Ibanez Super 80 humbucking pickups were launched in 1976. They were available with chrome plated (model #2680-80) or gold-plated (model #2680-81) covers which were stamped with a hand/butterfly "Flying Finger" logo.These pickups came with either 2 or four wires and were variously potted with wax or with epoxy (clear or opaque).
The Super 80s were developed to have high ouput, with bright punchy tone and were fitted as standard to Ibanez Artist and Professional guitars. Specifications were:
Carey Nordstrand began instrument making with Traveler Guitars in 1993, and designed several guitars while working there. Nordstrand then trained with Steve Azola in 1996, then going on to work with Suhr Guitars in 1998. He started making Nordstrand basses in 2002, and word spread of the Nordy-J model via the talkbass.com forum. Carey Nordstrand started winding his own pickups to use with his own basses, but soon began selling them to other luthiers and began making guitar pickups in 2004. By 2017 Nordstrand Audio were also offering guitar and bass pedals.
Moollon Musical Instruments is a Korean company that makes boutique guitar & bass effects as well guitars and basses. Moollon was founded in 2002 by Young Joon Park and CG Ji, guitar builders who studied sculpture at the same art school in the 1980s. Their first product was the Moollon Overdrive pedal soon followed by a few custom guitars. Moollon pedals often have metal cases etched with designs from traditional Korean art. By 2010 they had a workforce of 5.
Mojotone is a supplier of vintage electronics and maker of custom and vintage reproduction speaker cabinets, and pickups. Mojotone also provide OEM services to boutique amp and guitar brands but also supply hobbyists & DIY buidlers. Mojotone was founded in part by Andy Turner who started out with a small repair shop in Winston-Salem, NC.
Mighty Mite was founded in 1974 by Randy Zacuto in Camarillo, California as a supplier of replacement pickups and bridges for guitars and basses. The Mighty Mite brand was bought by Jack Westheimer in 1982 and it was reintroduced by Westheimer Corporation in 1991 as a supplier of replacement guitar necks, bodies and other parts.
Darkmoon Pickups was established in 2010 by the current master winder and owner Mark V. For the first six years the company released products solely for independent guitar builders and luthiers. Following an expansion in 2016, Darkmoon began selling to the public and released their signature humbuckers. Divided into Vintage and Black Arts series, the signature line covers a very wide range of music styles from blues and jazz to heavy metal. Aside from guitar pickups, Darkmoon also offers guitar wiring harnesses, instrument cables, and custom pickguards. The company has introduced a large variety of custom cosmetic options such as real mother of pearl or celluloid inlays, gold foils and engraved humbucker covers.
Jason Lollar began making guitars in the mid 1970s and attended the Roberto Venn lutheiry school in 1975. He is now best known for the guitar pickups he started making in the 1990s when he established Lollar Guitars. His guide to making your own pickups, published in the mid 1990s, led to a new pickup making cottage industry.
Christopher Willcox started out as an apprentice luthier in the early 1970s in New Jersey. He moved to California in 1976 and opened his own guitar workshop in 1980. In 1988 he made the first prototype of his optical pickup system, which eventually became the LightWave pickup. This new pickup used infrared light instead of magnets and coils to sense string vibration. This removes the damping effect of magnets on string vibration. Willcox reincorporated his company under the name LightWave Systems in 1998 and focused solely on pickup making. A few years later, he expanded and began once again producing complete instruments using his futuristic pickup system. He has now gone back to putting his name on his instruments - Willcox Guitars.
Kinman was founded by New Zealander Chris Kinman who launched a guitar making and guitar repair business in his 20s. Kinman is best known for his hum-cancelling pickups patented in the late 1990s (after 16 years of research and development).
Josh Parkin is from Yorkshire England and has been making guitars since 2003. He relocated Josh Parkin Guitars (JPG) to Osaka, Japan in 2012. JPG is a small company, with three employees, that makes custom guitars and basses. They also produce semi-custom (F-line) guitars and basses, make Hand-Wired Effects Pedals, offer repair, maintenance and mod services, as well as importing and selling guitar parts including brands such as Bare Knuckle Pickups, Delano Bass Pickups, (John) Eask UK Preamps, Hipshot, and TonePros.
Fernando Alonso Jaén designed his first archtop guitar in 1980 but didn't make it until 1992, by which time he was working as an engineer and married with a family. Jaén offers a wide range of archtop guitars and also makes much of the hardware including bridges, knobs and pickups.
John Anthony Guitars (JAG) is run by John Anthony and Sandra Anne Blakey in Scarborough, UK. They offer electric and bass guitars as well as instrument making plans and parts
Balaguer was established by Joe Balaguer who graduated luthiery school in 2009. The Balaguer Production Series guitars are designed and engineered in Pennsylvania, USA and are built in partnership with a team of 15 experienced luthiers in South Korea. Balaguer Semi-Custom Series guitars are built within that same South Korean shop, but only by the 4 head luthiers. Balaguer USA Custom models are machined/built, painted, and assembled in the United States from start to finish.
The Badger Guitar Company was founded in 2013 as a supplier of high-quality yet affordable instruments. Renowned guitar designer and pickup guru Alan Entwistle was involved in the design of the Badger Guitar range.
Mark Naron and Bob Kelley established Fastback Guitars in 2010 as a small company, based in Seattle, Washington. Fastback are builders of electric and bass guitars as well as overdrive effects and pickups. Fastback Guitars has an active dealer network with pickups available in Germany, Belgium and North America. Products are shipped world-wide.
The EVH brand was launched in 2007 by Eddie Van Halen. The EVH line includes guitars, amplifiers, cabinets, strings and straps all designed, tested, refined and approved by Van Halen.
