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Seymour Duncan has formally announced the launch of the Duncan Distortion 50th Anniversary Set, celebrating five decades of one of the most iconic high-output ceramic humbuckers in heavy rock and metal history.
Issued in strictly limited production runs, this 50th Anniversary commemorative set faithfully reproduces the original design spec of the 1970s flagship pickup—combining vintage-correct braided wiring, period-accurate bobbins, and hand-wound construction with a heavy-duty ceramic magnet core.
Vintage Construction & High-Gain Performance
- Authentic 1970s Specs: Built with era-accurate butyrate bobbins, vintage single-conductor braided lead wire, and classic bottom-plate engraving.
- High-Output Ceramic Magnet Core: Features the oversized ceramic magnet that gave the original Duncan Distortion its signature aggressive upper-mid gain, tight bass response, and rich harmonic squeals.
- Hand-Crafted in Santa Barbara: Hand-wound in Seymour Duncan’s original California factory to match the exact DC resistance and resonant peak of the earliest production units.
- Bridge & Neck Calibration: The set pairs a high-output bridge humbucker (balanced for high gain and crunch) with a voiced neck humbucker that delivers searing solo tones without losing clarity under heavy distortion.
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Seymour Duncan 50th Anniversary Distortion Specifications
| Feature | Bridge Pickup | Neck Pickup |
| Magnet Type | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| DC Resistance | ~16.6k Ohms | ~12.7k Ohms |
| Cable / Wiring | Vintage Braided Push-Back | Vintage Braided Push-Back |
| Bobbin Material | Period-Accurate Butyrate | Period-Accurate Butyrate |
| Baseplate | Nickel Silver w/ Anniversary Stamping | Nickel Silver w/ Anniversary Stamping |
| Street Price (Set) | $299.00 USD (Estimated) | $299.00 USD (Estimated) |
“The Duncan Distortion defined the sound of hard rock and early heavy metal when it hit the market. Bringing it back in its purest 1970s form for our 50th anniversary honors the players who used it to build the foundations of high-gain guitar.”
Availability
The Seymour Duncan 50th Anniversary Duncan Distortion Set is available now in limited quantities through authorized Seymour Duncan dealers worldwide.
Where to buy:
- More Info: Visit seymourduncan.com
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