So, you’re chasing that iconic 80s rock guitar sound? You’re on the right track, especially if you’re armed with a Marshall JCM 800 and a Tube Screamer. Many guitarists starting out on this quest are looking for that sweet spot – a tone that screams with distortion but retains clarity, perfect for dive bombs, tapping, and those essential pinch harmonics that define the era. Let’s dive into how to get there.
The Seymour Duncan JB: Your 80s Rock Pickup Powerhouse
For achieving that quintessential 80s rock tone, the Seymour Duncan JB humbucker is a fantastic choice, and for good reason. It’s a pickup that consistently delivers the goods. Even when pushing your distortion hard, the JB maintains impressive clarity and articulation. This is crucial for those intricate techniques you mentioned, like whammy bar tricks, tapping, and pinch harmonics. You need a pickup that can handle the gain without turning your riffs into a muddy mess.
The JB is known for its “beefy” sound, providing a thick and powerful tone that’s perfect for rhythm playing and soaring solos alike. It’s got a sharp attack, ensuring your notes cut through the mix, and plenty of sustain to keep those power chords ringing and your lead lines singing. Whether you’re playing through a high-end stack or even a more modest practice amp, the JB’s qualities shine through.
Exploring High-Gain Options (and Why Less Can Be More)
Now, if you were purely after all-out, face-melting gain, pickups like the DiMarzio Tone Zone might come to mind. While the Tone Zone is undeniably a high-output monster, it can sometimes be a bit too much for capturing the nuanced distortion often heard in the Best 80s Rock. For that era’s sound, clarity and definition are key, and the JB strikes a great balance.
Finding your perfect tone is a journey of experimentation. Sometimes you nail it right away, and sometimes it takes a bit of tweaking and trying different things out. The important thing is to start with solid building blocks, and with your JCM 800, Tube Screamer, and potentially a JB-equipped guitar, you’re definitely heading in the right direction to unlock your ultimate 80s rock guitar sound.
