Duncan JB replacement

[OddFutureWolfGang]

I'm looking to replace the Seymour Duncan jb in the bridge of my agathis body(shitety wood I know), maple neck, and rosewood fretboard guitar. I found the jb pretty good for leads but too honky and with too much upper midrange fora good modern metal rhythm tone. I want something just a little chunkier sounding but with really good definition and a high output. I'd greatly appreciate some suggestions here.

[Madsakre]

What kind of music do you play. Something tells me Nailbomb

[OddFutureWolfGang]

I play mostly modern metal, metalcore, death, thrash, and progressive/djent metal i.e. killswitch engage, sylosis, periphery, trivium, children of bodom, animals as leaders, and lamb of god. I also play some fusion(Guthrie govan style) and some blues too if that helps.

[ericsabbath]

miracle man

[OddFutureWolfGang]

I think that'd work really well but how does it compare to the jb in output?

[darkbluemurder]

I agree with Eric - Miracle Man came immediately to my mind. Output is about the same as JB but the MiM is much more defined and chunky.

Cheers Stephan

[OddFutureWolfGang]

After hearing some samples of the c-bomb I'm curious as to how it compares to the miracle man if anybody wants to chime in.

[darkbluemurder]

I have never played a C-Bomb but have heard that it has more mids than the Miracle Man and that it should sit between the Miracle Man and the Cold Sweat (I have both of these, and I also tried them in the same guitar). Can't go wrong with either, IMHO.

Cheers Stephan

[Alex]

Miracle Man would be my choice as well. It's not that much hotter than the JB IMO.

[OddFutureWolfGang]

Out of curiosity how do u like that nailbomb in your lp.

[HTH AMPS]

I play mostly modern metal, metalcore, death, thrash, and progressive/djent metal i.e. killswitch engage, sylosis, periphery, trivium, children of bodom, animals as leaders, and lamb of god. I also play some fusion(Guthrie govan style) and some blues too if that helps.

surprised nobody is saying Aftermath or Painkiller.

[Alex]

Out of curiosity how do u like that nailbomb in your lp.

A lot, but it's not a typical LP to start with, rather different.

[OddFutureWolfGang]

I see. Not to be too interrogative but how do the mm and nailbomb compare in your guitars (which is better for rhythm/lead, which is tighter/more aggressive, which cleans up better, what are the tonal differences)?

[Alex]

The guitar in question has a thinner and much more defined treble end than the typical LesPaul, less mids and more bass. It went through the following pickups: Gibson 500T, Miracle Man, DiMarzio AirZone, Seymour Duncan JB and finally now the Nailbomb.

The Nailbomb fits best in it because it fattens/warms up the treble end and doesn't sound harsh, has healthy mids and is still tight on the lower end. Best of all, it very articulate character make the guitar awesome for leads - as said the guitar is more defined and quicker on the attack on the treble end than typical LesPauls. I particular enjoy the old-school/vintage touch the NB still has a bit, compared to most "metal" pickups.

The Miracle Man had awesome and punishing rhythm sounds, but it didn't fatten/warm up the treble end, which sometimes sounded thin and harsh in standard tuning. I'd choose the MM primarily for warm/dark instruments with a lot of mid range, or downtuned guitars. Overall the MM is more cutting and "in your face", the Nailbomb is more "pushing" and articulate/polite.

The AirZone sounded great, though bassy, but also masked playing mistakes and was just too forgiving. The JB sounded like Lamb Of God in this guitar, but the treble end was thin and harsh.

[darkbluemurder]

The Miracle Man had awesome and punishing rhythm sounds, but it didn't fatten/warm up the treble end, which sometimes sounded thin and harsh in standard tuning. I'd choose the MM primarily for warm/dark instruments with a lot of mid range, or downtuned guitars. Overall the MM is more cutting and "in your face", the Nailbomb is more "pushing" and articulate/polite.

Exactly my experiences with both pickups. A-Bomb is definitely more polite than MiM. In my rather dark sounding alder strat the MiM is fat enough even for leads in the upper registers, and that guitar is tuned in Eb standard.

Cheers Stephan