Page "Humbucker" Paragraph 5

To overcome hum problem for guitars, the humbucking pickup was invented by Joseph Raymond " Ray " Butts, but Seth Lover of Gibson was also working on one himself.

Ray Butts initially developed one on his own and later worked with Gretsch.

Who developed it first is a matter of some debate, but Ray Butts was awarded the first patent ( U. S. Patent 2, 892, 371 ) and Seth Lover came next ( U. S. Patent 2, 896, 491 ).

Ultimately, both men developed essentially the same concept, but Ray Butts was never recognized as the one who produced it first.