Pickup Help- a hotter JB

[The Rossness]

I'm replacing the PU's in my San Dimas and wanted some suggestions. I bought my guitar used and it came with Motor City nukes- http://motorcitypickups.com/products/nuke.htm

they lack a lot of detail/ depth and I want to replace them.

Now recently I got a DK2M and I like how the JB sounds, but want something a little more ferocious. As far as music and tones think Lynch Ratt, Impellitteri, Nuno . These are the PU's I'm thinking of and what to know what your experiences are with them.

SD RTM- I've heard it like a souped up JB and might be right up my alley, but theres no where around to test them out. How are they?

SD Dave Mustaine- Its an active JB, right? Any more output or detail?

Suhr Alrdich- Kind of like a JB, right?

Tom Anderson H[?]- I've played a few anderson guitars and really liked their tone, but I don't know which PU is which. What did Robin Crosby play when they were in his guitars?

Any help would be great. Suggestions or opinions on the pu's above. Again I'm looking for something like a JB but a little more ferocious. (I'll think about a neck PU after I find one for the bridge)












...And please... for the love of god...don't suggest EMG's

[Mr.Shreddy]

Robbin Crosby used Tom Anderson H-3 and H-2 pickups.

[jacksonpc1]

I'm replacing the PU's in my San Dimas and wanted some suggestions. I bought my guitar used and it came with Motor City nukes- http://motorcitypickups.com/products/nuke.htm

they lack a lot of detail/ depth and I want to replace them.

Now recently I got a DK2M and I like how the JB sounds, but want something a little more ferocious. As far as music and tones think Lynch Ratt, Impellitteri, Nuno . These are the PU's I'm thinking of and what to know what your experiences are with them.

SD RTM- I've heard it like a souped up JB and might be right up my alley, but theres no where around to test them out. How are they?

SD Dave Mustaine- Its an active JB, right? Any more output or detail?

Suhr Alrdich- Kind of like a JB, right?

Tom Anderson H[?]- I've played a few anderson guitars and really liked their tone, but I don't know which PU is which. What did Robin Crosby play when they were in his guitars?

Any help would be great. Suggestions or opinions on the pu's above. Again I'm looking for something like a JB but a little more ferocious. (I'll think about a neck PU after I find one for the bridge)













...And please... for the love of god...don't suggest EMG's

Find a old JB...they are Friggin" Awesome! I see them on Ebay every now & then. I have one that is from the early 1990's & it is the best sounding pickup I own. I hope this helps.

[MetalHeadMat]

I swapped my JB for an OBL L500XL and I love it. (Same pickup Dime used, not his Dimebucker.)

[Spivonious]

Not quite the same sound, but I like the Duncan Distortion a lot. Like a slightly hotter, slightly more compressed JB with clearer lows.

[sully]

Duncan custom; hotter and fuller than a JB, with the clarity and openness of a lower output pickup.

Sully

[Grandturk]

Dimarzio Super Distortion. End of story.

[Newc]

Duncan Custom 5 or Custom Custom.

ToneZone (same choked nutless JB tone when backed off the strings, closer to a Duncan Distortion with it up under the strings)

You may also try a little thing called magnet swapping, whereby you replace the JB's magnet with a different value - I think it's got an Alnico 2 in it. Try an Alnico 5 or 8. Lot's of info on that sorta thing on the Duncan Forums.

[dg]

Seconding Sully on the Custom. Sounds especially awesome in alder, imo. I also like the Distortion, and I agree w/ Spiv's description. For me, it helps to brighten up a guitar that needs it, but I haven't liked it as much as the Custom in alder guitars.

[Spivonious]

Threads like this make me wonder why the JB is so popular. I liked it when I first got it because it was such an improvement over the stock pickups, but now it just sounds muddy compared to all of my other guitars. Too bassy, I think.

[DonP]

Because it sounds good to me in my rig. I don't have any muddyness issues. Warren didn't have any muddyness issues. We can go on and on. Short answer, in the right guitar, right rig, and right style of music, it works great.

Look at the answers people have given. Looks like no one can agree on what a hotter JB is.

[toejam]

You may also try a little thing called magnet swapping, whereby you replace the JB's magnet with a different value - I think it's got an Alnico 2 in it. Try an Alnico 5 or 8. Lot's of info on that sorta thing on the Duncan Forums.

The JB has an Alnico 5. An A8 or ceramic magnet would be cool to try out in the JB. An A2 would probably just make it a little warmer, less aggressive and spongy sounding.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Dimarzio SuperDistortion (ceramic) = Iron Maiden Heaven

Duncan JB (alnico 5) = Ratt - Warrent - most hair bands

Duncan Custom (ceramic) = Sully's favorite and a nice cross between a distortion and jb. Lamb of God is using them now.

Gibson 57 classic (ceramic) = Thin Lizzy perfection

Gibson 500T (ceramic) = classic metal tones - think Scorpions & 1st Metallica album.

Suhr Adrich (alnico 5) = Hot PAF style open and clear.

SD Alnico Pro II (alnico 2) = Slash's pickup of choice.

PAF 36th anv. (alnico 2) = classic Les Paul sounds.

PAF Pro (alnico 5) = Paul Gilbert's favorite, Hot PAF with more output.

Alnico Pro II (alnico 2) = Slash's pickup of choice.

[MartinBarre]

Bill Lawrence USA 500XL

or

Duncan Distortion

Although to be perfectly honest I'm not sure how you think Ratt and Nuno are "ferocious" when the JB isn't hot enough for you, considering Marty Friedman and Dave Mustaine used them for the classic 'Deth stuff?
Nuno more ferocious than Marty?


Not sure about that...

[Jacksonguy666]

I know you said no EMG's. But have you ever tried 2 85's? I actually don't like the 81 too much, but 2 85's scream!