Let’s talk about pickups #2
Introducing the Del-Tone Legacy series
In this second chapter of our pickup series, we’d like to introduce you to our new Del-Tone Legacy pickups.
As many of you know, we decided to stop using Apollo Pickups as a separate brand. The main reason was simple: we want to position ourselves stronger and clearer as one brand. Surprisingly, quite a few people didn’t even realize that we were building our own pickups in-house. By bringing everything under the Del-Tone name, it’s now crystal clear: every Del-Tone guitar is powered by pickups we design and wind ourselves.
Same craftsmanship. Same materials. Same obsession with tone.
Just one name on the headstock and on the pickups.
Three S-style voices: ’54, ’59 and ’65
Within the Del-Tone Legacy line, we offer three distinct S-style sets, each inspired by a specific era.
The Legacy ’54 set features Alnico 3 magnets combined with heavy Formvar wire. Alnico 3 has a slightly softer magnetic pull, which translates into a sweet, open character with beautifully rounded highs. The heavy Formvar insulation adds clarity and sparkle, making this set lively, dynamic and extremely responsive to your touch. Think articulate cleans and woody, expressive overdrive tones.
The Legacy ’59 set uses Alnico 5 magnets, also paired with heavy Formvar wire. Alnico 5 delivers a bit more punch and tighter low end compared to Alnico 3. The result is a fuller, more powerful S-style tone that still retains clarity and chime, but with added authority. It cuts through a mix effortlessly without ever sounding harsh.
The Legacy ’65 set brings a subtle shift in character by combining Alnico 5 magnets with plain enamel wire. As discussed in Let’s Talk About Pickups #1, plain enamel tends to sound a little more mellow compared to Formvar. In this set, that translates to a smooth top end, rich midrange and a slightly rounder overall response. It’s balanced, musical and incredibly versatile.
The Legacy T-style
For players who prefer the snap and bite of a T-style guitar, we offer the Del-Tone Legacy T-style set.
This set features Alnico 5 magnets and 43 AWG plain enamel wire in the bridge pickup. The slightly thinner 43 AWG wire allows for more turns on the coil, resulting in a strong, focused output with a thick midrange and that unmistakable T-style punch. Expect tight lows, clear highs and a bridge tone that can twang, bark or sing — depending on how you play.
The Legacy JM-style
For our JM-style models, we developed the Del-Tone Legacy JM-style set.
These pickups are built to deliver the wide, open and piano-like character that makes this style so unique. They offer clarity and depth in clean settings, while still maintaining definition when pushed into overdrive. The low end stays firm, the highs remain detailed, and the overall feel is dynamic and touch-sensitive — exactly what you want from a great offset guitar.
Built in-house, built with purpose
Every Del-Tone Legacy pickup is wound in our own workshop, using carefully selected materials and period-correct specifications where they matter most. We don’t chase numbers or hype — we chase feel, response and musicality.
Because in the end, a pickup is not just magnets and copper wire.
It’s the voice of your guitar.
