PC Archtop sound vs JS32 sound

[Paulzx]

I've had my Phil Collen arch top since around 1990, I believe it's the Japanese made guitar, not a USA, I don't know what pick ups they were using in those guitars, but I've recently bought one of the budget JS32 guitars as a daily driver type of guitar, and those guitars are often criticised for the sub par Jackson own brand pick ups, although my one actually sounds pretty good.

When I play these two guitars back to back, I notice the JS32 sounds better in terms of it produces better, thicker crunchier distortion tones, whereas the Arch top, always sounds thinner and slightly under par in the distortion when using the same settings. Has anyone else got one of these 90's Arch top's and noticed this issue? I'm wondering if it's just a case of being an old guitar and the pick ups at the time were just not as hot as even what they're putting in the budget guitars now?

Anyone got any experience with this??

[metalhobo]

I think those phil collen archtops from the '90s had the J-90C in the bridge position and the J-100 single coil in the neck position, right? I have no idea what's in the JS.

the J-90C by all accounts is a hot hot pickup. probably the hottest wind produced by jackson. https://www.charvelusa.com/jackson_pickups.html

how do they sound compared when unplugged? also do you maybe have a clip comparing the plugged in sounds?

I don't personally have a lot of experience with the J-90 or J-90C but it's possible yours is one of the thin sounding ones. see: https://www.jcfonline.com/forum/equi...-j85-j-90-j-95

hopefully one of the other local heads with more experience with the J-90C can chime in...

if there is actually an issue with the PC then you could check these things:
- new strings
- pickup height
- wiring fault, dirty jack, etc.