Seymour Duncan has released two sets of Antiquity guitar strings, representing a “perfectly voiced companion” to its Antiquity series of pickups.
The argument the company is trying to make is that, while players can buy vintage guitars and amps, and install the preferred pickups of yesteryear, string choices can be just as influential in achieving that sought-after, bygone tone.
The new, historically crafted string set, then, it says, “gives musicians access to the true vintage tone of the most infamous guitars ever produced.”
It’s a bold claim adding to a hugely competitive vintage market, but the pickup manufacturer has turned to the history books to create the series.
As Seymour Duncan explains, pure nickel strings were commonplace on electric guitars before the rise of their nickel-alloy plated successors, and so it has returned to that recipe.
“Their rich, warm tone became a crucial ingredient to the sounds of classic blues and rock & roll,” says Seymour Duncan.
It adds that pure nickel wraps boast longer lifespans and deliver a “more consistent tone between string changes, bringing you even closer to the sound of electric guitar’s early heyday.”
The string sets are available in modern gauges, so as to not completely turn its back on contemporary player needs. That means 9s (extra light) and 10s (light) sets are available.
The 9s set comprises: .9, .11, .16, .24, .32, .42.
For players wanting a little more thickness, the 10s set is: .10, .13, .17, .26, .36, .46.
Each set costs $9.99. At the time of writing, sets are not available in discounted bulk quantities.
The veteran pickup builder's creations can be found in the guitars of Slash, Jennifer Batten, Joe Bonamassa, Robben Ford, Billy Gibbons, and countless others, with its wide-ranging Antiquity line focusing on modern creations for lovers of vintage tones.
Visit Seymour Duncan to learn more about the Antiquity string sets.
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