Seymour Duncan SH-5 Duncan Custom Raw Nickel Rad Gold Msh Pickup

Seymour Duncan SH-5 Duncan Custom Nickel Pickup

The SH-5 Duncan Custom captures articulate, well-defined tones across rock, metal, and alternative genres without overwhelming a mix with excessive output. The nickel-silver bottom plate and vacuum wax potting ensure stable, transparent recordings with minimal microphonic noise—critical for clean tracking and layering. This pickup balances punch with note clarity, allowing individual strings to register distinctly during multitrack sessions while still delivering the aggression required in dense arrangements.

Tone & Recording Character

A 6 kHz resonant peak combined with a mid-forward EQ curve (7 bass / 6 mid / 9 treble) places the pickup in the vocal frequency range, helping guitars sit forward in mixes without muddiness. Moderate output and a small ceramic magnet structure respond dynamically to pick attack and finger dynamics, capturing natural sustain and breakup rather than precompressed saturation—ideal for sessions requiring expressive, performance-driven recordings.

Construction & Recording Stability

Built with vacuum wax potting to eliminate microphonic feedback and ensure long-term consistency across recording sessions, the pickup features a nickel-silver bottom plate that refines the harmonic character for cleaner, more predictable takes. The 4-conductor wiring allows series and split configurations, enabling rapid tonal adjustment within a single session to match evolving arrangement needs.

Key Features

• Small ceramic bar magnet
• Nickel-silver bottom plate
• 14.1 kΩ DC resistance
• 6 kHz resonant peak
• EQ curve: 7 bass / 6 mid / 9 treble
• Moderate output classification
• Vacuum wax potted construction
• 4-conductor cable

The SH-5 remains a studio essential for tracking and mixing, delivering transparent aggression and articulation without clouding the mix.