Seymour Duncan TB-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
In stock
- SKU
- 11103-86-RZ
Description
Seymour Duncan TB-16 '59/Custom Hybrid, Reverse Zebra Bridge Pickup
The TB-16 is a hybrid bridge humbucker that combines the warmth and articulation of a '59 screw coil with the aggressive midrange punch of a Custom slug coil. This pairing delivers a balanced, responsive pickup that cuts through a mix without sacrificing vintage character—essential for recording sessions spanning blues, rock, and heavier genres without limiting your sonic palette across overdubs and final mixes.
Tone & Output Character
With a moderate output level, 11.5k impedance, and a 5.95 kHz resonant peak, the TB-16 emphasizes clarity and definition across the midrange while maintaining smooth highs and controlled lows. The 6/6/8 EQ voicing (Bass/Mid/Treble) biases the pickup toward articulate treble response, making it equally effective for tight, defined lead layers and thick, textured rhythm tracks that sit cohesively in a mix.
Construction & Materials
Hand-built in Santa Barbara, California, this pickup features hybrid construction pairing a '59 screw coil with a Custom slug coil, wrapped in a Reverse Zebra coil configuration. Vacuum wax potted construction eliminates microphonic squeal, ensuring stable, noise-free tracking in high-gain and gain-stacked recording scenarios. The Alnico V bar magnet and F-spaced design provide focused magnetic field alignment optimized for modern bridge positions, delivering consistent capture across multiple takes.
Key Features
- Model: TB-16 bridge humbucker
- Dual coil construction: '59 screw coil paired with Custom slug coil
- Magnet: Alnico V bar
- Impedance: 11.5 k ohms
- Resonant Peak: 5.95 kHz
- EQ Profile: Bass 6 / Midrange 6 / Treble 8
- Output Level: Moderate
- Coil Configuration: Reverse Zebra
- Spacing: F-spaced for bridge position
- Wiring: Four conductor for coil-splitting capability
- Potting: Vacuum wax potted for feedback-free operation
- Includes: Mounting screws, springs, and installation instructions
The TB-16 delivers hybrid versatility with serious build quality, making it a dependable choice for producers and engineers who demand both vintage warmth and modern responsiveness in a single bridge position across diverse session work.
More Information
| Condition | New |
|---|
Reviews
At a Glance
The TB-16 is a hybrid bridge humbucker that combines '59 warmth with Custom aggression, offering balanced output and articulate treble response that cuts through mixes without losing vintage character. For home studios and session work, its 11.5k impedance and 5.95 kHz resonant peak deliver clarity across blues, rock, and heavier genres, tracking cleanly on both tight leads and textured rhythm parts. The four-conductor wiring supports coil-splitting for tonal flexibility within a single take, making it an efficient choice when you need one bridge pickup that covers multiple sonic territories.
Who This Is For
Great for
- ✓ Blues
- ✓ Rock
- ✓ Hard Rock
- ✓ Metal
- ✓ Studio Sessions
Not the best pick for
- – Jazz
- – Folk
Skill level: Intermediate · Advanced · Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the TB-16 different from a standard '59 or Custom pickup?
The TB-16 hybrid combines a '59 screw coil with a Custom slug coil in one bridge humbucker, delivering the warmth and articulation of the '59 alongside the aggressive midrange punch of the Custom. This pairing lets you get both tones from a single pickup rather than committing to one or the other.
Is this pickup suitable for high-gain and metal applications?
Yes. The TB-16's vacuum wax potting eliminates microphonic squeal, ensuring stable, feedback-free performance in high-gain and feedback-sensitive contexts. Its moderate output and aggressive midrange punch make it well-suited for metal and hard rock without sacrificing clarity.
What genres and playing styles is this pickup designed for?
The TB-16 is optimized for blues, rock, hard rock, and metal. It is not recommended for jazz or folk, as its midrange-forward character and modern responsiveness are voiced for genres that benefit from defined leads and textured rhythm work in heavier contexts.
Does the TB-16 support coil-splitting?
Yes. The pickup ships with four-conductor wiring, which allows for coil-splitting capability if your guitar's wiring supports it. This gives you additional tonal flexibility without needing a different pickup.
What is the spacing and will it fit my guitar?
The TB-16 is F-spaced, the standard spacing for modern bridge positions. The package includes mounting screws and springs for installation. Confirm your guitar's bridge spacing (F or standard humbucker spacing) before ordering to ensure proper fit.
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