Joe Bonamassa and Seymour Duncan recreate Tommy Bolin's legendary PAFs with a pair of pickups based on the original.
The story behind these pickups is worth telling. Tommy Bolin – the virtuoso guitarist who left his mark on Deep Purple, James Gang, and Billy Cobham’s fusion work before his tragically early death in 1976 – owned a “Bolin Burst” Les Paul that became legendary in its own right. Recognisable by its hand-painted American flag pickguard and Telecaster Bigsby vibrato, the guitar was originally owned by his guitar tech, David Brown. After Bolin’s own goldtop was stolen at a Zephyr gig, this guitar became his main instrument, and those original PAFs were key to his captivating tone.
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Enter Joe Bonamassa – blues-rock mainstay and noted vintage gear collector who’s long been influenced by Bolin’s work. Following a 10-year search, Bonamassa tracked down and bought the guitar from Brown himself. Recognising something special in those original PAFs, he brought them to the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop for detailed analysis and recreation.
The resulting pickups use Alnico 2 magnets to capture that sweet vintage tonality. Expect a dynamic, barky bridge pickup and a neck position that sings with warmth and clarity, particularly when you’re pushing your amp into overdrive. Custom ageing matches the original pickups’ worn appearance, so they look the part as well.
The first 500 sets come with bottom plates signed by both Bonamassa and Seymour W. Duncan, housed in limited edition numbered packaging. Beyond the collectors’ appeal, these are legitimate working pickups designed for players who understand what made Bolin’s tone so captivating.
It’s also worth noting that a portion of the proceeds will support the Tommy Bolin Endowment and Tommy Bolin Memorial Fund, keeping his musical legacy alive for future generations.
For players chasing that elusive vintage PAF character with genuine history, the “Bolin Burst” set offers something more substantial than another boutique humbucker.
For more information, head here.
