The Seymour Duncan Antiquity Aged Humbucker Pickup Set (Nickel) recreates the sonic character of vintage P.A.F. humbuckers through meticulous hand-crafting and authentic aging processes. Built in the Custom Shop using the same butyrate bobbin mould as the original Gibson factory, each set undergoes both cosmetic and magnetic ageing to simulate decades of natural wear. Wound on Seymour Duncan's original Leesona machine from the early Kalamazoo factory, these pickups deliver the harmonic complexity and tonal depth that defined the golden era of humbucker design.
The neck pickup (7.70k DCR) voices an articulate yet mellow character through perfectly balanced frequency response–soft, sweet treble paired with warm low-end fullness. The bridge unit (8.60k DCR) winds slightly hotter for added output and better balance, delivering that open, airy tonality without excessive brightness. Both employ custom-aged Alnico 2 bar magnets rated at 2.5 inches, hand-wound 42AWG plain enamel magwire, nickel silver covers and bottom plates, single-conductor push-back braided lead, and custom-machined metal and maple spacers. Critically, these pickups remain unwax-potted, positioning the tone right at the edge of harmonic breakup for authentic vintage character.
The set configuration ensures phase-matched output across neck and bridge positions, eliminating tonal cancellation when both pickups are engaged. This pairing suits Les Paul platforms and similarly-routed instruments seeking period-correct aesthetics without sacrificing modern playability or recording clarity. The nickel cover finish ages gradually over time, developing patina that complements the sonic maturation of aged components.
Features
- Neck pickup: 7.70k DCR; Bridge pickup: 8.60k DCR
- Alnico 2 bar magnets, 2.5-inch length, hand-aged formulation
- 42AWG plain enamel magwire wound on original Leesona machine
- Nickel silver covers, bottom plates, custom metal and maple spacers
- Unwax-potted construction for edge-of-breakup harmonic response
- Butyrate bobbins moulded from original Gibson P.A.F. factory tooling
- Single-conductor push-back braided lead wire included
- Set configuration ensures phase-matched neck and bridge positions



