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I'll be trading my EMG's for a JB/Jazz set soon, and I wanted to investigate the JB a little more. I've heard time and time again that it's a really great pickup, but how does it sound in lower tunings like C standard, drop C, and all the way up from there to E standard? Is it muddy or defined? Will it crunch, scream, and sound as badass as the EMG 81 in the bridge?

I personally find the JB flabby and undefined enough already in standard....

It will definitely NOT sound like an EMG 81, though both give similar results when used at the neck....

I`m currentyl running the ernie ball not even slinky strings in C tuning with my JB pickup and it sounds killer. No mud, perfect metal pickup. I didn`t care for the EMG too much, it was just ONE sounding if you know what I mean. I`ve been using this JB for quite some time now but I may be headed for the WCR Herc pickups. Been reading good things about the Hercs.

I'm looking into switching out my JB/'59 setup for EMGs, for the reasons you've asked about.

I tune to drop B or drop C and the JB maintains what crunch it has. I've never gotten a chance to play an EMG-81, but it's something I've wanted to try for a long time, so I can't give you a comparison to it. As far as clarity goes from experience, it sounds very clear to my ears at lower tuning. That's probably thanks to it's loads of upper range frequency. It chugs very nicely .

My complaint with the JB would be it's pinch harmonics, (it could be my technique), they don't squeal as much as I like. From what I understand, the 81 provides awesome squeal.. :O.

for the record, I use DR 11-50 NPS strings.


Originally Posted by blind1My complaint with the JB would be it's pinch harmonics, (it could be my technique), they don't squeal as much as I like. From what I understand, the 81 provides awesome squeal.. :O.

for the record, I use DR 11-50 NPS strings.

From my expirences, pinch harmonics squeal less and less as you tune lower. The 11-50 strings might also have something to do with the non-squealliness as well as possibly your technique....

yes, I know that what 100% , but whatever.

^^ I was playing for the past hour with pinch harmonics in different tunings. I tried Drop B, Drop C, and Drop Db. You are right, the higher the tuning, the more squealy it is!

That´s actually not a quot;truequot; product of tuning, but actually of the higher tension... a thicker guage will usually have the same effect

the 81 is so easy to get harmonics from. its almost unnatural. i put the zw set in my flying v and it sounds great for metal, just not a sound im really into. im probably going to sell the v soon. lol i just bought it, but whatever.


Originally Posted by ZerberusThat´s actually not a quot;truequot; product of tuning, but actually of the higher tension... a thicker guage will usually have the same effect

Right after I clicked the quot;postquot; button, I thought about that .

Now you guys have me worried that pinch harmonics won't be as great... .. Will I still be able to pull off really squeally harmonics with the JB??

IMO Yes, harmonics are where that particular wind seems to excel, the JB, Distortion and Invader all have great harmonics in my experience.


Originally Posted by Metalman_666Now you guys have me worried that pinch harmonics won't be as great... .. Will I still be able to pull off really squeally harmonics with the JB??

I find that the JB does killer harmonics. I also liked it in lower tunings as well.

Do I prefer it to an EMG 81? I haven't tried them out in the same guitar, but no. I'd stick on to what you have.


Originally Posted by Metalman_666Now you guys have me worried that pinch harmonics won't be as great... .. Will I still be able to pull off really squeally harmonics with the JB??

Hell yeah! Thing about ph is that they don`t like super low action. Zakk Wylde uses 60 and 70 low E strings so it`s not the string size and JB does ph just fine. It`s more about technique than pickup. If you got it down you should be able to pull it off on an acoustic.

I have always found pinch harmonics to be too easy using a JB. They pop out all the time.

I've found that it's easier for me to do pinches with an 11 set than a 10 set, but I'm talking about pinch harmonics on the low E string so yeah I'm probably one of the only people who bothers to try on that hahaha.

Stop buying into the stupid forum bias, I seriously doubt you'd like a JB at all.

Get an EMG 85, and you can change that 81 out in a matter of seconds.It'll be 100x more versitile than an 81, I personaly can't stand an 81 anymore. And an 85 has much more harmonics! Its just a better pickup, Trust me man, it was made just for you.


Originally Posted by JALINIt`s more about technique than pickup. If you got it down you should be able to pull it off on an acoustic.

I can do it on an acoustic steel or nylon strings, and on an electric, with or without a pick, and with or without distortion. So I think I've got it mostly down


Originally Posted by MephisStop buying into the stupid forum bias, I seriously doubt you'd like a JB at all.

Get an EMG 85, and you can change that 81 out in a matter of seconds.It'll be 100x more versitile than an 81, I personaly can't stand an 81 anymore. And an 85 has much more harmonics! Its just a better pickup, Trust me man, it was made just for you.

First, why do you doubt I would like a JB? I hear it's an outstanding pickup and quite a few pros use it so I have no reason to doubt it?

Second, I've already agreed I was going to trade, and I think some passive pickups might do me better. If lots of players can have great tone and harmonics with passives pickups and even solid state amps (Dime ) then I don't have to worry.

a few months ago i had my explorer (w/ JB in bridge) in drop Db (for anthrax stuff) and it sounded monstrous


Originally Posted by MephisStop buying into the stupid forum bias, I seriously doubt you'd like a JB at all.

Bro, what did you expect, for everyone here to hate Duncans and especially the classic JB? You DID read what this place is called before you signed up, or??

Either way with statements like that you´ll make more enemies than friends, not just here... I personally couldn´t care less, to me you´re just some kid who unfortunately still has a lot to learn about how not to piss people off and how to say things so that people actually care....

but others do care when you insult multiple members, in this case essentially the whole forum, and discredit all the opinions as bullsh1t at the same time....