Pickup legends Seymour Duncan are celebrating their hertitage with a limited-edition vintage recreation, and pushing forward with a new three-voice active humbucker design.
It’s the 50th anniversary of Seymour Duncan, and what better way to mark the milestone than two significant releases? Arriving in Australia this February is a meticulously crafted 50th Anniversary JB/Jazz set that honours the company’s origins, and the MortalCoil active humbucker that brings modern versatility to high-output playing.
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The 50th Anniversary Limited Edition JB/Jazz Set represents something special for tone purists and collectors alike. As a recreation of the earliest production models, the set is built with butyrate bobbins crafted using Seymour Duncan’s original 1970s moulds and rough-cast Alnico V magnets that match vintage design specifications.
Each set comes in retro silver packaging inspired by early Seymour Duncan designs and features a commemorative 50th Anniversary logo on the bottom plate. The Jazz neck pickup measures 7.5k DC resistance, while the JB bridge sits at 16.6k, both wired with single-conductor braided cable and long-leg bottom plates. You can grab them in traditional black or zebra configurations, and they deliver that proven JB/Jazz versatility from articulate cleans right through to expressive rock gain.
Meanwhile, the MortalCoil represents Seymour Duncan’s forward-thinking approach to active pickup design. Built around three precision-engineered voices, it’s aimed squarely at players who need serious tonal flexibility without sacrificing attack or clarity.
The MC1 voice delivers crushing modern metal tones with surgical precision—tight lows and focused mids without the fizzy high-end that plagues lesser active pickups. This voice benefits from a low-resistance, high-density copper coil design that produces faster, stronger attack characteristics.
Beyond the aggressive MC1 voice, the MortalCoil also offers authentic JB and Jazz-inspired passive tones drawn directly from Seymour Duncan’s legendary designs, plus a clear, articulate single-coil voice with output levels suited for modern rigs.
The advanced, audio-optimised preamp ensures superior clarity and definition, whilst the efficient circuitry design delivers best-in-class battery life—a consideration that matters when you’re gigging regularly. Installation is straightforward too, with drop-in compatibility for many multiple-voiced active pickup systems.
Both neck and bridge versions are available for six and seven-string guitars, sold individually or as sets.
Whether you’re looking for historically accurate vintage tones or pushing into modern high-gain territory, Seymour Duncan’s latest releases won’t disappoint.
Visit Seymour Duncan for more information. Head here for local enquiries.
