Are you ready to unleash the thunder of Black Sabbath’s legendary riffs? Gibson has announced the long-awaited return of the Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker, reissuing the iconic pickup that was the company’s first-ever artist signature model. Previously out of production for years, this powerful pickup is now available to guitarists looking to get the “distinct Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath sound.”
Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker
Originally developed in the late ’90s by Gibson’s then-head of R&D, JT Riboloff, the humbucker was a monumental collaboration. It was designed to meet the meticulous demands of the “Rifflord” himself. “I’m really excited that Gibson’s bringing back my signature humbucker,” says Iommi. “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.”
At Guitar Bomb, we all love Tony Iommi, and our recent Beyond the SG: A Brief History of Tony Iommi’s Unexpected Guitars article is one to check out for any fans of the Rifford!
John Birch Pickups
This reissue is more than just a tribute; it’s a piece of heavy metal history. Iommi recalls being “locked in” the Nashville factory with Riboloff, tirelessly experimenting to perfect the sound. The result was a bespoke wind inspired by Iommi’s custom John Birch pickups, engineered for maximum output, sustain, and clarity.
Using a unique blend of Alnico 2 and Ceramic magnets, the pickup is voiced to handle high-volume, high-gain scenarios with ease.
“We had to make sure it worked with my light gauge strings and low tunings, but still pack a punch,” Iommi explains. “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.”
Even Gibson CEO and President Cesar Gueikian is a devoted fan, having used the pickups on his personal guitars for over 15 years. “I was blown away with the distinct Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath sound I was able to get out of them,” he says. “They have such a great, clean look with the unique pickup cover, and we are excited to bring the Rifflord’s signature humbucker back as we continue to pay tribute to Tony.”
Sealed Design
For those who want to upgrade their gear, the Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker features a wax-potted design, which is then sealed in epoxy resin to eliminate unwanted feedback—a method Iommi famously used to experiment with himself early in his career. The pickups have an average DCR reading of 16k and come with four-conductor wiring in a sleek chrome housing.
Gibson Tribute
The reissue is a cornerstone of Gibson’s ongoing tribute to Iommi, which includes a documentary series on GibsonTV featuring iconic musicians like Scott Ian, Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, and Queen’s Brian May.
Price & Availability
The Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker is available now for £199/$229.
Available at Andertons
Available at Sweetwater
Available at Thomann
More Information
#Gibson #TonyIommi #BlackSabbath
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