’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (2024)

We recommend buying the set.

We've been making great pickups for over 45 years. The '59 Model™ pickup sounds great alone, but sometimes one pickup is not enough. If you don't know where to start, we recommend getting the set - it captures the full voicing of what we tried to create, as well as ensures it won't be out of phase with other pickups in your guitar.

Want to learn more about out-of-phase pickups?
Check out this article.

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (1)

$99.00

available

Designed to deliver classic P.A.F. tone with modern construction, the ’59 (SH-1) vintage output humbucker pickup’s open, detailed sound and sweet top end make it the perfect choice for rock and blues.

Looking for the set? Visit the Vintage Blues™ page!

More Details

TECH SPECS’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (4)

DCR – Short for DC Resistance, is measured in Ohms and is the total resistance of the copper wire wound around a coil form. The length of the coil form, the number of turns and the gauge of wire all affect the DCR reading. DCR is often used as a gauge of output because as the turns increase, so does the output, though magnet type and the coil geometry also influence output.
Magnet – We use several different magnet formulations: Alnico 2, Alnico 3, Alnico 4, Alnico 5, Alnico 6, Alnico 8 and Ceramic 5/8. In the case of pickups, the most significant characteristic is the gauss strength, which is a measure of the density of the magnetic field. Of the magnets we use, Alnico 3 has the lowest gauss strength. From there in order of ascending strength you have A2, A4, A5, A6, Ceramic and A8. As the gauss strength goes up, so does the output. The magnets at the lower end of the scale tend to produce a softer attack and a degree of “bloom” to the envelope of the note.Ceramic magnets should be considered as an individual case because they do not contain any nickel or iron. This has the effect of decreasing the inductance of the pickup and significantly raising the resonant frequency. It is for this reason that many consider ceramic magnets to have a brittle sound, not their gauss strength. Looking at this from another point of view, ceramic magnets can be said to produce increased clarity, better note definition and faster response to picking.
Output – The overall output of a passive pickup is influenced by several design factors: number of turns of wire on the coil(s), strength of the magnet, coil geometry and magnetic circuit geometry.The output of an active pickup is influenced by the same factors but is predominantly determined by the design of the onboard preamp.

OUTPUT (Choose dropdowns to display)

DCR:(Choose dropdowns to display)

Magnet: Alnico 5

Product Details

  • Sound Samples
  • DETAILS
  • EQ

Please use the amp to the right to select which position, tone and mix you'd like to hear sample of.

Description

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.

Wiring & Resources

Dimensions specs: 6-String, Uncovered Humbucker

Dimensions specs: 6-String, Covered Humbucker

Dimensions specs: 6-String, Uncovered Trembucker

Dimensions specs: 7-String, Uncovered Humbucker

For wiring diagrams, click here.

The E.Q. chart gives you a general idea as to the bass, mids and treble of each pickup position

Neck

  • B

  • M

  • T

Bridge

  • B

  • M

  • T

Bridge Nighthawk

  • B

  • M

  • T

Trembucker

  • B

  • M

  • T

VIDEOS

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (5)

59 Neck Demo

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (6)

The Seymour Duncan '59 (Bridge)

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (7)

'59 High-Gain Demo

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (8)

Metal

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (9)

59 pickups on a Yamaha RGX420DZII - Jack Thammarat

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (10)

'59 Custom Hybrid

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (11)

НАДЕЛ! №48 - Seymour Duncan 59/Custom Hybrid (TB-16)

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (12)

Seymour Duncan 59/Custom Hybrid Humbucking Pickup

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (13)

Seymour Duncan 59/Custom Hybrid - Metal

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (14)

Seymour Duncan Hybrid '59

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (15)

Seymour Duncan '59 vs Green Magic Pickups

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’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (16)

Hand Built in California. Period Correct. Every Time.

Our team of master builders have been with us for an average of 21 years—they take pride in crafting our products to create the most amazing sound possible.

Take Your Tone For A Test Drive

If you’re not 100% pleased with the sound of your Seymour Duncan pickups, you can exchange them for up to 21 days after purchase. This offer applies to any pickups bought from an authorized Seymour Duncan dealer in the USA.

’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (17)

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Strings
Select the number of strings you have on your guitar.

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Position
Choose the position that you need for your guitar. *Nighthawk is intended for Gibson® Nighthawk routed guitars. *Trembuckers are designed for wider string most commonly associated with Floyd Rose or vintage vibrato bridges (often called Tremolos) with a string spacing of 2.070" or 52.6mm.

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Color
Choose the pickup bobbin color or cover material/color.

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Cable
Choose single or four-conductor hookup cable.

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Strings
Select the number of strings on your guitar.

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’59 Model™ Pickup | Seymour Duncan (2024)

FAQs

What magnets are in Seymour Duncan 59 pickups? ›

  • Cable: 1c Braided Shield, 4c Shielded.
  • Magnet: Alnico 5.
  • Type: Passive.

Who makes Duncan Design pickups? ›

Duncan Designed pickups are designed by Seymour Duncan and built in Korea's finest pickup workshop.

Which guitars have Seymour Duncan pickups? ›

Look Who's Using Seymour Duncan Pickups
  • Gibson Guitars. Gibson is one of the biggest guitar companies in the world that produce high quality guitars. ...
  • Fender. Known as the company that commercialized the electric guitar, Fender Guitars are renown for their ease of modification. ...
  • Charvel. ...
  • Jackson. ...
  • Schecter. ...
  • Washburn. ...
  • ESP. ...
  • Parker.
Feb 3, 2014

Where is Lil 59 from? ›

Hand built in Santa Barbara, CA, the Little '59 for Strat pickups come with ceramic magnets, 4-conductor lead wire for multiple wiring options, and are wax potted for squeal-free operation.

What is so special about Seymour Duncan pickups? ›

Seymour Duncan pickups have a reputation for quality tone and durable build and have been used by pro level guitarists for just shy of fifty years now and it's easy enough for you to get rock solid tone whether you're playing at home or you're a working musician.

Do magnets damage pickups? ›

Strong magnets are a BIG no-no especially on the vintage spec pickups. The magnets in the pickups are very sensitive to strong magnets and will ruin your pickups...

Are Seymour Duncan pickups handmade? ›

Hand built in Santa Barbara, CA, the Custom Custom medium output humbucker pickups use an alnico 2 bar magnet, nickel silver bottom plate, 4-conductor lead wire for multiple wiring options, are vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance, and are available in either standard humbucker or Trembucker spacing.

Are Seymour Duncan pickups made in USA? ›

MADE IN THE USA

Seymour Duncan takes pride in designing and crafting our products to create the most amazing sound possible. That starts with providing an environment that attracts and retains our great team of engineers, product designers and craftsman, many of whom have been with the company for decades.

Are Seymour Duncan pickups hand wound? ›

“Scatter Winding” (Also called “Random Wrap”) – a machine spins the bobbin, and the magnet wire goes through the hands of an operator (named Seymour) who distributes the wire along the bobbin in an intentional scattered or random pattern. All scatter wound pickups are hand wound.

What pickups did David Gilmour use? ›

David Gilmour's Black Strat feature Fender 1971 neck and middle pickups and a Seymour Duncan SSL1C bridge pickup. The modern equivalents would be Fender Custom Shop 69 and Seymour Duncan SSL5. Read more about David Gilmour's Black Strat. There are tons of different takes on these offered by different brands.

What is a duckbucker? ›

The Duckbucker is a single-coil sized humbucker designed to be wired in parallel to give you a vintage, sparkly, single-coil tone without any hum.

Where is Lil 88 from? ›

Jalan Anthony Lowe, known as Lil 88, is an American record producer from Atlanta, Georgia.

What is Lil Baby real? ›

Lil Baby (real name Dominique Armani Jones) is a rapper from Atlanta. His birthday is Dec. 3, 1994. His first album to crack the Billboard 200 was the 2017 mixtape 'Too Hard,' which peaked at No.

What is the difference between alnico 2 and 5 magnets? ›

Alnico 5 is a little stronger magnet, resulting in a slightly brighter tone. Alnico 2 is a little weaker, resulting in a slightly warmer tone. Alnico 5 has more MAGNETIC material and less FERRIC material, resulting in slightly lower Inductance.

What magnets are used in pickups? ›

Rare-Earth Magnets Used in Guitar Pickups

Suitable or commonly used types include samarium-cobalt and neodymium magnets. These are super-powerful magnets and are relatively more expensive. Neodymium magnets and samarium cobalt magnets are used in ultra-modern electric guitars.

What is the difference between alnico 3 and alnico 5 pickups? ›

AlNiCo V has a stronger magnetic pull than AlNiCo II or III. This translates into tighter low end response and a more aggressive, edgy tone. A good way to imagine the difference between Alnico magnets is to compare them to shocks in a car.

What is the difference between alnico 6 and alnico 5? ›

Alnico V has a tight low end with mid scoop and a lovely sparkle in the highs. Alnico VI - Is very Similar to alnico V, however it has less of a mid scoop. Alnico VIII - The most powerful of the alnico magnets used in pickups.

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