Replacement for JB

[straterverb7]

I recently got the jb and I love the leads I get from it. One problem though, I found it too loose for any serious rhythm. For what I play, an aggressive tight rhythm sound is just as important as a great lead tone. It seems like something more balance would be better for me. I don't like scooped mids though.

Are there any other duncans that fit what I'm looking for? Maybe dimarzio?

[Frogman]

Put in a small ceramic or Alnico 8 mag.

It's a brilliant change.

[Push to Shuv]

Duncan Custom might fit the bill

[straterverb7]

The 59/custom hybrid seems like what I'm looking for. I'd be curious to hear about anyone's experience with that pickup as well as a brobucker and 78.

EDIT: This pickup would be going into an alder lonestar strat (hss).

[lazyfinger]

Sounds like Duncan Distortion is what you need, with a 250-300k tone pot if high end is grating.

[jhale667]

Put in a small ceramic or Alnico 8 mag.

It's a brilliant change.

+1 I'd try that before swapping pickups, especially if you love the lead tone of the existing pickup and just want to tighten up the lows. YMMV.

[lazyfinger]

+1 I'd try that before swapping pickups, especially if you love the lead tone of the existing pickup and just want to tighten up the lows. YMMV.

I'd also suggest a big ceramic.

[Beer$]

Try adjusting the screws under the bottom strings.

[bloodswords]

I give my JB a bottom boost instead of doing it away if it sounds lacking. This is what I'm using in the mean time:

[blueman335]

Put in a small ceramic or Alnico 8 mag.

It's a brilliant change.

+1. 'Wiork with what you have.' Try a mag swap before buying another PU, that may turn out not to be exactly what you want either.

[Grindspine]

Put in a small ceramic or Alnico 8 mag.

It's a brilliant change.

Take your JB, swap the mag with ceramic; that turns it into a Duncan Distortion.

Sounds like Duncan Distortion is what you need, with a 250-300k tone pot if high end is grating.

If the distortion is harsh on the high end, swapping the volume pot to a lower value (250k or 300k) is a great option to smooth the highs.

[lazyfinger]

Take your JB, swap the mag with ceramic; that turns it into a Duncan Distortion.

Not quite, it's been confirmed here several months ago that DD and JB have slightly different wind, they read out the same resistance, but wound differently. DD also has the big ceramic, that's why I recommended that he should pick up a big ceramic, it'll be closer.

[darthphineas]

Take your JB, swap the mag with ceramic; that turns it into a Duncan Distortion.

that MISinformation has been around so long that it's old enough to vote.

+1. 'Wiork with what you have.' Try a mag swap before buying another PU, that may turn out not to be exactly what you want either.

+1


if you recently got it, then give it some time to settle in to your rig and your ears. every pup sounds different. try tweaking the amp settings. if you want to physically alter something, trying a roughcast A5 mag. or you can shorter screw pole pieces under the wound strings... or short hex-head pole pieces under the wound strings... or try them both. for just a few pole pieces, call up SD and ask to see if they can help you out.

[straterverb7]

Thanks for all of the great advice everyone. Adjusting the height definitely helped but I still find it a little loose for power chords. I wish there was a pickup with the jb's character that's a tad tighter on the low end for rhythm. The simplest way to put it, I'm looking for something aggressive sounding (like the jb) that will add a little bit of thickness to my strat as well.

I'm definitely considering a dmz air zone or at-1.

[LonePhantom]

Maybe the DiMarzio Dominion bridge might suit you. Very tight low end, and aggressive tone, but still plenty of dynamics. It's a great pickup.

[Frogman]

Thanks for all of the great advice everyone. Adjusting the height definitely helped but I still find it a little loose for power chords. I wish there was a pickup with the jb's character that's a tad tighter on the low end for rhythm. The simplest way to put it, I'm looking for something aggressive sounding (like the jb) that will add a little bit of thickness to my strat as well.

I'm definitely considering a dmz air zone or at-1.

Seriously man, take heed to what people are saying here.

"jb's character that's a tad tighter on the low end for rhythm.....something aggressive sounding (like the jb) that will add a little bit of thickness to my strat"


Alnico 8 or small ceramic mag in your JB will give you exactly this.

[GuitarDoc]

An A8 has been used with great success in the JB. Simple, quick, cheap.

[SrDeMaFp]

Alnico 8 or small ceramic mag in your JB will give you exactly this.

This. Seriously.

[stevesmith1987]

This. Seriously.

.

[9fingers]

Thanks for all of the great advice everyone. Adjusting the height definitely helped but I still find it a little loose for power chords. I wish there was a pickup with the jb's character that's a tad tighter on the low end for rhythm. The simplest way to put it, I'm looking for something aggressive sounding (like the jb) that will add a little bit of thickness to my strat as well.
.

I put an A8 into a JB - did just what you describe. 4 bucks & half hours work, mostly in detuning & retuning the strings.