Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

Here's why I don't bother with the '78:

First of all, there are several VH tones. I've been focusing strictly on the 1st album for the obvious reasons:
- because it has been a mystery for a lot of players over the decades
- it's a great tone (one of the best all-time IMO).

For one, I have similar pickups (SD Seth Lover is an A2 PAF although not wound quite as hot as the '78).

The first album tone simply does not have an A2 magnet going on there; it smacks of ceramic magnet.

But the main reasons why are:

- There are pics of Ed right before they went to the studio to cut the 1st album that show him using a MightyMite Distortion pickup.
(the same type of pickup was also in his Destroyer... during VHII). This pickup was MightyMite's clone of the DiMarzio SD. And
of course, the DiMarzio SD is a 14K ceramic.

- This ad in 1979 Guitar Player mag for the "VAN HALEN" pickup was fixed a couple of months after it was printed.
In an interview around that time, Ed spoke of this incident. Seymour fixed it because he did not have Ed's permission.

The ad on the left is the original; the ad on the right (couple months later) is the fixed one:

1.jpg

The pickup in question:

2.JPG


And finally, as we (should) all know, talk is ****. People BS all the time IRL and on internet forums to sound bigger than they are, but rarely do they
offer proof. Hey, I could simply be talking out of my arse with all this.

But I always speak what I know to be fact, and this clip of mine is all the proof I need:

Google drive link:

Feel Your Love Tonight - Ed ISO on left, my dry tone on the right. Tone is tapped straight off the SM57 on the speaker cab

Soundcloud link:

https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-lizard/lll-fylt-sh5-dry-ed-l-me-r-test

If I can get that close with the mic'd tone straight off the speaker cab and no DAW futzing, then stick a fork in it because it's done.
The pickup I used in the clip? A pre-1983 Seymour Duncan SH-5 Custom.

As far as the '78 goes - do I believe Seymour wound a similar for Ed way back when? Yes; and AFAIC Seymour wound numerous pickups for Ed
over the decades. But whether or not Ed actually used the '78 on a Van Halen album remains to be seen. If it was, my best guess was VHII.

But it most definitely wasn't used on the 1st album.
 
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Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

ErikH said:
One that got me in the ridiculously close ballpark is the Gibson '57 Classic Plus (overwound PAF). That pickup in a Strat through a ragging Marshall is glorious.
Click to expand...

I can see how that would work. I have a 57+ leftover from my WLH swap is did with the Paul. I just might slap it in the Strat and take it around the block for a whirl. Thanks.
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

Whether or not someone chooses to "bother with the '78" or not is their own decision. It's not about what Ed actually used on an album or even live for that matter. What it is about: it is the pickup wound to the specs of what Seymour wound for Ed at one time in history. It is the Seymour Duncan EVH pickup, period.

My understanding is it is a modified JB but I could be wrong. Either way, it is an amazing sounding pickup and it is one worth trying imo. If I was still a Strat guy it would be my go-to bridge pickup and not because I want to chase VH tone but rather because it sounds so effin' good.
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

Im just trying to capture a really good full tone and the 78 sounds like might be a good choice.
Playing through a fender hot rod deluxe with ext cab.
Thanx everyone for the input & help.
Also looking at the charvel san dimas1 hh which has a jb.
Not sure how that pickup compares.
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

LLL said:
Here's why I don't bother with the '78:

First of all, there are several VH tones. I've been focusing strictly on the 1st album for the obvious reasons:
- because it has been a mystery for a lot of players over the decades
- it's a great tone (one of the best all-time IMO).

For one, I have similar pickups (SD Seth Lover is an A2 PAF although not wound quite as hot as the '78).

The first album tone simply does not have an A2 magnet going on there; it smacks of ceramic magnet.

But the main reasons why are:

- There are pics of Ed right before they went to the studio to cut the 1st album that show him using a MightyMite Distortion pickup.
(the same type of pickup was also in his Destroyer... during VHII). This pickup was MightyMite's clone of the DiMarzio SD. And
of course, the DiMarzio SD is a 14K ceramic.

- This ad in 1979 Guitar Player mag for the "VAN HALEN" pickup was fixed a couple of months after it was printed.
In an interview around that time, Ed spoke of this incident. Seymour fixed it because he did not have Ed's permission.

The ad on the left is the original; the ad on the right (couple months later) is the fixed one:

View attachment 66978

The pickup in question:

View attachment 66979


And finally, as we (should) all know, talk is ****. People BS all the time IRL and on internet forums to sound bigger than they are, but rarely do they
offer proof. Hey, I could simply be talking out of my arse with all this.

But I always speak what I know to be fact, and this clip of mine is all the proof I need:

Google drive link:

Feel Your Love Tonight - Ed ISO on left, my dry tone on the right. Tone is tapped straight off the SM57 on the speaker cab

Soundcloud link:

https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-lizard/lll-fylt-sh5-dry-ed-l-me-r-test

If I can get that close with the mic'd tone straight off the speaker cab and no DAW futzing, then stick a fork in it because it's done.
The pickup I used in the clip? A pre-1983 Seymour Duncan SH-5 Custom.

As far as the '78 goes - do I believe Seymour wound a similar for Ed way back when? Yes; and AFAIC Seymour wound numerous pickups for Ed
over the decades. But whether or not Ed actually used the '78 on a Van Halen album remains to be seen. If it was, my best guess was VHII.

But it most definitely wasn't used on the 1st album.
Click to expand...

With those clips, coulda fooled me man. Seems like Eddie has a touch of reverb or echo or something and a pinch more sag to it but that's it. I don't even know what kind of amp you used either, but I'd be lying if I said I could tell the difference in a mix if I wasn't deliberately listening for it. Plus you have documentation to back it up.

Call me convinced, congratulations.

I went on a similar excursion to prove that the pickup in the bridge of Cliff Burton's red Rickenbacker 4001 was a Duncan Hot Stack Jazz and not a Dimarzio Jazz pickup like a surprising amount of people say, and I went through a similar process as you did. Pictures, a letter from Cliff himself, sound characteristics, etc.
 
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Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

I get a pretty good Brown Sound with my Les Paul and my 57 Classic Plus thru my 5150iii 1x12 Combo on the Blue Channel I keep the gain low and hit the front of the amp with an MXR Badass OD and it nails the Brown Sound. Of all my guitars my Les Paul Signature T is the closest.
I'm getting ready to order a Wolfgang Special not because I'm an Eddie tone chaser but I like a shreddy guitar that has kinda a Les Paul growl.
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

So I finally listened to the sound clips.

THAT is what all the fuss is about?

First of all, no way anyone would confuse that tone for Ed's. Seriously? And now that I have seen the what you produced the clips with - no wonder!!!!! You seriously thought you could use…never mind - if that's what you used, you really won't get it anyway.

Keep telling yourself it's the pickup….and even if you did find THE pup, you messed up the tone in so many other ways it is laughable.

I thought the only issue was the poor tracking along with the original. Then I panned left and right…..I should have just left it alone.

Ed needs to read this. He could use a laugh!
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

I recommend a rusty nail, one that has a real sharp attack so it cuts well when you stab yourself in the eyes after reading the EVH-tone-pissing-contest thread we get every two weeks.
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

Aceman said:
So I finally listened to the sound clips.

THAT is what all the fuss is about?

First of all, no way anyone would confuse that tone for Ed's. Seriously? And now that I have seen the what you produced the clips with - no wonder!!!!! You seriously thought you could use…never mind - if that's what you used, you really won't get it anyway.

Keep telling yourself it's the pickup….and even if you did find THE pup, you messed up the tone in so many other ways it is laughable.

I thought the only issue was the poor tracking along with the original. Then I panned left and right…..I should have just left it alone.

Ed needs to read this. He could use a laugh!
Click to expand...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

See, I never even listened to any of the clips, because really, what's the point? If I want to hear Van Halen tones, I'll turn on some Van Halen. No one has ever said, "Man I really want to hear Van Halen tone right now. I have every Van Halen album, but I'm going to listen to Will Jackedoff poser's attempt to copy Van Halen instead. Yeah! That sounds like a great idea!"
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

Myaccount876 said:
See, I never even listened to any of the clips, because really, what's the point? If I want to hear Van Halen tones, I'll turn on some Van Halen. No one has ever said, "Man I really want to hear Van Halen tone right now. I have every Van Halen album, but I'm going to listen to Will Jackedoff poser's attempt to copy Van Halen instead. Yeah! That sounds like a great idea!"
Click to expand...

LMAO. Truth.
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

Myaccount876 said:
I recommend a rusty nail, one that has a real sharp attack so it cuts well when you stab yourself in the eyes after reading the EVH-tone-pissing-contest thread we get every two weeks.
Click to expand...

The sad truth is even EVH has moved on from the 80's EVH sound.
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

You know, I think about how I felt when I first heard Jamie's Cryin, Little Dreamer, Runnin' with the Devil and some other great VH songs and the first thing that comes to mind is how amazing the guitar tone is combined with how amazing the playing is. That is Ed and he earned that sound... he built his recognition. I don't want to ever hear Joe Forum playing VH because I want to hear EVH playing VH. Anybody else and it just isn't the same.
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

I was given to believe a larger factor in VH tone was undervolting a Marshall. I would have expected many an ever-so-slightly overwound PAF would sound nearly the same through voltage-starved plexi tubes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?

Falloffthebonetone said:
With those clips, coulda fooled me man. Seems like Eddie has a touch of reverb or echo or something and a pinch more sag to it but that's it. I don't even know what kind of amp you used either, but I'd be lying if I said I could tell the difference in a mix if I wasn't deliberately listening for it. Plus you have documentation to back it up.

Call me convinced, congratulations.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Yeah Ed's is the ISO, so it has the full Templeman/Landee treatment as heard on the album. Mine is 100% dry with no treatment.

It wouldn't take much to get the album tone (which I'll explore once I finish my Boston track).

Falloffthebonetone said:
I went on a similar excursion to prove that the pickup in the bridge of Cliff Burton's red Rickenbacker 4001 was a Duncan Hot Stack Jazz and not a Dimarzio Jazz pickup like a surprising amount of people say, and I went through a similar process as you did. Pictures, a letter from Cliff himself, sound characteristics, etc.
Click to expand...

Touche' - it's a lot of fun disassembling a player's tone; and you learn new tricks in the process.

Lots of people just parrot the status quo, when the status quo doesn't know their arse from a hole in the ground. :jester:
 
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