If you had to choose between the duncan 59 or the dimarzio virtual hot paf for the van halen 1 sound which would you choose or would you go high output ceramic i have seen old photos of eddie back in 78 using cream colored dimarzio super distortions,but we dont know if he used them in the studio thanks......
van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
- Thread starter pittbull
- Start date
Reckless Abandon
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Either. The marshall is more important. Others will chime in since about 5-6 different pups will get you close with a marshall.
CC mid-late 80's
EVH
Demon
Air Zone/Tone Zone 90's
..................
Either. The marshall is more important. Others will chime in since about 5-6 different pups will get you close with a marshall.
CC mid-late 80's
EVH
Demon
Air Zone/Tone Zone 90's
..................
cream123
JustAskinologist
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2792&highlight=vhii
I know it is called the VHII but I think it should work. This is a clip for VHII by bare knuckles. It sounds amazing, very close to eruption. If you don't dishing out the dough Bare Knuckles is amazing from what I hear.
edit: honestly, I'm not a VH expert I just put my 2 cents in
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2792&highlight=vhii
I know it is called the VHII but I think it should work. This is a clip for VHII by bare knuckles. It sounds amazing, very close to eruption. If you don't dishing out the dough Bare Knuckles is amazing from what I hear.
edit: honestly, I'm not a VH expert I just put my 2 cents in
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Heck, I've used the CC, Air Zone, DiMarzio PAF, '59. Any of those work. The Air Zone for the 90's onward stuff although with the gain rolled back on the amp to compensate for the pickup's output, it can get in the ballpark pretty easily. The amp and speakers are the most important part. Marshall or Marshall-voiced with some good Celestions.
Eddie using a SuperD? That's a new one. Those were probably uncovered PAFs that just happened to have double cream coils. An easy way to tell is the pole pieces. The SuperD has double allen screw poles on both coils rather than the traditional slug/screw poles.
Heck, I've used the CC, Air Zone, DiMarzio PAF, '59. Any of those work. The Air Zone for the 90's onward stuff although with the gain rolled back on the amp to compensate for the pickup's output, it can get in the ballpark pretty easily. The amp and speakers are the most important part. Marshall or Marshall-voiced with some good Celestions.
Eddie using a SuperD? That's a new one. Those were probably uncovered PAFs that just happened to have double cream coils. An easy way to tell is the pole pieces. The SuperD has double allen screw poles on both coils rather than the traditional slug/screw poles.
Binnerscot
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
The most eruption-esque pup I have heard is the PATB-1, but it doesn't quite nail the rythm tone, close enough for me though.
The most eruption-esque pup I have heard is the PATB-1, but it doesn't quite nail the rythm tone, close enough for me though.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Sounds like a SuperD to me. That interesting. Do you have a photo of this that you can scan and post? I can't say I've seen a photo of him with a SuperD.
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
IMO, pretty much any of the vintage (or close to vintage) output pickups will do the trick if you've got a cranked Marshall and know how to work the EQ.
I honestly believe no one other than Edward himself knows what he used on that album, and he's long since forgot. I firmly belive he's never told the truth about it, either - he'll even contradict himself in the same interview.
Use what sounds the closest when you play it - so much of his tone was dependant on his style of playing, too. You'll get in the neighborhood with either of those pups.
IMO, pretty much any of the vintage (or close to vintage) output pickups will do the trick if you've got a cranked Marshall and know how to work the EQ.
I honestly believe no one other than Edward himself knows what he used on that album, and he's long since forgot. I firmly belive he's never told the truth about it, either - he'll even contradict himself in the same interview.
Use what sounds the closest when you play it - so much of his tone was dependant on his style of playing, too. You'll get in the neighborhood with either of those pups.
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
erikh i dont have a scanner to scan the photo but i assure you its a dimarzio super d if you do a search on eddie van halens guitars you will see those photos he had the super d in the destoyer he used and the black and yellow striped strat.
erikh i dont have a scanner to scan the photo but i assure you its a dimarzio super d if you do a search on eddie van halens guitars you will see those photos he had the super d in the destoyer he used and the black and yellow striped strat.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Like others said, the Marshall Superlead is the key ingredient, and many models will work. The pickup that I like the most for that sound is the 59/Custom A5 hybrid. It has all the openness and sustain of the 59, and the other coil is basically a Custom 5, giving it more balls and low end thump. Since they're mismatched, it gives a complex and spacial sound. The hybrid is the one pickup I wish Duncan had in regular production.
Like others said, the Marshall Superlead is the key ingredient, and many models will work. The pickup that I like the most for that sound is the 59/Custom A5 hybrid. It has all the openness and sustain of the 59, and the other coil is basically a Custom 5, giving it more balls and low end thump. Since they're mismatched, it gives a complex and spacial sound. The hybrid is the one pickup I wish Duncan had in regular production.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
ding ding ding..we have a winner...
EVHs earlier brown sound was very complex, but hardly full of low end or low mids. It was downright thin sounding in a way. Just like George Lynches early tones...complex...aggressive...but not much low end.
I'd pick a regular DiMarzio PAF or a Duncan PG or Duncan 78 if I was really trying to get the VH1 tone. they are heavier on the mids and upper mids...bright, but not as clean/pristine, not as sweet , and not as bassy as the 59.
ding ding ding..we have a winner...
EVHs earlier brown sound was very complex, but hardly full of low end or low mids. It was downright thin sounding in a way. Just like George Lynches early tones...complex...aggressive...but not much low end.
I'd pick a regular DiMarzio PAF or a Duncan PG or Duncan 78 if I was really trying to get the VH1 tone. they are heavier on the mids and upper mids...bright, but not as clean/pristine, not as sweet , and not as bassy as the 59.
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
for some VH flavour on a budget i've been using a white MIM Strat, maple Board with a Duncan CC in it... Thru either a JCM 800 or 5150 half stack.... This strat and pickup combo has the mids of that early hard ash body strat tone... I love that early VH tone.. But some of my favourite tones he has were the Ibanez Destroyer... Running With The Devil being one of them!!!! slightly thicker tone over Atomic Punk...
Mike Anthony covered a hell of a lot of the Low End on those early VH records... But he is mixed low.. too low in spots!.... Should be louder on VHII.... i'd love a good bass and some of those Ampeg amps he used in those days..
I saw one of the guitarists for one of Roths Solo tours in some on line videos and he had the same set up i do... A Jcm 800 and a 5150 head on stage...
If i could only get that trem to stay in tune.... but i also use my Jacksons with Floyds... I just really can't play like EVH... i have gear that can get that job done but i can't play like that guy!
for some VH flavour on a budget i've been using a white MIM Strat, maple Board with a Duncan CC in it... Thru either a JCM 800 or 5150 half stack.... This strat and pickup combo has the mids of that early hard ash body strat tone... I love that early VH tone.. But some of my favourite tones he has were the Ibanez Destroyer... Running With The Devil being one of them!!!! slightly thicker tone over Atomic Punk...
Mike Anthony covered a hell of a lot of the Low End on those early VH records... But he is mixed low.. too low in spots!.... Should be louder on VHII.... i'd love a good bass and some of those Ampeg amps he used in those days..
I saw one of the guitarists for one of Roths Solo tours in some on line videos and he had the same set up i do... A Jcm 800 and a 5150 head on stage...
If i could only get that trem to stay in tune.... but i also use my Jacksons with Floyds... I just really can't play like EVH... i have gear that can get that job done but i can't play like that guy!
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
I'd use a 59' for a stock SD pickup. Or, if I really wanted to nail it, I'd use the 78' model from the custom shop. Plenty of mids, not much low end and high end clarity and brightnesss sum that pickup up to a tee.
I have one that I'm just waiting for the right guitar to put it in.
I'd use a 59' for a stock SD pickup. Or, if I really wanted to nail it, I'd use the 78' model from the custom shop. Plenty of mids, not much low end and high end clarity and brightnesss sum that pickup up to a tee.
I have one that I'm just waiting for the right guitar to put it in.
51501984
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
It`s the guitar that`s on the back cover of Women and Children First. I`ve got a poster of it and you can tell that it`s a Super D. Ed did state in an interview years ago that put a A2 mag in a Dimarzio pickup so that could be what he did with the Super D. This is the biggest pic I could find of it.
It`s the guitar that`s on the back cover of Women and Children First. I`ve got a poster of it and you can tell that it`s a Super D. Ed did state in an interview years ago that put a A2 mag in a Dimarzio pickup so that could be what he did with the Super D. This is the biggest pic I could find of it.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Ah ha, thanks. Now, didn't he just slap a pickup in it for the photo shoot of the album just to make it look "complete", meaning it was never hooked up? That's what I've read in several magazines when that guitar has been brought up (right next to the fact that it was ruined by removing that chunk of wood). Since the tone of that one went down the crapper after that stunt, a SuperD would certainly fatten things back up.
It`s the guitar that`s on the back cover of Women and Children First. I`ve got a poster of it and you can tell that it`s a Super D. Ed did state in an interview years ago that put a A2 mag in a Dimarzio pickup so that could be what he did with the Super D. This is the biggest pic I could find of it.
Ah ha, thanks. Now, didn't he just slap a pickup in it for the photo shoot of the album just to make it look "complete", meaning it was never hooked up? That's what I've read in several magazines when that guitar has been brought up (right next to the fact that it was ruined by removing that chunk of wood). Since the tone of that one went down the crapper after that stunt, a SuperD would certainly fatten things back up.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
I have it from a reliable source, I used to date a girl who's roomate's cousin was the best friend of a next door neighbor who's son's best friend used to be a roadie for Van Halen. He swears that Eddie actually used the stock pickup from a Dean V. :laugh2:
I think that's as close as anything to what Eddie "really used".
It's sad in a way that Eddie can't or won't remember. I can see 25 years ago not wanting to divulge exactly what he was using, when his sound was new, and so innovative. However, after all these years, and so many people being able to pretty much nail his tone, and most of his secrets being out...expecially about his amp (variac and all), I wish he would just set the record straight. No one will ever be him, sound exactly like him, or have his chops. It's the ultimate form of flattery to want to try to sound like him.
He should just give it up...if he remembers.
I've heard many people over the years on this board who nail his tone...at least recorded. VHolic has posted some of the best clips I've ever heard....and most of them were done with a 59'. Some with a CC, some with a 78' (EVH), and I think even some with a Scremin Demon. I personally think VHolic's best clips are with the 59'.
BatchtoRock has the Hybrid which I think may be the closest to the truth, if Eddie really did have to rewind one of the coils on a Gibson PAF style pickup, he probably got that coil either overwound, or underwound. Either way, it's very similar to the Hybrid BTR suggests.
It's fun to debate this, and I don't really get tired of it like a lot of people, because I'm one who plays guitar in order to play the songs of my guitar hero's. I'm no great original songwriter or serious gigging musician. I just like to play the music I grew up on, and sound pretty close.
I have it from a reliable source, I used to date a girl who's roomate's cousin was the best friend of a next door neighbor who's son's best friend used to be a roadie for Van Halen. He swears that Eddie actually used the stock pickup from a Dean V. :laugh2:
I think that's as close as anything to what Eddie "really used".
It's sad in a way that Eddie can't or won't remember. I can see 25 years ago not wanting to divulge exactly what he was using, when his sound was new, and so innovative. However, after all these years, and so many people being able to pretty much nail his tone, and most of his secrets being out...expecially about his amp (variac and all), I wish he would just set the record straight. No one will ever be him, sound exactly like him, or have his chops. It's the ultimate form of flattery to want to try to sound like him.
He should just give it up...if he remembers.
I've heard many people over the years on this board who nail his tone...at least recorded. VHolic has posted some of the best clips I've ever heard....and most of them were done with a 59'. Some with a CC, some with a 78' (EVH), and I think even some with a Scremin Demon. I personally think VHolic's best clips are with the 59'.
BatchtoRock has the Hybrid which I think may be the closest to the truth, if Eddie really did have to rewind one of the coils on a Gibson PAF style pickup, he probably got that coil either overwound, or underwound. Either way, it's very similar to the Hybrid BTR suggests.
It's fun to debate this, and I don't really get tired of it like a lot of people, because I'm one who plays guitar in order to play the songs of my guitar hero's. I'm no great original songwriter or serious gigging musician. I just like to play the music I grew up on, and sound pretty close.
roadstar II
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
according to a guy who used to do eddies guitars(rudy lieren) eddie took a alnico II paf magnet that was about 20 years old and stuck it into a dimarzio super D
eddie claims to have rewound this pup but all he really did was take out the extra large ceramic and put in a paf magnet
this makes the super D a 13.4K alnico II pup and sound totally different it actually sounds a lot like a CC:smokin:
as far as paf types i too am lookinf to nail his older tone and i think that the custom/59 hybrid with a alnico II manget would be the answer
i am going to get one to try out and will let you all know what i find
i use a ash body warmoth eddie strat and it is just like his first guitar minus the stripes
it even has a old fender 58 trem.
i also just got a hand wired 1959 SLP half stack that sound very old VH
right now my favorite pup that i have tried is the dimarzio V hot paf this has more going on than the 59 it has more midrange body and output and is very close to eddies first record tone through my marshall but i think i can get even closer
according to a guy who used to do eddies guitars(rudy lieren) eddie took a alnico II paf magnet that was about 20 years old and stuck it into a dimarzio super D
eddie claims to have rewound this pup but all he really did was take out the extra large ceramic and put in a paf magnet
this makes the super D a 13.4K alnico II pup and sound totally different it actually sounds a lot like a CC:smokin:
as far as paf types i too am lookinf to nail his older tone and i think that the custom/59 hybrid with a alnico II manget would be the answer
i am going to get one to try out and will let you all know what i find
i use a ash body warmoth eddie strat and it is just like his first guitar minus the stripes
it even has a old fender 58 trem.
i also just got a hand wired 1959 SLP half stack that sound very old VH
right now my favorite pup that i have tried is the dimarzio V hot paf this has more going on than the 59 it has more midrange body and output and is very close to eddies first record tone through my marshall but i think i can get even closer
roadstar II
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
here is a clip of the 59 through a plexi courtesy of VHoholic
http://www.jasonjosephphotography.com/feel7.mp3
here is a clip of the 59 through a plexi courtesy of VHoholic
http://www.jasonjosephphotography.com/feel7.mp3
roadstar II
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
i mean just listen to VHoholics tone with a 59 and tell me that he does not mail it with a stock 59 problem is that like me your milage may vary?
i did not have the result with a stock 59 or i would be using it!:chairfall
anyone that argues with this is plain nuts!:smokin:
i mean just listen to VHoholics tone with a 59 and tell me that he does not mail it with a stock 59 problem is that like me your milage may vary?
i did not have the result with a stock 59 or i would be using it!:chairfall
