Seymour Duncan Offers Legendary Humbucker Tone with the 78 Model, Green Magic and High Voltage
If you’re looking to up your ‘bucker game then check out these vintage-style builds.
Veteran pickup builder Seymour Duncan has just launched three vintage-style humbuckers inspired by some of classic rock’s greatest guitar tones.
Hand built in California by the firm’s long-established team of world class specialists, these custom shop-style pickups are now available to order as regular stock items.
Found in the axes of many of today's leading electric guitar players – including Slash, Jennifer Batten, Joe Bonamassa, Robben Ford, Billy Gibbons, Mark Knopfler and countless others – Seymour Duncan pickups are among the most trusted on the market.
Here’s a quick rundown of each of their three new regular production vintage-style humbuckers…
78 Model
Seymour Duncan had already made a name for himself as the pickup guy by the time pickup modding had become a well-established practice in the late ‘70s.
In 1978, he was famously tasked with rewinding a PAF humbucker in order to enhance its sensitivity and tonal response.
Sporting an Alnico 2 magnet and wound to the same specs as this fabled PAF, the 78 Model is a great choice for those seeking an articulate humbucker capable of handling Eddie Van Halen-style whammy bar wizardry and lightning fast solos.
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Green Magic
The Green Magic takes inspiration from the legendary ‘Burst dubbed Greeny – an instrument of lore that has been handed down through generations of guitar players from Peter Green to Gary Moore and now Kirk Hammett.
Peter Green rose to prominence in the late ‘60s as one of the leading figures in the British blues guitar movement. Following a stint in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Green founded Fleetwood Mac in 1967 and set the guitar world alight with his unparalleled touch and tone.
The Green Magic bottles some of Greeny's unique out-of-phase mojo, as well as providing classic vintage ‘bucker sounds.
High Voltage
For those about to rock some new pickups, the High Voltage delivers AC/DC-style crunch and clarity.
Chunky enough to kick out tight, powerful riffage and with enough clout to make solos sustain and sing, this Alnico 2 hard rocker is tweaked for just a little more edge.
As per the 78 Model and Green Magic pickups, the High Voltage is available as a dual set and individually in bridge, neck and (hotter) Trembucker formats.
Visit Seymour Duncan for more information.
Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.