August 2008 \ Web Exclusives \ Builder Profile \ The Pickup King: A Video Interview with Seymour Duncan

The Pickup King: A Video Interview with Seymour Duncan

by Premier Guitar
 Premier Guitar August 2008
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Want to see the holy grail of pickups -- the original PAF humbucker that inventor Seth Lover used to apply for the patent? Want to see how pickups are made, including how to charge the magnets, wind the wire, etc? Want to see Seymour Duncan show you how to scatter wind?  It's all in the videos below.

How to Make a Pickup Part I

We went to Santa Barbara, CA to see how pickups are made at the Seymour Duncan factory. In this clip, SD's Evan Skopp explains bobbin material, bobbin insulation and magnet charging. Also, did you know that temperature changes can wreck your pickup's magnetic pull? Evan breaks down some common demagnetizing dangers.



How to Make a Pickup - Part II

42 gauge is the most common wire used in pickup manufacturing. This and other common building techiniques are covered in this clip. Also, Evan expalins why Seymour Duncan goes through great lengths to use the same bobbin material used in many classic pickups. Perhaps the coolest part of this video - check out the original winder once owned by Gibson and used for early PAF humbuckers. SD has the winder now and still uses it today.




How to Make a Pickup Part III

In this segment we look at lipstick pickups (made with no bobbin), Tele pickups, wax-potting and SD's proprietary "stud loader." Also, see how a humbucker is made, step-by step.



How to Make a Pickup Part IV

Wooden acoustic pickups are looked at in this segment, as well as the yarn-wrapping process for Tele pickups and SD's quality control process. Also, Evan breaks down the whole active vs. passive thing as we see some Dave Mustaine pickups being made.

 

Custom Wound Pickups Part I

Seymour himself is at the winder in this video, showing how he makes pickups. He explains scatter winding and passes on some knowledge that was passed along to him from Leo Fender.


 

Custom Wound Pickups Pickups Part II

Seymour's right-hand woman, Marisela Juarez is featured in this clip. Marisela runs the custom shop and has wound pickups for the guitars played on many of the albums in your collection.


 

Interview with Seymour - Part I

Every legend has an inspiring story about how it all began and Seymour Duncan is no different. An inquisitive young Seymour fixed a string-damaged Tele pickup back in the day and that launched it all.

 

Interview with Seymour - Part II

In this segment, Seymour talks about meeting Les Paul and developing a long-lasting friendship with Seth Lover, the inventor of the original PAF humbucking pickup. In fact, Seth gave Seymour his notes, his winder and many protoypes before he died. You'll see Seymour bring out the holy grail in this clip, the original PAF humbucker.

 
Interview with Seymour Duncan - Part III

Seymour pulls out more early PAF humbuckers made by Seth Lover and Seth's own winder. Also, Seymour talks about making pickups for the best guitarists in the world.



     


Commentary

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Tom
on 08/05/2008 		I attended one of Seymour's in-store workshops at a local music store (Houston area) a couple years ago and it was a blast. He has so many stories of all the great players he has worked with. In addition, as you might expect, he is also a great player. After the session in the store, the store owner had arranged to take some equipment to the bar next door where Seymour jammed with several local guys for about 90 minutes. He specifically requested to use an old Virbolux that the music store owner had and mostly played a Strat as I recall. It was a really memorable night of music for me. Seymour is very approachable and friendly, just as you see in the video.
bobby devito
on 07/22/2008 		Freaking COOL article and video series. Well done! AND....if you haven't heard Seymour play guitar....watch out! That man can rip it up on a single pickup Esquire....whew!
sam
on 07/22/2008 		i'm not one of those jingoistic types but I must say, it's pretty cool to see that they make everything here -- i mean everything
skip
on 07/21/2008 		Excellent interview. Reminds us of the roots of pickups and how much to be thankful for-without the timing and ingenuity of Seymore and others we may not be where we are today.
Lyle
on 07/18/2008 		Absolute historical viewing. WOW! Could give any part time hacker the gear fever.
Thanks for including this in this months mag. You all are the best.
r2d4
on 07/18/2008 		holy cow. shoulda called this "everything you could possibly want to know about pickups" !!!!!!!!!!!
Macdog
on 07/16/2008 		This is completely insane!!!!!!!!!!!!
stew
on 07/16/2008 		That Seth Lover PAF humbucker (2nd to last video, toward the end) is Smithsonian-worthy. At auction that would probably go for $750,000, easy. It's the grandaddy of modern music.



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