Seymour Duncan SH-16 59/Custom Hybrid, Black 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
- 11102-86-B
Description
Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59/Custom Hybrid, Black Pickup
The SH-16 '59/Custom Hybrid delivers a refined balance of vintage warmth and modern aggression, pairing a classic '59 coil on the screw side with a hotter Custom coil on the slug side. This hybrid architecture produces a pickup that responds dynamically across the frequency spectrum, offering clarity on single notes while maintaining powerful sustain under full chords. Hand-built in Santa Barbara, the SH-16 excels in bridge position applications where recording engineers and producers demand versatility without sacrificing character.
Tonal Character & Recording Response
The medium output level and Alnico V magnet generate articulate highs and punchy mids without excessive brightness. A resonant peak of 5.95 kHz combined with balanced EQ values—8 bass, 6 mid, 6 treble—produces a response that sits clearly in a stereo mix while retaining harmonic complexity. The vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic feedback, ensuring clean, squeal-free operation during high-gain sessions and overdubs.
Construction & Specifications
Built with professional-grade components, this pickup features a nickel silver short leg bottom plate and a four-conductor lead wire for flexible wiring configurations and split-coil capability. The 11.5 kΩ DC resistance positions the SH-16 as a high-output hybrid that maintains responsiveness to pick dynamics and amp settings, making it suitable for capturing both vintage tones and contemporary studio productions.
Key Features
- Alnico V magnet for articulate, dynamic response
- DC Resistance: 11.5 kΩ
- Resonant Peak: 5.95 kHz
- EQ: 8 Bass / 6 Mid / 6 Treble
- '59 screw-side coil paired with Custom slug-side coil configuration
- Medium output level
- Four-conductor lead wire for coil-split capability
- Nickel silver short leg bottom plate
- Vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance
- Bridge position design
- Hand-built in Santa Barbara, CA
The SH-16 '59/Custom Hybrid represents decades of Seymour Duncan's pickup engineering, delivering the tonal complexity and reliability expected in professional recording applications.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|
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At a Glance
The Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59/Custom Hybrid is a hand-built bridge pickup engineered for recording sessions that demand both clarity and aggression across rock, metal, and progressive genres. Its hybrid coil design produces articulate single-note definition and powerful chord sustain, with balanced EQ and a resonant peak at 5.95 kHz that sits well in dense mixes without losing harmonic complexity. Vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic noise, making it ideal for high-gain tracking and layered recording work.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Rock
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Progressive
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Folk
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the SH-16 and comparable pickups like the SH-5 Custom or SH-1N 59 Model?
The SH-16 is a hybrid that combines a '59 coil on the screw side with a Custom coil on the slug side, offering dynamic responsiveness across both vintage and modern tones in a single pickup. The SH-5 is a pure Custom voice, while the SH-1N is a pure '59; the SH-16 splits the difference with 11.5 kΩ medium-high output and flexibility without sacrificing character.
Is this pickup suitable for both classic rock and metal?
Yes. The SH-16's balanced EQ (8 bass / 6 mid / 6 treble) and Alnico V magnet produce articulate highs and punchy mids that work well in classic rock while maintaining the sustain and aggression needed for contemporary metal and progressive styles.
Does it come with a coil-split option?
The SH-16 includes a four-conductor lead wire, which allows for flexible wiring configurations and split-coil capability if you wire it into a compatible switch or push-pull pot in your instrument.
Will this pickup feedback or squeal at high gain?
No. The pickup is vacuum wax potted, which eliminates microphonic feedback and ensures clean, squeal-free operation even at high gain levels.
What position is this pickup designed for?
The SH-16 is designed for bridge position applications where players demand versatility and cutting power without losing responsiveness to pick dynamics.
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