What is the JB good for IYE?

[MisterE]

I am considering one for my Strat. I depend on my Neck and Mid for clean and funky tones.

Think it would sound good with an SSL1 and SSL1rwrp?

I want to vote in the poll but i have never used a JB.

As much as I would like to say yes, I would rather you stick with the SSl1 with the strat. That and the Dimarzio area pups are the most recommended for the vintage strat tones.

I don't know if Martian is a member here but in the Fender forums he is the authority on these pickups.

I hope I was of use to you.

[PRSfan nym 1985]

I'm going to respectfully disagree the JB is a very versatile pickup it can handle a lot of different styles. If it isn't right for you or your particular guitar that doesn't make it less of a pickup or diminish it's versatility, that's simply one person picking the wrong tools for the job (ie USER ERROR). And with all the talk on here about mag swaps and such I'm willing to bet that if put in the "wrong" wood you could make it work. I don't know guys the JB/Jazz set has been a classic setup for a long time, I can totally understand why it's SD's pickup set of choice.

A lot of people don't intonate or setup their guitars or even know what that stuff means so just some things to keep in mind (again not trying to say everyone on here is like that).

I had mine in a solid mahogany PRS SE guitar and I really liked it in stock form. Friends that also use JB's in a variety of guitars not only like theres but I liked em too. They literally can tackle everything I've ever tried to play on them I play jazz-blues-surf-rock-classic rock-psychedelic-hard rock-rockabilly-country.

Just because there are people that don't like them doesn't mean that their opinions are factual. You will find people that love/hate any given product. I would say to use your own ears and make your own opinions before believing what other people sprout off as truth.

Just because someone posts something online doesn't make it true, the other day someone tried arguing with me that Frank Sinatra wrote and performed L-O-V-E which was actually a song written for Nat King Cole in the 60's by two songwriters named Milt Gabler and Bert Kaempfert. Yet I got flamed for providing facts on it and when they sent me a link to the recording of frank sinatra performing it, it was literally Nat King Coles version that I've listened to since I was 2 years old.

Oftentimes forums like these can be used as a way for people that have sour grapes to vent about their problems, you have to remember that even this forum is a very small percentage of people that purchase and use SD products. I'm not trying to rain on anyones parade or invalidate their opinions I just want to remind people that we are here simply expressing our opinions, nothing any of us say or do should be considered fact. It's a great resource, but at the end of the day trust only your ears.

My advice would probably be, if you are interested in a JB find one and try it out. It's not a huge investment and if you don't like it you can always exchange it for a different pickup.

[blueman335]

1) with all the talk on here about mag swaps and such I'm willing to bet that if put in the "wrong" wood you could make it work.

2) the JB/Jazz set has been a classic setup for a long time, I can totally understand why it's SD's pickup set of choice.

3) Just because there are people that don't like them doesn't mean that their opinions are factual. You will find people that love/hate any given product.

4) forums like these can be used as a way for people that have sour grapes to vent about their problems

1) Yes, mag swaps greatly increase the places where a PU 'works.' And that muddies the waters. This thread should be about stock JB's. There's about 10 alnicos, plus ceramics, available to us now, so that's mass confusion to take all those into account.

2) Had Duncan not paired up the JB/Jazz, there's probably very few players that would have come up with that on their own. It's an 'Odd Couple' for sure, even odder with a name like the Hot Rodded set. There's plenty of players that love that name, and buy that set, but when they listen to the neck, they say 'Huh?'

3) Does that work both ways? Is it also true that just because people like them 'doesn't mean that their opinions are factual'? Actually your sentence makes no sense, as opinions are not factual. Hence the traditional distinction between fact and opinion.

4) Yes, people use forums to vent their problems, and that would indicate that not everyone loves JB's, which is backed by many posts here to that affect. It's a finicky PU. I've read hundreds of posts about JB's, including many by JB lovers who readily admit it can be 'horrendous' in some guitars (with hilarious descriptions). It's probably Duncan's most controversial PU, with strong feelings on both sides.

Many times JB's work great, not denying that; there is also no shortage of times that they've disappointed. If you like to swap mags and pots, you can probably get one sounding the way you want in many guitars. If you're new to tweaking, it can be a roll of the dice when you stray from the woods it was designed for. For a newbie with a Strat or Tele, sure, go for it. For a newbie with a warm-toned guitar, there are more reliable choices, like one of the Custom family. After my experiences and after having read so many posts here, I can't in good conscience recommend a JB to a non-tweaker, to put into every kind of guitar and wood.

[PRSfan nym 1985]

1) I was talking about the JB I had I never mag-swapped. I was simply pointing out that a lot of people on here tend to say when something doesn't work don't toss it try diff pots, diff mags, etc.

2) I don't know why they chose the name Hot Rodded set, I like the fact they chose two different pickups it gives you distinct tonalities when you switch positions which imho makes the set extremely versatile.

3) how does it not make sense, people try to present opinion as fact. You can't argue that.

4) You are presenting other people's experiences instead of your own. How do you know the validity of all these experiences? I mean no offense, but couldn't this person just use the serach function to find out what other people present on said product. I could easily just make something up about any number of products and post them online and before you know it I'd have a bandwagon of people jumping on board agreeing with me (and all of them could have no experience with the product either).

I've used a lot of JB's over the years in a lot of different guitars I don't find that the finicky argument holds true at all, but that's my opinion.

Most of these threads should simply end with GO BUY THE THING YOU WANT TO TRY AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF, I mean really if you have the money go do it, there is no risk Duncan, Dimarzio, Fralin, Lollar, etc will let you exchange pickups if you don't like them (I think most of them have a 30 day exchange). That should be more than enough time to figure out if you love/hate something and no matter what happens you'll end up with something you like.

[blueman335]

2) I don't know why they chose the name Hot Rodded set, I like the fact they chose two different pickups it gives you distinct tonalities when you switch positions which imho makes the set extremely versatile.

4) You are presenting other people's experiences instead of your own. How do you know the validity of all these experiences?

Most of these threads should simply end with GO BUY THE THING YOU WANT TO TRY AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF

2) A different name, indictating the PU's differences would be nice, and less misleading. First impression is a kick-a$$ overwound neck PU; that's not what you get. The JB is hot rodded, the Jazz is like an old Plymouth Valiant. The set offers more tone options because of that, true. It's probably better to tell people that up front with a more accurate name.

4) Maybe there's been dozens and dozens of guys making all this stuff up (maybe Larry DiMarzio's family members are really the ones making all the negative posts about JB's!). Maybe the JB actually is very versatile and great everywhere, and our forum members are too dumb to know it (I can't totally rule this out ).

And the theory of 'Go buy the thing you want and decide for yourself' falls apart when you consider how many times people come here and ask what PU to buy, because they have no idea. They depend on sound clips and EQ charts, which to me are misleading. Many of them have no clue what to get. They beg for help. Odds are they're new at aftermarket PU's, and probably are paying a tech to swap them, and don't want to have to pay him to do 2 or 3 sets in the same guitar. What they'd like most of all, is something with a high probability of success; not one that may sound great or may fail spectacularly. They don't see a lot of comfort in that kind of choice.

In some situations, I prefer to steer them towards, or away from, something they aren't prepared to deal with (magnets and pots) if it turns out to be not what they want. I bought a several JB's, put them several different guitars; quickly pulled them out and sold them. Later I discovered a JB I missed and tried an A2 in it. Finally! Tones I like. If those first JB's were my only experience with SD, I wouldn't be in a big hurry to buy another Duncan. I just don't want players turned off to SD because of an experience with a PU known to be hit or miss. Duncan has so much more to offer than JB's; there's plenty of other great PU's to recommend.

[PRSfan nym 1985]

My go buy it theory is because there is literally no risk in buying pickups anymore even when I get pickups from Lollar or Fralin they back up their products if their customers aren't satisfied. Chances are if you buy from a half decent reputable dealer they can lead in the right direction when it comes to choosing pickups.

So you realize the JB isn't for you (which most guitarists know within a day or two) you exchange it for whatever suits you better PG, 59, C5, C8, etc. How did you lose anything in that transaction? At least you know what you like and don't like. None of us can decide what tones work for other people. But I hate seeing people post negative things on a pickup bc it didn't meet their subjective criteria? If the JB is such a crappy pickup why do so many players like them, buy them, and more importantly why does SD continue making them? If they were half as bad as some of the people made them out to be on here Duncan couldn't afford to produce them or they'd be out of business.

I have a good idea of what works because I work on guitars for a living I've seen a lot of Duncans, GFS, DiMarzios, Lollars, Fralins, Bareknuckles, Gibsons, etc. The person I work for is a licensed dealer for Fralin and Lollar.

No offense intended but I think anything surrounding tone is misleading....people's opinions, soundclips, mfr data charts, etc. My reasoning for that is sound too many variables.

[rumblebox]

Its too hot for classic rock, and not chunky enough for metal. Its good for regular hard rock though. Magnets work miracles though.

[blueman335]

I hate seeing people post negative things on a pickup bc it didn't meet their subjective criteria?

If the JB is such a crappy pickup why do so many players like them, buy them, and more importantly why does SD continue making them?.

Agreed, if it's just someone ragging with no point, that's one thing. But no PU will please everyone, in every guitar, for every kind of music. So guitarists need to know what works, and doesn't work for other players, and why. We all have our own agendas, so if a PU isn't suited for metal, but is great for blues, that what I want to know. It's not negative to say where it didn't work for you, and explain why. If all we every said was positive flowery things about every PU, that wouldn't help anyone make a decision. I want to know pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses. Thin, muddy, weak, shill, flabby, sterile...whatever. Tell us what you were shooting for and what worked, and what didn't. Give it to us straight. This is useful info. Tell us your criteria and if it met it. Doesn't mean the next guy will run into the same thing, but it's one piece in a puzzle.

Part of the JB's popularity is because:
1) It has a unique position: It was one of the first hot aftermarket PU's (nostalgia thing, which also helps PAF's).
2) It's gotten a HUGE amount of marketing for decades, maybe more than all the other Duncans combined; maybe more than any other PU made. The name is a household word.
3) It's marketed as part of the 'Hot Rodded Set', and billed as 'Seymour's favorite'. Them's powerful words.
4) A certain percentage of guys buy Strats 'because everyone else does.' To some degree this applies to some JB purchasers. Some guys buy JB's and love them, others are sheep and aren't all that observant.

[Aceman]

I had one a long time ago, I loved it for the 80's metal. I recently inherited one. I remember why I got rid of it and have noted my tonal changes in taste these days.

A great pickup overall, just not my personal thing. I lean towards the Distortion or the Custom these days.

[buckethead]

I have to say almost all your choices are valid. Although i do not think the JB is the do all pick up by any means it does really well in most instances.

However i would like to point out for Funk i would seriously go with single coils, hum and all. Also Industrial might need a little more beef.

I didn't cast a vote as per my explanation

[buckethead]

Agreed, if it's just someone ragging with no point, that's one thing. But no PU will please everyone, in every guitar, for every kind of music. So guitarists need to know what works, and doesn't work for other players, and why. We all have our own agendas, so if a PU isn't suited for metal, but is great for blues, that what I want to know. It's not negative to say where it didn't work for you, and explain why. If all we every said was positive flowery things about every PU, that wouldn't help anyone make a decision. I want to know pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses. Thin, muddy, weak, shill, flabby, sterile...whatever. Tell us what you were shooting for and what worked, and what didn't. Give it to us straight. This is useful info. Tell us your criteria and if it met it. Doesn't mean the next guy will run into the same thing, but it's one piece in a puzzle.

Part of the JB's popularity is because:
1) It has a unique position: It was one of the first hot aftermarket PU's (nostalgia thing, which also helps PAF's).
2) It's gotten a HUGE amount of marketing for decades, maybe more than all the other Duncans combined; maybe more than any other PU made. The name is a household word.
3) It's marketed as part of the 'Hot Rodded Set', and billed as 'Seymour's favorite'. Them's powerful words.
4) A certain percentage of guys buy Strats 'because everyone else does.' To some degree this applies to some JB purchasers. Some guys buy JB's and love them, others are sheep and aren't all that observant.

well said

[PRSfan nym 1985]

but my point was just that it's like anything else you can't mistake user error with product quality

[9unslin9er]

to me JB=Hair Metal

+1 \m/

"I like drugs but they don’t like me
My brain cells seem to disagree
I like drugs, I like drugs, I like drugs, but they don’t like me"

-Satchel, Steel Panther, Kramer Pacer, Jazz/JB

[darthphineas]

If you are interested in the JB, get it. If you don't like it, there are always people buying them from here or on Craigslist or on eBay.

[ErikH]

I play classic rock, some newer rock, classic metal, especially 80's stuff and other stuff. I haven't found anything that the JB is not good at.

[jms6668]

Versatile it is not. There's been many threads and posts here over the years about how 'atrocious' a JB can be in the wrong wood. Much pickier than most PU's. It can do some things very well, but it's not the PU to put in any guitar for any style of music. A lot get sold 'used' for that reason.

I think he means musically versatile. With that, I would have to agree, once it is mated with the right instrument.

For me, I've had them in about 15 different guitars (and about 5 LP's) and they always seemed to work fine for Rock, Blues, Fusion, World Music, Metal, Thrash etc and whatever else I threw at them. As has been mentioned before, they always shone the brightest in a working situation; sitting right where the electric guitar frequencies live in a band format and need a punch.

JB's are one of those things that I never knew people had issues with until I joined forums (Like Celestion Vintage 30's or Tubescreamers for example)Yes, nothing is to everyone's tastes, but I think it is always a pickup that is worth considering (as is the other old High Output warhorse: Dimarzio SD).

Oops, I voted Trash by mistake. I was trying to vote for everything.

[Andrew Lamprecht]

I play classic rock, some newer rock, classic metal, especially 80's stuff and other stuff. I haven't found anything that the JB is not good at.

+1, once you find a guitar that mixes well with the JB it is hard to beat.

[darthphineas]

I think he means musically versatile. With that, I would have to agree, once it is mated with the right instrument.

For me, I've had them in about 15 different guitars (and about 5 LP's) and they always seemed to work fine for Rock, Blues, Fusion, World Music, Metal, Thrash etc and whatever else I threw at them. As has been mentioned before, they always shone the brightest in a working situation; sitting right where the electric guitar frequencies live in a band format and need a punch.

JB's are one of those things that I never knew people had issues with until I joined forums (Like Celestion Vintage 30's or Tubescreamers for example)Yes, nothing is to everyone's tastes, but I think it is always a pickup that is worth considering (as is the other old High Output warhorse: Dimarzio SD).

Oops, I voted Trash by mistake. I was trying to vote for everything.

I agree.

I've put JBs in many many combinations of bolt-on guitars since the mid-80s, so I also don't get where people suggest it is picky with certain woods and certain guitars. I've yet to find an application where a JB lets me down, and it appears that there is more than one guitar company that thinks the same as it's fairly common to find them as a stock pickup in new guitars. that's not quite the case for some of the other pickups in the Duncan line.

[phoenixguitar]

If you play with a JB pickup, what kind of music is it that you play?

I play classic to hard rock with it. JB works great in bridge of ESP Vintage Plus! I also had one in a stratocaster and ROCKED! Great tone both lead and rythm. I like a hot humbucking pickup as it's nice to have some balls vs the standard blues players which would probably need a softer pickup or single coil

[bloodswords]

Black metal.

JB is one of my fav Duncan, have it in 9 different guitars.