The Maricela “MJ” Juarez 40th Anniversary limited-edition sets include collaborations with Peter Frampton, Steve Miller and Pete Anderson. Each collaboration is limited to 160 sets worldwide.
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.
One of classic rock’s most revered players walks us through his expansive collection of modded Marshalls, iconic Les Pauls, and vintage stomps.
A detailed and extensive replica of Frampton’s storied guitar, the limited run celebrates one of music history’s most unlikely reunions.
Nashville, TN (October 27, 2015) -- Gibson Custom has announced a collaboration with GRAMMY®-winning guitarist Peter Frampton for a very limited release of the Peter Frampton “Phenix” 1954 “Triple-Pickup” Les Paul Custom. A detailed and extensive replica of Frampton’s storied guitar, the limited run celebrates one of music history’s most unlikely reunions. Each of the 35 “Phenix” guitars in the series have been and played, signed and approved by Frampton himself.
Frampton was introduced to his beloved 1954 Les Paul Custom in 1970 when, after suffering guitar issues on stage during a Humble Pie show, fan Mark Mariana loaned him the guitar. The ’54 Les Paul became an immediate favorite of Frampton’s and Mariana generously gifted it to him. Over the next decade, that very guitar was heard on some of Frampton’s biggest recordings, Humble Pie’s Rockin’ The Fillmore, Harry Nilsson’s Son of Schmilsson and the history making Frampton Comes Alive! as well as many other seminal albums in which Peter was a session player.
The duo separated in 1980 when Frampton’s cherished ’54 Les Paul was lost in a cargo plane crash in Venezuela. Miraculously, the guitar was spotted on stage in Caracas then disappeared to the Dutch island of Curaçao. In 2011, through the cooperation of the government of Curacao and a local luthier from said island, Frampton and his guitar were reunited. Now nicknamed “Phenix,” for its ability to rise from the ashes, the guitar appears with Frampton on stage and in the studio.
In addition to bearing the battle scars of Frampton’s own “Phenix,” each limited edition Gibson Custom model features a genuine mahogany body and neck, an ebony fingerboard, a pearl custom inlay and the ’54 Les Paul Custom holly veneer headstock. The series stays true to the recognizable lamp black finish of Frampton’s guitar and features heavy aging, all while maintaining exceptional playability and tone.
Pricing information:
$20,779
For more information:
Gibson Custom