Seymour Duncan Custom Shop 50th Anniversary '59 Model Humbucker Pickup - Zebra Set

Fifty years of legendary tone—refined to its purest form. The Seymour Duncan Custom Shop 50th Anniversary ’59 Model humbucker pickup set celebrates one of the most enduring interpretations of vintage PAF tone, returning it to its earliest, original-spec construction. Developed from Seymour Duncan’s decades of hands-on experience studying and rebuilding vintage PAF pickups, the ’59 Model represents his ideal balance of clarity, warmth and harmonic complexity. For this ultra-limited Custom Shop release, that formula is brought full circle with butyrate bobbins, long-leg baseplates, rough-cast Alnico V magnets and single-conductor wiring. The result is the familiar ’59 voice players trust—open, dynamic and articulate—now delivered with the nuance, feel and character of its original design.

Original-Spec Construction With Seymour’s Ideal PAF Voice

At the heart of this anniversary set is a faithful return to the earliest ’59 Model build, capturing the tone Seymour originally set out to create. Rough-cast Alnico V magnets provide an open, three-dimensional response with enhanced pick attack and natural sustain, while butyrate bobbins and maple spacers contribute to a more organic, resonant character. Long-leg baseplates complete the vintage-correct construction, preserving the look and feel of the earliest production models. Together, these elements recreate the balance and harmonic richness that defined the best original PAF examples.

Balanced Output with Signature Neck and Bridge Voices

The ’59 Model set is built around complementary voices that work together seamlessly. The bridge pickup delivers a clear, punchy response with smooth sustain, making it well-suited for rock and blues tones that need both articulation and weight. The neck pickup offers warm, crystalline clarity with a slightly scooped midrange, preserving note definition even in complex passages. This balance has made the ’59 Model a long-standing favorite for players who need versatility without sacrificing vintage character.

Limited-Edition Anniversary Set Hand-Built in Seymour Duncan’s Custom Shop

Each 50th Anniversary ’59 Model set is handwound in the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop by a small team of master builders, led by Maricela “MJ” Juarez. Limited to just 500 sets worldwide, every pickup features bottom plates bearing the signatures of both Seymour W. Duncan and MJ, along with replica “Seymourized” and model identification stickers. Lightly aged cosmetics and commemorative packaging complete the presentation, making this a rare opportunity to own a piece of Seymour Duncan history—one that delivers both vintage tone and lasting significance.