Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
5.0 (15)
$198.00
Guitar Center
5.0 (16)
$198.00
Amazon
4.8 (222)
$198.00
Reverb
5.0 (4)
$198.00 New
$140.00 Used
Musician's Friend
4.0 (35)
$198.00
zZounds
4.5 (4)
$198.00
Thomann
4.8 (184)
$211.00
Gear4Music
£249.00

Average Price: $192

Standard/Professional

$99

$200+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Seymour Duncan Distortion Set". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Unleash your inner powerhouse with the Seymour Duncan Distortion Set. Designed for guitarists who crave aggression and clarity, these high-output humbuckers are your ticket to the heaviest riffs and searing leads. Whether you're delving into old-school metal, thrash, or punk, the SH-6 set delivers the punch you need without sacrificing tonal clarity. Each pickup is equipped with a massive ceramic magnet and hot coil windings, ensuring a rich upper-midrange and smooth fluidity under high gain, while still offering bell-like clean tones when you dial back the intensity. Perfect for drop tunings and complex switching setups, thanks to the 4-conductor hookup cables, this set is vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance.

The Seymour Duncan Distortion Set isn't just about raw power—it's about precision too. Experience ultra-clear pick dynamics that will highlight every nuance of your playing, from tight percussive riffs to blazing-fast solos. With Seymour Duncan’s decades of expertise poured into these pickups, they’re not just components; they're instruments that define your sound.

Key Features:

  • High-output humbucker set for metal and high-aggression genres
  • Massive ceramic magnets and hot coil windings for rich upper mids
  • Ultra-clear pick dynamics for percussive riffs and fast leads
  • Bell-like clean tones when gain is reduced
  • 4-conductor hookup cables for versatile switching setups
  • Vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance

Product specs

Brand Seymour Duncan
Model SH-6s Duncan Distortion Humbucker Set
Finish Black
Year 2010s
Categories Guitar Pickups

FAQs

What type of music is the Seymour Duncan Distortion Set best suited for?

The Seymour Duncan Distortion Set is ideal for heavy music genres like metal and hard rock, offering extreme distortion with a bold bite that cuts through the mix.

Are the Seymour Duncan Distortion pickups suitable for both rhythm and lead guitar playing?

Yes, the Seymour Duncan Distortion Set is designed to provide high output and clarity, making it versatile for both powerful rhythm sections and soaring lead solos.

What is the primary tonal characteristic of the Seymour Duncan Distortion Set?

The Seymour Duncan Distortion Set is known for its high output and aggressive tone, delivering a tight low end, aggressive mids, and a biting high end that stands out in heavy music.

Is the Seymour Duncan Distortion Set compatible with all electric guitars?

The Seymour Duncan Distortion Set is designed for humbucker-equipped electric guitars and is generally compatible with most models that accept standard humbucker pickups.

Does the Seymour Duncan Distortion Set come in different finishes?

The Seymour Duncan Distortion Set typically comes in a black finish, which suits a wide range of guitar styles and aesthetics.

Mad Man Music

Mad Man Music

Seymour Duncan - Distortion Neck and Bridge Guitar Pickup - Mayhem Set - Review

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan - Distortion Neck and Bridge Guitar Pickup - Mayhem Set - Review by Mad Man Music

Seymour Duncan - Distortion Neck and Bridge Guitar Pickup - Mayhem Set - Review

Mad Man Music

Mad Man Music

Video thumbnail for FROM THE HEAVY METAL PERSPECTIVE: Seymour Duncan Distortion set by Aaron Mifsud

FROM THE HEAVY METAL PERSPECTIVE: Seymour Duncan Distortion set

Aaron Mifsud

Aaron Mifsud

Video thumbnail for Seymour Duncan Mayhem Distortion (JBSH6B & JBSH6N) Review by Rickord

Seymour Duncan Mayhem Distortion (JBSH6B & JBSH6N) Review

Rickord

Rickord

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Seymour Duncan Distortion Set.

Comparisons

  • The Seymour Duncan Distortion Mayhem Set offers a sharper, more defined sound for hi-gain compared to the SD SH4 (JB), which some find imprecise.

    Source
  • The SD SH-6 Distortion shares a similar EQ curve with the JB but offers more output, making it comparable to the DiMarzio Super Distortion.

    Source
  • Billie Joe Armstrong's early tones were also shaped by the Bill Lawrence 500XL, not just the SD JB, indicating the SH-6 can achieve similar sounds.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Ceramic magnets in the Distortion Mayhem Set produce a high output level, ideal for rock and metal but less suited for clean tones.

    Source
  • The SH-6 Distortion humbucker offers versatility and can adapt to various styles, indicating that pickups are not the sole determinant of tone.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The pickups excel in heavy and hi-gain metal, ideal for cutting through mixes, but aren't recommended for clean funk or old-style blues.

    Source
  • The SD Distortion SH-6 is suitable for grunge, punk, and occasional metal, with tonal similarities to Nirvana and early Metallica sounds.

    Source
  • Pairing a Distortion bridge pickup with a '59 in the neck is a favored setup for those seeking a versatile sound in Les Paul guitars.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners appreciate the precision and power of the Distortion Mayhem Set, noting its strong performance in rock contexts without needing boutique alternatives.

    Source
  • Owners have been using Duncan Distortion pickups as their main choice since the mid-1980s, praising their consistent power and ability to enhance guitar tone.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Some players enjoy mismatched pickup aesthetics, drawing inspiration from iconic guitarists like Adam Jones, despite traditionally preferring uniformity in pickup covers.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 1 Rating

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how John Dyer Baizley uses Seymour Duncan Distortion Set

John Dyer Baizley

Singer, Guitarist

Baroness

...
Verified via YouTube

John had a duncan distortion set in his guild guitar. the pickups have since been removed from the guitar and put in a fender Tele Delux that Baroness guitarist Gina owns

See how Gina Gleason uses Seymour Duncan Distortion Set

Gina Gleason

Guitarist

Baroness

...
Verified via YouTube

Gina has a tele deluxe as a backup Live guitar. The guitar has a pair of Duncan distortion pickups in it. The pickups where taken from john’s old guild guitar. The guitar isn’t used much in the set because the guitar does quite have the sound baroness is going for

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Seymour Duncan Distortion Set, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Guild S-300D
Guild S-300D Solid Body Electric Guitars
1
Ernie Ball 6166 Volume Pedal
Ernie Ball 6166 Volume Pedal Volume Effects Pedals
1
Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar
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1
Electro-Harmonix POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator
Electro-Harmonix POG2 Polyphonic Octave Generator Harmonizer & Octave Effects Pedals
1
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Boss DD-3 Digital Delay Delay Effects Pedals
1
Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Neo
Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Neo Reverb Effects Pedals
1
Fulltone OCD
Fulltone OCD Overdrive Effects Pedals
1
MXR M103 Blue Box
MXR M103 Blue Box Fuzz Effects Pedals
1

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