HB-102 Friend or Foe?

[mikp]

Hi

Have any of you guys tried the HB-102 pup. Ana if so in which guitar was it utilized and how was the tone?

I'm intrigued by the idea that it was modeled as a combination between the JB and SH-2n Jazz Model...

[Evan Skopp]

Friend.

I have a set in a Schecter Tempest Bigsby (the semi-hollow).

BTW, they're not really a combination between the JB and Jazz neck -- they're more of a copy of the JB bridge (HB-102b) and Jazz neck (HB-102n).

Here's my endorsement of them: when I got the guitar, I figured I'd pull the pickups out and replace them with USA-made pickups. That was three years ago. I still "haven't gotten around to it."

[mikp]

Ok that sounds cool.the reason why I'm asking is that I'm contemplating buying an ESP SC-200, stephen carpenter signature, an affordable guitar and if these pups are of the quality that you say, it could be a nice choice. Is that something you can recommend?

[skyydogg01]

I have it. it came in my esp also. i moved it to my ibanez and put a real jb in my esp just to have the strings align better. (the bridge on the esp is standard spaced and the bridge on the ibanez is trembucker spaced.) i really can't tell the difference in the 2. i like it a lot.

edit: you'll be able to nail Stephan Carpenter's tone with the right amp. He is the reason i bought the jb anyway (got the esp later)

[mikp]

Ok what Ibanez and Esp model do you have?

M

[mikp]

And sorry forgot what amp do you use? or what amp and effects would you consider coming close to the carpenter sound/tone?

[skyydogg01]

ibanez is a GRX 40
ESP is an ltd mv-200
amp is a Crate gfx-1200h with GX412S cab
effects - just a chorus and reverb when i felt like it.

[JB_From_Hell]

I've had that set in an LTD Viper, LTD M100, Schecter 006, and Ibanez AX-something. The HB102b that came stock in the Schecter totally kicked ass. The one from the Viper (which went into the other LTD & Ibanez) totally ate balls. They are inconsistent, in that, some are almost identical to JBs, and some are awful.

I don't really think you should base the decision of whether or not to buy the guitar on the stock pickups. There's ALWAYS somebody getting rid of a JB on the Trading Post or Ebay for pretty cheap.

[mikp]

ok thanks for the reply. The Ebay thing is a bit problematic though, considering my current residency in Denmark and not all ship internationally but thanks again for your inputs.

M