Seymour Duncan JB

Pickup features: Humbucking
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: Yamaha Pacifica
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio FRED
Other pickups on guitar: Fender Texas Specials
Artists using this pickup: Lots
You musical style(s): Rock
Reason for pickup change: FRED was very thin and whiny.

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Farty!
Sonic evaluation: I used this pickup in live situations running through various amps including a 5150, and a POD straight into the board. While I agree with many others here that this pu is great for harmonics (probably the best I've ever used for this, although I have never used active pickups), I didn't like it's sound overall. My main complaint is that I found the bottom end loose and farty sounding. Maybe I'm just one of those crazy, misguided individuals that prefers the sound of Dimarzios. I have since installed a super distortion and it sounds great, although artificial harmonics are much more difficult to come by with it. The improvement in tone was well worth that trade off.
Some have said that the JB sounds good clean, however as a rule I dislike humbuckers for this and prefer single coils so I can't really comment objectively on that.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: If you like a tight bottom end for your distorted stuff I'd look elsewhere.

Comments: I would not buy this pu again. It has put me off of Seymour Duncans entirely.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Homemade Explorer
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: Duncan Distortion in Neck
Artists using this pickup: Deftones is all I know of
You musical style(s): Metal, CLASSIC ROCK
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: With my setup it has lots of chunk, lots of low end, not too many mids, nice smooth highs
Sonic evaluation: I plug straight in to my crate GFX-212, the guitar has a 5-position switch a500k ohm pot and a250k ohm pot, can dial up about any sound I want with the Duncan Distortion in the neck,from thick creamy distortion to low end chunk, biting highs, or just a plain ol' sweet sounding Strat.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly metal/hard southern rock

Comments: I would definately replace if somethng happened to it, it's very versatile. Been playing about 8 years, been serious for about 4 years. i've played a Gibson LP studio with th 496r, 498t through both a 135 watt marshall, and my Crate, and these blow the Gibsons off the face of the planet. These are the perfect pickups for this particular guitar, it's made of swamp ash, so that probably adds to the fullness of tone. Just bought an ESP EC-400 loaded with EMG-81s, haven't plugged it up yet but it's hard to imagine it sounding any better than my Explorer. Damn near perfection.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 16K or in the ballpark

Model of guitar or bass: Schecter C1 Blackjack
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: N/A
Other pickups on guitar: SH-1 '59
Artists using this pickup: Like that dude from Britney Fox or something
You musical style(s): rock, hard rock, metal, post-punk, retro punk, cybergrungetechopop
Reason for pickup change: This is the pickup I decided to replace.

Perceived output level: Hotter than anything else, ever.
Tone: All treble. Screechy, icepicky when clean, piercing...get the picture?
Sonic evaluation: I had to get rid of this, but I thought I'd share my reasons, since a lot of people buy this pickup, and if you go into the Seymour Duncan forums, they'll recommend this to you for rock. I was using this in the Schecter C1 Blackjack that I used to have, and it had to go! It hurt my head! I couldn't stand to be in the same room with it (when it was plugged in and playing, I mean.) It cut through my ears like an icepick, especially when it was clean. It was literally unusable clean. What's that you say? Turn down the treble using my tone pot? Well, sure, but then the '59 pickup in the neck would sound wrong. The one thing I do have to say good about this is that it made harmonics a snap. It was literally so hot that it gave you that sound where the guitar sounds like it's about to explode, you know, where any noise you make on the strings by rubbing your hand turns into pinch harmonics. I eventually settled on putting an SH-5 Custom where the JB used to be, and that sounded SOOOO much better. Finally, I sold the whole guitar, because I didn't like the 25.5" scale. Now I've got a SH-6 Distortion, which I prefer over the Custom.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock, hard rock, metal, post-punk. This is not good for vintage tones, but fun for '80's "metal".

Comments: No way I would buy this again. It's too peircing. If I got one, I'd swap it out for an SH-6 Distortion or at the worst, an SH-5 Custom. People think that ceramic magnet pickups are grating. Well, they haven't heard the JB. It takes the cake.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 16.4 K impedance

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Studio
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: 498T
Other pickups on guitar: 490R
Artists using this pickup: many
You musical style(s): Rock, Metal, some Blues
Reason for pickup change: I wasn't satisfied with the output of the stock 498T.

Perceived output level: High output, but not too high (maybe the passive version of an EMG 85)
Tone: middy, trebly
Sonic evaluation: I use a Gibson LP Studio plugged straight into a Mesa Single Rectifier. The Recto then goes to a THD Hotplate, and then to a Marshall MG412 cabinet.
I was expecting a little more gain out of the JB, but it is definitely more than the 498T. Like other people have said, it does lack bass, but that's easily corrected by turning the bass up on the amp. It gives very clear, pronounced harmonics and has great sustain. It also cleans up very nicely (much better than the 498T) and has a nice tone for a bridge humbucker.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play a lot of metal, ie. Metallica, Megadeth, Godsmack, etc., and this pickup fits them all.

Comments: If the pickup were destroyed I think I would try something with a little more power--maybe a SD Distortion or a Dimarzio Super Distortion. But, overall this is a good pickup; it's definitely better than stock.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Agile 2500
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock ceramic
Other pickups on guitar: Stock neck ceramic
Artists using this pickup: List is endless
You musical style(s): Hard rock/Metal
Reason for pickup change: Stock was too thin and sterile sounding.

Perceived output level: Pretty fuzzy all the way up. I have my volume pot on about 7. Great crunch!!
Tone: Very nice on all freq's. Great middy tone. Awesome for Metal tone.
Sonic evaluation: Peavey XXX, Sonic 412 cab, Agile 2500 LP model, Gibson LP
Probably would sound great also with a Rectifier

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Perfect match for doing Metal and Hard Rock. Think Metallica tone!

Comments: I haven't had a whole lot of experience with pups but I do like this one way better than my SH-10 Full Shred on my Gibson LP. I think I may have found THE sound I was looking for. I will purchase another to put on my Gibson. It also cleans up nice for dirty tones. I would definitely get another one if it were stolen.

Pickup features: Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul Classic Quilt Top
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Epiphone Stock PUP
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1n
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, Classic Rock, Hard Rock
Reason for pickup change: Originals sucked.

Perceived output level: Fairly high output. I definately noticed a jump in overall volume after installation.
Tone: Mids are pronounced but trebles and bass aren't far behind.
Sonic evaluation: I'm running this PUP in my Epi Les Paul (mahogany body and neck with a maple cap) straight into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (modded and using a Jensen C12N). This pickup sizzles through this rig! It's perfect for cutting through the mix during a solo and combined with the '59 in the neck position it provides awesome balance for rhythm. Also, if you like pinch harmonics this pickup will be your best friend.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This PUP is a perfect match for Blues, Rock, Hard Rock, Country, Southern Rock and Pop.

Comments: If this pickup were destroyed I would definately replace it. I've been playing for 20 years. It is just an awesome all-around versatile PUP and I can't recommend it enough.

Pickup features: passive
Impedence or other specs: seymourduncan.com

Model of guitar or bass: esp ltd v-100
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: duncan designed stock hb-103b
Other pickups on guitar: other duncan designed (neck)
Artists using this pickup: el hombre
You musical style(s): hard rock, blues, punk
Reason for pickup change: need clarity and higher output.

Perceived output level: hot
Tone: well balanced with emphasis on highs/mids
Sonic evaluation: ampeg r212 reverberocket combo, boss mega distortion. heavy as hell, mind ripping tone. searing leads and enough chunk and thump to make rhythm worthwhile.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this pickup is good for rhythm/riff guys, solos, in the regions between rock and metal. well balanced.

Comments: this is becoming my fave pickup, more meatier than the duncan sh-5 custom, which is heavy clean, not quite as pushed toward the mids like a jb model. this is the best compromise i have found between the clean and dirty worlds.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: Esp EC-1000 Deluxe
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: 59
Artists using this pickup: Quite a few artists
You musical style(s): Alternative hard-rock
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level:
Tone: very balanced string to string with very clear sound and definition
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a Laney Vh100R with Marshall 1960a cab with 2 V30s and 2 GT-75s along with my trusty ESP EC-100 Deluxe

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: This pickup sounds great on this guitar! I'm not usually a Duncan fan with all the other pickups I've tried from them and always felt something was a missing. But, for some reason the JB sounds great on this ax and I love the sounds I'm getting from it. It can do great leads and rythm crunch and it always maintains a clear focus sound that is warm and balanced. I really dig this pickup and I don't struggle to tweak it the next day or week. It's very consistent and I love it! This pickup may not sound good for every guitar but for me it's perfect!

Pickup features: Hum; Pass
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass:
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: Good output
Tone: Alright tone; thin in the middle, not balanced
Sonic evaluation:
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: Do yourself a favor and get yoursef a set of WCR Pickups. I've bought about a hundred sets of Seymour Duncans over the years and they always seemed a little bit lacking in one area or another. Now I've reached the end of the line in pickups WCR Picks. Do yourself a favor, save the extra money and but yourself a set....you'll be glad You did...I KNOW I am!

Pickup features: humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: american strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: s/d pearly gates
Other pickups on guitar: custom s/d single coils
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): classis rock /blues
Reason for pickup change: pearly gates to bright

Perceived output level: full very hot, easy to distort paf style
Tone: killer right in pocket for classic or hard rock
Sonic evaluation: marshall avt head 2-12 cab/ tubeworks rack setup 2-12 greenbacks, gibson goltone les paul jr.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: classis rock blues, perfect for the classic rock sound in a strat very hot p-up

Comments: been playing for 25 years if you need a well rounded humbucker for a strat this is a good choice