Seymour Duncan Introduces Joe Bonamassa “Pawn Shop Special” 1961 P90 Set

The unmistakable sound that sparked Joe Bonamassa’s lifelong passion for P90 pickups is now available to players everywhere with the launch of the new Joe Bonamassa “Pawn Shop Special” 1961 P90 Set from the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop. Developed in collaboration with Bonamassa, these vintage-correct pickups faithfully recreate the tone of the soapbar P90s found in Joe’s treasured 1961 SG Special.

Most guitarists know the feeling of hunting for hidden gems in pawn shops, but few discoveries prove as influential as the one Joe Bonamassa made while touring in 2010. Hanging on the wall was a pristine first-year 1961 SG Special fitted with a remarkable set of P90 pickups. Their articulate response, airy highs and rich overdriven character made an immediate impression, becoming one of the defining sounds in Joe’s collection.

After years of recreating the tones of some of Bonamassa’s most prized instruments, Seymour Duncan and Joe have now teamed up for their first-ever P90 collaboration. Built by hand in Santa Barbara, California, the “Pawn Shop Special” 1961 P90 Set captures the exact voice of those original pickups using Alnico 4 magnets, a custom wind specification and historically accurate construction throughout.

Sonically, the set occupies the perfect space between traditional single coils and humbuckers, delivering sparkling clarity, expressive midrange detail and a snarling overdriven character when pushed. The bridge pickup measures 8.4k DC resistance, while the neck comes in at 7.8k, providing the balance, dynamics and vintage response that made the originals so inspiring.

To ensure complete authenticity, Seymour Duncan created a historically accurate dimpled P90 bottom plate specifically for the project, faithfully reproducing the details of the original pickups. The set is wax potted to Joe’s preferred specification, ensuring reliable performance on stage without sacrificing vintage tone.

The first 610 sets produced will include a special Nerdville #001 inventory tag, inspired by the fact that the original Pawn Shop Special was the very first guitar catalogued in Joe’s personal collection. Each of these launch sets also includes a certificate of authenticity signed by Joe Bonamassa and Seymour W. Duncan, along with limited-edition packaging.

Available to order now from Rosetti. For more information, please visit: https://www.rosetti.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=Joe+Bonamassa+P90

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4hyRR8pHoo

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