Seymour Duncan Releases Electric Guitar Pickup CD Series

Jul 08, 1998

In an unprecedented industry move, Seymour Duncan (www.seymourduncan.com), the Santa Barbara-based pickup giant, has released an audio CD series that demonstrates all of the company's electric guitar pickups. According to chairman Seymour W. Duncan, "This CD series was designed with one purpose in mind: to highlight the tonal differences between various Seymour Duncan pickups. And that's exactly what it does."

To achieve this, Duncan used the most unbiased scientific demonstration method available. They used the same Strat® for all the Strat® replacement pickups, the same Tele® for the Tele® replacements, etc. The pickups were all played through the same amps - one for clean, one for distortion - at the same settings, all by the same player playing the same licks. Pickup heights were kept constant and fresh strings were used for continuity. "We did everything humanly possible to eliminate variables," said Tom Watters, the series' co-producer.

"In the past, to describe the different tones of various pickups, we were limited by language. Now, guitarists can instantly hear the differences for themselves," according to Evan Skopp, Vice President of Marketing. "Listening to these CDs takes you on a musical journey. But unlike a college road trip, here, the journey is the destination." The three volume set covers Duncan's 50 different electric guitar pickup models. It's divided between: a) humbuckers, P-90s and mini-humbuckers; b) Telecaster®, Jaguar® and Jazzmaster® replacements: and c) Strat® replacements. Both neck and bridge versions are demonstrated through clean and distortion amp settings. Each volume includes detailed liner notes and a Tone Chart which provides the dc resistance, resonant peak and relative output for each pickup.

Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster and Strat are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. with which Seymour Duncan is not affiliated.

For more information, visit their web site at www.seymourduncan.com.