Does #1 Plus #1 Still Equal #1?

[Evan Skopp]

Separately, the SH-4 JB and the SH-1 ’59 are the world’s most popular pickups. But what about when they’re used together? Click here to read the blog piece.

[Dark Order Lord]

Now this is an interesting fact I would NEVER have guessed:

Some have found that the JB can get a little too shrill and nasally in their guitars, and that may be attributed to the choice of potentiometers in their guitar. Many humbucker equipped axes come stock with 500K pots. The JB was initially designed to be used with 250K pots, which cut some of the higher frequencies when compared to their 500K counterparts. Using the two stage potentiometer I recently designed I was able to test both settings. I found that the mids and highs were a little more prominent at 500K. The switch to 250K provided a subtle, but present cut that helped fill out the tone a little. If you have tried the JB with 500K potentiometers and not been completely happy, definitely give either the two stage potentiometer mod a go, or switch to a 250K pot.

Does this apply to the DD as well???? I noticed the difference of my custom V's that have 500K pots and my 1990 Gibson Explorer reissue, which all Explorers come with 300K pots......

[Jocelyn]

Before this forum existed .And even after I came here I wanted to put a JB 59 combo. I guess they are very popular combo and individuality also. But I am glad to have come here. And have got great advice.IMO the Jazz is a better match to the JB. The name Jazz can really turn you away from a great pickup

[Kam]

That's awesome! Congratulations, dudes and dudettes.

Ya know, the JB is a pickup I've been really wanting to try for a long time, but just haven't got around to. I'm going to have to fix that soon. If only I wasn't so happy with the '59/Custom hybrid in the only humbucker guitar I play.

[GuitarDoc]

I can certainly believe that the JB was originally designed to be used with a 250k pot.

I'm not one who claims that the JB and DD are the same pup except for the magnet. But no one can deny that they are at least very similar (with the same mag in each). I have not personally tried the JB, but when I first installed the Distortion, I just had to get the ceramic out of it. I put in an A5 and it was pretty sweet sounding except for a too shrill high end that many claim is one of the problems with the JB. Changing the pot to a 250k really helped and made it a keeper pup.

I had some problems with my wiring and didn't want to mess with figuring it out so I just changed the pot. I didn't have another 250k so I put in a 500k again. Had to get rid of the shrillness so I changed the mag to A2. Wow! What a great sounding pup now. Similar tone to when it had an A5 and a 250k pot.

So I only went into all of this to say that I agree that the JB would sound fantastic with either a 250k pot or an A2 mag.

[lazyfinger]

Well to be fair, JB was designed for a specific guitar in mind, the Tele-gib, or tele with humbuckers. And teles usually had 250k pots on ash or alder body and bolt on neck.



1:30

[Stratman]

If 6 were 9...

[Aceman]

Now this is an interesting fact I would NEVER have guessed:



Does this apply to the DD as well???? I noticed the difference of my custom V's that have 500K pots and my 1990 Gibson Explorer reissue, which all Explorers come with 300K pots......

I am a HUGE proponent of the 300k Gibson pot with Ceramic Screamers.

300k + Distortion =

[WGTP]

Generally speaking, the JB may work better with 500k pots on shorter scale guitars, like Les Pauls (especially without the maple cap) and 250k pots on longer scale, maple neck, tremolo guitars... Or brighter guitars = 250k, darker guitars = 500k...

The reduced bass works well with most distortions...

[Simon_F]

Was the Jazz also originally designed with 250K pots in mind? Wasn't it the original partner for the JB in the Tele-gib?

[GuitarDoc]

See, now we're getting somewhere. Lends credence to what Evan said about being designed to be used with 250k pots. In my experience that also makes sense. So for those that complain of the JB, or the Jazz for that matter, of being too shrill/trebly/biting/etc. 250k pots may just be the solution. (The intended/designed solution).

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Generally speaking, the JB may work better with 500k pots on shorter scale guitars, like Les Pauls (especially without the maple cap) and 250k pots on longer scale, maple neck, tremolo guitars... Or brighter guitars = 250k, darker guitars = 500k...

That.

I love the JB in my Les Paul with 500ks. Sounds exactly like what I think of when I think "Les Paul".

I wouldn't stick one in a F type guitar with 500ks though, that would be ouch. I've seen it done and never enjoyed the result.

The first time I tried a JB was in the early 80s. I had an old Kramer, the ones with the super fat/wide necks, and it had a Dim Super D in it that I never really liked much, but back in the '70s/early 80s that was the thing to get. I put a JB in and switched the volume pot to 250k and thought "where have you been all my life?". It sounded fat, punchy, singing, awesome. I sold that guitar some years later and sold the pickup to a friend who to this day has that old JB in the bridge of an 80s Kramer.

I still use JBs in certain guitars, but I never have grown to like the Super D.

[LonePhantom]

I'm glad to see my post has generated some good discussion. Can't really hope for more than that.

[jhale667]

I'm glad to see my post has generated some good discussion. Can't really hope for more than that.

Congrats, bro!