Product ReviewsSeymour Duncan SH-4 JB Model Humbucker Pickup - Reverse Zebra

JB model is an excellent bridge pickup

Just wanted to write a quick review of the JB Bridge pickup I recently bought. I replaced the stock pickups from my made in china Epiphone Les Paul with a JB Bridge pickup and I am AMAZED at the tone and sound. Such a huge improvement, Granted, the guitar itself is not a $2500 Gibson, but the stock pickups were ok. But after the JB was installed, I was completely impressed by the tone change.

Now my bridge PU sounds amazing. I have a great tone, full and vibrant, cutting crunch and no excess noise. I am very happy with the sound. Even at a low guitar volume I get a crisp crunch out of my amp, whereas before the stock pickups needed the volume on '10'. The tone is a bright without being harsh to my ears, and the volume is higher than the stock PU. I installed a Seymour Duncan '59 in the neck and the '59/JB combo is amazing. The tone and volume balances perfectly. The volume of the JB is much higher than the stock pickup. Combined with the '59 in the neck, I have a nice volume/crunch boost when switching pickups on the fly.

The JB sounds good clean and distorted. On my clean channel, with the volume on the guitar low, I can get a nice clean sound. Dialing up the volume on the guitar brings a nice crunchy distortion to the mix, even though the amp is still on the clean channel. The stock pickups didn't get any kind of pleasant distortion on the clean channel no matter what the volume was. I will note that turning the volume on the guitar up beyond 3 or so gets the clean channel distorting. Its a great sound. However if I want more volume but retain a clean tone, I use the '59 neck pickup. The JB doesn't really get 'loud' without getting 'dirty'. If that makes sense. I knew this going in however, and I am not disappointed. I just wanted to state that the JB is a hot pickup, and even on the clean channel on my amp, I get a distortion / crunch when the guitar volume is rolled out. The '59 however, in the neck position, remains clean all the way to about 80% volume. With the two pickups, I get a nice balanced tone that has some flexibility in the clean/crunch sound.

When used with the distortion channel, the JB sounds AMAZING. If you want a killer distortion sound that isn't quite 'modern' the JB is the ticket. When I say its not modern, I mean that the natural tone of the pickup is full. The mids are not scooped out. A typical 'modern' distortion tone has a lot of the mid-eq tone scooped out of it. The JB does not. If that is a sound you are looking for, you will need to adjust the EQ on your amp or on your outboard gear. You may even want a different pickup for that type of tone.

Overall my guitar sounds brand new. I spent almost as much on the pickups and installation than I did on the guitar itself but it was worth it. The tone is amazing.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: pilgrimsprojects

The best sounding bridge pickup for any wood!

This is the best sounding bridge pickup, has a unique warmth that makes the guitar sing at slow passages and fast runs too! I have this pickup in many of my guitars and never disappointed me! With JB you can play everything from Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal, to Death metal, Black metal, Grindcore, Hardcore, anything! I have it in Mahogany, Alder and Swamp Ash bodies and JB plays perfect in all that woods. For over 40 years the best pickup. Seymour is genius!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: banjomikez

Great pickups. I have built many guitars in my day and I use these pickups alot.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: myguitarsupply

Great pick up

Sounds good with my baretta special.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: banjomikez

Simply awesome.

If there is such a thing as a perfect bridge humbucker this is it.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: phantom_forty_e...

JB Reverse Zebra

Great tones, Affordable,

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: myguitarsupply

Seymour Duncan Humbucker Pickup

It was a gift for our Grandson & he Loves it!!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: sweetwatersound