Duncan JB gets real muddy

[Just Mike]

When I turn the volume down. I've used the exact same guitar/electronics, which is a Frankish with just a 500k volume pot, with other PU's including a Dimarzio SD, A duncan Hot rails and they don't exhibit this problem. Sooo...is it a bad pickup? It sounds fine when cranked.

[Just Mike]

Don't wire the pot backwards!

[darkbluemurder]

Unfortunately what you describe is normal. Whenever I had a JB in a guitar the volume pot turned into an ON-Off switch. The JB seemed to me the worst of both worlds: no dynamics and no real power, no low end punch but nevertheless muddy, no singing tone but no clarity either.

[robert]

Maybe this is the reason why this pickup was/ is so popular?

Regards

Robert

[908ssp]

Unfortunately what you describe is normal. Whenever I had a JB in a guitar the volume pot turned into an ON-Off switch. The JB seemed to me the worst of both worlds: no dynamics and no real power, no low end punch but nevertheless muddy, no singing tone but no clarity either.

I agree. Mud city never understood why some people think it is bright. I tried bypass caps on the volume pot that helped but not enough. My favorite solution was to build a hybrid out of it.

[darkbluemurder]

Maybe this is the reason why this pickup was/ is so popular?

Regards

Robert

I have no idea why it is so popular. On the other hand I never met someone personally who liked it.

I replaced the last one I had with a DiMarzio Tone Zone I had lying around - not really a dynamic pickup either but at least it has power and some punch.

Cheers Stephan

[Star*Guitar]

I found them to me a very mid range type of pickup. Too much mids for my taste. A nasel quality I didn't care for. But there are some that really like it. I suppose in a maple guitar which is a bright wood for instance it might be just the ticket.

[T.L.]

I have a JB in a Les Paul style guitar, and it sounds good. It's definitely not too bright...

[SteadyEddie]

I've got a buddy who has an '85 Kramer Baretta. I think it's got a JB in it, it does seem to have this exaggerated midrange growl thing going on. I thought it was due to the pickup slant also.

[loud and dirty]

The JB in my Charvel sounds awful!!! Muddy, undefined, no articulation, and still harsh...wtf? I have also had them sound GREAT in other guitars. It's a very finicky pup. The JB seems to like poplar and basswood, btw.

[yladrd61]

Try putting a treble bleed kit on your volume pot ebay is your friend

[Roe]

I changed the JB in my MIJ charvel to a duncan screaming demon, definitely an improvement for me. its just more articulated

changed again, this time a suhr SSV+

[vanhalen5150]

I have a Charvel San Dimas that had a JB in it. It was either on or off. Turning down the volume brought on the suckness. I just put in a StewMac 9.5 K and it sounds great.

[zachman]

I have a JB in an alder body strat. and LOVE it! No, mud here

Amp was a Marshall 6100 Blue/EL34's

http://tonefinder.com/files/69-HellIsForChildren.mp3

http://tonefinder.com/files/47-PreciousTime.mp3

[T.L.]

Hilarious; first I hear people say that the JB is too bright or "harsh"-sounding, and then I hear someone say it sounds "muddy".

It's neither. It's just a good overall-sounding pickup with lots'a of power (but not too much). It definitely produces more over-tones than a '59 or TB-12.

Some players just have harsh-sounding or muddy-sounding guitars/amps...