Seymour Duncan SH-1 59 Model Humbucker

The Seymour Duncan SH-1 '59 Model is a vintage-voiced humbucker designed to emulate the warm, open tone of late-1950s PAFs. With moderate output and a smooth top end, it's a versatile pickup that works well in both neck and bridge positions, offering a rich low end, balanced mids, and a touch of vintage-style compression.

Built with an Alnico 5 magnet and vintage-correct materials, the '59 Model delivers a rounded, full sound that suits blues, rock, jazz, and classic hard rock. It’s especially popular as a neck pickup in Les Paul-style guitars, where it provides clean articulation and sustain, but also performs well in the bridge position for more traditional tones.

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Fitment Summary

• Pickup Type: Full-size humbucker (neck or bridge)

• Magnet Type: Alnico 5

• Output: Medium (vintage PAF-style)

• DC Resistance: ~7.4kΩ (neck), ~8.1kΩ (bridge)

• Wiring: Available in 2-conductor (vintage braided) or 4-conductor (coil-splitting capable)

• Mounting Style: Standard humbucker rings or direct mount

• Spacing: Standard and F-spaced versions available

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️ Installation Notes

The SH-1 fits guitars routed for standard humbuckers. Choose the F-spaced version for guitars with tremolo bridges, and standard spacing for fixed bridges like Tune-o-matic or hardtails.

The 2-conductor version uses vintage-style braided shielding and is ideal for traditional setups. The 4-conductor version supports coil-splitting and series/parallel wiring if your control layout allows.

For best tonal results, use 500k pots, though some players prefer 300k in the neck to warm up the tone further.