New! Seymour Duncan JB Rails vs the Original JB!

[@jamesgoodman7096]

I have the same model guitar, looking at the rail sets. Love the new rail JB, love how it's holding up in this. Great low end with it.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

The JB (both) are perfectly matched with the LPs I feel! They have the right mid range and feel.

[@soundgardener75]

Love this comparison video! I’m getting the JB Rails for my Dean ML Modifier to tune to D standard. I think they would excel in lower tunings.

[@mr.roxalot5212]

Good comparison. Would be cool to see the Nazgul rails vs the OG version. Maybe the Jupiter rails too, not many comparisons of those around.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I should get another set of Jupiters. I liked them, but can’t quite remember their character. The Nazgul is definitely going to be in my next SD grab.

[@mr.roxalot5212]

​@@BaritoneGoatStudioThat would be awesome. The SD Noumenon looks like another interesting one, although not a rail pickup

[@GearStuffandThings]

Man I’ve been wanting to check these out! Stoked

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@GearStuffandThings I want to try it in a different guitar! The Gibson is cool, but it also tends to favor bright pickups. The rails definitely has a more saturated sound, and more natural compression when it hits the amp. But the OG JB just has the mod bite that makes it sound and feel louder.

[@p1aytoy134]

Dang, perfect back to back comparison! Clips are not too long so it's easy to memorize the tone to compare. Great job! Looking forward to see the rail Nazgul comparison :)

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@p1aytoy134 we will see if I can get a hold one! The Nazgul seems to be the one people are grabbing.

[@thewolf7119]

I got a pair of JB and 59 custom shop rails....they are amazing, especially in the mids!

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@thewolf7119 I am curious. Did the custom shop JB rails still have the Alnico 5 magnet? I would definitely be interested to hear a 59 with rails.

[@thewolf7119]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio yes, both pickups have alnico 5 magnets and rails. I got them brand new on reverb last year as a set. Put them in a master built Charvel, but took them out when I sold the guitar. They were absolutely amazing and dynamic.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@thewolf7119 sick! I think the magnet type really has an effect on how the mids cut through. I find these production models with the A8 magnets to have a bit less of that mid crunch.

[@johnny_corleone]

So they have a 59 neck position rail style humbucker

[@thewolf7119]

@@johnny_corleone actually, mine is a Jazz, not a 59. And it's a custom shop piece. I got them in a set from Reverb about a year and a half ago.

[@ElectroFret21]

I'm glad someone uploaded a direct comparison of the 2 with both clean and distorted tones. I've been debating on which one to get. I'm hearing more compression, a fuller bottom end, rounded highs and more grit from the rails version. I like the aesthetic of the rails, but I may stick with the original JB for the same reasons you mentioned. It does sound more "forward" and I find myself trying to dial in slightly more high end with my stock humbuckers.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@ElectroFret21 the original JB is hard to beat! Rails are good, just different and might be better suited for a different guitar.

[@johnwinkler2606]

I could hear a slight bit brighter tone on the clean setting with the OG JB than with the rail.

[@anthonystark5412]

I heard the same as you: The upper-mids were a little more pronounced on the classic JB. Personally, that's my preference.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@anthonystark5412 I am wondering how this compare to the Alt 8. The top end on the rails is more sizzle and crisp on headphones, but it doesn’t translate to presence or attack. The mids overall seem to be flatter. I too also like the original JB a little more here.

[@anthonystark5412]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio Ha! Earlier, I was thinking about the same thing. I wouldn't be surprised to see that gap narrowing somewhat when comparing the Alt 8 to these rails.

[@angusorvid8840]

Excellent demo. I've been using JBs and other Duncans since 1985, so I'm very familiar with the brand and very familiar with the characteristics of the JB. In fact, it's hard to think of one particular piece of gear I know as well as the JB. It's up there with the MXR Distortion Plus, my old JMP, Boogie, early 80s Charvel strat. These are all pieces of gear I've been using most of my life. When I discovered Duncan had come out with a rail version of the JB that really got my attention. This is something I really want to try. This demo really etches out the clear differences between the classic JB and rail version. Both are relevant. The rail iteration takes the JB tone and gives it more of a place in the realm of aggressive metal, which is great. The twin dynamics of rail design and an alnico 8 mag really pack a punch. I love the design philosophy. But could I live the rest of my life with the classic JB and be happy? Of course! I'm just curious to try the rail version. Rock on.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I found the JB to be a consistently good pickup for almost any style! Even the rails version keeps the character of the classic JB and only slightly adds some different character.

[@angusorvid8840]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio It's a basic cornerstone tone of rock and metal from the last forty or so years. I'll put it this way. I was heavily involved in the L.A. Sunset Strip scene from about '86 to '91 and you couldn't watch three bands in a row without two of them using JBs. I knew these bands were using JBs because they were eithe friends of mine, or I asked them, or they were using Kramer Barettas as was I, and they came stock with JBs. Also, at a certain point you can just hear a JB a mile away. Distinctive tone. By that time DiMarzio was becoming less popular than Duncan. I've played a lot of DiMarzios too, still own many models, but they are simply not as adaptable as Duncans tend to be. The Super Distortion is a classic. But it doesn't come anywhere near the JB when it comes to harmonics. The JB is simply one of the most harmonically rich pickups ever produced. You can make it scream on any fret, koto tap, or do harmonic palm mutes, and it delivers. I dig Duncan's design philosophy with the rails, which is to deliver a classic tone in a new envelope that gives it an even stronger foundation for more aggressive modern styles of playing. It's brilliant. They're knocking it out of the park.

[@MNmetalhead]

Great video man! They both sound awesome, just some slight tonal variations! 🤘

[@frolics]

JB Rails are giving me EMG 85 vibes in high gain. Less string separation, but a great alternative for leads

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I can hear that. Has the rounder low end and even tone the 85 has, but still slightly compressed.

[@blobbitty]

Both pick-up sound rad but the rails delivered on the distortion tones. Way more defined low end.

[@kilianruvalcaba6904]

Good comparison, in my case, I prefer jb rails, the sound is more balanced than normal jb; the normal jb is more warm because normal jb have alnico V magnet and jb rails have alnico 8 magnet(I love alnico 8 magnet) thanks for make this comparison, for sure I will buy the hot rodded rails set for my jackson 7 strings guitar greetings from mexico lml

[@zombiemosher1139]

I don't get why they would still call it a JB when it has a different magnet. Why not stick rails on a normal JB? Seems like they could have named it as a new model.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

It must be the winds and AWG used to get close to the JBs overall tone? Maybe. I guess technically it is branded as the “JB Rails” but it does go that extra step with the magnet swap. It would have been more interesting to see what changing just one variable would have sounded like.

[@Duskydog419]

The duncans have a brighter sparkle to them when you hear the clean but the JB rails have a more controlled sound with the high gain. Duncans feel like theyd be great for on Stage but the JB rails is better for Recording and tracking precision

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I agree. The rails would be a more consistent and cleaner tone for recording. The originals are a bit more raw.

[@lawndart188s]

I agree. The OG has more sparkle when you clean them up. Good side by side brother!

[@nikkoberserker]

Hello ! i prefer the rails JB , i have the JB and the JB jr (on strat) . The JB rails seems more precise and have more attack . For me it's sound like L 500 L bill lawrence , Not the XL but with more definitions . it's a very cool pickup , i want one ! Thanks for the video.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@nikkoberserker it does have a more focused overall sound. The attack on the initial transient is less chirpy. It is interesting to keep listening and picking up on things.

[@doctura]

JB rails appears more metal but og JB still kicks

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Yep! The OG JB still holds up!

[@Noel-jk3jy]

you shouldve done bends up high to see how the tone changes as the string passes between polepiece fields vs staying even over the rail. i much prefer the polepiece sound. separate magnets dead on under each string seems to translate to better string separation and more volume with the given output. the rail has an evenness and cleanness the polepieces lack. it sounds like a more cohesive instrument. maybe tweaking screws could get the same effect on the original, then youd really have a pickup

[@joetate8563]

would love to hear the a b in a mix

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@joetate8563 it would be hard to hear given how close they are, but I would be curious to see if while mixing a track either pickup sits better. The flatness of the rail pickup might make it more consistent to track with.

[@lucamoqi]

With this having rail magnets and Alnico 8, I think Seymour Duncan should have made the pickup with a little bit less DC resistance, something around 11 or 12k, making it clearer

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Yeah. I tend to favor medium output. I think they were just trying to keep it in the realm of the JB, it is pretty similar, but I think it might favor more as a lead style pickup than a chuggy rythm style. It is a little smoother.

[@steves12strings]

Not even Seymour Duncan themselves can do better than the legendary OG JB

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I can see where the rails would be better for certain types of Metal riffs, but the bite and clarity of the OG JB is still solid!

[@livio1396]

i think the rails sound a little bit more dense if that makes sense, and a little bit more of that high freq presence thingy, but overall i find them quite similar

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@livio1396 I expected them to be similar. The differences they do have makes sense, and I do get the idea of dense! More saturation and evenness to the low mids. Sounds and feels slightly thicker.

[@rikosimmo]

6:03 6:28

[@rikosimmo]

Chugs better on the rails. Tighter and punchier

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

It has more focus for sure. The roll off on the highs helps a bit. The OG JB almost seems unruly.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

All rails have a slightly fuller sound but you lose string definition. As you pointed out the attack of the pick gets lost. Definition from the classic allows you to hear even the individual strings overtones and harmonics better.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I slightly prefer the original JB here with this guitar and particular tuning.

[@zyxwfish]

Very subtle but the rails sound tighter. I know I have a bias against rail pickups being tight because of the X2N by dimarzio but they are tighter here.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I do think the smoothing out of the low mids and extreme top end focuses the sound more in the mids. The low end on the rails has more sub lows popping up, but that muddy section of the the low mids that the regular jb has isn’t there and the palm mutes feel better with out that kind of spongy response.

[@zyxwfish]

@@BaritoneGoatStudio it’s very subtle! I bet you notice the feel playing it more so than hearing it.

[@charlesb7831]

I've been waiting for this comparison. I have an 1989 Seymour Duncan JB in an old Kramer, it's good, but I really like these rails, I liked the lower midrange on them, and seemed tighter in the low-end, and just more articulate and punchy! I have a Bill and Becky Lawrence XL500 xl in an old 96 Hamer Californian and love it, can be a little bright, but a really nice pickup. I'll definitely buy one of these railed JB to keep on hand to put into a future guitar or maybe swap in one I have. As i understand these are a limited run.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I think they have a great look and are built well. They have a smoother top end and they do sustain a bit more than the classic JB I have come to realize. Pinch harmonics seem to come easier and hold longer with the rails. The low end seems to be less forward and that does make them not as woofy in the low mids.

[@p1aytoy134]

I thought rail version would be aggressive due to more mids but the original JB sounds more aggressive to me. Maybe because it has more clarity when playing power chords.

[@fullmetaflak]

It feels weird to say that I would love a mix and match set of a standard PU for the bridge and the rail PU for the neck

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

It would be a killer lead tone on the neck! I ended up using a Screamin Demon in the neck of an Epiphone and it was the best lead tone I ever heard.

[@PERPowns]

I've got mix-matched pickups in my Ibanez. SD Jupiter rail pu in the bridge and a Dimarzio PAF in the neck. They work great together.

[@rikosimmo]

4:21 4:37

[@strungth666]

the og's are definitely more mid forward, and the rails really had more oomph in the lows. tough call. two different sounds, for sure.

[@hershellumiere]

I like the original better. Sounds like it has more bass and mids.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I think the original has a bit more openness overall. It is less focused, but ends up being a bit more dynamic because of it!

[@chrispile3878]

Nasal is NOT sparkly. Anyway - I heard very little diff.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

@@chrispile3878 yeah, sparkly cleans in the room. Top end was more present. But it got more nasal with gain upon the play back during editing. The upper mids got a bit more forward and more narrow around the 1-2k range. I almost had to double check that the clips were on the correct order.

[@sfear6]

the RAILS have more compression and Alnico 8 is more warmer and more output than Alnico 5

[@AlwayzTired]

Once the boosts were added, I kinda preferred the OG JB, and I’m a high gain metalcore playing dude.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

I am digging the original JB as someone who likes a bit more definition. The rails seem like they could do older metal or thrash really well.

[@aganton4977]

The way I hear it the rails excells at producing more modern metal sound. The original excelles at classic metal sound.

[@explorer500]

The originals sound much fuller imho

[@brandonbryson3317]

Original sounds a bit thin in comparison.

[@OkayyyIGetIt]

I hate the JB so I was hoping this would change that.. sadly, it doesn’t.

[@BaritoneGoatStudio]

Yeah, it is still a JB with some slight tweaks. Slightly smoother and thicker, but still had the overall JB sound.

[@MarcAndreLevesque]

As usual with dirt/high gain, minimal differences that no one will notice in the mix. Save your money and stop changing pickups. For cleans it makes more a difference but definitely not worth the money.

[@soundgardener75]

Why not? There are some of us that love trying out pickups.

[@Sludgepit666]

Total B's,,they sound exactly the same!!

[@vicenzor9699]

KZbin is the worst way to compare this type of stuff. The videos are compressed to the max. It would be like trying to compare them in person but clicking on a compressor jacked to max.

[@soundgardener75]

@Sludgepit666 They’re not, you might want to get your hearing checked.