Seymour Duncan SH-5 Duncan Custom 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
- 11102-17-B
Description
Seymour Duncan SH-5 Duncan Custom Black Pickup
The SH-5 Duncan Custom captures articulate, aggressive voicing with enough clarity to sit prominently in a mix without sacrificing the harmonic depth that defines a quality bridge humbucker. This medium output pickup excels at high-gain tracking while maintaining definition across single-note passages and chord work. Hand-built in Santa Barbara, this is the workhorse for recording sessions demanding both sustain and note separation in dense arrangements.
Tone & Recording Response
A small ceramic bar magnet paired with 4-conductor wiring produces a frequency response curve of 7 (bass) / 6 (mid) / 9 (treble), emphasizing upper midrange presence and articulation ideal for lead tracking and heavy rhythm layers. The 14.41k ohms DC resistance sits in the medium-output range, offering natural breakup without the compression of higher-output designs, preserving dynamics during recording and mixing.
Construction & Stability
Vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic feedback and squeal, ensuring stable performance across recording takes and live monitoring. The nickel silver bottom plate contributes to the pickup's tonal character while the standard 49mm string spacing ensures proper alignment with most guitar bridge configurations.
Key Features
- Medium output humbucker bridge pickup
- Small ceramic bar magnet
- Nickel silver bottom plate
- 4-conductor lead wire for wiring flexibility
- 14.41k ohms DC resistance
- Frequency response: 7 bass / 6 mid / 9 treble
- Vacuum wax potted for squeal-free operation
- Standard 49mm string spacing (high E to low E)
- Bridge position configuration
- Hand-built in Santa Barbara, California
The SH-5 Duncan Custom combines articulate midrange presence with the sustain and clarity expected from a Seymour Duncan design, making it a reliable choice for recording rock, metal, and high-gain productions where tone definition and session versatility matter.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|
Reviews
At a Glance
The Seymour Duncan SH-5 Duncan Custom is a medium-output bridge humbucker optimized for recording heavy rock, metal, and high-gain sessions, offering articulate upper-midrange presence and tight clarity that sits clean in a dense mix. Its ceramic magnet delivers natural breakup without excessive compression, so single-note passages and chord stabs both remain defined and punchy on tape. The vacuum wax potting eliminates feedback during tracking, and 4-conductor wiring opens up tonal shaping options in the studio.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Rock
- ✓ High-Gain Lead Work
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Blues
- – Folk
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What output level is the SH-5, and how does it compare to higher-output pickups?
The SH-5 is a medium-output pickup (14.41k ohms DC resistance) that delivers natural breakup without the compression and loss of clarity that higher-output designs introduce. This makes it ideal for players who want sustain and harmonic depth while maintaining note definition across lead and rhythm passages.
Is the SH-5 suitable for metal and high-gain applications?
Yes. The SH-5 excels at metal and hard rock with its articulate, aggressive voicing and frequency response that emphasizes treble and upper midrange presence. It cuts through high-gain tones without sacrificing note separation or harmonic sustained depth.
What is the 4-conductor wiring for?
Four-conductor wiring gives you flexibility in how you wire the pickup into your guitar. You can use it as a standard humbucker, wire it in series or parallel, or split it for tonal variety depending on your preferences and wiring scheme.
Will this pickup work in my guitar's bridge position?
The SH-5 is a bridge position humbucker with standard 49mm string spacing (high E to low E), so it will fit most modern guitar bridge configurations. Confirm your guitar's bridge spacing and humbucker cavity dimensions before ordering.
What does vacuum wax potting do?
Vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic feedback and squeal, ensuring stable, squeal-free operation at high volumes—essential for sustained lead work and aggressive rhythm playing on stage or in the studio.
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