Seymour Duncan SH-16 59/Custom Hybrid, Reverse Zebra Pickup
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- Brand new in original box
- Full Seymour Duncan manufacturer's warranty
- Free shipping in the continental US
Out of stock
- SKU
- 11102-86-RZ
Description
Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59/Custom Hybrid, Reverse Zebra Pickup
The SH-16 '59/Custom Hybrid captures a balanced, articulate voice that bridges vintage warmth and modern clarity in the recording chain. This mismatched-coil design pairs the classic response of a '59 screw coil with the aggressive punch of a Custom slug coil, producing a pickup that responds dynamically across the entire frequency spectrum. Hand-built in Santa Barbara, it's engineered for studio work where tonal versatility and coherent tracking are essential.
Tonal Character & Recording Performance
The medium-output design with a 5.95 kHz resonant peak delivers clarity and articulation while maintaining natural saturation and sustain when captured to tape or digital. The Alnico 5 bar magnet provides strong magnetic definition, making this pickup equally effective for clean tracking and driven recording passes. Its 11.5k Ω DC resistance sits in the sweet spot for balanced frequency response without excessive compression, ensuring it sits naturally in a mix without requiring heavy EQ correction.
Construction & Studio Flexibility
Hand-built construction in Santa Barbara ensures consistent quality and reliable performance across sessions. The 4-conductor lead wire opens multiple wiring configurations, including series, parallel, and split-coil options for custom switching schemes that adapt to different session requirements. A nickel silver short-leg bottom plate contributes to tonal refinement, while vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic feedback for clean, noise-free recording without unwanted artifacts.
Key Features
- Hand-built in Santa Barbara, CA
- Medium-output level for versatile playing styles
- Mismatched coils—'59 screw coil paired with Custom slug coil
- Alnico 5 bar magnet for strong magnetic response
- 4-conductor lead wire for flexible wiring options
- Vacuum wax potted for microphonic feedback elimination
- DC Resistance: 11.5k Ω
- Resonant Peak: 5.95 kHz
- Nickel silver short-leg bottom plate
- Available in Standard humbucker or Trembucker spacing
The SH-16 excels in any studio context where articulation and tonal balance matter—tracking sessions, overdubs, and mixing all benefit from its refined hybrid approach and proven reliability across diverse material.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|
Reviews
At a Glance
The Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59/Custom Hybrid is a hand-built, medium-output humbucker engineered to sit naturally in dense mixes without losing articulation or clarity, thanks to its mismatched-coil design and 5.95 kHz resonant peak. Vacuum wax potting and Alnico 5 construction eliminate microphonic noise in overdubbed and layered recording sessions, while 11.5k Ω DC resistance balances responsiveness for nuanced takes with enough power to push preamps into natural breakup. The 4-conductor lead provides mixing flexibility for parallel, series, and split-coil configurations—ideal for producers chasing tone shaping across multiple takes.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Studio Sessions
- ✓ Live Performance
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Progressive
Not the best pick for
- – Folk
- – Traditional Jazz
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the SH-16 and a standard '59 or Custom pickup?
The SH-16 pairs a '59 screw coil with a Custom slug coil (mismatched design) to blend vintage warmth and modern clarity in one pickup. This hybrid approach delivers balanced output and articulate response that sits between a traditional '59 and a hotter Custom, making it more versatile across both clean and high-gain playing.
Will this pickup work for both studio recording and live performance?
Yes. The SH-16 is hand-built for consistency across both environments, with vacuum wax potting to eliminate microphonic feedback and Alnico 5 magnetic response for reliable tonal coherence whether you're recording or on stage. Its medium-output level and balanced frequency response suit studio layering, live solo work, and driven rhythm equally well.
What does the 4-conductor lead wire allow me to do?
The 4-conductor lead opens series, parallel, and split-coil wiring configurations, letting you customize switching schemes and tone-shaping options beyond standard humbucker switching. This flexibility is useful for players building custom instruments or experimenting with coil-tap and blend wiring.
Is the SH-16 too hot or too weak for metal and hard rock?
No. At 11.5k Ω DC resistance with Alnico 5 pull, the SH-16 sits in the sweet spot—responsive enough for nuanced playing yet powerful enough for high-gain applications, with natural breakup and sustain that suits metal and progressive styles without requiring extreme amp gain to articulate.
What genres is this pickup NOT suited for?
The SH-16 is designed for hard rock, metal, and progressive play. It is not recommended for folk or traditional jazz, where warmer, lower-output vintage pickups and softer articulation are typically preferred.
Do I pay sales tax on this order?
We collect sales tax only on orders shipped to California. Orders shipped to any other US state are charged $0 sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. Marketplaces such as eBay, Reverb and Amazon collect sales tax in nearly every state as marketplace facilitators no matter who the seller is, so the same item at the same price costs less bought direct. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included. Some states ask buyers to self-report use tax on out-of-state purchases.
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