Is this a real Seymour Duncan?

[Masta' C]

The Ike's Guitars website says they are an authorized SD dealer. Can't use the regular SD site to double-check, because their link to the "physical dealers" page doesn't work. But the people selling fakes rarely claim to be authorized (or even have websites). I'm 99% sure the pickups are legit

 

[Aleph]

The Ike's Guitars website says they are an authorized SD dealer. Can't use the regular SD site to double-check, because their link to the "physical dealers" page doesn't work. But the people selling fakes rarely claim to be authorized (or even have websites). I'm 99% sure the pickups are legit

Yes I saw that too in their small web site but as you said couldn't check in SD's site. What also caught my attention was the missing "Made in America" but I guess it's ok if they don't have it?

 

[Masta' C]

Yes I saw that too in their small web site but as you said couldn't check in SD's site. What also caught my attention was the missing "Made in America" but I guess it's ok if they don't have it?

I have a feeling this is a recent and intentional revamp. If so, all new baseplates should look like yours.

I think it's odd that the new logo doesn't say "Made in America", but there are a couple possibilities:

1) SD may have plans to outsource some of their production to Mexico or similar. Sounds outrageous, but it's certainly not impossible given today's economic climate. Wages are going up, especially in California where SD is located, and workers hard to find in every industry right now. They may be keeping their options open.

2) It's possible that the baseplates are no longer being made in the U.S. and therefore can't say "Made in America" on them for import/trade reasons. This could also explain the difference in mounting tab markings I noted earlier.

3) SD has resigned from supporting classical nationalistic ideals and has decided their products should be origin-neutral from here on out

 

[Mincer]

I am not aware of any outsourcing outside of the US. I am aware that they have ramped up the production in the US.

 

[AdrianSD]

People. Stop buying pickups on Amazon and eBay.

Easier said than done. The same pickup bought from US authorized dealers like phantom48 would cost 60-70% more bought from a local retailer. Because Straya tax. Yeah nah, I'm all for local jobs & such & such, but within reason. Got bitten once with a fake Jazz, after starting to buy from few ebay authorized US based resellers haven't had any more issues.

 

[Masta' C]

I am not aware of any outsourcing outside of the US. I am aware that they have ramped up the production in the US.

I strongly doubt any outsourcing is happening and SD appears to be doing very well from a business standpoint.

If that IS the new baseplate design, it's more likely that the part itself is now being manufactured outside of the U.S. Of course, that might not be the case, either. Just seems odd that SD would dismiss with the "Made in ____" phrasing.

I mean, if Bare Knuckle Pickups stopped putting "Handwound in the UK" on their baseplates, entire forums would probably implode, LOL! :laugh2:

 

[Mincer]

Easier said than done. The same pickup bought from US authorized dealers like phantom48 would cost 60-70% more bought from a local retailer. Because Straya tax. Yeah nah, I'm all for local jobs & such & such, but within reason. Got bitten once with a fake Jazz, after starting to buy from few ebay authorized US based resellers haven't had any more issues.

Yes, this is the reason. If people think they are saving $20, it is doubtful they want to investigate too deeply. I'd bet most people don't even think of a set of pickups as something that is routinely faked.

 

[Malachi14]

Hi, I want to buy a secondhand Seymour Duncan pickup from an online store in my country. Can you guys help to identify if these are genuine or fake? Thanks a lot

both are supposedly sh2n

 

[Masta' C]

A little hard to see all of the details, Malachi14, but they do appear to be genuine. I think you're safe with those.

 

[Malachi14]

Yeah, thats the only picture the seller gave to me.
thanks a lot for the confirmation sir

 

[Aleph]

Hi

Posting this in case someone else runs into my same 'issue'.

So, I reached out for SD directly by email and they said they could match the job orders an dates from the pics I attached and these pups are authentic. They also explained that some of the plates won't even have the SD logo due to some issues with their suppliers but the quality of materials will definitely meet their high standards.

Thanks all for your responses!
Cheers

 

[Masta' C]

They also explained that some of the plates won't even have the SD logo due to some issues with their suppliers but the quality of materials will definitely meet their high standards.

Interesting! Sounds like they may be importing those parts now.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Danno Five-0]

Hello all,

Just opened up my '83 Tele after maybe 15 years; last time it was open I installed this. Purchased new in box, which I still have. Sticker doesn't look like what I'm seeing on google on other QP's, just wondering what you all thought. Thanks!

 

[jeremy]

if youve had it that long, id think you are fine. i dont think there was the amount of counterfitting going on back then that there is now.

 

[Blille]

And FWIW the 3 stands for QP.

 

[Masta' C]

if youve had it that long, id think you are fine. i dont think there was the amount of counterfitting going on back then that there is now.

Agreed

 

[Masta' C]

...They also explained that some of the plates won't even have the SD logo due to some issues with their suppliers but the quality of materials will definitely meet their high standards.

Perhaps here is some "proof" of this!

One of the Indonesian sellers who often list OEM Ibanez parts (likely stolen from the factory, ha ha!) is selling this wiring kit for an AZ-series guitar, which includes "Hyperion" pickups.

Notice the major discrepancies in the baseplates compared to "normal" Duncans, including a label instead of traditional stamping (or perhaps etching based on the recent sample in this thread) on the "trembucker" bridge pickup.

I'm inclined to believe these *might* actually be real Duncans. It would make sense for them to use alternative parts like this for OEM before regular retail.

 

[anazus]

Hi guys, I have recently bought these pickups from a friend but I’m not completely sure if they are real deal. They dont have a serial number or any other clue. They are actie single coils and im 99,9% sure they are not blackouts as we know them today - these are powered by 2x9V batteries. Could they be Livewries that are discontinued for awhile now?
Thanks for your replies.

 

[Masta' C]

Yes, those are the original LiveWire single coils!

 

[idsnowdog]

Yes, those are LiveWire I singles. They are great pickups with much more output than EMGs but also a bit noisier.