SD JB-(nasalness+spikiness)+(good cleans+a little more bass)=?

What kind of guitar is it, and what value pots are you using with the JB bridge humbucker? I ask because a lot of people report that the JB sounds much better with 250K volume pots, rather than the more humbucker-conventional 500K value.

If you have a bright natured guitar, with a 500K volume pot, that could be your problem right there. A 250K pot might make it less peaky and have a smoother, more singing tone. As a side benefit, the taper on your volume control will improve too.

 

If you want 250k loading just on the bridge pu, put a 240k resistor from the pu hot wire to ground. It will also affect the both-pu's-on position though.

Or, try the DiMarzio Air Norton, one of my favourite bridge pu's that has that "singing" quality you mention in spades. Clips here: http://www.harryj.net/Godin_Clips.htm

 

is it a brian moore i guitar ?

I own the i8 model and i have the same feelings as you about the JB, i love/hate it haha. Can be real harsh with a bright amp, in the same time it screams like no other...

 

I'd be inclined to try out a Gibson Classic '57 in a nickel cover... smooth, balanced, ballsy but not too muddy, and a decent clean tone. But I'm a whore for the Classic '57, so don't take my word for it.

 

I just put an Air Norton at the bridge and a PAF Joe at the neck on a Brian moore i21 guitar. The Air Norton is much more versitile than the SD JB. It sounds great clean or dirty. The PAF Joe is a great neck pickup as well. I couldn't be happier w/ this combo. It's too bad Dimarzio is so associated w/ the metal crowd. They make some fine pickups at reasonable prices.

I have found the JB to be a one trick pony as well. It sounds rich and full distorted but clean it hurts my ears. I play mostly clean or w/ just a bit of dirt this days so it had to go.

 

Try a Duncan SH-1 ’59

and surprisingly the SH-12 george lynch screamin’ demon sounds hot but it's a 59 with a bit of top and bottom

www.seymourduncan.com/products/humbuckersdescr.shtml#59153Model

My friend has DiMarzio PAF Pro and I have to say it is very open and dynamic. It kind of reminds me of the old Santana sound.
www.dimarzio.com

 

Dimarzio Air Zone, Norton, or Virtual Hot PAF all seem to fit your requirements

 

Folks on the SD forum are big on "hybrids" and I have been told that a C5/JB hybrid is the ticket, giving you the best of both worlds.

Do some thinking about the WCR Shredder, for 200 bucks it basically sounds like a slightly better version of the Duncan c5, not a better JB like the RS Site describes. I also find it VERY bright, and the mismatched coils coupled with the high output makes it hum a bit more than I would like. Oh and getting it to clean up?? Nah....

JQ

 

Sink that JB a little further from the strings and try 250k. I have good luck getting nice clean tones out of them that way.

 

Holy moly, man, what are you waiting for? Drop a WCR Darkburst in the bridge. With a 500k volume pot, that should do it. That or a Goodwood.

 

Suhr SSH+ or DSH+. Perfect hot PU IMHO.

 

+1 Dimarzio Air Norton

and try Dimarzio Breed Bridge