Seymour Duncan

James Burton is a legendary guitarist in the world of rock music! In the early days of his career, James played influential licks on such 50’s hits as “Hello Mary Lou” with Ricky Nelson. He later toured with Elvis Presley as well as recording with the King of Rock and Roll for nearly a decade. James can be heard on countless recordings and toured endlessly with the likes of John Denver in the 1980s. In recent years James formed a guitar festival in Louisiana where he has gathered hundreds of guitarists each year to break the record of the most guitar players in one place. In 2024

Seymour Duncan may very well be the most innovative rock and roll guitarist around.  As a teen he formed a rock band but noticed the pick-ups in his guitar were not creating the sounds he thought the instrument could produce, so he sought to make hand-wound pick-ups.  In fact as founder of Seymour Duncan Pickups he cornered the market on handcrafted products for the electric guitar.  He designed and manufactured a series of products including the Antiquity and Antiquity II, which create the sound and vibe of pickups made in the '50s. Seymour's dedication to music has always been f

Billy Gill often smiles when recalling how his love of music began—with a Clash album that ignited a lifelong passion for the guitar. That spark set him on a path that would eventually connect him with some of the most respected names and companies in the music products industry. One of the most remarkable moments of his journey happened purely by chance. While skateboarding near what he thought was just another warehouse, Billy unknowingly passed by the Seymour Duncan factory. A fortuitous meeting with Cathy Duncan would change his life forever.

Hal Harrower proudly recalls when he was 14 years old and his mother purchased his first guitar. He fell in love with the instrument and while in high school in 1969 he formed the band, the Undecided. Hal sought to create his own style of guitars and designed his first double-neck instrument in 1987, a 6-string guitar and a 4-string bass. Using the Steinberger system, that first instrument built by Hal not only looked different, it sounded different and gained a reputation for its clean sound. Hal developed a line of guitars, both single and double neck that have been played on to

Allan Holdsworth was the influential electric guitarist who played a vital role within the music products industry as both an endorser and instrument designer. Allan recorded 12 well-received albums, toured and performed with the likes of Tony Williams and Jean-Luc Ponty and composed a string of songs. In addition, Allan worked with a number of industry companies on product designs. In 1984, he helped design his first signature model for Ibanez. He later worked with Ned Steinberger, Grover Jackson as well as with Mark Kiesel at Carvin Corporation where Allan co-designed several gu

Maricella Juarez, lovingly known throughout the industry as MJ, has been a positive force along side Seymour Duncan for several decades. Together they have created lasting and meaningful relationships with dealers, musicians, and even their own competition. The sincerity of her efforts to create quality products has only been equaled by her passion for the industry and her friends with it.  Among her many duties for the company is heading the artist relations efforts, which she does with integrity and flair (think guitar-shaped glasses)!

George Lynch has become a regular attraction of the annual NAMM Show in Anaheim.  George has been endorsing musical products most of his celebrated musical career and as a result is asked to appear in a booth, sign autographs and provide demos of his gear.  George is a well-known hard rock guitarist who has performed and recorded with such bands as Lynch Mob, Dokken and Souls of We.  His musical products have included work with ESP Guitars and Seymour Duncan among others.

Wally Marx is a passionate rock and rockabilly guitarist, accomplished author, and an invaluable contributor to the NAMM Oral History program. A dedicated and longtime NAMM volunteer, Wally has conducted some of the collection’s most compelling and insightful interviews with legendary figures, including Ernie Isley, Suzanne Ciani, and Norwood Fisher. He is also the acclaimed author of Gibson Amplifiers 1933–2008: 75 Years of the Gold Tone, a definitive and richly detailed chronicle of Gibson’s pivotal role in amplification history. In 2025, Wally was a featured guest on The Music

Ed Seelig opened a small guitar shop when he was a teenager, having already made connections within the concert circuit selling used gear to traveling musicians.  The store, Silver Strings Music and Repair in St. Louis, Missouri opened in the early 1970s.  He organized one of the very first vintage guitar shows in 1973 and witnessed firsthand the growth of the vintage guitar market.  Along the way Ed has made lifelong friends with musicians and industry leaders alike, including Joe Walsh and Seymour Duncan.

Evan Skopp is the president of Inside Track International, which is a boutique sales & marketing firm that works with luthiers and guitar manufacturers. He started out in music at an early age, playing the piano, cello, and guitar. After relocating to Santa Barbara for a job at a law firm, Evan discovered that Seymour Duncan pickups were made in the same place. Ultimately, he began working for them which started his 20+ year career in the music industry.