When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

[Mpcoluv]

Guys,
When did SD start making the Pearly Gates special order?
I remember in the early to mid 80s getting a special order (only then) PG bridge that came in a plastic string pouch like Ernie ball used instead of the plastic box.
Anyone know when they were first sold?

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

I vaguely remember "cheap sunglasses" being done with the PG's... the ones wound by Duncan himself. But I don't have any idea when those were offered as a standard production item...

B

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

You have to use a desktop browser to see the actual timeline, but here it is:

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/seymour-duncan-company/history-of-seymour-duncan-products

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

IIRC I bought one back in 93.

 

[gsammo79]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

The custom shop told me since the mid 1970s.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

The custom shop told me since the mid 1970s.

Thats a bit early. I know there are pictures of SWD examing Pearly Gates. Maybe 80ies? The production of SD started in 1976, before that SWD was a boutique winder as we would say today.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

Found it, it was 1979.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/tales-from-custom-shop/seymour-duncan-company/tone-seekers/

 

[orpheo]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

You have to use a desktop browser to see the actual timeline, but here it is:

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/seymour-duncan-company/history-of-seymour-duncan-products

I wrote that, ha! Was one of the hardest things I had to compile since I got almost no support from SD.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

I wrote that, ha! Was one of the hardest things I had to compile since I got almost no support from SD.

Seems to be broken now. Any chance of stickying the information here in the forum?

 

[orpheo]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

It was a lifetime ago. Dont know where I put the data.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

It was a lifetime ago. Dont know where I put the data.

I found a working version in the internet archives. Here's generally what was there (though the working timeline had links to videos, photos and more specific dates.)

1976
SSL-1

1977
JB
Jazz

1978
59

1979
Pearly Gates (Gibbons)
Custom
SSL-5 (based on Gilmour pickup)

1980
Distortion

1981
Invader

1983
SA-1 Acoustic pickup

1987
Alnico 2 Pro
Full Shred
Live Wires
Stacks
Rails

1991
Screaming Demon (George Lynch signature)

1993
Parallel Axis

1994
SH-55 Seth Lover
Antiquity I line

1996
Website/forum launched

1998
Five-Two for Tele
Basslines

1999
P90 Stack
Lipstick tube
7-string pickups introduced

2000
Benedetto

2001
D-Tar founded (acoustic amplification)

2002
Dimebucker (Dimebag Darrel signature)
Custom 5

2003
Twangbanger for Strat
Pickup Booster (first pedal)

2004
Phat Cat

2005
Rail redesigns

2007
Blackouts

2008
P-Rails
Alternative 8

2009
Triple Shot Humbucker Rings

2011
Liberator solderless system
Zephyrs (Silver)
Blackout preamp

2012
59/Custom Hybrid
Bonamassa (Custom Shop)

2013
Steve Harris SPB-4
Whole Lotta Humbucker
Black Winter
Nazgul 7/8-string
Sentient 7/8-string
Pegasus 7/8-string
Dirty Deed Distortion pedal

2014
Lemmy Signature Bass Pickup set
Perpetual Burn
Nazgul 6-string
Sentient 6-string
Pegasus 6-string
Dino Cazares' Retribution Blackout
NYC Bass Pickups
Vapor Trail delay
805 Overdrive pedal
Pickup Booster (V2)

2015
Marc Holcomb Signature set (Custom Shop)
Dave Murray Loaded Pickguard set
Apollo Bass Pickup set
Vise Grip Compressor
Bass Compressor
Shape Shifter Tremolo

 

[Masta' C]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

Parallel Axis in 1993? Try 1988, LOL!

And the '59 came a year after the JB? Try again. There's a reason it's called the SH-"1" and the SH-"4", respectively

 

[orpheo]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

Parallel Axis in 1993? Try 1988, LOL!

And the '59 came a year after the JB? Try again. There's a reason it's called the SH-"1" and the SH-"4", respectively

1983 even. long live patent applications. dont know how i missed this.

 

[orpheo]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

https://patents.google.com/patent/US4524667A/en

 

[orpheo]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

Parallel Axis in 1993? Try 1988, LOL!

And the '59 came a year after the JB? Try again. There's a reason it's called the SH-"1" and the SH-"4", respectively

Seymour told me himself that the JB and Jazz were the first ones.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

1983 even. long live patent applications. dont know how i missed this.

Year of patent grant isn’t the same as date released into production. Typically you patent an idea, then figure out how to build it as a product.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

Thanks for the list!

A2P - 1987... vow!

And... I could not see JD - tele lead pickup. Just got curious.

B :smokin:

 

[orpheo]

Re: When did Duncan start making the Pearly Gates?

Year of patent grant isn’t the same as date released into production. Typically you patent an idea, then figure out how to build it as a product.

Of course I know that, but you have to have a working prototype in order to patent it, to see if your idea works, and if we're talking about 'when was it made' (or designed), 1983 is the year. When was it released? yeah, I don't know that one but I have to go with what Masta'C says, 1988.

About the JD: no idea.