Seymour Duncan SH-1 '59

The ’59 bridge model (SH-1) is a vintage output humbucker that’s great for rock, blues, and more. Its vintage-inspired coils give it an airy quality that is firmly in the P.A.F. family, and the alnico 5 bar magnet and vacuum wax potting make it compatible with lighter guitar strings and louder amplifiers than were ever used in the 1950s. The result is a pickup with tons of old-school tonal character, but with a brighter top end, and a slightly more compressed sound.

The ’59 neck model is one of our most popular pickups because it’s so versatile. Like its bridge-position sibling, the ’59 neck is designed in the spirit of the original P.A.F. humbuckers of the 1950s, with sweet sustain, and a warm, full sound that still possesses a clear attack. We’ve made a few refinements to slightly modernize the design and make it more adaptable to different styles. The high end is slightly boosted for improved pick-attack clarity and the mids are a little scooped for an open, smooth sound that’s great for preserving the clarity of the individual notes in a chord. The ’59 neck was born to accompany the ’59 bridge, but countless players pair it with a high output bridge humbucker, such as a JB or Custom. It’s also a popular choice for humbucker-routed Telecasters.

Offered in 6-string standard humbucker and Trembucker spacings, the ’59 model features a variety of traditional vintage treatments, such as 42AWG plain enamel mag wire, long-legged nickel-silver bottom plate, vintage single-conductor braided push back lead wire, and no logo. If you opt for a four-conductor version for coil splitting, the ’59’s single coil mode is crystal clear. As with all of our P.A.F.-style pickups, the ’59 vintage output humbucker is wound on Seymour’s classic Leesona 102 pickup winding machine from the old Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, MI. Also available for neck and bridge in a passive mount 7-string configuration.