What do you think? Does the JB sound "better" in the SL-3 or DK-2?

[75lespaul]

I've got one of each, and I put a Dimarzio Super Distortion humbucker in the SL-3, storing away the JB. Just recently I got a DK-2 with the Duncan Designed pickups, which at first I thought were okay, but after comparing them to my SL-3 and Charvel model 375, they SUCK. My question.....should I just leave the Super D in the SL-3, where it just rocks and put the JB in the DK-2, or put the JB back in the SL-3 and the SD in the DK-2? I'm sure either way, they will both sound great but which would be optimum?

Any opinions also on what would be the best middle and neck pickups for the DK-2 to get a classic ala SRV stratocaster sound? As far as I can tell from reviews of the guitar, the body is alder and the neck is maple with a rosewood board.

Thank you forum bros and sisters .

[Metalblaze]

Is it just bolt-on vs neck-thru?
So, I would think...SL3 - neck thru - less alder - more maple - more brightness = SD.
DK2 - bolt-on - more alder - less maple - less brightness = JB.

But this is just me...without much experience with guitar woods I'm not sure at all if this is correct.
I'm open for corrections.

[Brewtone]

Is it just bolt-on vs neck-thru?
So, I would think...SL3 - neck thru - less alder - more maple - more brightness = SD.
DK2 - bolt-on - more alder - less maple - less brightness = JB.

+1 in general. It might be worth wild to try the JB in both guitars. I'v found it to be really picky about the guitars it's installed in.

[jmcorey]

+1 in general. It might be worth wild to try the JB in both guitars. I'v found it to be really picky about the guitars it's installed in.

Sorry to get off the jackson topic, but Brewtone, how do JB's sound in an alder body maple fingerboard strat?

[75lespaul]

It sounded really good in the SL-3, but I wanted something more early 80s, late 70s metal and rock sounding than the JB. The SD fits so well in that guitar. Didn't like it at first but after messing with the amp settings it really likes the SL-3 and crunches like a champ. Totally gets the sound I want. I love the JB though, so if the bolt on is darker, I think that's the guitar it will sound best in. I'll give it a shot.

How 'bout those two singles?

[Brewtone]

For the two singles I'd do the new classic stack plus pickups. I run them with my JB in my strat and they can do some classic strat sounds without the noise.

[Brewtone]

Sorry to get off the jackson topic, but Brewtone, how do JB's sound in an alder body maple fingerboard strat?

In my opinion the JB sounds best in guitars like you just described. I run it in an alder strat with a rosewood board and I love it!!!!

[jmcorey]

In my opinion the JB sounds best in guitars like you just described. I run it in an alder strat with a rosewood board and I love it!!!!

You have quite a few amps there. Does it sound good through all of them, e.g., the Marshall compared to the Fender?

[EL WHOPPO]

Is it just bolt-on vs neck-thru?
So, I would think...SL3 - neck thru - less alder - more maple - more brightness = SD.
DK2 - bolt-on - more alder - less maple - less brightness = JB.

But this is just me...without much experience with guitar woods I'm not sure at all if this is correct.
I'm open for corrections.

IMO, it seems that Jackson neck-thru guitars seem to be a little on the warm side as compared to their bolt-ons. I switched a JB and a Custom between a SL-4 and a SL-2, and both were warmer than my DK-2. The SL-2 had a ebony fret board, and for some reason it was warmer than the SL-4 which had a rosewood fret board. But both were warmer than the DK-2.

TECH tip-If you have a problem with the SL-3 of having either the high or low E coming off the fretboard while playing. A easy fix is to replace the factory import nut with a OFR R3. It is a little narrower, and the string won't slide off the fret board. You may have to remove a little bit of the fretboard that sits underneath the nut, since the OFR is taller than the import nut.