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Average Price: $113
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Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Seymour Duncan SH-16/TB-16 59 Custom Hybrid". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
If you’re looking to inject some serious character into your guitar’s tone, the Seymour Duncan SH-16/TB-16 '59 Custom Hybrid pickup is your ticket to a rich sonic journey. With its innovative design, this medium-output humbucker combines the best of two worlds by using mismatched coils—one from the '59 Model Bridge and another from the Duncan Custom Model. This unique pairing results in a pickup that delivers a powerful upper-midrange punch, ideal for high-gain metal and hard rock pursuits.
Crafted with an Alnico V bar magnet, it features tight bass response that keeps your riffs clear and defined, without any unwanted muddiness. Whether you're playing in a studio or a live setting, the SH-16's wax-potted construction ensures that your sound remains free from unwanted squeals, even at high gain. With 4-conductor lead wiring, this pickup offers versatile installation options, making it a flexible choice for any guitar setup.
Hand-built in Santa Barbara, CA, the SH-16/TB-16 is designed for those who dare to explore new tonal territories. Its ability to blend the crunch and clarity of a humbucker with the expressive bite of a single coil makes it a versatile tool for any guitarist looking to expand their sound palette.
Key Features:
- Medium-output humbucker with unique mismatched coils
- Combines one coil from the '59 Model Bridge and one from the Duncan Custom Model
- Alnico V bar magnet for tight bass response and midrange punch
- 4-conductor lead wire for flexible wiring options
- Wax-potted for reduced noise and squeal-free performance
- Available in standard humbucker or Trembucker spacing
- Hand-built in Santa Barbara, CA
Product specs
| Type | Humbucker |
| Position | Bridge |
| Active/Passive | Passive |
| Magnet Material | Alnico V |
| Number of Conductors | 4 wire plus shield |
| DC Resistance | 11.2K |
| Connectivity | Soldered |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Covering | Uncovered |
FAQs
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What tonal characteristics can I expect from the Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid pickup?
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The Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid offers a blend of vintage warmth and modern punch, thanks to its unique coil configuration. It provides a balanced sound with sparkling upper midrange harmonics, making it versatile for genres ranging from classic rock to blues.
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Is the Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid suitable for high-gain music styles?
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Yes, the SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid can handle high-gain settings effectively. Its medium output and Alnico V magnet deliver clarity and articulation even under heavy distortion, making it a solid choice for rock and metal genres.
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Can the Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid be used in both neck and bridge positions?
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The SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid is specifically designed for the bridge position, where it can deliver its intended tonal balance and output. For optimal performance, it's best used in the bridge position of a 6-string electric guitar.
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What type of magnet is used in the Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid, and how does it affect the sound?
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The Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid uses an Alnico V magnet, which contributes to its dynamic response and rich harmonic content. This magnet type provides a blend of warmth and clarity, enhancing the pickup's versatility across different music styles.
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Is the Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid easy to install on my guitar?
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The SH-16 '59 Custom Hybrid features a 4-conductor wire plus shield, allowing for various wiring configurations and easy installation. It requires soldering, so some basic soldering skills or professional assistance may be necessary for installation.
Videos
Seymour Duncan
The Story of the 59/Custom Hybrid
Reviews
PROS
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Exceptional tonal versatility from vintage to modern sounds
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Balanced combination of power and sweetness in sound
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Clear and distinct articulation even under heavy gain
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Mismatched coils offer a unique sound character
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Easy to install with included mounting hardware
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Handles coil splitting with minimal volume drop
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Works well for hard rock and heavy metal genres
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Tight low end and clear highs that avoid fizziness
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Maintains clarity with high gain and overdrive
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Distinctive aesthetic with double black design
CONS
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Some users find the bridge position too harsh
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May require EQ adjustments for optimal tone
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Can be too hot for non-rock players
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Seymour Duncan SH-16/TB-16 59 Custom Hybrid.
Setup and maintenance
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Owners suggest adjusting pickup heights for volume balance; lowering the humbucker or raising single coils can subtly affect tone.
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Mods and upgrades
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Wiring a resistor in parallel to ground reduces humbucker volume, offering a more balanced sound with single coils.
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A push/pull pot can be used for coil splitting the SH-16, offering additional sound options like bridge split alone or combined with middle and neck pickups.
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Combining a neck pickup with the bridge using a push/pull pot allows unique configurations like bridge+neck or bridge split+middle+neck, approaching Telecaster-like tones.
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Users recommend using DiMarzio pots for smoother operation when modifying with push/pull or push/push configurations, as they offer a custom taper.
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Use cases and applications
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The TB-16 bridge paired with a regular 59 neck offers consistent volume levels, appealing to players seeking smoother transitions.
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Features and functionality
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The TB-16 humbucker is noted for its versatility, offering tones suitable for a range of genres from rock to blues.
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The Seymour Duncan SH-16/TB-16 '59 Custom Hybrid features 4-conductor wiring, allowing coil splitting to achieve a single-coil sound, typically defaulting to the hotter custom coil.
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The SH-16 has one coil hotter than the other, generating a balanced yet dynamic output, suitable for players seeking a slight edge without overwhelming heat.
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User experience
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Strat purists debate single coil vs humbucker setups; some users prefer dual humbuckers for rock-oriented tones without volume drops.
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Owners appreciate the tonal versatility of the SH-16 Custom '59, noting it provides hotter output than vintage models but remains comfortably manageable for various musical styles.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 6 Ratings
41029
Aww hell yeah.
For those unaware, the Duncan 59 custom hybrid is a bridge pickup with 4 conductors and 2 seriously mismatched coils. The slug coil is from a Duncan 59 wound with 42awg lain enamel wire and its about 4k DCR. The screw coil is actually from a Duncan 'custom' wound to about 7k with 43awg wire. With a total DCR of about 11k I expected this to be a really hot bucker that would overpower the burstbucker pro neck that was installed in my LP Platinum which is under 8k. Surprisingly the 2 pickups paired really well for output. I ahd a Burstbucker 2 ready to pop in if the pro didn't mate well with the Duncan outputwise (also I ahd been unhappy with the neck bucker I received the guitar with, but swapping the bridge pickup and adjusting the height and polepieces on both pickups to get them working well together made me really warm up to the burstbucker pro rhythm pickup). These pickups work really well in the middle position using the dual volumes to balance a really pretty clean tone that can really cover any music you want to play that doesn't need to rip.
The Duncan hybrid really knocked my socks off. Best humbuggy bridge clean tone I've heard in a while. Or ever. It has extended, chimey top, creamy mids and a really well defined low end that's almost fender. But it still has the PAF thing too. There's a little p90 to the mids as you push your amp into overdrive. This is seriously a great bridge pickup for any Gibson. I had 2 of these sitting around unused and I am so happy I decided to try it in the Silver Bullet. She brought the guitar to life. This is a cool vintage/modern tone that really is a best of both worlds scenario. I highly recommend this pickup to anyone who likes sounding good all the time no matter what genre of music they're performing.
Artist usage
Add artist
In this video, Syu plays through the compositions from his new solo album, "You Play Hard." His primary guitar, the ESP Crying Star, has been modded with different Seymour Duncan pickups - he now uses a 59/Custom hybrid in the bridge, which is explained at 17:12.
His solo compositions have been written as of means to challenge other guitarists to play intricate parts, all the while utilizing neo-classical elements into his compositions.
In a video by Andertons Music Co, Lee Anderton discusses modifying one of his newer Cap10 models by replacing the Chapman-branded pickups with a Seymour Duncan set. He expresses his preference for Duncan pickups, noting that while his original Cap10 models featured a JB and Jazz set, this guitar is equipped with a Seymour Duncan SH-16/TB-16 59 Custom Hybrid in the bridge and a '59 in the neck. Anderton chose these pickups for their slightly punchier tone.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Seymour Duncan SH-16/TB-16 59 Custom Hybrid, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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