The real pickups behind Van Halen 78 album tone's and others.

[Bill Dennis]

This is incorrect, as the album was recorded August 30 – September 1977.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Halen_(album)

...aside the fact that the 1st album tone has zero evidence of an A2 magnet; on the contrary, it reeks of ceramic sizzle.

I think your point about the pickup being called the 78 meaning that it can't be what was in the B&W guitar is incorrect. I was around here back when that happened. Calling it the 78 was more of an obvious nod nod wink wink to VH because VH1 came out in 78. Calling it the 77 would have just confused people.

Now, that said, I don't really hear PAF on the first record.i think it's possible the Shark had a mighty mite or super 70 and the Frankie had what became the Custom. It's very hard to say. With the brightness of the jbl and boost of the ep3 preamp, it's a much murkier quesripn