Gibson Reissues Iconic Tony Iommi Signature Pickup
The Gibson Tony Iommi pickup is back!
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Gibson has announced the long-awaited return of a piece of rock history: the Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker. After years out of production, the legendary pickup, first developed for the Black Sabbath riff lord in the late ’90s, is back on the market, ready to bring that signature tone to the masses.
Black Sabbath Tones
The Gibson Tony Iommi Signature Pickup reissue marks a significant moment for both Gibson and heavy metal fans. Originally born from an all-night session between Iommi and Gibson’s then-head of R&D, JT Riboloff, the pickup was the company’s first-ever artist signature model.
Iommi recalls the intense process, “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 favourite guitars.”
Signature Sound Reissued
According to Iommi, the collaboration was relentless. During a recent launch event at the Gibson Garage in London, he shared a story of being “locked in” the factory with Riboloff after hours. While the rest of the staff had gone home, Riboloff was cooking up something special—a bespoke wind inspired by Iommi’s custom John Birch pickups but with a goal for incremental improvement.
The result was a powerhouse pickup featuring Alnico 2 and Ceramic magnets, voiced specifically for clarity and sustain in high-volume, high-gain scenarios.
These new 2025 reissue models feature all the key specs of the original, including an average DCR of 16k, four-conductor wiring, and a chrome housing. To ensure optimal performance and eliminate unwanted feedback, each pickup is wax-potted and sealed with epoxy resin.
Price & Availability
The Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker is now available at Thomann, priced at $194/£175/€199. A great upgrade for your SG if you are seeking that Sabbath sound.
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