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Hi, my question is about pickups. I currently have a Hotrails in my Strat bridge and I’m looking for something comparable to put in the bridge of my Les Paul. I currently have the Duncan JB in the bridge and it’s not hot enough. I don’t want a full metal sound but wont something I can crunch with and rip pinch harmonics. Am looking at the Duncan Distortion but not sure if that will work. Thanks
John

Hey John, normally I would say that you should give the JB a try but if you already have it....I'd first make sure that it was a close to the strings as possible without stinrgs hitting the polepieces, if they are and it's not enough..

I'd suggest looking into the distortion. It's going to have a lot of grind and harmonics. It will still have use-able cleans so don't worry about that.

Also you might want to look at the Custom. It has good grind and a ceramic mag, the DC resisitance isn't as high as the JB but don't let that scare you off. The custom calls many LP's home.

I originally had a JB in my Heritage 150, but didn't like the shrill sound and the output wasn't what I perceived to be high output. So I opted for something smoother and actually went with an A2P (PAF style pup) in my bridge. I've been very happy with it.

Luke

Thanks Luke, what’s tough is that you cant test drive this at guitar stores. And the sound clips on the site are pretty close. The Distortion or the Custom are what Im leaning for. I do like the JB because its great for opening voicings but not good for the crunch. Something that has both is would be perfect…in a perfect world

Boy...not to be flip, but if the JB doesn't have enough output for you to do what you're talking about then there's something else wrong and I doubt it's the pickup.

Playing technique, the amp, the speakers, improper set up, or some other factor is involved...because in the right hands hands the JB should be able to rip with the best of them.

George Lynch used one...he could do everything you're describing with it.

Lew

Hey Lew are you the guy on EBay?
I can do exactly what I want on my Strat with the hotrails but cant on my Les Paul with a JB. The JB sounds great just doesn’t have the crunch that I want, so just wondering whats out there.

I found the JB to not have enough 'power,' either. I heard it as a loss in gain when switching guitars from a DD to a JB.

Give a DD a shot, it's like a more powerful, more gainy, and more ballsy JB.


Originally Posted by BallgameHey Lew are you the guy on EBay?
I can do exactly what I want on my Strat with the hotrails but cant on my Les Paul with a JB. The JB sounds great just doesn’t have the crunch that I want, so just wondering whats out there.

I am.

Well there's lots of differant pickups out there you could try. But still: I've got to wonder if your Les Paul is set-up as well as it could be because there are many, many Les Paul players with the JB in thier Les Pauls who can pinch off harmonics and rip with that pickup.

In fact, there are many players with pickups alot lower in output in thier Les Pauls who can pinch off harmonics and rip: Billy Gibbons for one.

Try this: adjust the two ht. adjustment screws so that when you hold the strings down at the highest fret the bobbin tops of the JB are about 1/8quot; or closer from the underside of the strings.

Then adjust the two E string polepieces of your JB almost flat, then raise the middle four slightly to match the arch of the underside of your strings when you hold the strings down at the highest fret.

Crank your amp up and see what'cha think.

Lew


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3I found the JB to not have enough 'power,' either. I heard it as a loss in gain when switching guitars from a DD to a JB.

Give a DD a shot, it's like a more powerful, more gainy, and more ballsy JB.

Thanks, that’s what I’m looking for….a ballsier(sp?) JB


Originally Posted by BallgameThanks, that’s what I’m looking for….a ballsier(sp?) JB

Which amp are you ussing? I did had the JB and I could get extremely crunch gainy tone out of it with my ENGL thunder. Much more crunch that it's usseable even for a metal song. With my amp I could get that metal tone out of a strat single coil. It's a matter of cranking the preamp...

Are you sure it isn't a matter of the pickup tone eq'?

Some Les Pauls have 300K volume and tone pots. That'll kill the sizzle.

Take a look and see what you've got...you might just need 500K volume and tone pots.

Lew

Good question Breogan
I guess my school of thought here is that if I can do it with my Strat I should be able to do it my Les Paul. They are different PU’s so they need different setting but I have tried tweaking. I use a Line 6 Flextone III XL
I like the JB for the open chords but its not there for my heavier stuff


Originally Posted by LewguitarSome Les Pauls have 300K volume and tone pots. That'll kill the sizzle.

Take a look and see what you've got...you might just need 500K volume and tone pots.

Lew

You could be right. How would I find that out? I have a 2002 Les Paul Custom Silverburst. Here it is next to Zakk Wyldes guitar

Originally Posted by BallgameYou could be right. How would I find that out? I have a 2002 Les Paul Custom Silverburst.

You might be able to look inside the control cavity and find a number stamped onto the pot. Might say 300K. If not, you'd have to unsolder your pickup and then measure the pot with a multi-meter.

There are guys here who have all this info in thier heads and who might be able to answer this question for you.

I'm not into modern Gibsons enough to know for sure.

Lew

ok thanks Lew, maybe I will start anotehr thread about it and see who knows. that sounds like it would make a big difference. If not you might be getting some business from me

If you want a hotrodded JB, try a Distortion. Its basically a JB with a huge ceramic magnet in it which changes the EQ curve and makes it push your amp more.

Couple other things you could do if you like your JB but just want more quot;umphquot; You could use the SD pick up booster, its a clean boost and will slam your pre-amp with a hotter signal making it distort. Or you could use and OD pedal to do something similar. (althoug not the same) Lots of guys take their OD/Distortion pedals, run them into their dirty/distorted channel, with the output on the pedal maxed, tone to your taste, and little or no drive/distortion. All three things, hotter pup, clean boost, OD boost etc., are putting more signal into your amp which will drive it and make it distort/drive more and faster. (keep in mind that tonaly they do all sound different though)

Good idea Jeff5, I will try that tonight. Thanks.


Originally Posted by Jeff5If you want a hotrodded JB, try a Distortion. Its basically a JB with a huge ceramic magnet in it which changes the EQ curve and makes it push your amp more.

Couple other things you could do if you like your JB but just want more quot;umphquot; You could use the SD pick up booster, its a clean boost and will slam your pre-amp with a hotter signal making it distort. Or you could use and OD pedal to do something similar. (althoug not the same) Lots of guys take their OD/Distortion pedals, run them into their dirty/distorted channel, with the output on the pedal maxed, tone to your taste, and little or no drive/distortion. All three things, hotter pup, clean boost, OD boost etc., are putting more signal into your amp which will drive it and make it distort/drive more and faster. (keep in mind that tonaly they do all sound different though)

You beat me to it Jeff. The name of the game is to find a pickup with great tone and response first, then you can always boost it. Don't go for the high output firstly.

Im just not sure an OD will boost it enough and not kill the tone. I have the Boss SD-1 but dont play through a tube amp


Originally Posted by BallgameIm just not sure an OD will boost it enough and not kill the tone. I have the Boss SD-1 but dont play through a tube amp

The difference in db boost from most boost type pedals is far more than the differences in db between most pickups. Some up to 20-30db of boost, whereas pickups could be maybe up to 6-9 db difference at the greatest. I have the heavy-metal-live-wires and when I play them it feels like I am holding the worlds largest ice pick. But yes, you do have to consider how the pedal would alter your tone. Most amps react brighter when slammed so you have to take that into account.


Originally Posted by BallgameYou could be right. How would I find that out? I have a 2002 Les Paul Custom Silverburst. Here it is next to Zakk Wyldes guitar

OMG THAT Guitar is BEAUTIFUL!! Im in love! JB should do the trick man. You probably have 300K Volume pots and 500K tone. Up your volume pots.....also don't compare that JB to That 81....the 81 is a monster.