Seymour Duncan SH-5 Duncan Custom Black Cover 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
- 11102-17-Bc
Description
Seymour Duncan SH-5 Duncan Custom Black Cover Pickup
The SH-5 Duncan Custom is a medium-output humbucker engineered to capture articulate aggression without sacrificing musicality in your recordings. Built with a small ceramic bar magnet and hand-crafted in Santa Barbara, this pickup records punchy and defined in the bridge position while maintaining clarity across the frequency spectrum. The vacuum wax potting ensures rock-solid stability with zero squeal, delivering dependable tracking performance under high-gain conditions.
Tonal Character & Studio Performance
This pickup balances a punchy low end, scooped midrange, and bright treble response via its 7/6/9 frequency curve, translating to natural clarity even when layering extreme gain in your mix. Medium output at 14.41k ohms impedance sits perfectly between vintage warmth and modern crunch, cutting through dense arrangements in hard rock, metal, and alternative sessions without losing harmonic definition or fighting other instruments for space.
Recording Flexibility & Setup
The 4-conductor lead wire unlocks multiple wiring configurations for session-specific tonal shaping, and the splittable design lets you dial back aggression for cleaner textures when needed within the same tracking day. Included screws, springs, and wiring diagram streamline installation, while the 49mm pole-spacing ensures tight string-to-magnet coupling and focused output that translates consistently to tape or DAW.
Key Features
- Small ceramic bar magnet with nickel silver bottom plate
- 14.41k ohms impedance for medium output
- 7/6/9 (Bass/Mid/Treble) frequency response curve
- 49mm pole-spacing for focused magnetic alignment
- 4-conductor lead wire for multiple wiring options
- Vacuum wax potted for squeal-free, stable performance
- Splittable design with included wiring diagram
- Hand built in Santa Barbara, CA
- Recommended for bridge position
- Includes screws and springs for installation
The SH-5 delivers studio-grade aggression backed by meticulous Santa Barbara craftsmanship and real tonal versatility for tracking and mixing.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|
Reviews
At a Glance
The SH-5 Duncan Custom is a medium-output bridge humbucker that carves out aggression and articulation in heavy-hitting recordings—ideal when you need punchy low-end impact and bright treble that sits cleanly in dense mixes without mud. The scooped midrange and tight 49mm pole-spacing let you layer distortion or gain-heavy tones without sacrificing harmonic definition, making it a go-to choice for tracking metal, hard rock, and alternative productions. Vacuum wax potting eliminates squeal during takes, and the splittable 4-conductor lead opens up tracking options if you want to dial back intensity for specific parts.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Alternative
- ✓ Drop Tunings
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Blues
- – Folk
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SH-5 Duncan Custom a good fit for metal and hard rock?
Yes—the SH-5 is specifically designed for metal, hard rock, alternative, and drop-tuned styles. Its punchy low end, scooped midrange, and bright treble create articulate aggression at extreme gain levels while keeping harmonic definition intact. The medium 14.41k ohms output sits between vintage warmth and modern crunch, suiting both styles without muddiness.
What does vacuum wax potting do, and why does it matter?
Vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic feedback and squeal by solidifying the coil windings, keeping the pickup stable and quiet under high-gain conditions. This ensures zero unwanted noise when you're pushing gain hard in live or studio settings.
Can the SH-5 be split, and what comes in the box?
Yes—the 4-conductor lead wire allows splittable wiring and multiple configuration options via the included wiring diagram. The pickup ships with screws, springs, and all hardware needed for installation, making setup straightforward.
What is the 49mm pole-spacing, and how does it affect tone?
Pole-spacing refers to the distance between the magnetic poles; 49mm is tight coupling that ensures focused, direct string-to-magnet alignment. This creates tight, articulate output and reduces unwanted resonance, keeping your tone clean and defined.
Is the SH-5 good for jazz, blues, or folk?
No—the SH-5 is voiced for aggressive styles (metal, hard rock, alternative) and is not recommended for jazz, blues, or folk, where warmer, less scooped tones are typically preferred.
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