Since 2002, blues-based guitarist Stuart Ziff has been with the band War. Stuart was living in Nashville in the ’90s when Joe Glazer did all the repairs and installations on his guitars. Not satisfied with the bridge pickup on his Fender Telecaster, Joe suggested the Seymour Duncan STK-T3b Vintage Stack. That started a Seymour Duncan love affair that has been going strong since 1998. It was and still is the sound Stuart had always been looking for from his Tele. Simple as that. Much fatter, rounder and meatier then a stock Fender Tele pickup but sonically perfect to cut through the sound of a band. And above all, noiseless.

Which pickups do you use for which guitars?
On my Fender Tele I have a STK-T3b Vintage Stack in the bridge position and on my ESP Strat I have the SSL-1 Vintage Staggered Strat pickups. My SSL-1s are true to the originals, only with a bit more bite to them. Certainly not harsh or boosted in the frequencies: just a little more of what you might want from a Strat pickup. It can go from Twang to Funk to the Blues very easily.
The Duncan Vintage Stack gives me everything that I want from a Tele. A meatier top end and gutsy mid-range. I would have to say that it made a Tele Player out of me considering at that time I mostly played Strats.
With Seymour Duncan I get great tone. That is the real advantage of my Seymour Duncan pickups.
How would you describe your music?
My music is rooted in the Blues and R&B . I’m a purist and tone fanatic and Seymour Duncan pickups deliver just that: good pure tone. It’s simple and with no coloration in the sound. It doesn’t matter if I’m being called upon to play rhythm, parts or solos, Seymour Duncan pickups have enabled me to dig deeper and be a better guitarist.
2011 Tour dates with War:
Sept 2 Monterey CA, Sept 4 South Park, PA
Sept 10 Shelton WA, Sept 16, Los Angeles (Co Fair)
Sept 17 Reno, NV (Harrah’s), Sept 18 Northridge, CA
Sept 21, Bakersfield CA (Kern Co Fair)
Sept 23 San Diego, CA (4th 7 B Concert Theater)
Sept 24 , Prescott, AZ (Tim’s Toyota Center)
Sept 30, Frederick, MD Harry Grove Stadium
From 1980 to 1990 while living in NYC, Stuart worked as a freelance musician including working on Broadway as the guitarist on O’Calcutta and The National Lampoon Class of 86. He also did numerous recording sessions for singer/songwriters, records, commercials (Clairol, Heineken, Mercedes Benz, Harley Davidson, Pizza Hut Delivery and more), not only on guitar, but on some as lead vocalist.
From 1990 to 2000, Stuart worked as a freelance musician and songwriter in Nashville. He did numerous recording sessions for music publishers and recording artists. As a songwriter, he co-wrote David Ball’s ’94 hit “Thinking Problem” (Warner Brother’s Records). Stuart also played acoustic and electric guitar on that album.
From 2000 to the present, Stuart has lived in Los Angeles and has played in War since 2002. Some of War’s hits include “Low Rider,” “Slipping Into Darkness,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “Cisco Kid” and many more. He’s also done a lot of writing for film and television and his credits include America’s Funniest Home Videos, Lifetime Network and Oxygen.
Starting in 2005, Stuart, like many other great guitarists, has been Teaching at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, California. As a songwriter, Stuart’s songs have been covered by artist’s such as guitarist Gary Hoey (“Wake Up Call”) and Theresa James & The Rhythm Tramps. Stuart also writes songs for his band Stink Foot.