Seymour Duncan Announces Maricela “MJ” Juarez 40th Anniversary Pickup Sets

MJ remarks about the collaborations: When I started working at Seymour Duncan in March 1983, I had no idea that I would have the opportunity to custom-wind pickups for some of the best guitar players in music. Over the last 40 years, I have put my love, heart, and soul into every aspect of what I do here at the company. Peter Frampton, Steve Miller, and Pete Anderson are like family to me, and it has been an honor to help them craft their signature sounds that have been heard by people all over the world. Now we are excited to give musicians everywhere access to these special pickups we have created together. I hope they bring you joy, inspiration, and great tone!

Frampton Comes Alive Humbucker Set

​When Maricela “MJ” Juarez first started winding pickups at Seymour Duncan in 1983 she already had dreams of working with one guitarist in particular: the one and only Peter Frampton. Once she began managing the Custom Shop and building pickups for some of the biggest guitarists in music, her dream came true. MJ was afforded the opportunity to wind a set of humbuckers for Peter. He has since used these pickups in countless recordings and performances over the years. The Frampton Comes Alive Humbucker set is built to those same specs with Alnico 2 magnets and a vintage output for Peter’s dynamic, stadium-filling sound. The first 160 sets were signed by Frampton and MJ and will show you the way to Peter’s great humbucker tone - whether through your talk box or the sound system of a sold-out arena! To quote Peter: “They bring the best out of the guitar.”

A portion of the proceeds from the “Frampton Comes Alive” MJ40th Pickups will be donated to The Peter Frampton Myositis Research Fund as well as Notes for Notes, who provide youth with free access to music instruments, instruction, and recording studio environments so that music may become a profoundly positive influence in their lives.

The Joker Strat Set

2023 marks the 50th year since Steve Miller’s multi-platinum album ‘The Joker’ was released and it is also MJ’s 40th year with Seymour Duncan. To celebrate both historic occasions, MJ is proud to present The Joker Strat set. The set features a custom wind MJ has been making Steve for years. All three single-coil pickups are wound for vintage output around Alnico 2 magnets, with Steve’s signature printed on the cover and the iconic Joker mask on the bottom plate. This set is a must-have for Steve Miller fans and Strat players alike.

A portion of the proceeds from “The Joker” MJ40th Strat Pickups will be donated to Notes for Notes, who provide youth with free access to music instruments, instruction, and recording studio environments so that music may become a profoundly positive influence in their lives.

The Pete Anderson Working Class Tele Set

The powerhouse guitarist and producer behind Dwight Yoakam’s biggest hits, Pete’s signature Bakersfield-inspired tone is instantly recognizable. Over 40 years winding pickups at Seymour Duncan, Maricela “MJ” Juarez has built sets for Pete that have been on chart-topping records and on stage heard by fans all over the world.

The Pete Anderson Working Class Tele Set is a recreation of the pickups in his 1959 Telecaster. These are the pickups you’ve heard on the numerous classic records Pete has played on and produced. The first 160 sets have been aged to perfection in the custom shop and are signed by both Pete and MJ. With Alnico 5 magnets and a vintage output wind, these expressive pickups are perfect for those looking for a tried-and-true Telecaster tone!

A portion of the proceeds from the “Working Class” MJ40th Tele Pickups will be donated to Notes for Notes, who provide youth with free access to music instruments, instruction, and recording studio environments so that music may become a profoundly positive influence in their lives.

For more information, please visit customshop.seymourduncan.com.