CC vs Patb-1 for swamp ash strat

[Christopher Caruana]

Custom custom vs Patb-1 for my Fender standard hss swamp ash strat w/ rosewood board.

Need something that will have more output (not molten hot) and bring out the mids and low mids and add some girth/beef to my strat. The stock bridge pup in the stock diamondback HB which in a5 and is only around 7k-8k.

The guitar has a pretty snappy top end, mids are sucked in and hollow sounding and the bass is pretty tight, but not too big.

Need it for everything hard rock and blues. I know they are both very popular for bridge spots in thin strats. So what is the difference between the two? They both look close specs wise.

I'm also open to other ideas. Doesn't have to be Duncan either

Thanks,
Chris

[Christopher Caruana]

Also thinking about a super distortion too maybe

[darthphineas]

JB.

but of what you have listed, the PATB-1 followed closely by the CC

[Christopher Caruana]

JB.

but of what you have listed, the PATB-1 followed closely by the CC

Ya that was another one on my list because my strat came stock with a 250k volume pot. But I've never heard the JB described as beefy in a strat.

Why a JB?

[Christopher Caruana]

Bump

[Frogman]

JB in maple, alder, or swamp ash is tone heaven.

It fit's so well.



But after the JB, I would recommend the PATB.

[Christopher Caruana]

Ok so what is the difference between the jb and patb1 in terms of tone?

[Christopher Caruana]

Nobody else? I know there are some strat guys out there! Lol

[lazyfinger]

59/C Hybrid

[Christopher Caruana]

59/C Hybrid

I think the A5 might be too bright for the swamp ash. Maybe an A2 '59/C hybrid would be better

[darthphineas]

Ok so what is the difference between the jb and patb1 in terms of tone?

some people think they are actually quite similar in tone and output. may not look like it on paper, but it's there. for me, I think the big difference might be that the design of the PATB-1 might have a little less pull on the strings and will promote a bit more sustain.

ideally, I think the RTM would also be a good option for that guitar, as it's great in bright guitars and is sorta like an over-the-top JB. the RTM is a custom shop item and on the expensive side. the PATB-1 is a wee bit rare and finding one might cost a bit more. so that's why I suggested the JB... it's going to have you right in the same ball park and it's easier to find one.

[Christopher Caruana]

some people think they are actually quite similar in tone and output. may not look like it on paper, but it's there. for me, I think the big difference might be that the design of the PATB-1 might have a little less pull on the strings and will promote a bit more sustain.

ideally, I think the RTM would also be a good option for that guitar, as it's great in bright guitars and is sorta like an over-the-top JB. the RTM is a custom shop item and on the expensive side. the PATB-1 is a wee bit rare and finding one might cost a bit more. so that's why I suggested the JB... it's going to have you right in the same ball park and it's easier to find one.

Ya I don't wanna spend $160 on the RTM when I can just make an A2 jb and be close. Is the A2 jb closer spec wise to the CC?

[Frogman]

Ya I don't wanna spend $160 on the RTM when I can just make an A2 jb and be close. Is the A2 jb closer spec wise to the CC?

Do you like Jake E Lee tone? JB2.


The CC and JB have different winds.
The CC is just too mellow and doesn't seem to have any "aggression".
The JB is just awesome in all aspects in my opinions, it just depends on the guitar; ie: in a Les Paul, it needs A2, A8, or Ceramic.
In a strat, all really work IMO.

[Christopher Caruana]

Do you like Jake E Lee tone? JB2.


The CC and JB have different winds.
The CC is just too mellow and doesn't seem to have any "aggression".
The JB is just awesome in all aspects in my opinions, it just depends on the guitar; ie: in a Les Paul, it needs A2, A8, or Ceramic.
In a strat, all really work IMO.

I've done a lot of reading in past threads about guys with ash strats and it seems the suggestions are split into 2 camps......1. CC 2. JB

Half say the JB is too bright for ash and others say its just awesome. My ash strat came stock with a rosewood board and 250k pots, so I'm thinking the JB will work.....maybe. Then other say A2's are perfect for ash bodies and and others say A2's will not work with rosewood boards......so it's kind of confusing. But right now my top choices are either the CC or JB

[darthphineas]

no, the RTM is not a JB with an A2. it does have an A2 and it does sound like a sweetened JB that's been pushed to 11. but putting an A2 in a JB would take a JB in the opposite direction of a RTM and not toward it.

as for the CC. for many years I didn't think I'd like it. earlier this year I got one with the intention of making it a C8, but thought that I'd at least try it first. I put it in a bright-sounding guitar and it blew me away and I've not touched it since. it's in a maple neck-thru archtop with alder wings and an ebony board. it should also work out well in alder with a maple board or other bright wood configs... like your ash.

but... the JB is great in anything, regardless of what some people say - I think the 'vintage' guys are the typical nay-sayers. it's been my go-to pup for over 25 years and I've used it in 99% of the guitars I have had (outside of a 7-string and a PRS). if you get the JB and it's too bright or too harsh for what you want, then throw an A2 in it. I'd go with a roughcast A5 first and then an unoriented A5 (both will soften it up a smidge) before taking the A2 route, but that's just me. make your own way, my young apprentice and your journey to the tone side will be complete. swapping mags is the pathway to many abilities some consider to be un-natural tone.

[Christopher Caruana]

How does the RTM differ than an A2 JB?

[GilmourD]

Custom Custom

[Christopher Caruana]

Custom Custom

500k or 250k volume?

What do you have with it in the mid and neck?

[GilmourD]

500k or 250k volume?

What do you have with it in the mid and neck?

500K volume, 250K tone on the two singles (real '70s greybottom in the neck, Texas Special bridge in the middle) 500K pot to roll one coil off the Custom Custom (which has no tone control).

[darthphineas]

How does the RTM differ than an A2 JB?

how do you mean? phsycially? tonally?

physically, it's a pickup. tonally, pretty much what I already said. it's a little louder. has about the same lows, but the upper-mids and highs are sweeter - a result of the A2. sounds to me like DiMartini wanted a louder, sweeter JB... so MJ threw in the A2 to tame/sweeten the mids and highs, and wound it to be otherwise like a JB and louder. it's going to work out best in a bright guitar, as is known to be the case with A2s.