There really is only one guitar tone that defines hard rock. The sound straddles the line between bluesy clarity and cranked Marshall grind. It wrote the book on anthemic riffs, electrifying solos, and a no-nonsense attitude. And it’s the heart and soul of the Seymour Duncan High Voltage humbucker set.

Inspired by the tones roaring out of 1970s 4×12″ cabinets, High Voltage pickups definitely have a vintage appeal. But they’re not simply supped-up PAFs. Instead, these humbuckers are purpose-built to drive classic guitar amplifiers while offering stunning detail when cleaned up. Let’s put it this way; if there’s one Seymour Duncan pickup for those who prefer their volume knob to a pedal, the High Voltage would be it.

We think these humbuckers are the ultimate pickups for good old, a**-kickin’ rock ‘n’ roll. But until now, they’ve remained staples of the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop. Not anymore! Due to popular demand, we are happy to announce their inclusion in our standard product line.

So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look.

Table of Contents

• High Voltage Humbucker History
• How We Make Them
• What is the High Voltage Sound?
• Is the High Voltage Humbucker Set For You?
• What to ask yourself
• Covers & Wiring
• Winding It Up

High Voltage Humbucker History

Though old-school hard rock is a no-frills, all-attitude affair, its guitar tone is more nuanced than you’d think. It came around at the birth of higher-gain sounds. But it’s also a direct descendent of vintage blues honesty. How these two personalities jive is the core of the genre’s classic sound.

Because of this, pickups like the High Voltage have to hit amps hard with the correct frequencies while also sounding terrific clean. Or, to flip that around, they have to deliver detailed clarity and rock a Marshall stack without losing control of the low end. Walking that tightrope is no easy task, but we were confident we could do it.

As with most of our big undertakings, this one started in our Custom Shop. There, we analyzed the pickups and tones that invented hard rock. We determined what worked and what didn’t and discovered what was unique about pickups from that time.

Of course, the Seymour Duncan High Voltage humbucker set is the culmination of that process.

How We Make Them

In pickup winding, the devil is definitely in the details and techniques you use. But the materials are the most important consideration. So we power the High Voltage pickups with vintage-approved Alnico 2 magnets and wind them a bit hotter than traditional PAFs.

But we couldn’t stop there. All other things being equal, simply increasing a pickup’s output isn’t enough. It can darken the tone, diminish definition, and add unwanted compression. So we voiced the High Voltages in a way that mates their added power with vintage-like definition and touch response.

We also needed to achieve that even response with perfect balance across the neck and bridge pickups. That meant degaussing (lowering the magnetism) the bridge pickup’s magnet through a unique process. It would now make a carefully calibrated set when paired with the High Voltage neck pickup.

Neck

DC resistance of 7.7k

Magnet: Alnico 2

Cable: 4c Shielded

Type: Passive

Bridge

DC resistance of 8.79k

Magnet: Alnico 2

Cable: 4c Shielded

Type: Passive

What is the High Voltage Sound?

If you think of old-school, Gibson SG into a Marshall, hard rock guitar tone, that’s the High Voltage sound. But there’s a lot more to it. You see, their all-knobs-up flavor is only one side of their personality. The other is more subtle and every bit as addictive.

In the ’70s, most players got their gain from cranked-up, single-channel tube amps. Legendary overdrive and distortion pedals like the Ibanez Tube Screamer, DOD 250, Boss DS-1, and ProCo Rat were still in their infancy. Because of this, their clean tones came by way of lowering their guitar’s volume knob and giving their amp some room to breathe.

Players quickly realized that not every guitar pickup was good at this. Many would get dark and muddy sounding as the knob spun back. But the best pickups could retain their tone throughout the range. The High Voltage humbucker set is the latter.

Getting back to the question, “How does the High Voltage humbucker set sound?” When opened up, they’re cranked-tube-amp perfection. Cleaned up, they’re responsive, clear, warm, and detailed. In essence, they put you in control.

This leads us to the next question.

Is the High Voltage Humbucker Set For You?

First of all, yes, they are. In our opinion, every guitarist should have a guitar that can flat-out rock. But there is more to consider.

High Voltage pickups are versatile humbuckers that sound terrific for all types of guitar styles. They’re crafted to interact with your unique playing. And they respond to your pick attack, your guitar’s settings, your amp, and everything else between your fingers and your speaker.

So ask yourself:

• Do you play your amp as much as you play your guitar?
• Do effects pedals just get in the way?
• Do you wanna rock?!

If you said yes to any of the above, your High Voltage humbucker set is waiting.

Winding It Up

Back in the day, all you needed was a great guitar and a freaking loud amp. That combination inspired the High Voltage humbucking pickups. It also birthed the rock and metal we know today and stands as one of the most iconic tones. So get yourself a set of High Voltages, solder them in place, and rock hard! But remember to give your controls a twist. They may be all the tonal tools you need.

Want to know more about the Seymour Duncan High Voltage humbucker set? Then don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact us here. And check out the rest of the Seymour Duncan blog to get deep on our products, artists, news, and new releases.