The 1955 remains one of the top selling guitars in the Michael Kelly product line. Players love the sonic versatility that it delivers and the modern features that make it fun to play. This Mod Shop version is a collaboration with Seymour Duncan, we worked to find the right pickups to best leverage all the sonic potential of the ’55. Our Mod Shop crew carefully installs a Seymour Duncan Stag Mag in the bridge and a potent Seymourized Mini-Humbucker in the neck. Both can be coil-tapped using the two push-pull pots to access a more vintage-inspired single-coil tone. Here is a closer look at those great pickups:

Stag Mag Bridge pickup
The Stag Mag is a high output bridge pickup designed specifically to give players a true classic “double-cut” single coil tone when switched into split mode which is part of our Great 8 wiring mod (details below). The Stag Mag has alnico 2 rod magnets with a traditional single-coil pole stagger, and a specially designed high output coil wind so the sound is bouncy and bright when coil split. When both coils are active in full humbucker mode, the tone is fat and smooth. Hand built in Santa Barbara, CA, the Stag Mag has a nickel silver bottom plate, and is vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance.

Seymourized Mini Humbucker Neck pickup
The Seymourized Mini Humbucker has been described as Seymour’s favorite pickup. The neck model in the Mod Shop 55 is designed so that each coil contains a high-carbon steel blade coupled to the bottom-loaded alnico 5 bar magnet. The tone has more midrange and clarity, and provides nice, even sounding chords with just a hint of snarl. Clean tones have a clear, snappiness, and distorted tones have a nice midrange growl. Hand made in Santa Barbara, CA and is vacuum wax potted for squeal free operation.

Boutique Electronics Mod: Great 8
The Great 8 wiring mod allows either (or both) humbucking pickups to be coil split via 2 push/pull switches included on the master volume and tone control knobs. This combined with the 3-way pickup selector switch provides the player with 8 distinctive tonal options for covering a variety of musical styles.

Specifications

• Top: Flame Maple
• Body: Swamp Ash
• Binding: Genuine Flame Maple
• Construction: Bolt On

Neck

• Neck: Roasted Maple
• Fretboard: Blue Jean Wash = Roasted Maple
• Fretboard Radius: Compound 10.5" to 16"
• Number of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
• Inlays: Dots
• Headstock: 1950
• Scale Length 25.5 in / 647.7 mm
• Truss Rod Type Dual Action
• Neck Profile Modern C
• Nut Material: Synthetic Bone
• Nut Type: Standard
• Nut Width: 43mm
• Strings: D'Addario EXL120 (.009 - .042)

Electronics

• Boutique Mod: Great 8 Mod - Master Volume (push/pull coil tap) - Master tone (push/pull coil tap) - 3 way blade switch
• Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan® Seymourized Mini-Humbucker
• Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan® Stag Mag

Hardware

• Hardware Finish: Chrome
• Tuning Keys: Die Cast
• Bridge Type: Traditional

Notes

• New for 2019: Roasted Maple Neck and Fretboard!