First crafted in the 1990s, the Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker is back thanks to the Gibson Pickup Shop
Gibson is continuing its partnership with Black Sabbath icon Tony Iommi with the return of the Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker™— available worldwide now from the Gibson Pickup Shop on Gibson.com. Reviving the first-ever Gibson signature pickup from back in the late 1990s, the Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker puts the legendary guitarist’s Black Sabbath tone in the hands and guitars of fans all over the globe.
“I’m really excited that Gibson’s bringing back my signature humbucker; they were getting pretty hard to find!” Tony says. “This pickup came about after a lot of time spent in Nashville, just experimenting with different setups to get that perfect tone and sustain from my favorite guitars. We had to make sure it worked with my light gauge strings and low tunings, but still pack a punch, and the result has got some serious output. They’re on my signature guitars too, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how they turned out.”
Tony Iommi’s treasured guitar work with Black Sabbath laid the foundation for heavy metal and inspired countless other guitar-driven genres. His music and the legacy of the band are being celebrated across the globe, perhaps more than ever, following the monumental farewell show from Black Sabbath that saw all four of its original members reunite in their home city of Birmingham, UK, for one mighty day of metal, just weeks before the passing of legendary frontman, Ozzy Osbourne.
The Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker is the latest addition to the Gibson Pickup Shop. Beneath the hood is a configuration of powerful ceramic and Alnico 2 magnets along with unique windings that give it the revered tone and sustain of Tony’s sonic footprint. Thunderous yet offering crystal clarity—even with full distortion—it is fully wax-potted and epoxied for total protection against unwanted feedback. Four-conductor wiring allows for series, parallel, and split coil operation.
Cesar Gueikian, President and CEO of Gibson, comments: “I’d personally installed these on one of my Gibson guitars 15 years ago, and I was blown away with the distinct Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath sound I was able to get out of them. They have such a great, clean look with the unique pickup cover, and we are excited to bring the Riff Lord’s signature humbucker back as we continue to pay tribute to Tony.”
Lee Bartram, Head of Commercial and Marketing EMEA at Gibson, adds: “It’s great to have the first signature pickup from Gibson back, and there really isn’t a more fitting artist than Tony Iommi. Tony is synonymous with the Gibson SG™, but now the volume, presence, and overall power he produces through his playing can be experienced on other models too, whether at home, in the studio, or on stage. Thanks to Tony for his continued support and trust; these pickups are the result of our constant collaboration, and we look forward to what’s next for our partnership.”
In celebration of the launch, Tony Iommi will make a special appearance at the Gibson Garage London on Tuesday, August 26th. Stay tuned to the Gibson Gazette for highlights from the event, including an exclusive Q&A.
Learn more over at the Gibson Pickup Shop and find out how to change guitar pickups courtesy of Gibson TV.
