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The Pickup King: A Video Interview with Seymour Duncan

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

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.