Seymour Duncan SH-15 Alternative 8 White Pickup
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- Brand new in original box
- Full Seymour Duncan manufacturer's warranty
- Free shipping in the continental US
In stock
- SKU
- 11102-85-W
Wiring: ships from Seymour Duncan with a 4-conductor lead (coil splitting and phase switching ready).
Description
Seymour Duncan SH-15 Alternative 8 White Pickup
The SH-15 Alternative 8 is engineered to capture focused, articulate performances with impressive clarity and controlled aggression in the recording chain. Built for engineers and producers tracking through dense arrangements, this pickup excels at maintaining note separation and definition across the frequency spectrum while cutting through dense mixes. Hand-built in Santa Barbara with premium components, it brings studio-grade construction and sonic predictability to your session instrument.
Tone & Output Characteristics
With 17.68 kΩ DC resistance and a 4.46 KHz resonant peak, the SH-15 Alternative 8 prioritizes midrange presence and treble articulation for clean source material at the tracking stage. The 7/8/9 EQ voicing (Bass/Mid/Treble) emphasizes upper midrange and high-end definition, making it ideal for capturing genres that demand clarity in the mix—alternative, indie, and rock productions particularly benefit from its refined, articulate character in layered arrangements.
Construction & Design
Alnico VIII bar magnets provide strong, focused magnetic pull with excellent sustain and responsiveness for consistent tracking sessions. The pickup is vacuum wax potted to eliminate microphonic feedback during recording, while the nickel silver bottom plate contributes to its tonal refinement and durability through extended studio use. Available in standard humbucker or Trembucker spacing to fit your existing configuration.
Key Features
- Hand built in Santa Barbara, CA
- Four conductor cable for flexible wiring options
- Alnico VIII bar magnets
- DC Resistance: 17.68 kΩ
- Resonant Peak: 4.46 KHz
- EQ Voicing: 7 Bass / 8 Midrange / 9 Treble
- Nickel silver bottom plate
- Vacuum wax potted construction
- Available in standard humbucker or Trembucker spacing
The SH-15 Alternative 8 combines Seymour Duncan's meticulous hand-built quality with a voicing engineered for recording clarity and mix placement in modern alternative and indie production contexts.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|
Reviews
At a Glance
The Seymour Duncan SH-15 Alternative 8 is a hand-built humbucker engineered to sit clearly in dense mixes, with a resonant peak at 4.46 kHz and a 7/8/9 EQ voicing that emphasizes upper midrange and treble articulation. Its 17.68 kΩ resistance and Alnico VIII magnets deliver excellent note separation and sustain, making it excellent for tracking alternative, indie, and modern rock where definition and clarity are critical to the final mix. Pick it for sessions where you need a pickup that cuts through without muddying, vacuum wax-potted to eliminate feedback during recording.
Who This Is For
| Best suited for | alternative, indie, rock, progressive |
|---|---|
| Tonal character | Articulate, focused, midrange presence, treble definition, controlled aggression |
| Less specialized for | blues, jazz (it will do it; instruments voiced for that style do it more easily) |
| Skill level | Intermediate / Advanced / Professional |
Frequently Asked Questions
What spacing options does the SH-15 Alternative 8 come in?
The pickup is available in both standard humbucker and Trembucker spacing to match your existing bridge configuration.
Is this pickup suitable for blues or jazz?
No—the SH-15 Alternative 8 is voiced specifically for alternative, indie, and rock applications. Its midrange-forward character and treble emphasis are optimized for those genres rather than the smooth, fat tones preferred in blues and jazz.
What does the 7/8/9 EQ voicing mean?
The numbers represent Bass/Midrange/Treble settings: a 7 Bass means slightly scooped low end, an 8 Midrange means forward mids, and a 9 Treble means bright, articulate highs—all designed to cut through in a mix.
Why is vacuum wax potting important?
Vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic feedback, which is unwanted noise or squealing that can occur during high-gain playing. This ensures the pickup stays silent and responsive even in aggressive playing situations.
Does this pickup include a four conductor cable?
Yes, the SH-15 Alternative 8 includes a four conductor cable for flexible wiring options, allowing you to split coils or series/parallel switching if your guitar's controls support it.
Do I pay sales tax on this order?
Sales tax is collected only on orders shipped to California; orders shipped to any other US state are not charged sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. Marketplaces collect sales tax as the facilitator in most states, so the same listed price can cost more there. Buyers remain responsible for any use tax their state applies. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included.
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