Steve Miller at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Both David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, as well as the legendary Steve Miller, have been long time customers of the Seymour Duncan company and the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop in particular. So, when they came through town this summer, it was no surprise that there would be a Seymour Duncan presence at their joint concert. What was a surprise, however, was the outpouring of support that both bands showed from the stage for Seymour Duncan’s Custom Shop Manager, Maricela Juarez.

Maricela, or “MJ” as she’s known around here, was backstage with both bands prior to their show. On the Steve Miller Band bus, she gave Steve a set of Custom Shop Phat Staple pickups and a set of ’53 Tele® single coils with a tapped bridge pickup Steve often calls on MJ to make him hum-canceling pickups that are voiced like the various single coil pickups in his Strat® and Tele guitars. She also got Steve interested in Seymour Duncan stompboxes. Lucky Steve walked away with a Déjà Vu tap delay, both Twin Tube Classic and Twin Tube Blue overdrives, a Pickup Booster and a Shape Shifter tap tremolo.

Los Lobos are no stranger to Seymour Duncan pickups either; and MJ also came bearing gifts for them. Cesar Rosas took home a set of vintage alnico 5 humbuckers with calibrated magnets and aged covers; and a custom wound pickup for his Strat, just slightly hotter than vintage. And David Hidalgo got the same set of ’53 Tele single coils with a tapped bridge pickup as Steve Miller.

One of the most exciting moments of the night is when Steve Miller stopped the concert and talked about what an amazing pickup winder MJ is. In fact, he dedicated the tune “Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma” from The Joker to her. Earlier in the evening, Los Lobos, with some help from Dave Mason, also called out to Maricela from the stage.

Another great moment was when 13 year old Dylan Brown joined the Steve Miller Band on stage for the last few songs of the set. Dylan is a member of Kids Rock Free, a non-profit based in Corona, California. Kids Rock Free has taught over 12,000 students over the last 11 years. If you’d like to support Kids Rock Free, text ROCK to 50555. A one-time $10 donation will be added to mobile bills; messaging and data rates may apply. Visit www.mGive.com/A for terms and help.

Los Lobos at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Seymour Duncan’s Custom Shop Manager, Maricela Juarez “MJ” with Steve Miller