Seth Lover
Encyclopedia
Seth Lover is most famous for inventing the humbucker
or hum-cancelling electric stringed instrument pickup, most often used on the electric guitar
.
Lover's most famous humbucker design was the P.A.F.
(Patent Applied For) designed while working for Gibson Musical Instruments
in 1955. This pickup was utilised in a range of Gibson guitars, most notably the Les Paul
model. Another of his designs, known as the Fender Wide Range
humbucking pickup (WRHP), was used in the three Telecaster
models (Deluxe
, Custom
, and Thinline) produced by Fender in the 1960-1970s. The Wide Range pickup was also used in the far less popular Fender Starcaster
.
Two weeks to the day after his final appearance at the National Association of Music Merchants show, Seth E. Lover, inventor of the humbucker pickup, died aged 87.
Before Lover, electric guitarists were forced to cope with the 60-cycle hum
inherent in single coil pickups. It was in the mid-'50s, while working as an amplifier designer at Gibson Guitars, that Lover figured out how to wire two coils electrically out of phase and with reversed magnetic polarities. The effect was to cancel the hum before it reached the amp and the result was the birth of the humbucking pickup.
Lover applied for the patent on the humbucking pickup in 1955 and it was finally granted in 1959 (U.S. 2,896,491). During this five-year period, Gibson adhered a "Patent Applied For" sticker to the underside of their humbucker pickups. These "P.A.F." pickups are the most collectable and desirable pickups today, fetching upwards of $1,000 each among vintage guitar collectors.
While working under Ted McCarty at Gibson, Lover was also involved in guitar design. He liked to tell how he helped contribute to the design of the famous "Flying V." Lover said that he thought up the design as a way to lean the guitar against a wall without it tipping over.
Lover worked for Gibson from 1952 to 1967 as a design engineer. In 1967, he transferred to Fender Musical Instruments where he worked until 1975 as a project engineer. In addition to his two Gibson patents, he authored three more at Fender -- two for loudspeaker cabinets and one for an electric piano pickup. He retired to the Southern California town of Garden Grove where he lived quietly with Lavone, his wife of 59 years.
Seymour W. Duncan
, known industry-wide as a guitar pickup designer and manufacturer, considered Lover his "humbucker mentor." The two were associated for nearly 20 years. In 1994, Seymour and Seth Lover joined forces to release the Seth Lover Model pickup, an authentic re-creation of the "Patent Applied For" humbucker. After numerous full-page ads, NAMM show appearances, and magazine interviews, Seth became a minor celebrity - at age 84!
Seth always maintained a quick wit and a keen sense of humor. He was once heard joking that on his birth certificate, under the section marked "father's name," it merely said, "Lover!" During his final years, Seth was a regular member of the Seymour Duncan NAMM-team. He loved to hold court in the Duncan booth answering questions and signing autographs, always with Lavone at his side.
Seth Lover died on January 31, 1997 after a brief illness. He is survived by Lavone, his two sons Robert and Gene, and three grandchildren. (And his favorite student, Seymour W. Duncan
).
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
or hum-cancelling electric stringed instrument pickup, most often used on the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
.
Lover's most famous humbucker design was the P.A.F.
PAF (pickup)
P.A.F. or just PAF is the world's first humbucker guitar pickup, invented by Seth Lover in 1955 as an engineer for Gibson and began use in mass production guitars in 1956 or 1957. However Rickenbacker and Gretsch had developed humbucking pickups also...
(Patent Applied For) designed while working for Gibson Musical Instruments
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
in 1955. This pickup was utilised in a range of Gibson guitars, most notably the Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
model. Another of his designs, known as the Fender Wide Range
Fender Wide Range
The Fender Wide Range Humbucker is a humbucker guitar pickup, designed by Seth Lover for Fender in the early 1970s. This pickup was intended to break Fender's image as a "single coil guitar company", and to gain a foothold in the humbucker guitar market dominated by Gibson.The pickups enjoyed some...
humbucking pickup (WRHP), was used in the three Telecaster
Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
models (Deluxe
Fender Telecaster Deluxe
The Fender Telecaster Deluxe is a solid-body electric guitar originally produced from 1972 to 1981, and since re-issued by Fender in 2004 as the '72 Telecaster Deluxe.-History:...
, Custom
Fender Telecaster Custom
Fender Telecaster Custom is a model of electric guitar made by Fender. This model should not be confused with the "Fender Custom Telecaster" model manufactured between 1959 and 1968, which only differs from a standard Telecaster in having a bound body...
, and Thinline) produced by Fender in the 1960-1970s. The Wide Range pickup was also used in the far less popular Fender Starcaster
Fender Starcaster
The Fender Starcaster was a semi-hollowbody electric guitar made by the Fender company. The Starcaster was part of Fender's attempt to enter the semi-hollowbody market, which was dominated by Gibson's ES-335 and similar designs.-Design and production:...
.
Two weeks to the day after his final appearance at the National Association of Music Merchants show, Seth E. Lover, inventor of the humbucker pickup, died aged 87.
Before Lover, electric guitarists were forced to cope with the 60-cycle hum
Mains hum
Mains hum, electric hum, or power line hum is an audible oscillation of alternating current at the frequency of the mains electricity, which is usually 50 Hz or 60 Hz, depending on the local power line frequency...
inherent in single coil pickups. It was in the mid-'50s, while working as an amplifier designer at Gibson Guitars, that Lover figured out how to wire two coils electrically out of phase and with reversed magnetic polarities. The effect was to cancel the hum before it reached the amp and the result was the birth of the humbucking pickup.
Lover applied for the patent on the humbucking pickup in 1955 and it was finally granted in 1959 (U.S. 2,896,491). During this five-year period, Gibson adhered a "Patent Applied For" sticker to the underside of their humbucker pickups. These "P.A.F." pickups are the most collectable and desirable pickups today, fetching upwards of $1,000 each among vintage guitar collectors.
While working under Ted McCarty at Gibson, Lover was also involved in guitar design. He liked to tell how he helped contribute to the design of the famous "Flying V." Lover said that he thought up the design as a way to lean the guitar against a wall without it tipping over.
Lover worked for Gibson from 1952 to 1967 as a design engineer. In 1967, he transferred to Fender Musical Instruments where he worked until 1975 as a project engineer. In addition to his two Gibson patents, he authored three more at Fender -- two for loudspeaker cabinets and one for an electric piano pickup. He retired to the Southern California town of Garden Grove where he lived quietly with Lavone, his wife of 59 years.
Seymour W. Duncan
Seymour W. Duncan
Seymour W. Duncan is a guitarist and guitar repairman, but is best known as the man behind Seymour Duncan Company, the manufacturer of guitar pickups, bass pickups, and effects pedals located in Santa Barbara, California. Born in New Jersey, Seymour grew up in the fifties and sixties, during a time...
, known industry-wide as a guitar pickup designer and manufacturer, considered Lover his "humbucker mentor." The two were associated for nearly 20 years. In 1994, Seymour and Seth Lover joined forces to release the Seth Lover Model pickup, an authentic re-creation of the "Patent Applied For" humbucker. After numerous full-page ads, NAMM show appearances, and magazine interviews, Seth became a minor celebrity - at age 84!
Seth always maintained a quick wit and a keen sense of humor. He was once heard joking that on his birth certificate, under the section marked "father's name," it merely said, "Lover!" During his final years, Seth was a regular member of the Seymour Duncan NAMM-team. He loved to hold court in the Duncan booth answering questions and signing autographs, always with Lavone at his side.
Seth Lover died on January 31, 1997 after a brief illness. He is survived by Lavone, his two sons Robert and Gene, and three grandchildren. (And his favorite student, Seymour W. Duncan
Seymour W. Duncan
Seymour W. Duncan is a guitarist and guitar repairman, but is best known as the man behind Seymour Duncan Company, the manufacturer of guitar pickups, bass pickups, and effects pedals located in Santa Barbara, California. Born in New Jersey, Seymour grew up in the fifties and sixties, during a time...
).