Seymour Duncan BLudgeon Pickup Set
Based on Joe Bonamassa's 1951 Fender Nocaster
A re-release of the original guitar has been available since 2021, which already included the pickup set. However, the set itself is now available on its own, without having to buy the $8500 guitar.
Joe Bonamassa's '51 Fender Nocaster, known as "The Bludgeon," has inspired a signature pickup set by Seymour Duncan. The set faithfully reproduces the humbucker/single-coil combo of the guitar that Joe called "the most dynamic instrument I have ever played in my life".
Read more: Guitar World's coverage of the Bludgeon pickups
Fender released an $8,500 signature model in 2021, based on The Bludgeon, which includes these unique pickups. You can now buy the standalone Seymour Duncan pickup set without having to buy the pricey guitar.
A nice look at the unique pickup combination from Seymour Duncan. Image via Seymour Duncan
For the original signature model, Seymour Duncan had already played a major role in replicating the original pickups from the guitar, so releasing the standalone set was pretty straightforward.
I'm not sure if they've made changes to the pickups since 2021.
If they have, I can't imagine they'd be very significant.
The Bludgeon pickups use rough cast Alnico 2 magnets that push a bright response and hotter output from the bridge pickup.
Here's a look at the Nocaster that inspidered the Bludgeon pickup set. I'm assuming this is the original, since it's from Joe's Instagram. Image via Joe Bonamassa
The first 250 sets will have a relic'd appearance through a "special Antiquity aging process." All sets will include the signatures of Joe Bonamassa, Seymour Duncan, and Maricela Juarez, known as Seymour Duncan's "Queen of Tone."
Priced at $349, The Bludgeon pickup set allows guitarists to infuse their instruments with the exceptional tonal character of Joe Bonamassa's legendary '51 Fender Nocaster.
For more information, visit the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop.
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