Seymour Duncan JB vs. Custom

[mims2]

I have these 2 humbuckers and want to put one in a mahogany Schecter guitar. I play in a cover band doing all styles of rock and pop. What are the differences in sound of these two pickups and which would be better suited? Thanks in advance

 

[charveldan]

SH-5 custom was developed with EVH & Seymour to be the "holy grail" of rock pick-ups, but the endorsement deal fell thru and eddie never put his name on it.

To my ear the custom is my favorite rock toan, pronounced mid-range attack, full tight bottom without mush, nice highs, 14k ohm windings, ceramic magnet.

The JB was developed for Jeff Beck [JB] but also never endorsed officially, IMHO the JB is brighter having an Alnico magnet, but can have a spongy bottom, a little loose, and can be fizzy, less clairity than a custom, 16k ohm windings.

Both work well in warm instruments.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones

 

[jlw001]

I have compared the JB and Custom 5 in my Les Paul Custom and there is no contest. The Custom 5 is so articulate and has sweet highs and we all know JBs can have ice-pick highs.

 

[Mudder]

I'm on the fence. Right now I like the Custom 5, it's more balanced than a JB, but still crunchy and aggressive. However there has been a ton of killer music made with the JB and in the right guitar it's just awesome. For example I have a Focus 1000 that came with a JB that I'm mulling over swapping to a Custom 5, but once I get the volume going on the amp the guitar sounds so good in the mix.

 

[paintguy]

Custom 5 is different than the Custom. Just saying...

 

[9fingers]

I have also read of Seymour himself saying that JB stands for Jazz/Blues, not Jeff Beck.

 

[charveldan]

I have also read of Seymour himself saying that JB stands for Jazz/Blues, not Jeff Beck.

I was told the JB/Beck thing by someone who worked for the Rolling Stones 20 something years ago, don't know how true it is.

 

[hacker]

Put the JB in the neck and the Custom in the bridge. For real.

 

[Lublin]

I run a Jazz neck and JB in my LP and I play high gain rock. Best move I've ever made.

 

[rycher]

Have used both quite abit and the guitar it's going in does play a role, but, overall I've always prefered the SH 5. I agree with the others, not "icepicky" and a tight bottom, great note to note definition.

 

[GCDEF]

I've never used the Custom, although I do like the Custom 5 for good crisp, jangly, articulate bridge sounds. I do have a JB in a Heritage 535 and it sounds great. I wouldn't call it ice-picky or bright at all. If anything I was pretty surprised by how focused the mids were and how it's not nearly as bright as a lot of pickups or as I'd heard it would be.

 

[John_M]

I'm a child of the 80's - raised on hair bands, which I include bands like Triumph and VH in, even tho they are NOT the same as Poison and Warrant. I currently play everything from Etta James to James "Laid" - the JB is the sound of rock to ME. Kramers had them stock, that's what I played growing up, and that's the sound of the 80's to me. That said, I've got a C5, I find it less articulate than a JB, - both have alnico5 magnets. I had a custom custom, which has an A2 mag - not distinct at all. No cut live whatsoever. I may try a Custom at some point, the ceramic mag makes me think bright and clear and cutting - which I like for live playing, but ceramic mags I've tried elsehwere (single coils and the SM2N) sound too bright and clicky. No guts. Given this is the bridge position, you may want to watch out for that. I have a Gibson Dirty Fingers that I may throw in a guitar again - John Sykes territory, but sounds much different in a bolt guitar.

 

[John_M]

also - if the Schecter has a Floyd, go JB - Custom with a Floyd would be too thin, just from the standpoint of Ceramic vs A5.

 

[charveldan]

I'm a child of the 80's - raised on hair bands, which I include bands like Triumph and VH in, even tho they are NOT the same as Poison and Warrant. I currently play everything from Etta James to James "Laid" - the JB is the sound of rock to ME. Kramers had them stock, that's what I played growing up, and that's the sound of the 80's to me. That said, I've got a C5, I find it less articulate than a JB, - both have alnico5 magnets. I had a custom custom, which has an A2 mag - not distinct at all. No cut live whatsoever. I may try a Custom at some point, the ceramic mag makes me think bright and clear and cutting - which I like for live playing, but ceramic mags I've tried elsehwere (single coils and the SM2N) sound too bright and clicky. No guts. Given this is the bridge position, you may want to watch out for that. I have a Gibson Dirty Fingers that I may throw in a guitar again - John Sykes territory, but sounds much different in a bolt guitar.

An SH-5 & a single coil anything is NO comparrison.

 

[Phil M]

If you have both, why not install each and let us know what you think?

I like the JB. If you want a similar pickup with less midrange content, look into the Wolfetone Timbre Wolf. It does just that.

 

[Atomic Punk]

I've had both and like the JB better. The Custom was muddy and less articulate to my ears.

 

[John_M]

An SH-5 & a single coil anything is NO comparrison.

Yes, of course I'd agree. The Dirty Fingers is a ceramic mag - 3 of them it seems - and that's a pretty bada$$ pickup, I think I'll pop it in a guitar over the weekend and see.

 

[bsuite]

I have also read of Seymour himself saying that JB stands for Jazz/Blues, not Jeff Beck.

The reason it's was named the Jazz/Blues is because Jeff never really endorsed it.
But the original story is true.

 

[docsmith]

I've got a JB in the bridge position of my Anderson Cobra and it sounds great.

 

[gtraddict]

I would go JB for certain, the SH-5 is not in the same league.
I would consider Custom Custom Alnico II