Nate Morris – (Guitarist for Polar Bear Club)

Nate, guitarist for Polar Bear Club knows what it takes to get good tone…Seymour Duncan pickups. “All I need to get the tone I love is a JB Model in the bridge and a Jazz Model in the neck. It’s a classic combination for good reason.”

Polar Bear Club had a lot to live up to after the setting the bar so high with their first album, and with their 2009 release Chasing Hamburg they shattered expectations. Effortlessly seaming together the sounds of 90’s punk and hardcore with a contemporary edge and their own personal twist, Chasing Hamburg, with its rapid success, has taken the band across the US and Canada, appearance on the Vans Warped Tour and now followed with their return to Europe for Festivals in Italy, Germany, Norway, Hungary and the UK. For a band who started out with little to no intention of making it a full-time job, Polar Bear Club has emerged as a leader of the post hardcore scene.

Jeri Jones / Blame Sally

Blame Sally is the mostly all-female San Francisco-based collection of singer-songwriter-musicians. According to Dirty Linen magazine, they combine, “…lush electric and acoustic instrumental textures with sensuous harmonies and intriguing original compositions.” According to Evan Skopp, who caught their recent concert in the park show in Santa Barbara, “Simply put: they rock!”
Jeri Jones handles electric guitar, slide resonator guitar and mandolin for Blame Sally. Not only is her guitar Seymourized with Vintage Staggered for Strat and TwangBanger pickups, but her pedal board is bursting with Seymour Duncan stompboxes. She’s currently rocking a Twin Tube Classic, Shape Shifter tremolo, and Deja Vu tap delay. About her Twin Tube and Shape Shifter, Jeri says, “My Seymour Duncan effects are notching up the color and boldness in my guitar playing. I have to be a versatile player in Blame Sally and my other projects, and these effects really deliver when it comes to sonic options. I’m crazy about the Twin Tube Classic. It’s subtle but gutsy on the Clean setting, and really rips when you hit the Lead channel. I’m not a fast player – I depend on that gorgeous, creamy and complex tone to make my solos soar. The Shape Shifter is such a deep, rich tremolo and it’s easy to tailor the effect so that it serves the song perfectly.”

Here’s a camera phone shot of Jeri, during set break, showing off her Seymour Duncan-laden pedal board.

In May 2010, Rock in Rio, one of the world’s largest Brazilian outdoor music festivals, made Lisbon Portugal its home for a week of some of the best concerts from the world’s biggest acts. Over five nights, the festival featured names as varied as Shakira, John Mayer, Elton John, Muse, and Miley Cyrus. The last night in Lisbon was “Metal Night” with an all-star lineup that featured Megadeth, Motorhead and Soulfy – all bands that rely on Seymour Duncan for their tone.

Evan Skopp, our Head of Artist Relations, was on hand to spend some pre-show quality time with Megadeth’s front man Dave Mustaine (LiveWires Mustaine Model) and bassist David Ellefson (Quarter-Pound for Jazz® and P-Bass®). Afterwards he relaxed with Motorhead’s Phil Campbell (Custom Custom). Also in attendance was Soulfly’s Max Cavelara (Duncan Distortion). Said Evan, “Whether they’re playing our active or passive pickups, it’s always great to see the biggest pros in the metal world embracing Seymour Duncan.”

GUS G.

One player  who’s been getting tons of attention lately is Gus G. The mastermind of Euro-rockers, Firewind, Gus checks in with a recap of the band’s recent activities. Says Gus, “I must say that we had some really great shows this summer. Looking back now most of the shows were highlights. Ilha do Ermal in Portugal was one of the best for us! We’re still amazed by the reception we got on our first trip to Turkey at  the Unirock festival; the ‘dream come true’ gig supporting the Scorpions at Greece’s Creta Festiva; me jamming with the Scorps later that night; the completely packed 15,000 capacity tent at Graspop; and our glorious return to Finland at the fantastic Tuska festival! Then of course there were the German shows. I’m glad we did both the Rock Hard and the Summer Breeze festivals: my personal favorite being Rock Hard – such a great vibe in Gelsenkirchen.”
No story about Gus would be complete  without mentioning his work with the ultimate Master-of-All-Things-Metal. According to Gus, “In between the festival madness, something truly unbelievable happened to me: I played a show with the Godfather of heavy metal: Ozzy Osbourne! I spent the best time of my life in L.A, rehearsing with Ozzy and his band and on August 22nd we played the Blizzcon video game convention in Anaheim, California. It would be stupid to go on about how cool and great this was. I don’t think these feelings and this experience can be described with just a few words!” Gus played again with Ozzy at the Sunset Strip Music Festival in September.
And what of persistent rumors of a Ozzy Osbourne album featuring the blazing guitarwork of Mr. G? Well, we’ll all have to wait and see.
Gus calls on different pickup configurations for different tones. His signature ESP Model is powered by a Duncan Distortion in the bridge and ‘59 Model in the neck. However, lately and especially for his work with Ozzy, he’s been moving towards the active tones of Seymour Duncan Original Blackouts. About these pickups, Gus tells us, “Blackouts are AMAZING!!!  I’ll put ‘em in the rest of my guitars! Big tone. Lots of distortion. And you get the classic Seymour clarity through them. I love it.”

Randy Bachman– Bachman & Turner

“I recently added some Seymour Duncan pedals to my stage and studio arsenal and I have to say that SD has done it again. The Twin-Tube Overdrive, the Lava Box and the Power Grid really rock. They are made like tanks and make rock and roll sound like it should. “

Randy Bachman

www.bachmanandturner.com

Andrew Seward / Against Me!

Andrew Seward, bassist  for Against Me! is no stranger  to good tone. Loaded in his bass is the Quarter-Pound for P-Bass®. Andrew says, “The Quarter-Pounders make my ’78 P-Bass growl! Beefy tone that  is loud as all hell. Can’t ask for more.” Be sure to check out the new  album, White Crosses, released on Sire Records to hear Andrew and his  bass growl!

P-Bass is a registered trademark of FMIC with which Seymour Duncan is not affiliated.

Joe, from Fall Out Boy, is using Duncan Distortions

Minnesota a hub for hardcore heavy metal? That in fact is where the insanely aggressive hardcore group After The Burial hails from. The band mixes melodic guitar riffs with all out thrash vocals. Guitarists Trent Hafdahl and Justin Lowe (AHB-1s) continue to pioneer new sounds as masters of the new generation of 8-stringed guitars. Their punishing rhythmic attacks and soaring dual leads emanate from some seriously skilled metal shredding using Seymour Duncan BLACKOUT 8-string pickups. The re-mixed and re-released album “Rareform” features singer Anthony Notarmaso, and proves Trent and Justin have a diverse range of tastes and skills and can shred with the best of ’em. Check ’em out on the Mosh Lives II tour starting January 22, 2010.
www.myspace.com/aftertheburial