Benjamin “Pistol Pete” Newell is a Chicago guitar institution—raised off Maxwell Street’s electric blues after moving to the city as an infant, picking up guitar at four, and playing live by age ten. His high-energy blend of blues, rock, funk, and jazz has carried him from neighborhood clubs to stages alongside legends like Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Bo Diddley, Otis Rush, and more, with his first album, Loaded, arriving in 1995. He’s also taken top honors in contests including the Jimi Hendrix Foundation Electric Guitar Competition and the Chicago Blues Challenge.
That Hendrix-meets-Maxwell-Street DNA is exactly what we set out to bottle with Donovan Pickups’ PP63 Strat set—Pete’s signature voicing that delivers ’63-era snap, expressive mids, and the singing sustain he’s famous for. You’ll spot PP63s popping up across our feed (and on Pete’s boards), and his current projects keep the fire burning—from nonstop gigging to launching his own boutique “Leo Jaymz & Pistol Pete Guitars” shop in Loves Park. If you want that Chicago bite with modern muscle, the PP63s are the straightest line to Pistol Pete’s sound.
“The PP63s capture everything I love about a great Strat pickup—clarity, punch, and that singing sustain that cuts through the band but never gets harsh. They nail the vibe of those early ’60s tones I grew up chasing, and they give me the feel I need to push harder every night. These pickups don’t just keep up with me, they inspire me.” – Pistol Pete
