Seymour Duncan SH-1n '59 Model 1-Conductor Humbucker Neck Pickup - Black

Seymour Duncan SH-1n '59 Model Humbucker Neck Pickup – Black | No Limit Guitar Co, Idaho Falls

The Seymour Duncan SH-1n '59 Model is one of the most historically significant and widely used neck pickups ever produced — a faithful vintage recreation of the Seth Lover PAF humbucker that defined the sound of the Gibson Les Paul in the late 1950s, built with period-correct materials and construction methods that produce the warm, crystalline, full-bodied neck pickup tone that has influenced virtually every genre of music that uses the electric guitar. Plain enamel wire, long-legged bottom plate, vintage single-conductor cable, no Seymour Duncan logo, Alnico V magnet at 7.6k DC resistance, vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance, and a slightly more scooped midrange than the Seth Lover SH-55 for a tonal character that is open, warm, and articulate across both clean and overdriven playing. Black uncovered finish. The '59 neck pickup that generations of players have trusted as the definitive vintage PAF recreation.

Product Overview

The original Seth Lover PAF humbucker — Patent Applied For, the sticker that appeared on Gibson humbuckers from 1955 until the patent was granted in 1959 — is the most influential electric guitar pickup design in history. Its combination of Alnico V magnets, plain enamel wire winding, and the specific coil geometry that Lover developed produced a tonal character that was warm and full without being dark, bright and articulate without being thin, and harmonically complex in a way that has never been completely explained or fully replicated by any purely analytical approach to pickup design. The SH-1 '59 Model is Seymour Duncan's most faithful attempt at capturing that specific tonal character — built with the same plain enamel wire, the same long-legged bottom plate construction, and the same vintage single-conductor wiring that the original PAFs used.

The single-conductor plus braided shield wiring is the vintage-correct hookup format that the original PAF pickups used — a straightforward connection that limits the wiring configuration options compared to 4-conductor pickups but maintains the period-correct construction philosophy that makes the SH-1 sound the way it does. Players who want coil-splitting and multiple wiring options should look at 4-conductor alternatives — players who want the most authentic vintage PAF recreation available will understand why the single-conductor format is part of what makes the SH-1 the SH-1.

At 7.6k DC resistance with an Alnico V magnet, the SH-1n sits in the vintage-output range that produces clean, dynamic, touch-sensitive response — a pickup that responds to pick attack and playing dynamics with a range and expressiveness that high-output pickups compress and limit. The slightly more scooped midrange compared to the Seth Lover SH-55 gives the SH-1n a more open, airy character that pairs exceptionally well with hotter bridge pickups like the JB or Dimebucker — the neck pickup's warmth and clarity providing an ideal complement to the bridge pickup's aggression and output. The SH-1n works especially well with mahogany bodies and rosewood fingerboards, where its warm Alnico V character balances the wood combination's natural tonal weight beautifully.

Ideal For

• Rock, blues, jazz, and classic metal guitarists who want a faithful vintage PAF recreation for the neck position with warm, crystalline clean tones and full, smooth overdriven character
• Players who want the SH-1n's classic pairing with a hotter bridge pickup like the JB for the most balanced and versatile passive pickup combination in rock and metal
• Tone enthusiasts who understand the significance of plain enamel wire, long-legged bottom plate, and single-conductor vintage construction in a PAF recreation
• Players with mahogany body and rosewood fingerboard guitars who want a neck pickup that complements those tonewoods' natural warmth and balance
• Guitarists in Idaho Falls looking for the most trusted and widely used vintage PAF neck pickup recreation in Seymour Duncan's lineup

Key Features

Vintage PAF Recreation — Seth Lover Design
A faithful recreation of the Seth Lover PAF humbucker that defined the Gibson Les Paul's neck pickup tone in the late 1950s — the most influential electric guitar pickup design in history, faithfully reproduced.

Plain Enamel Wire and Long-Legged Bottom Plate
Period-correct construction materials — plain enamel wire winding and long-legged bottom plate exactly as used in the original PAF humbuckers — contributing to the SH-1n's authentic vintage tonal character.

Alnico V Magnet — 7.6k DC Resistance
Vintage-output Alnico V magnet produces the warm, dynamic, touch-sensitive response that defines great neck pickup playing — responsive to pick attack and playing dynamics across the full range from clean to overdriven.

Slightly Scooped Midrange
More open, airy midrange character than the Seth Lover SH-55 — pairs exceptionally well with hotter bridge pickups for a balanced, versatile, and musically complete pickup combination.

Vintage Single-Conductor Cable
Period-correct single-conductor plus braided shield hookup — the vintage wiring format that is part of the SH-1n's authentic construction philosophy.

Vacuum Wax Potted
Squeal-free performance through the full range of gain settings — the vintage construction with modern potting reliability.

No Seymour Duncan Logo
Vintage-correct aesthetic with no manufacturer logo on the pickup face — period-accurate appearance for historically sensitive instrument applications.

What's Included

• Seymour Duncan SH-1n '59 Model Humbucker Neck Pickup (Black)
• Free standard shipping

Note: Professional installation recommended.

Technical Specifications

Get Your Hands on This Pickup Today

The Seymour Duncan SH-1n '59 Model Humbucker Neck Pickup in Black is available now at No Limit Guitar Co in Idaho Falls. Stop in to pick one up or reach out online to order yours — the definitive vintage PAF neck pickup recreation, trusted by generations of players across every genre.