The Fender Custom Shop is both pleased and wistful to announce that one of its most revered employees, “pickup artist” Abigail Ybarra, is … First there was Pilar Lopez (whom Ybarra apprenticed under), followed by Abigail Ybarra, and today—after three years of learning from Ybarra herself—Josefina Campos continues what we can seemingly consider a tradition. In celebration, Fender arranged for Los Lobos to play at her private retirement party with dozens of her coworkers. But as "came out of retirement" hints, it was a limited edition, so I don't think you can buy them new. The Fender Custom Shop is pleased and wistful to announce that one of its most revered employees, “pickup artist” Abigail Ybarra, is retiring after more than 50 years in the Fender family. Handout 4 - Abigail Ybarra You may not know the name Abigail Ybarra, but you have likely HEARD her work. The Fender Custom Shop is both pleased and wistful to announce that one of its most revered employees, “pickup artist” Abigail Ybarra, is retiring after more than 50 years in the Fender family. In celebration, Fender arranged for multiple Grammy Award-winning band Los Lobos to play at her private retirement party with dozens of her coworkers. Abigail Ybarra, the women who built the pickups for many of the great old Fender guitars, is retiring after 50 years. The "Abby" signed (in gold or silver) pickups she winds are hand wound using an old analog winding machine that was used at Fender back in the '50s and '60s. According to Fender's May 1, 2013 press release, Abby started at Fender in 1956, and began winding pickups in '58.The term "Abby Wound" has always been associated with Fender's finest pickup offerings, and only available in later years with hi-end Custom Shop models. Herbie Gastelum was to necks what “Queen of Tone” Abigail Ybarra was to pickups – the indisputable “King of Feel.” And on Nov. 16, 2017, he handed his throne to his successors as he announced his retirement from Fender after 56 years of service. I put a set in a Strat Plus back around 2001. Fender Custom Shop Pickup Winder Abigail Ybarra with Los Lobos during her retirement party on Fri., May 3 . Abby started to work at Fender winding pickups in 1956 and retired in 2013. They used to sell a set of '69 reissue "AY" Strat pickups with the AY initials that "Abigail Ybarra came out of retirement to wind." watched over . “I’m going to miss my friends and work,” said Gastelum. ? By Pauline France. Abigail was a pickup winder at Fender for more than fifty years. CORONA, Calif. (May 2, 2013) – The Fender Custom Shop is both pleased and wistful to announce that one of its most revered employees, “pickup artist” Abigail Ybarra, is retiring after more than 50 years in the Fender family. Josefina will be taking over. Now, after retiring in 2013 at 80 years old, Ybarra resides in Redmond, CA where she continues to dabble in pickup winding. She is a true legend, responsible for the original sound of the Stratocaster and Telecaster. I don't think she has been winding for a while , more of a supervisor I think. Thank you Abigail! Fender announced this week the retirement of Abigail "Abby" Ybarra after nearly 60 years with the company! Incredible Fender Custom Shop 69 Stratocaster pickup set, handmade by the legendary Fender "Queen of Tone" Abigail Ybarra. The new hype will be IMO pickups wound by the team of winders A.Y. As far as A.Y. Abby will retire very soon according to Fender. goes, well IMO she must be well past a retirement age and consideration. Abigail was crucial in crafting the sound of Fender guitars and her work definitively influenced the sound of popular music. After nearly 60 years with the company fifty years retired in 2013 a supervisor i think was! 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