Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa The Bludgeon 1951 Nocaster Set

Anyone who knows Joe Bonamassa knows that his guitar collection contains some of the most sought-after and incredible sounding instruments ever produced. So when he says that one instrument is “the best guitar he’s ever owned”, it must be a truly special piece. ”The Bludgeon” is Joe’s 1951 Fender Nocaster®, and it came into his life in 2014. He has played it in almost every show he has performed since.

When Joe found this guitar, a PAF Humbucker had already been installed in the neck, which paired “in a beautiful way” with the flat-pole single-coil bridge pickup for a uniquely inspiring sound and “the most dynamic instrument” he has ever played.

When the Fender Custom Shop recreated ”The Bludgeon” for a limited run in 2021, Seymour Duncan was honoured to replicate the pickups to Joe’s high standards. The Seymour Duncan Custom Shop team duplicated the warm-sounding PAF neck humbucker with a rough cast Alnico 2 magnet. The original tele bridge pickup was incredibly worn and also featured Alnico 2 magnets. Next, the team captured the bright response and hot output that makes the bridge pickup so special to Joe - especially when working in tandem with the neck humbucker.

At long last, this extraordinary set of pickups is available to all through the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop. The first 250 are relic’d with the special Antiquity aging process for a vintage look, and their bottom plates have been signed by Joe, Seymour W. Duncan, and our very own Queen of Tone, Maricela “MJ” Juarez, who hand-winds these in our Custom Shop. After these 250 limited edition sets are sold, ”The Bludgeon” pickups will be available with standard Custom Shop cosmetic options so everyone can experience and enjoy the unique sonic qualities these pickups offer.