TEST: Seymour Duncan Hyperswitch

 I can still remember quite well how around 40 years ago, the majority of guitarists succumbed to a tinkering urge with their pickups that had never been seen before. Up until then, people had been completely satisfied with the factory options of a 3- or 5-way switch, but at some point the first desires arose, for example to connect the bridge and neck pickups of a Strat together, or to try out how a Paula sounds with a single coil circuit. This trend culminated in constellations where a multitude of toggle switches, mini-switches and push-pull potentiometers were placed on the guitar with 3 freely combinable pickups and a serial, parallel, out-of-phase and single coil circuit, which made the guitar top seem more like a kind of cockpit than a surface. In addition, every switching process required a lot of mental effort and dexterity, which sometimes greatly distracted from personal playing. Seymour Duncan wants to counteract this fiddly work with its Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch by designing a programmable 5-way switch that combines all optional switching functions of pickups in one switch.

The concept of the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch

The Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch is a classic 5-way switch that can be easily used in models that already have such a switch when they are delivered. In order to save the different switch positions, the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch requires a 9V battery, which should find its place in most switch / pickup millings. For custom-made models, however, a further check is advisable to be on the safe side. As expected, the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch only works with passive pickups, as the electronics of active pickups get in the way of the management concept.

The Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch is equipped with a Bluetooth module, which is switched on by switching back and forth between positions 1 and 5 of the switch several times. The connection can then be established to the personal mobile device, which, as expected, must have the associated Seymour Duncan app on it. The maximum variety of sounds can be found when as many pickups as possible are equipped with as many separate winding guides as possible, because this is the only way the switch can demonstrate its full performance. To put it bluntly, the 5-way switch still allows "only" a number of 5 different sounds, but these can be freely distributed across the 5 different switching positions. This means that constellations can be selected that couldn't be more different, but are still only one switching position further.

A big advantage of the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch is that no solder is needed when installing the switch and pickups. All pickup wires are only plugged into the switch at the respective connections and then locked with a small screw. Very practical! Seymour Duncan gives a 4-year guarantee on the HyperSwitch, which speaks for a great deal of confidence in the workmanship of the switch made in China.

Installing the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch

For all instruments that are delivered with a classic 5-way switch, such as Strats, many Ibanez models, etc., installation is quite simple. Remove the strings, loosen the pickguard, get the colored markings for the wires from the respective manufacturer's website and you can start with the new wiring. To separate the wires from the old 5-way switch, you can unsolder them or simply cut them off. The tone control and the volume control are also included in the new wiring.

The switch offers 4 wiring points per pickup, meaning 12 input points on one side and 6 input points on the other side for the input area of ​​the volume and tone controls. 2 inputs are already occupied by the 9V clip. If the cavity in the switch compartment is not large enough for the shape of the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch, you can also "flip" the switch in its switch position so that you swap the order of the switch positions 1 - 5. This can be set accordingly in the Bluetooth app on the mobile device.

Wiring the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch is a bit fiddly due to the very small screws, but can be done relatively easily thanks to the screwdriver provided. I recommend taking photos of the old wiring before starting any work so that you can use the original wiring as a reference for the area of ​​application if necessary. In addition to the screwdriver, 2 fastening screws and the plastic cap of the switch are also included.

The Bluetooth app

After downloading the app, you connect to the switch using the usual Bluetooth principle. Make sure that the 9V battery still has enough voltage; it should not have less than 65% remaining capacity. The app itself has a very nicely designed interface where you can activate your personal pickup constellation by tapping.

First of all, you should create an account on the Seymour Duncan website. When you first start using the app, there is a short overview of the individual features of the app, which also gives a little help with the individual menu items. The first suggestion then appears: a typical Strat circuit with 3 single coil pickups, which you can then adjust as you wish via the menu. Each pickup position can be selected separately, with Seymour Duncan offering pretty much every pickup from single coils, Strat size humbuckers, full size humbuckers to stacked pickups and P-rails. You can also mute a pickup position if required and thus set up a kill switch position.

Once you have made your pickup selection, you still need to configure the tone control, which is also done via a submenu. This is also where you set whether the instrument has one or two tone controls. To extend the battery life, you can set the activity time of the HyperSwitch in the app. It is set to 3 hours by default, but can be extended accordingly for longer shows or theater performances, for example. Of course, several pickup constellations can be saved with individual names and loaded accordingly depending on the area of ​​application. You can save both the individual switch position and the bundle of all 5 switch positions as a preset.

The Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch in practice

As soon as you have established the connection between the instrument and the app and the basic setup of the app has been completed, you can start programming your sets. The selected pickup lights up and can then be selected and saved according to the coil options. This is absolutely intuitive and can then be checked directly on the amp for its sound shaping. You can click on the respective coils of the pickups on the app or you can use the name of the respective circuit underneath. The selection options, especially with three humbuckers with separate coil tapping, are immense and you can easily run the risk of getting lost in the finer details. But that's not all, you can use the tone control to intervene in the sound again and save it. The tone control can be switched off, operated normally or operated with a 0.27 capacitor.

The variety of sounds offered by the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch is truly enormous, but you should always keep in mind that the full range of sound variations decreases with increasing gain factor, so that in the high gain range the majority of the sound difference is ironed out. The full range of sound variations can ultimately only be perceived in the clean and subtle crunch range, and then loses some of its subtlety with each gain level. This fact is not due to the concept of the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch, but rather a simple physical fact.

Nevertheless, the concept is convincing across the board and enables an incredible variety of sounds with minimal modification work, especially when you consider the massive woodwork that would be necessary for a purely analog circuit with such variation options.

Conclusion

With the Seymour Duncan HyperSwitch, the American manufacturer has a very good tool in its portfolio when it comes to maximum sound variety with minimal modification work. The retrofittable 5-way switch, in conjunction with the appropriate Bluetooth app, enables an incredible variety of sounds, especially if you have equipped your instrument with 3 humbuckers.

Anyone who mainly plays with little gain will appreciate the extremely large selection of sounds, especially since you can use a corresponding preset database to adjust the respective pickup configuration to the desired band / project.

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Additional Informations:

### The History of Seymour Duncan Pickups

Seymour Duncan Pickups, a name synonymous with high-quality guitar pickups, has a rich history that reflects both innovation and a deep passion for music. The company's journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a major player in the music industry is a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of its founder, Seymour W. Duncan, and the team that joined him on this journey.

#### Early Beginnings

The story of Seymour Duncan Pickups begins in the 1960s, a transformative era for rock and roll. Seymour W. Duncan, born in New Jersey in 1951, exhibited an early interest in music and electronics. As a young guitarist, he was particularly fascinated by the sounds produced by electric guitars and the pickups that amplified those sounds. This curiosity led him to experiment with winding his own pickups, a process that involves wrapping wire around a magnetic core to create the coils that capture the vibrations of guitar strings.

During these formative years, Duncan would spend countless hours dissecting pickups, learning their intricacies, and attempting to improve upon existing designs. His dedication to understanding the mechanics of pickups was driven by a desire to replicate the tones of his musical heroes, such as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton. This hands-on experimentation laid the groundwork for what would become a lifelong pursuit of perfecting the electric guitar pickup.

#### The Turning Point

A pivotal moment in Duncan's career came in the late 1960s when he had the opportunity to work with Les Paul, a legendary figure in the world of guitar design and innovation. This collaboration was not only a significant learning experience but also provided Duncan with invaluable insights into the art and science of pickup construction. Les Paul's mentorship helped Duncan refine his techniques and broaden his understanding of what made a great pickup.

After this influential period, Duncan moved to England in the early 1970s. The UK was then a hotbed of musical innovation and home to many of the era's most influential rock bands. In London, Duncan worked at the Fender Soundhouse, where he repaired and customized pickups for some of the most prominent guitarists of the time, including Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. His reputation as a skilled pickup winder and repairer quickly grew, and he became a sought-after figure in the music community.

#### Founding Seymour Duncan Pickups

Upon returning to the United States in the mid-1970s, Duncan, along with his wife Cathy Carter Duncan, decided to establish their own company dedicated to manufacturing high-quality pickups. In 1976, they founded Seymour Duncan Pickups in Santa Barbara, California. The company started small, with Duncan winding pickups by hand in their garage. However, their commitment to quality and attention to detail quickly set their products apart in a crowded market.

The first major success for Seymour Duncan Pickups came with the introduction of the JB (Jazz Blues) model, designed to replicate the classic tones of the 1950s and 1960s. The JB pickup, characterized by its hot output and versatile sound, became an instant favorite among guitarists and remains one of the company's best-selling models to this day.

#### Innovation and Expansion

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Seymour Duncan Pickups continued to innovate and expand their product line. They introduced a range of pickups catering to various musical genres and playing styles, from vintage recreations to high-output models for heavy metal and hard rock. The company also embraced emerging technologies, experimenting with active pickups and modular designs.

One of the notable innovations from this period was the development of the Alnico II Pro pickup, which utilized Alnico II magnets to produce a warm, smooth tone. This pickup gained widespread acclaim and was famously used by Slash of Guns N' Roses, further cementing Seymour Duncan's reputation in the rock guitar community.

In addition to expanding their product line, Seymour Duncan Pickups also grew their manufacturing capabilities. They moved from the small garage operation to a larger facility in Goleta, California, where they could produce pickups on a larger scale while maintaining the high standards of quality that defined the brand.

#### Commitment to Craftsmanship

A core principle of Seymour Duncan Pickups has always been a commitment to craftsmanship and quality. Despite the company's growth, they have maintained a hands-on approach to pickup production. Many of the processes involved in winding and assembling pickups are still done by hand, ensuring that each product meets the company's rigorous standards.

This dedication to quality is evident in the meticulous testing and quality control procedures implemented at the Seymour Duncan factory. Each pickup undergoes thorough testing to ensure it meets the desired specifications and delivers the intended tone. This attention to detail has earned Seymour Duncan Pickups a reputation for reliability and consistency among musicians.

#### Artist Collaborations

Seymour Duncan Pickups has a long history of collaborating with artists to create signature pickups tailored to their specific needs and preferences. These collaborations have resulted in some of the company's most popular and enduring models. For example, the Pearly Gates pickup was developed in collaboration with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top to replicate the tone of his famous 1959 Les Paul, known as "Pearly Gates."

Other notable artist collaborations include pickups designed for Yngwie Malmsteen, Dimebag Darrell, and Dave Mustaine. These signature models reflect the diverse range of tones and styles that Seymour Duncan Pickups can accommodate, from the smooth, vintage sounds of blues and jazz to the aggressive, high-gain tones of metal and hard rock.

#### Community and Education

Beyond manufacturing pickups, Seymour Duncan has also focused on fostering a sense of community and education among musicians. The company's website and YouTube channel feature a wealth of resources, including instructional videos, product demonstrations, and interviews with artists. These resources are designed to help guitarists understand how pickups work, how to choose the right pickups for their needs, and how to install and maintain them.

Seymour Duncan Pickups also engages with the music community through sponsorships and partnerships with guitar manufacturers, music schools, and festivals. These initiatives help to promote the brand and support the broader music community.

#### The Legacy of Seymour Duncan

As Seymour Duncan Pickups approaches five decades in business, the company remains a family-run operation with a strong commitment to its founding principles. Seymour W. Duncan continues to play an active role in the company, contributing his expertise and passion for pickups. Under his guidance, Seymour Duncan Pickups has remained at the forefront of pickup innovation and quality.

The legacy of Seymour Duncan Pickups is built on a foundation of craftsmanship, innovation, and a deep understanding of what musicians need to achieve their desired tones. From its modest beginnings to its current status as a leading pickup manufacturer, the company has consistently prioritized quality and customer satisfaction. This unwavering commitment has earned Seymour Duncan Pickups the loyalty of countless musicians around the world.

In conclusion, the history of Seymour Duncan Pickups is a story of passion, innovation, and dedication to the craft of pickup making. From the early days of winding pickups by hand to the present-day production of a diverse range of high-quality models, Seymour Duncan Pickups has established itself as a trusted name in the music industry. Through ongoing innovation and a steadfast commitment to quality, the company continues to shape the sound of modern music and inspire musicians across genres.