Renowned pickup maker speaks on basses and bass players

Exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
March 18, 2019

By David Sands

It’s hard not to be a little awestruck in the presence of pickup maker Seymour Duncan. A living legend on the music manufacturing scene, he’s put his extraordinary skills to work for artists like Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Jaco Pastorius, George Harrison and Jimmy Page. And the products put out by the company that bears his name are synonymous with high-quality tone. 

The New Jersey native began learning his craft as a guitarist performing clubs in the 1960s. During these formative years, he rubbed shoulders with musicians like Les Paul and Roy Buchanan who would share their insights on instruments and electronics with him. Duncan would later be mentored by PAF Humbucker inventor Seth Lover and then go on to work as guitar repairman at the Fender Soundhouse in London. In the 1970s with his wife Cathy, he started a pickup rewinding service that would eventually become the Seymour Duncan company, world renowned manufacturer of bass pickups, guitar pickups and pedal effects. In 2012 Duncan was inducted into the Halls of Fame for Guitar Player Magazine, Vintage Guitar magazine and Music & Sound Retailer. 

FBPO’s Jon Liebman spoke with Duncan about his experiences playing the bass and working with well-known bass players, tricks of the trade and what folks can expect from his company in the future. 

Watch our interview with Seymour!

See Jon’s blog, with his takeaways from this interview here.

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