Jazz N.

[darthphineas]

For those who love the JB, I'd be interested to hear thoughts on the SD Mustaine Livewire pups. The bridge pickup in that set is thought by some to be an active JB. I absolutely love it in a mahogany guitar. Very full, very clear.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...must_livewire/ probably something to the JB comparison. also matches up on the Tone Chart.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

I played an Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Ibanez RG121 Prestige, and some Ibby S-series model with a JB in the bridge and not one guitar sounded remotely good with that pick up.

I am no active pu fan (not by a long shot), but the ZW LP & RG121 sounded much better when the JB got replaced with Duncan Black Out units - that is how much i did not like the JB.
The S-series got sold, so i never played it with any other pick ups in it.

[dvanburen]

jb custom hybrid with A8 mag is really nice. jb stock in alder body guitars is smokin!!

its got this upper mid push that some people find offensive but its a hot pickup that really cuts and has a nice modern sound

[joyouswolf]

I have this love & not so love for it. Over all I keep coming back to it. I love the leads but sometimes find the rhythm not quite right. I'm doing a lot of magnet swaps right now to see the difference. A2, A4, A5 roughcast, A5 unoriented, and so on.
I'm doing this on both the SH-4 & TB-4 versions because they are different winds. So far I'm loving the regular SH-4 and the TB-4 A4 versions the best but haven't got to the A2 & A5 roughcast versions yet.

[Mr. B]

I've found it VERY picky about the guitar/wood it is in. I hated it for years, but I found a home for it in a Jackson Dinky with a Jazz in the neck. It can still be a little honky sometimes. I also have the JB with A2 magnet in a double fat strat with a PGn. Great combo there.

[dvanburen]

I also have the JB with A2 magnet in a double fat strat with a PGn.

that sounds awesome

[joyouswolf]

I have been playing with magnets lately and tweaking the JB.
Check out a JB TB4 / A4 or A5 roughcast.
SWEET MOMMA

[J.LaGrassa]

Love the stock JB in my Les Paul Classic, it just sounds great in that guitar and this is with 500k pots. I wouldn't change a thing about it!

[MisterE]

I can't say it sounds bad. I like 70's and some 80's rock & blues and it seems to work better for the 80's sound and I agree it sounds better over driven than clean, I like the split between the JB and Jazz better then the JB by itself, the tripleshots are helping in finding some useful tones.

All in all for me and my needs it's working but I may try a mag swap with the UOA5 just to see if that's better, if not then I'll just swap it for the 59 which I think will work better for me anyway.

[Ash Telecaster]

How close is the JB jr tone wise to the full JB?

[SAVAGE DISTORTION]

I love the jb i j got recently it is much nicer than the stock sh11.
The only thing is though is i am really confused i was reading that when the jb first came out it used a roughcast magnet but now does not?
does that mean the old jb sound different than the one i bought and
why the change was the old version not good enough or something?
i saw that you could buy the original version anyone ever compare the two