D-TAR Announcement - In the largest corporate structuring move of its nearly 30-year history, Seymour Duncan Pickups announces D-TAR, LLC; an independent, privately-owned concern, dedicated to providing acoustic amplification products to consumers and guitar-builders worldwide. “D-TAR” stands for “Duncan-Turner Acoustic Research,” and marks the union of Santa Barbara-based Seymour Duncan / Basslines with noted luthier and acoustic pickup designer, Rick Turner.

D-TAR’s introductory product slate will include under-saddle pickups and electronics for acoustic guitars, as well as a series of boxes that perform mixing and blending of signals, and parametric equalization. The first D-TAR products were launched at the 2003 Winter NAMM show. In addition, a line of DSP products for acoustic guitarists is scheduled for a Summer 2003 release.

“We wanted to increase our ability to meet the needs of acoustic musicians,” says Cathy Carter Duncan, CEO of both Seymour Duncan and D-TAR. “By joining together with Rick and drawing on his years of product development expertise, we can do that more effectively.” The new company will be based in Seymour Duncan’s Santa Barbara facility.

Rick Turner brings more than 35 years of experience to D-TAR. After co-founding Alembic, Inc.^® in 1970, he started Rick Turner Guitars in 1979, and joined Gibson^® in 1988, where he served as president of Gibson Labs West Coast R&D Division. He later co-founded Highlander^™ Musical Audio, manufacturer of piezo pickups for acoustic guitars.

He continues to design and build guitars, pickups and accessories for many professional players such as Lindsey Buckingham, Ry Cooder, David Lindley, David Crosby and Andy Summers. He is also a regular columnist for Acoustic Guitar and a former columnist for Bass Player, Frets and Guitar Player magazines.

“Over the years, I’ve amassed so many great product ideas that customers have been screaming for,” says Turner. “Working together with Duncan, I now have world-class R&D, Marketing, Sales and Operations departments for getting those products to the public. This is really exciting!”