Gearank

Seymour came up with the design of this pickup back in 1974, and up to this day, the SH-4 and SH-2n combination is still one of the most sought after.

The SH-4, also called JB Model, has an alnico 5 bar magnet and a coil that's especially tweaked to give the pickup a mid-scooped tone with emphasis on the lows and highs that work well for many musical genres.

Used by the likes of Jeff Beck, Randy Rhoads, and many more, the SH-2n is the company's most versatile bridge humbucker. It has and is still used in different styles of music from country, to blues to modern metal. More importantly, it is designed to complement high output bridge humbuckers, which makes it the best partner for the SH-4.

Specifications:

• Position: Neck
• Magnet Material: Alnico 5
• Dimensions: Not Stated
• String Spacing: Not Stated (Les Paul)
• Available Colors/Covers: Black

Pros
This pickup set has been used on many different guitars with great success, from classic Les Pauls to Jazzmasters, to dual humbucker Superstrats and Teles. It is commonly lauded for being a good set of pickups for virtually any type of instrument. Because of its popularity, it's a good starting ground for determining what kind of pickup you might eventually want; that is if you feel the need to upgrade.

Cons
Some don't feel that the SH-4 isn't tight enough for modern metal.

Overall
With its long history and big name backers, the Seymour Duncan SH-4 and SH-2n is quite the tandem. It is versatile enough for almost every musical style.

This was previously on our recommended list for Guitar Pickup Sets Under $150 but was removed due to a price increase.