All user reviews for the Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB Model

For how long have you been using it?

Purchased in December 2009 for 99 euros in the corner store.

Did you try many other models before getting this one?

I tried emg 81/85 mounted on a deluxe ltd viper 1000. I much preferred the sound duncan, emg because the lack of heat, too cold for my taste.

What thing do you like most/least about it?

Most: its power and precision! but pinaise! I love this microphone

The least I do not know, I fell in love with this microphone

What is your opinion about the value for the price?

This mic is worth its price! it is EXCELLENT.

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?

Yes eyes closed and doights in the nose =)

I use it for 6months

I is not tried the other models since microphones is virtually impossible to try for various obvious reasons ....

with this microphone we can play all the classics of rock. placed on a copy of Les Paul quality correct (Hagstrom Deluxe for me) we find immediately what his history ...
While there will be less than a gibson Personalities 57 but will always be more versatile. it made want to, I think it is warm and clear, so good in clear and full.
My favorite sounds are the sounds of Stratocasters, but when I want a Les Paul sound of "classic" with this mic I have is exactly what I wanted.

the ratio Q / P is good since we can find new for less than 80th, for a mic of this quality is very interaissant.

(Originally written by lemondedejef/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Originally mounted on a Fernandes Monterey Elite (Les Paul-like) with mahogany body, set mahogany neck, maple top.

I added a pickup housing connected to the shield so I have no noise problems. No need for "wax potter" with modern pickups.

Sound: I had to do lots of tests to find the perfect height. I can't say it enough: height dramatically changes the response of a pickup!

The pickup produces a singing sound with superb overtones. With the housing and an average height it sounds fat and has a wide dynamic range.

Clean sounds are precise and crystal-clear but not sharp or aggressive.

With distortion it's very versatile and it sounds good from light crunch to heavy metal.

The SH-4 is quite unique because it has a strong character but also a great versatility!

Using this on and off for like... 15 years? I have always had one of these in one guitar or another.. lol. I like this pickup overall. It is pretty balanced.. pretty hot.... but backs off nicely. Not scorching like a Gibson 500T for example, but still has enough gas in the tank to rock.. without the spikey trebles. Things I like least about it..hmmm. Well, it could have a bit more character.. I would not call it a bland pickup per se, nor would I call it a blank canvas. The overall characteristic would be the fact that it is balanced.. probably a good choice for a studio guitarist.. an inoffensive tone that can do heavy or clean. Ultimately, the benefit of this is versatility.
I've had this in basswood, alder, mahogany, alder with maple tops, mahogany with maple tops, etc, etc. guitars. It has a different character with all of them, but you always know it is a JB. There is always speculation, and reference that this is a "Jeff Beck" signature pickup... it has never been. Not sure, but there was some controversy regarding this as to Seymour trying to pass it off as a a signature model.. not sure how the legend goes. LOL! It actually stands for "Jazz Bridge". Hence, the fact that it is very balanced... good for fusion.

As I mentioned.. I have always had this in one or more of my guitars for over a decade. I would say I am fairly sold on this pickup. I think this is a good value given the prices for Gibson pickups for example... which are no better than this. I would make the same choice.... owning this pickup does not stop me from owning other pickups... if I could only own ONE pickup, I might reconsider .. then again.. I might not! It covers a lot of bases.. it could be considered an all-in-one solution.