So, I replaced my DK2M's JB with a Custom...

[SweetPete]

And it's NOT what I expected! It's very bright and clean, with a lot less bottom end then the JB, and a good deal less output overall. I know I wired it correctly, but it sounds as if the coils are running in parallel instead of series. In other words, it sounds clean like a single-coil pickup, not a humbucker.

Is this how the Custom is supposed to sound?

[Madness]

Definately not the experience I've had with the Custom. Both of the guitars that I have with customs are very chunky sounding with a kick ass midrange and seemed to have a bit more output than the JB's that they replaced.

[SweetPete]

Madness,

It DEFINITELY doesn't sound like that! Man, it was a simple pickup swap, which I've done 20+ times flawlessly in the past.

Any suggestions? I guess I'll do a sanity check and put the JB back and make sure it sounds like it used to.

[Madness]

Well I really don't have any suggestions other than check over your wiring, but, since you obviously have done this before I doubt this is the problem.

I had the same problem in an LTD I had...It came with EMG HZ's which, in that guitar, seemed to have a lower output compared to my JB equipped guitars. At the time, I was really diggin' the JB's so I bought one for it. Man, what a suprise...I put it in and it actually sounded like it had less output than the HZ's. Now, I don't really know how the output of the pickups compare but, like I said, my JB equipped guitars were always hotter.

I really feel that finding the right pickup for a guitar is almost always a matter of expirementing...and every guitar is different. So maybe the Custom just isn't the pickup for your guitar. JMO.

On a side note...Do you think the POT values could have anything to do with it? ....just throwing that out there.

[SweetPete]

Madness,

The pots are the stock 500K's, which is of course the standard for humbuckers. I'll do the sanity check thing tonite, as mentioned...

[Madness]

[toejam]

I've always thought the JB was lame and had too much treble and high mids. The Custom always seemed more balanced and had much better low end.

[Chad]

I've got a Custom in my Ibanez IC500BK and it sounds awesome.....very meaty....nothing like you are describing. It sounds even better since I ditched the tone pot (that guitar came with one tone and one volume.....but I converted it to two volumes....one volume control for each pickup).

[straycat]

Could be the pickup is wired wrong try switching the wires you may have a dead coil too.

[Chad]

Could be the pickup is wired wrong try switching the wires you may have a dead coil too.

+1

Try a simple test. Turn the volume up and tap a metal object (like a screwdriver) on the pole pieces to make sure that both coils are functioning.

[RacerX]

DEFINITELY

(No A in there, dudes!)

[Newc]

The JB is a Distortion with Alnico magnets instead of ceramic, so the Custom should be just under that on a meter.

I'd say check how the red/white wires are acting. They may be leaning against something once you put the cover on. Had that happen once - drove me nutz trying to figure out why it sounds great with the cover off, but thin with the cover on - then I taped the red/white back to the main rubber sleeve and everything was ok.

Also look for fine strands of solder "hair" that may be touching something else.

Aside from that, scrape a screwdriver tip over the poles/screws as was stated before to make sure they're both on.

Barring that, try swapping the green and black wires.

[pott]

What does it read on the multimeter?
The Custom is definitely more ballsy than the JB, or should be. It's almost on par with a Distortion. Not as aggressive as the latter, but definitely a kick ass pup. It's not something to mess with. Your definition indeed doesn't sound right.

[Zerberus]

As a long time custom user I am without any doubt there is either an issue with the wiring or the Custom has a dead coil.

[slash-ed]

I've always thought the JB was lame and had too much treble and high mids. The Custom always seemed more balanced and had much better low end.

I've always been anti-JB, but having not played/owned a JB equipped guitar in ages, I thought I was just biased against a memory/preconception since the JB is one of the most damn common SDs around... Recently played an 06 KE-3, wow, I was right, they're a yawn.

OT, but anyone notice that they've started darkening the rosewood on the 06-ers slightly? Tsk tsk, Jackson. Be proud of your rosewood. Or give us real ebony