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331:'s pickup broke after lending it at a show. Lacking proper equipment, Duncan improvised tools such as using a butter knife as a soldering iron, a microscope from school to analyze the pickup, and a record player to rewind the pickup bobbin. Having rewind the pickup bobbin tighter than it initially was, Duncan noted a "fatter" tone from the guitar. This inspired him to further experiment with pickups and tonality.
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In the 90s, as a demand for vintage guitars began to rise, Duncan sought to replicate the tonal quality of '50s to '60s rock and roll through pre-aging specific pickups. The result was the
Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickups. Duncan would also continue to design custom pickups for guitarists as well.
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In the mid '60s, Duncan began working at local music stores for guitar repair work. While working, Duncan began creating his own designs and parts to experiment with various tonal qualities. He would reach out to various sources for advice such as
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during his time at the Fender
Soundhouse. Duncan gifted Beck with a "Tele-Gib", a Telecaster with a humbucking pickup reminiscent of a Gibson pickup. The Tele-Gib was a prototype of Duncan's JB model.
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makes a
Seymour Duncan Signature Esquire. Duncan is still involved in designing and fabricating pickups at the factory as well as playing guitar and making appearances at clinics and conventions.
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After his visa expired, Duncan came back to the United States and eventually settled in
California. In 1975, he moved to
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As a performer, Duncan has guested on the albums of several artists. He has also been the lead guitarist for the
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also made bass pickups under the
Basslines brand name. In 2013 these bass pickups were rebranded under
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magazine, June 1, 2008. Accessed
January 12, 2023. "I went to Woodstown High School in New Jersey."
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As demand for his custom pickups grew, he started his own company with Cathy Carter Duncan,
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on March 28, 1968, where he gifted
Hendrix with custom made pickups.
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Notable artists and groups Duncan has created pickups for include
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912:"Master of Pickups: A Conversation with Seymour Duncan – The Hub"
782:"Master of Pickups: A Conversation with Seymour Duncan – The Hub"
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from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
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This article is about the person. For the company, see
1118:"Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus – 2: Channel Mind Radio"
989:"The Stone Age Institute Musicians: Seymour W. Duncan"
861:"Seymour W. Duncan Biography: The Man Behind It All"
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Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2012, he was inducted into
327:. He first began winding pickups at age 16 when his
1144:"Lost Years – Dave Mendenhall – Credits – AllMusic"
384:and his manager, Jaye Reich, who were recording at
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937:"Basslines Pickups Become… Seymour Duncan Pickups"
825:Stories from Seymour Duncan – First Pickup Repair
465:and continued learning about and making pickups.
1203:D-TAR (Duncan-Turner Acoustic Research) website
1170:"Carmine Appice Project – Ultimate Guitar Zeus"
453:. He established contact with people such as
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311:. He also began playing at various shows in
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65:about living persons that is unsourced or
1014:"Christopher Rainbow – Home Of The Brave"
296:. At age 12, his uncle introduced him to
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365:In 1968, Duncan received a message from
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670:Guitar Zeus, Vol. 2: Channel Mind Radio
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233:guitar (1952), sold by Duncan to
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892:. Guitar World. November 4, 2016
765:Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains
705:Best of Chris Rainbow, 1972–1980
247:Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains
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859:Fulbeck, Kip (April 3, 2023).
828:, Premier Guitar, June 5, 2008
442:Duncan was also introduced to
307:In his teens, Duncan attended
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43:biography of a living person
1198:Seymour Duncan Company site
963:"Stone Age Institute Music"
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70:must be removed immediately
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1228:Guitarists from New Jersey
360:Fender Musical Instruments
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1150:. ALLMUSIC, NETAKTION LLC
1072:. ALLMUSIC, NETAKTION LLC
993:www.stoneageinstitute.org
967:www.stoneageinstitute.org
624:Guitar, engineer, mixing
262:Santa Barbara, California
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601:Looking Over My Shoulder
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786:www.musiciansfriend.com
725:Carmine Appice Project
1092:"Merle Haggard – 1996"
640:and the Shuffle Kings
392:Soundhouse in London.
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969:. Stone Age Institute
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721:Ultimate Guitar Zeus
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63:Contentious material
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345:1960s: Early career
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85:"Seymour W. Duncan"
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1098:. October 11, 1996
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1020:. October 11, 1975
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455:Leo Fender
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356:Seth Lover
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268:Early life
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176:1951-02-11
126:March 2014
96:newspapers
483:Lady Gaga
477:in 1976.
444:Jeff Beck
395:While at
48:citations
1148:ALLMUSIC
1070:ALLMUSIC
495:Bon Jovi
459:Les Paul
378:Les Paul
352:Les Paul
321:Wildwood
298:Les Paul
209:musician
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429:The Who
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501:, and
491:Prince
461:, and
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