Making Guitar Pickups with Seymour Duncan | Factory Tour

Maricela "MJ" Juarez Interview: • Maricela "MJ" Juarez I...
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John Bohlinger and the PG crew visit the Seymour Duncan pickup factory in Santa Barbara, California, where company co-founders Seymour and Cathy Carter Duncan, began the business in 1976.
Seymour Duncan himself greets PG’s crew and begins the tour by talking about his early days in the pickup business. He started re-winding pickups for David Schecter, then jumped into the big time via a large order from Japan-doing all his company’s early flatwork by hand. He also recounts meeting and being helped by Bill Carson, a co-designer of Leo Fender’s classic early instruments, including the Stratocaster, and gleaning tips from the legendary pickup designer Seth Lover. Plus, he recounts his time with Jeff Beck, George Fullerton, Ted McCarty, and other heroes of guitar.
After talking with Seymour, Bohlinger and the gang move to the factory, where Seymour Duncan CEO Marc DiLorenzo takes the lead. Pickups-more than 1,300 different varieties-are still built by hand at Seymour Duncan. And 20 more new models are being debuted this year. “You know how guitar players are,” says DiLorenzo. “They never stop chasing tone.”
Derek Duncan, custom shop manager and Seymour’s son, shows Bohlinger where the raw materials and components are kept-all inspected as they come in before they are put on the shelf. He also explains how the company kept pickups shipping out through the pandemic, except for one month. After the stock room, it’s off to magnet wire testing, then production planning-a two-person operation that processes incoming orders to plan which pickups will be built when. Next up: the custom shop, where we see NYC bass pickups in process, followed by a stop at the magnet grinding operation-where Derek also started working for the company-and the magnetizing station, where alnicos get their charge. At bobbin assembly, raw materials are tuned into components for use in the winding process. Some ultimately get dipped; others get a wrap of tape before moving along. The winding machine, by the way, was purchased from Gibson’s historic Kalamazoo operation. Then it’s on to pickup assembly, and, from there, we get to see the wax potting procedure. Lead wires-two or four, depending on the pickup-then get soldered to bottom plates.
Finally, we stop in on Kevin Beller in the company’s engineering department. Beller has designed many pickups over his four decades at Seymour Duncan, and during our stop he was working on Jared James Nichols signature P-90 style humbuckers. The finale: the space where pedals and the company’s PowerStage pedal-sized amps are made, including the 700-watt model used by Dave Mustaine.
Maricela "MJ" Juarez Interview: • Maricela "MJ" Juarez I...
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00:00 - Intro
00:10 - Seymour Duncan Interview
15:54 - Factory Overview with CEO Marc DiLorenzo
18:36 - Derek Duncan Intro & Warehouse Visit
22:21 - Testing Magnet Wire
23:32 - Production Planning
25:05 - Drilling Pickup Covers
25:24 - Grinding Pickup Magnets
26:22 - Pickup Bobbin Assembly
28:37 - Adding Seymour Duncan Logos
28:59 - Pickup Winding
30:06 - Pickup Pigtail
30:30 - Humbucker Assembly & Quality Control
31:17 - Wax Potting Pickups
35:39 - Bottom Plates & Sub Assembly
37:00 - Pickup Design with VP of Engineering and New Product Development Kevin Beller
45:50 - Building PowerStage Units & Pedals
48:56 - Seymour Duncan Custom Shop
© Copyright Gearhead Communications LLC, 2023
#guitar #seymourduncan #factory #pickups #howitsmade

[@premierguitar]

Maricela "MJ" Juarez Interview: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3zHYWt5n6anpMU Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGKZbin Win Guitar Gear: bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com

[@hkguitar1984]

Thank You Seymour Duncan (I've been using your pickups since the early 1980s), and thank you Premier Guitar for putting the spotlight on this great company.

[@dndlandsales9709]

19l🎉🤪

[@seymourduncan]

Thanks for coming by, friends!

[@premierguitar]

Thanks for the amazing hospitality and wonderful tour.

[@chzzyg2698]

I would be such a nerd in your factory. You'd have to hire me or I'm not going home. Thanks for so many great pickups!😄

[@Haydean06]

How do you take apart a dimebucker pickup? I want the magnets out of it for an experiment but I don’t see any screws on it like normal pickups have.

[@chzzyg2698]

@@Haydean06 Once it's apart it's not going back together. Cut the fabric strap around the outside, then cut through the copper wire, then it'll come apart.

[@rogerthat117]

SD obviously a man who loves what he does. Thank you for your love and devotion to your trade

[@J.C...]

To have lived Seymour's life... Wow! The man is a legend and so are his pickups. 🤘🙏

[@joshuajkoplin]

It’s crazy when you think about it. His pickups have been in so many guitars on so many hit songs that have touched virtually every human being in the planet.

[@thrashinwebster]

Legend! That’s all 🙌🎸🙌

[@Curlysblues]

Seymour is just a wonderful person, and a national treasure for guitar players.

[@Scott__C]

A true legend of guitar history and development.

[@scamassassin2538]

This is walking, talking Guitar History folks! John is such a great Interviewer…. because when a Legend starts on a roll…. he knows to step back and let him go. It’s a rare trait in interviews these days

[@benallmark9671]

Agreed and so rare. 7:15

[@soundpainter2590]

Yes, Incredibly rare.

[@jackroberts6938]

Seymour Duncan is the living history of guitar music, and so down to earth and enthusiastic. He's been everywhere and worked with everyone, and he hasn't lost his South Jersey accent!

[@WillKellyHardKnocksGtrs]

Jon, Seymouir is one righteous Dude! He very graciously contributed a foreword piece for my first book on Guitar Building. Seymour always gave me time when I'd have a question, much like he talks about Phil from Fender doing the same for him. He's passing it along, like a real Craftsman ...

[@vayabroder729]

Phil Kubicki?

[@RichardGarcia93]

John*

[@JohnnyBeane]

Seymour Duncan pickups are the best!!! Always great to see MJ at NAMM! Thank you for the tour!

[@EvLoutonian]

Seymour's friendship and support of Seth Lover is wonderful. Seth's pickups (and the Duncan namesakes) are some of my absolute favourites ever, no doubt. Can't wait for that Seymour book mentioned!!

[@markbeavers5747]

Every time I play my light-ash Fender Strat loaded with JB-1's I look at them and amazed on how great they sound. Thank you Seymour!!!

[@MayorMcCheese2000]

I absolutely LOVE Seymour and MJ, they're a huge part of what inspired me to become a luthier.

[@frantisca]

A pillar in the industry and a legend in Rock & Blues history. My AL 5 SH2’s are one of the finest pickups I play. Thank you Seymour Duncan: you’re a big part of the pickups hall of fame

[@voornaam3191]

Don't these pickups have a REAL name? This 7 of 9 ish gibberish is pathetic. Why didn't these fools call yours Katherine? I get angry, sorry.

[@zentrall-heiser1838]

@@voornaam3191 they are also called Jazz… 😏

[@zackpack8]

Huge fan of Seymour Duncan's pickups! I have at least 3-4 sets and they've always delivered where most other pickups just won't!

[@RokDAWG1]

The Seymour Duncan family is an amazing family! I love that I've used pedals sent to me and have some custom shop stuff that helps deliver my personal unique sounds! They are all so accommodating and all around good people.

[@Ibaneddie76]

Incredible, this is one of those videos that will forever be many gear head's go to's! I love Seymour Duncan pickups and the fact that they are still producing this amazing gear in America makes me want to keep supporting them even more! Great video PG!

[@m80prs]

Such a great insight into the history. What a great bloke! SD has a really important and pivotal role in guitar history 🤘🏼

[@marvelharris9540]

what a great interview... seymour needs to write a book.

[@10sassafras]

The customer service I experienced was wonderful. I had trouble getting a Tele pickup to fit and nicked the tape. The chap I spoke to went to the factory floor and picked out another and sent it to me that day. So helpful.

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

Cool video. When I put Seymour Duncan antiquity humbuckers in my Gibson Les Paul, it was a game changer. Killer pickups

[@EB1775]

If you ever come across a set that the serial number starts in 94, they are the first run of the Antiquities.

[@johnbrown4568]

Seymour Duncan produces simply fantastic guitar pickups.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Every time i watch an interview with Mr. Duncan, i come away with the warm fuzzies. Lovely energy.

[@RICO_SUAVE21]

Thank you Seymour Duncan!!

[@dw7704]

I have 2 guitars with Duncans in them- 4 pickups in total. I love them all. If i ever replace a pickup again i will certainly consider Duncans again

[@longlivebytor]

The BEST pickups. Love the JB's, Hot Rails and Pearly Gates' in all my guitars.

[@lfader]

Duncan distortions JB's antiquities ⚡⚡⚡❤️

[@benlogan430]

In the day we used to check all shipments that came into the store. If it wasn’t right it wasn’t received and it was sent back with the vendor’s driver. About 15 years ago this stopped being a standard practice in the industry I was in and probably in most. These guys do it the right way!

[@cantstartafire]

Thanks for this! So incredibly awesome. The man is a legend.

[@glenndavis6793]

This interview is so freaking cool. Thank you so much PG

[@ChrisJMoreno]

Terrific interview! Can't get enough of legendary craftsman telling their stories.

[@tito.tarantula]

Wow, what a fantastic person and visionary Seymour is. Man, what it must have been like to be a pioneer in helping shape the rock/blues tones of the 70s and 80s. Kudos also to John, his positive energy and approachable manner make PG interviews a must watch.

[@grimora-dg3vq]

I put a set of Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers in my Epi Les Paul and it genuinely sounds better than a Gibson! Thank you Seymour! Now I've got a JB Bridge going onto my Sire S7.

[@jr4233]

I did the same thing in my Les paul. It roars!

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

Total legend!!! I got my first Seymour Duncan pickup (custom humbucker) in 83...changed my life as it was potted...no coil squeel!!!! I still use nothing but Seymour pickups...love them...

[@user-ey2ve8hf8f]

Reminds me of an old quote: We offer three kinds of services Good, Fast, and Cheap. you can pick any two. 1) good and cheap won't be fast 2) fast and good won't be cheap 3) cheap and fast won't be good Seems Seymore Duncan went with number 2 and it was the right choice.

[@Iam_Dunn]

THIS WAS AWESOME! I’ve been a die hard Seymour Duncan fan since getting my Kramer Nightswan in ‘88! I’ve lost count of how many guitars I’ve ripped the guts out of and put JB’s and Full Shred’s in. Thank You to the Seymour Duncan team for bringing us these incomparable products! (I gotta go check out that little pedalboard amp now, if it’s good enough for Dave, it’s more than I would ever need!) ❤ from 🇨🇦

[@jackroberts6938]

This was the most informative factory tour I've ever seen, not only about the manufacturing process but also about the science behind the pickup design/manufacturing and the business process. Fantastic company, fantastic video.

[@ShadeHope1969]

Just Ordered My JJN silent P90 and cant wait, Life long fan I am 54yrs old and SD keeps knocking it out of the park. The Go To Name In Pickups.Period ! Thanks for the vid PG. awesome.

[@doctoribanez]

Such a humble/cool guy. I always buy Duncans for my guitars and now glad i have. I fee, like i want to buy some more lol. I have really like the distortion

[@terryeaster1]

What a great talk with Mr Duncan himself!!

[@tedkellison2598]

This is a great interview with Seymour! Felt like I was time travelling! Thanks, Johnno!!

[@leonardopadua7536]

such a wholesome person... WOW!!! I am so humbled

[@EvLoutonian]

I cherish the few lucky times I've got to spend time around Seymour, and even visit the factory one time too. Such a gem, and such a great historian/story teller! 🌟☀️🌟

[@joangelmartinez]

I've loved that they still make this pickups by hand and using the same machinery from more than 40 years ago, and they're still innovating nowdays

[@Hipbilly1]

Lucky to have had several interactions with Seymour. He is so genuinely lovely. And MJ? She's THE BEST!

[@user-fv5yo5fi5c]

SD, my favorite pickups of all time hands down.

[@cramster3495]

What a fantastic company! Long may they prosper.

[@michaelsteven1090]

I believe Jeff Beck had SD pickups on the tele he used on “Blow by Blow”..

[@emedel5772]

I have Seymour Duncans in all my axes. They've been my go-to pickups for nearly 30 years. The quality and the sound I want from each is just superb. I love em!

[@StefanTarras]

Love this type of content! I bought a set of 59s and a set of JB and Jazz this year for my guitars and I'm super happy to see I'm supporting an awesome family business like this!

[@JJGuccione]

Great man S.D. - really enjoyed this one. They're all great but this one was awesome.

[@davidstephens1097]

Wow- great interview and tour! Thank you!

[@robertclarkguitar]

That was so cool!!! Man. This man SD had a great life in the industry. Passion will do that.

[@3cardmonty602]

Seymour looks good for 72. Keep on Rockin’ Seymour.

[@Whokilledjohnhenry]

Thanks for doing this video, helped join a lot of dots, amazing man, talk about a true icon, Mr Pickup.

[@premierguitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@piptyson5512]

This was so cool to watch. Thanks!!

[@jimmycrabtree-tb6jc]

This is great, thanks!!

[@tweeked267]

Just dropped a set of Hot Rods into an Ibanez SZ520 with coil splits on Friday, played it all weekend and then this shows up on my YT feed this morning. Great episode. I just saw part two dropped today as well. Good stuff PG. Keep it up.

[@BBGuitars]

Definitely a bucket list item to meet Seymour and nerd out on a tour of the factory...

[@geezberry8889]

i've been through so many pickups over the decades but always come back to the JB, that is the benchmark

[@benclaase8181]

Awesome big thank you Joe Premier Guitar for the interview and to Seymour Duncan and the crew, thank you for letting us in behind the scenes. As an engineer and musician I found this intriguing. Tx BEN C NY

[@MAX96MENDES]

A living Legend AND a fun guy too ! Thanks for this video. I never knew they had 1300+ types of different pickups. Amazing factory. I also enjoyed the chat-Video with Maricela Juarez (MJ). She is a very cool lady !

[@StevenPhillips]

After watching this video, makes extra proud to have a SD Invader in my Strat!

[@renatoarthuraraujodejesus620]

Eu tenho 4 modelos, e cada um de uma época, e uso a mais de vinte anos!! Sempre amei !! Agradeço muito a genialidade de Duncan!! Vida longa a Seymour Duncan!!

[@allanmakela3011]

With Seymour always,like the best a learning experience

[@shawnawesome7770]

Love this guy's pickups!

[@JesseJuup]

❤ great to hear all these stories!

[@MrGixxer1300r]

Awesome tour John you always seem to know what to ask when you interview.

[@MrWilson-WithaPbass]

Great products ! In all my basses and guitars . Great work everyone at SD .

[@alanjohnson2853]

Amazing interview!

[@thefilmandmusic]

Love the care and detail…

[@at_at]

Great job, John!

[@MichaelDouglasSkewes]

Thank you for making some of my best sounding pick ups! JB's of course and 2 custom custom humbers!

[@musicmatty67]

An amazing company with great customer service from a man that’s full of passion and knowledge. I think there’s something for everybody within their vast array of pickups. I have found that there Duncan designed pickups offered in the Squier models have become my favorite Jazzmaster pickups… Surpassing the antiquities ll for my taste.

[@user-yk9ye4og6k]

I am a lucky user of a Nocaster 51 "The Bludgeon". I must say you guys did an incredible job with this particular set. Excellent pickups. This guitar gigs as it should. No way it sleeps in its case. Thank you SD!

[@michaelnc4450]

Great post… Kevin’s segment was great! Thx SD and PG for the post 😎👍

[@walterschock1270]

Fantastic!!!!

[@Jimmyprice258]

I have the SLASH signature alnico 2's in my PRS, love them!! Thank you, Seymour!

[@anthonyfarmer9797]

I've never left a comment on premier guitar before although all of the rig rundowns are awesome especially the joe bonamassa ones, this video is great, thank you

[@chzzyg2698]

I just installed a JB Antiquity and it sounds incredible! Paired up with my all-time favorite Seth Lover, they make an awesome team.

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Needs to write a book with all these stories…

[@guitarswh]

I installed my first set of Alnico ll Pro’s over thirty years ago in a ‘89 American Standard Strat. Been addicted to Seymour Duncan pickups ever since.

[@Musicsports]

What a great company. Proud to say I have several guitars with their pickups

[@badoeno]

Inspiring story. Now I'm going to look at S-D for my next upgrade!

[@socialmeaslesinpartnership1252]

I have some vintage SD S/Cs in a Strat and they are exactly that. Excellent stuff.

[@kisum]

Can't wait to get a set of the 3-coil humbuckers!!! 😍😍😍

[@arnaldobonilla-ortiz21]

Thank You SD

[@marcorock101]

God i love these videos Keep up the great work 😎✊

[@jeffgualandijr9420]

that was fascinating!

[@patrickbeaston3659]

I could just listen to this man talk all day :)

[@CBGypsy03]

Unpotted seth lovers for the win !! Sound so damn good.

[@vayabroder729]

Great for hollow body Jazz guitars too.

[@barbershoppodcast]

I wanna thank Seymour for getting Seth Lover to make my PAF's that some smart and classy luthier put in the 1962 ES-335 spec cherry sunburst masterpiece he lovingly crafted - the golden sound for my dream guitar.

[@davidgriffin8482]

VERY COOL, THANKS

[@silviopimentel7247]

Wow amazing !

[@esmeulonsouzadeoliveira3636]

👏👏👏 Thank You ' Seymour Duncan 🔑 .

[@TBD3.0]

Wonderful video, what a privilege to have the opportunity to watch and listen to every second of this content. Thank you very much and salutation to Seymour Duncan and his family and to all his employees great job. 👍 TBD3.0 (Toothless Bull Dog 3.0) From Commie Fornia.

[@romanneverov7550]

Powerful legendary old man 💪

[@OG_Wakanobi]

I bought my first SD pickups in 88. Loyal ever since.

[@mikeault]

Awesome interview!

[@bubbaluvv]

Love the little "oh well" nod to Peter Greens Fleetwood Mac in the intro

[@robnamowicz8073]

Way back, right after the dinosaurs died, I had mounted an early Tele neck on my Strat, had the local Ford dealer paint it clear acrylic and thought, why not a humbucker in the middle? I got a chisel and a Seymore Duncan JB, right when he started. Still sounds great, Seymore, thanks a million! Glad you came to Kalamazoo, the old Parsons Street factory was always a hoot for us guitar stranglers!! Thanks again!

[@Hell_Inc]

I have one guitar with Blackened Black Winters and I love it