Bridge pickup works best in neck
Posted by knifemare69 from Logan, UT on Nov 22, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Active Musician
Reviewer's Play Style: Progressive Thrash Metal
I have 3 guitars with the bridge version of this pickup installed in the neck: a Gibson 76 Explorer, an Epiphone G-400 and an Epiphone Riviera 12-string. The bite lets your solos really sing when playing in the neck position, and lends more definition when playing middle position toggle switch and clean tones. I highly recommend it!
A very nice pickup, but not for metal players
Posted by Jackson4Life from Denver, CO on Nov 6, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist/Active Musician
Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Nu Metal
This is a very nice pickup for a variety of music, to include pop, rock (think ZZ Top, Journey, and older Aerosmith), jazz, even some gritty country. You get a LOT of of highs and mids out of this thing, helping you cut through the mix at any gig. Harmonics leap off the fretboard, and this is a wonderful pup for playing clean (very sparkly clean tone). The problem is, all the music I listed above is only half of what I play. I do alot of heavy rock and metal, and this pup is only barely able to achieve anything close to the tone I want for that kind of music. You HAVE to have the absolute right effects and amp to do it, and even then, you will be pushing your effects to the max to get a decent metal tone. I noted that even after achieving this I had to jack up the low EQ on my effects, because pushing gain into this thing makes the already powerful highs and mids seem overbearing. This left me with something of a muddy tone in the lower strings, and not the tight low-end chug-chug I like in a high gain pup. This pup is in my Jackson DK2M Dinky (along with a SH-2N jazz in the neck), and I'm going to replace it with a Seymour Duncan SH-6 Distortion, keeping the jazz in the neck for some tonal variety.
Not for me
Posted by guitardude1234 from Los Angeles, CA on Nov 1, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist
Reviewer's Play Style: All kinds of Metal
This JB came on my Jackson DK2M and I was rather happy about having it there, initially. I frequently heard and read how great Seymour Duncan pickups are so I bought a guitar that had some on it.
I play Metal music the majority of the time and the sound I look for in a bridge pickup is a nice crunch, somewhat tight bottom end, decent amount of mids and highs that aren't too overbearing. Sadly, the JB succeeds in only some of those departments, at least for me with the gain engaged. The bottom end is put aside by somewhat overwhelming amounts of highs. It's very unfocused, way too loose for my tastes and quite muddy. Mids aren't a problem; they are very well balanced. Now, the treble is where my issue lies because there is just too much. Even with strings gauge 10-52 and the added bass they provide. It makes my overall sound a little too bright when I rather have it sounding a little darker. Detuning helps only a little.
The JB works good with cleans though. If you're into that bright glassy tone, then they work well for that only with the right amp. They aren't the best, but good.
There's a reason why this is the number...
Posted by Anonymous Musician on Oct 26, 2009
Experience w/product: I have heard about it
Reviewer's Background: N/A
Reviewer's Play Style: N/A
There's a reason why this is the number one selling humbucker in the biz. It just sounds great! Sure there's other boutique makers like Lindy Fralins, Tom Holmes, Motor city, WCR, and many others. I've owned Dimarzios....good pickups as well but they are made more for shredders and Rio Grande which are nice as well especially the distorted tones but he cleans are very bland. Over all the JB really stands out for tone and versatility. It sounds great clean and distorted. The low mids really beefs up the tone and the highs really helps cut through the mix. I'm done trying out and paying more money for other pickups. The JB does it all and does it well!
Rebirth
Posted by Alexander from Philadelphia on Oct 2, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Active Musician
Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Alternative
My guitar is a whole new instrument because of this pickup. I put in on a bridge of a Washburn SB-20 and the difference blew me away. It's bright and clear but not twangy. It's full and balanced. Really balanced. I'm an acoustic guitar player, so in that line of work it's more about the guitar itself than the electronics. But for electrics, pickups make a huge difference. Want to upgrade but are on a budget? Try these pickups first. They will re-invent your old guitar, allowing it to venture into a professional voicing without breaking your bank.