Swapping pickup in JP for D-Sonic - which direction?

[MusicManJP6]

Stock direction for a JP6 is with the blade towards the neck, but I've seen a few with it installed toward the bridge. The JP7's have it installed toward the bridge, but what would be the effect if it were to be installed on a JP6 toward the bridge? Anyone have first hand experience with the tone difference?

I'm swapping the SS in my MD JP for a D-Sonic VERY soon and wanted to see which way was better... My White JP sounds great with the blade towards the neck, but I'm curious how it sounds the other way around...

Adam

 

[emkey]

All JP6's have blade towards neck, JP7's have blade towards bridge. In case of 7s it's dedicated for getting more brilliant, steel sound. In case of 6's you don't need that kinda sound too much. If you changed the blade direction on 6's you would probably get tone full of presence and treble, with characteristic steel dose*. That's what I think you could get.

*just try this: play with your pick in normal position and then near the bridge. Hear the difference?

 

[MusicManJP6]

Point well taken!

So, here's where this question stems from: I saw a JP6 with a D-Sonic installed 'backwards' on ebay and the description said that when he was getting it installed, the guitar tech told him that backwards was the way it sounded best. It was a little surprising to hear/see that on a JP6. Now that I am getting one installed in my MD, I wanted to make sure I couldn't get a 'better' sound out of it by installing it in reverse... I'm thinking that JP knows what sounds best and the standard installation is going to be the best bet...

But, while we're at it - anyone else have an opinion?

It's going into the shop in the next few days...

 

[the24thfret]

I don't know the answer, but I advocate installing it backwards just to be cool. You already have one with it in stock form anyway!

 

[Ang3lus]

it sounds best for JP, we (Shamefully) don't have JP's ears and experience, so you might like it backwards, i actually think the pickup sounds fine for a passive one, still would like to try a set of actives in it though, i think it will wake the guitar up.

 

[PBGas]

I swapped out the D-Sonic on my new JP6 over the weekend and put in a Steve's Special. It sounds amazing! I wanted a bit more differentiation from my BFR-JP7.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I like the bite the D-Sonic provides compared to the SS...

It's getting swapped out monday...

 

[Dizzy]

My JP6 off ebay came with the Blade to the bridge - Standard tuning w/ 10's.

Apparently a guy at Dimarzio told him it was the way to go, which contradicts the Dimarzio site.

I'm swapping it back - the whole reason for the blade to the bridge is to get low end bite out of drop tunings & 7-strings.

From the Dimarzio Site :

Installation direction makes a noticeable difference in the sound, particularly with overdriven amps. With the solid bar toward the bridge, the sound is a little brighter and better-defined, and this is the direction we recommend for heavy strings and low tunings. With the adjustable polepieces toward the bridge, the sound is warmer and a touch louder, and we think this works best for standard tuning and more solo-oriented playing.

I'm looking forward to getting more warmth when I swap it - it's a bit too tinny & sterile for me at the moment. (It's standard tuned)

 

[Roxy]

I guess it depends what string gauge and tuning you plan to set the guitar up for. Also, if you plan on getting a JP7 it will be factory installed bar towards bridge. I keep mine with the factory setups on both instruments and they both sound great.

 

[MusicManJP6]

Well, I think Dizzy's post is conclusive enough for me. I'll go with the standard installation. I play drop D with hybrid 10's, so I don't think I would benefit from the pup being installed in reverse...

Thanks guys! It's getting swapped out Monday. Let me know if any of you are interested in the SS that is being pulled out. It will most likely go on ebay if no one has any interest here...

 

[MusicManJP6]

I'm thinking that the guitar's uniqueness in itself will make the two guitars sound slightly different, even with the pickups installed in the same direction. I've heard many stories of two 'identical' guitars sounding different because of nuances in the wood, and because they are built by people and no two guitars are exactly the same in that respect. I mean, I could get it home and plug it up and it sound ten times better than my other DS loaded JP. You never know!

 

[Dizzy]

Possibly, but as the Dimarzio site explains :

Installation direction makes a noticeable difference in the sound, particularly with overdriven amps.

I'd be thinking they'd be far more noticeabe than the slight changes you can get from 2 identical guitars.

 

[MusicManJP6]

tushay, Dizzy! I've got four days to decide, so we'll see what some other have to say that have first hand experience...