Workers in the shipping department have a wall where they stick duplicate inventory tags of gear being sent to familiar recipients. This photo shows a small portion of their collection.
John Bohlinger visited the Seymour Duncan booth to talk about the company's new 50th Anniversary Limited Edition JB/Jazz Humbucker Set. Available exclusively during 2026 in throwback silver-and-blue packaging that recreates the original late-1970s design, the set features historically accurate vintage specs including long legs, butyrate bobbins from the company's original mold, and rough-cast magnets that deliver the legendary tone that's defined versatile guitar sound for half a century. And yes, they finally confirmed that JB stands for "jazz blues," not Jeff Beck, though Seymour did build the first set for Beck himself.
Seymour Duncan
50th Anniversary Limited Edition JB / Jazz Humbucker Set
Experience the true origin of the hot-rodded humbucker with the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition JB / Jazz Set. Built with historically accurate parts including butyrate bobbins and rough-cast magnets, this set faithfully replicates the earliest production models. Presented in retro silver packaging and limited to 2026 production only, this is a collectible piece of tone history.
Seymour Duncan is proud to announce MortalCoil Multiple-Voiced Active Humbuckers are now available to order from seymourduncan.com and from authorized Seymour Duncan dealers.
MortalCoil delivers three precision-engineered voices: a tight, aggressive modern metal MC1 voice with fast, controlled attack, authentic JB and Jazz-inspired passive tones, and a clear, articulate single-coil. Built with optimized-resistance coils and advanced audio op-amps for exceptional response and efficiency, MortalCoil is a powerful, versatile active upgrade.
Our MC1 voice is a crushing modern metal sound with surgical precision, delivering tight lows and focused mids without high-end fizz
Faster and stronger attack driven by a low-resistance, high-density copper coil design
Authentic JB and Jazz voices drawn directly from Seymour Duncan’s legacy
Single-coil voice with clear articulation and output suited for modern rigs
Advanced, audio-optimized preamp for superior clarity and definition
Efficient circuitry designed for best-in-class battery life
Drop-in upgrade compatible with many multiple-voiced active pickup systems
Introducing Seymour Duncan’s MortalCoil: an active humbucker set with three voices engineered for precision, power, and musical clarity. Designed from the ground up for modern players who demand brutal articulation and authoritative low end, the new primary MC1 voice delivers an exceptionally tight, mix-ready modern metal sound that stays focused and controlled across complex riffs, palm mutes, and harmonics. Alongside it, MortalCoil brings additional voices drawn directly from Seymour Duncan’s legacy: a classic JB and Jazz–inspired voice, plus a powerful single-coil voice ready when versatility matters. Built on 50 years of pickup-voicing expertise, MortalCoil represents a fresh approach to what multiple-voiced active pickups can be.
MortalCoil’s MC1 (Voice 1) delivers uncompromising tightness, note separation, and cutting presence for modern metal applications, maintaining clarity and balance without fizz or nasal midrange, even under extreme gain. Voice 2 unlocks authentic JB Bridge and Jazz Neck voicings, capturing the proven character and feel players have trusted for decades. Voice 3 offers a strong, articulate single-coil voice with enough output and definition to hold its own in modern rigs, making it ideal for cleans, edge-of-breakup tones, and layered production.
At the core of MortalCoil are precision-wound high-density copper coils with optimized resistance, providing faster transient response and stronger pick attack than competing designs across all tunings. Our all-new preamp utilizes advanced audio op-amps that contribute gain, rich harmonic detail, and dynamic feel with extremely low distortion, while the efficient circuit design supports superior battery life for reliable performance on stage and in the studio. The result is crushing attack and surgical control under modern metal gain.
Whether you’re tracking or performing live, MortalCoil allows one guitar to move effortlessly from pristine cleans to aggressive high-gain tones. Experience what happens when 50 years of pickup expertise meets modern active technology. MortalCoil installs easily as a drop-in upgrade for many existing active setups and includes all required pots and wiring. Available now in 6-string and 7-string configurations.
Laney has introduced the Supergrace Loudpedal, a dual-channel amp-in-a-box collaboration with Billy Corgan and Carstens Amplification.
Working alongside amplifier designer Brian Carstens, the mind behind the renowned Carstens Grace amplifier, Laney set out to do what most believed impossible: faithfully translate two distinct, professional-grade amplifiers into a single floor-based format without compromising the soul of either. The result is the Supergrace: a dual-amplifier platform designed for players who refuse to choose between modern precision and vintage authority.
Born from Billy Corgan’s demand for extreme gain, massive headroom, and unmistakable identity, it delivers articulate saturation with exceptional note definition-long after most amplifiers collapse into compressed blur. Harmonic richness, dynamic sensitivity, and clarity remain intact even at punishing gain levels. Clean transparency flows effortlessly into textured overdrive using only guitar volume and gain controls.
Using the pedal’s Amp footswitch you can select the Supergroup channel and you’re instantly transported to 1969. This channel is a faithful recreation of the legendary Laney circuit that helped define early heavy metal and still powers some of the heaviest tones on modern stages. Gain here is organic and uncompromising. No digital modelling. No shortcuts. Push the input and power section and you’re rewarded with an uncompressed, wide-bandwidth response defined by clarity, punch, and visceral connection. Even the famous “transformer rub” sub-note heard on countless vintage Laney recordings is preserved intact.
Supergrace is more than two amplifiers: it’s Billy’s fly-rig. Laney’s LA·IR Advanced Impulse Response technology provides studio-grade Impulse Responses (IRs), preloaded with Billy’s preferred IRs. USB-C connectivity enables latency-free recording straight into a DAW ands also allows the IRs to be switched out for something specific to the player using Laney’s LA*IR App. MIDI integration is also seamless.
A transformer-isolated FX loop offers flexible routing, an auxiliary input supports backing tracks, and headphone output allows for silent practice. Whether in the studio, on tour, or at home, the full rig is always available.
Features include:
Dual Authentic Amplifiers – The Carstens Grace high-gain channel and a faithful 1969 Laney Supergroup circuit, united in one floor-based platform
True Analogue Signal Path – No digital amp modelling; real amplifier tone, dynamics, and response throughout
Professional Connectivity – USB-C audio interface, MIDI control, transformer-isolated FX loop, auxiliary input, and headphone output
LA·IR Advanced Speaker Emulation – Studio-grade impulse responses preloaded with Billy Corgan’s personal touring IRs
Stage-Proven Power – Used live by Billy Corgan in front of 60,000 fans with his full touring rig replaced by a single pedalboard
Handcrafted in the UK – Built at Laney’s Black Country Customs workshop and supplied in a premium presentation case
Every Supergrace Loudpedal is handcrafted in Laney’s Black Country Customs workshop in Birmingham, England. Each unit ships in a handcrafted presentation box, complete with power supply and premium USB cables.
Laney’s Supergrace carries a street price of $629.99. For more information visitlaney.co.uk/amps/guitar/supergroup/bcc-Supergrace.
Levy’s Music has introduced the Chroma Series, a new collection of leather gig bags that applies bold, guitar-inspired colorways to classic soft-case construction. The series brings a visual update to Levy’s gig bag offerings while maintaining the brand’s established approach to premium materials and skilled craftsmanship.
Visual contrast and color are central to the Chroma Series design, introducing a brighter, more expressive look within Levy’s leather gig bag offerings. The collection is available in Party Red, Powder Blue, Aqua Green and Soft Pink, each applied across a smooth leather exterior. All four colorways are offered in both electric and bass guitar formats.
Each Chroma Series gig bag is constructed from premium garment leather and features a padded interior designed to protect instruments during routine handling and storage. 1" (2.5 cm) plush foam lines the interior, while reinforced stitching and heavy-duty zippers support long-term use. An exterior accessory pocket provides space for small accessories, and adjustable backpack straps and a carry handle offer multiple carrying options.
All Chroma Series gig bags are handcrafted in Canada, reflecting Levy’s’ long-standing production standards and attention to detail across its leather products. The Chroma Series joins Levy’s broader range of gig bags, which also includes the recently released Solera Series of premium leather bags. For more information, visit levysleathers.com.
Spector Bass announces the NC-4 Frank Bello Black Sapphire Signature Bass, a new finish option for the official bass of Anthrax. Available worldwide through authorized local retailers and online, the Black Sapphire NC-4 introduces a darker, more aggressive visual identity while keeping the design, feel, and performance that defines Bello’s signature model. Featuring a matching headstock and inlays, the Black Sapphire finish further reinforces the thrash metal aesthetic associated with Anthrax and Bello’s unmistakable presence on stage and in the studio.
The NC-4 Frank Bello is rooted in Spector’s heritage and the classic American bolt-on bass design with modern contours for enhanced playability. The instrument features a refined body shape with a radiused top and a uniquely contoured neck heel, offering a more comfortable and agile playing experience. An alder body provides a balanced tonal foundation, while the one-piece maple neck and maple fingerboard contribute clarity, articulation, and snap. The neck profile is slim yet comfortable, modeled after several of Bello’s most valued vintage instruments for a familiar, broken-in feel. The bass features a 34-inch scale length and is visually unified by its matching headstock and inlays, all finished in the striking Black Sapphire color.
Electronics on the NC-4 Frank Bello reflect a straightforward, performance-focused approach. The bass is equipped with Frank Bello’s signature EMG P/J pickup set, paired with a simple control layout consisting of two volume controls and a master tone control. This configuration allows players to quickly blend pickups and shape their sound with ease, whether performing live or working in the studio.
Hardware appointments are equally purposeful, combining vintage-inspired chrome tuners with a modern, fully adjustable bridge for reliable tuning stability and precise setup. Designed to withstand the demands of professional touring and recording, the NC-4 Frank Bello Black Sapphire is built to deliver consistency and confidence on the world’s biggest stages. Frank Bello’s career spans nearly 40 years, from his early days as a guitar tech to becoming a defining force in thrash metal as the bassist for Anthrax, one of the genre’s iconic “Big Four.” His aggressive playing style and commanding stage presence continue to influence generations of bassists.
“I’ve had my Spector bass out on tour and in the studio for the past year, and it’s gone above and beyond my expectations—whether on the biggest stages or in the studio,” says Frank Bello. “I’m thrilled to introduce the new Sapphire Black version for all the players who’ve been asking for it. Cheers to Spector for making it happen!”
For more information on the NC-4 Frank Bello Black Sapphire Signature Bass and the complete Spector Bass lineup, visit NAMM Booth #6802 or online at www.spectorbass.com