Cathy Duncan

Cathy Duncan is the co-founder and Chair of the Seymour Duncan company, which she launched with her then-husband Seymour Duncan in 1976. Born in Oakland, California, Cathy moved frequently as a child due to her father’s military service. Along the way she developed friendships with musicians in many communities, including Gainesville, Florida, experiences that helped her understand the unique lifestyle and challenges of working musicians. Those early connections shaped her lifelong belief that serving others would be her path. When Cathy first met Seymour, the two quickly bonded over their shared free-spirited outlook on life. In those early days they lived simply — at one point even without electricity — but were driven by creativity and a belief in what they could build together. When Seymour designed his first guitar pickup, Cathy was there from the beginning, helping wind the coils by hand and supporting the vision that would grow into one of the most respected pickup companies in the world. As the company developed, Cathy played a key role in shaping its culture and mission. With few guides available for starting a business at the time, the founders created their own approach, emphasizing kindness, respect, generosity, and taking care of both employees and customers. Cathy helped establish policies that reflected those values, including customer-focused guarantees and a commitment to listening closely to musicians’ needs. That philosophy has contributed to a workplace where many employees have spent their entire careers. Over the decades, Cathy has also cherished the friendships formed through the company, from dedicated team members and loyal customers to celebrated artists such as Eddie Van Halen, Billy Gibbons and Carlos Santana. Today she remains deeply proud of the community that grew from those humble beginnings and the enduring impact the company continues to have on musicians around the world.