Seymour Duncan Invader VS JB (short comparison)

The JB humbucker is Seymour Duncan's most popular product of all time, due largely to its ability to span a wide range of musical styles. It can handle blues, classic rock, and even the heavy stuff. 

So if you're buying for versatility, the JB might be a better pick.

But for modern rock and metal, the Invader is just more full and percussive. It fills out the distortion a lot more, while the JB, in comparison, sounds like it's holding back a bit. 

As always, you need to take your own guitar rig and preferences into consideration. You can then use our short comparison below to make the right call.

Invader VS JB Comparison Table

We've added the Invader and JB along with two other popular Seymour Duncan pickups to the comparison table below.

What do these pickups sound like?

Note that the magnets in the Invaders are ceramic, while the SH-4 JB features alnico 5 magnets. Although both pickups are considered high-output, you may notice more punch and fullness in the Invader compared to the JB.

What are the spec differences?

The only difference in the spec sheet is the magnets, but that alone does not account for all the tone differences we mentioned. Other technical aspects of humbuckers, such as winding, also play a role. However, it is generally known that ceramic magnets tend to produce a warmer and more full-bodied tone, which can be advantageous in high-gain environments.

Price Comparison

Note that the Invaders comes in a set, while the SH-4 JB and similar humbuckers are typically sold as a single bridge humbucker

Price updated Fri, September 29th, 2023.

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Major Differences

These pickups generate a similar tone and are some of the most aggressive passive pickups available. However, the primary difference lies in the sound produced by the ceramic magnet versus the alnico. Humbuckers loaded with ceramics are typically smoother, more potent, and create a thicker sound. Although the JB is still classified as a high-output humbucker, it's not as loud or booming as the Invader set.

Conclusion

Here's how I would break down the differences between these two pickups and why you might prefer one over the other:

• Invaders: Modern metal focus, heavy rock, high levels of distortion
• SH-4 JB: If you're only replacing a bridge pickup, or want something that can handle metal, yet with a little more versatility

As always, your situation is the most important deciding factor, so you should take these recommendations with a grain of salt. Also keep in mind that pickups are not the only variable that determines the final tone of your electric guitar.

If you have questions about our Seymour Duncan Invader VS JB comparison, drop them in the comments section below and we'll chat.

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