LLL
New member
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
A variac is definitely a key part. I've got my Marshall running at 100v.
A variac is definitely a key part. I've got my Marshall running at 100v.
Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
- Thread starter tce44
- Start date
Shooter.556
New member
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
If you use it to sag your amp you will be fine keep it under 110v. Running your amp at a lower voltage can not hurt it in any way. In an interview EVH lied ad said he ran his varic at 140v of course stupid fanboys copied him and Marshalls were blowing up all over the country. Eddie later admitted the lie and apologized.
If you use it to sag your amp you will be fine keep it under 110v. Running your amp at a lower voltage can not hurt it in any way. In an interview EVH lied ad said he ran his varic at 140v of course stupid fanboys copied him and Marshalls were blowing up all over the country. Eddie later admitted the lie and apologized.
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
LLL
New member
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
None whatsoever. I've been running mine (4 hole plexi type circuit) 100% of the time with the variac for 3 years straight (100v)... and I love
the tone so much that I'm never going back to normal voltage. I've usually got the volume up to 8 (I slave the majority of the time) so
it's being pushed good.
The key is to bias your output tubes *after* you've dropped the voltage.
In my case, I have a pair of EHX 6CA7s; I set plate dissipation at 70%, or -40mA (standard for EL34 types).
I had to futz with the bias resistor to get the correct range, though. The stock resistor, after dropping the
voltage, wasn't giving enough. Not surprisingly, the tone was super mushy.
The only other thing to consider - there is a theory out there that if you go too low voltage for the heaters, cathode stripping occurs.
I can't attest to that from my own experiences but then again I dropped down to 100V, not 90V. Don't remember exactly
what my heaters were at but IIRC they were a hair under what they should be.
None whatsoever. I've been running mine (4 hole plexi type circuit) 100% of the time with the variac for 3 years straight (100v)... and I love
the tone so much that I'm never going back to normal voltage. I've usually got the volume up to 8 (I slave the majority of the time) so
it's being pushed good.
The key is to bias your output tubes *after* you've dropped the voltage.
In my case, I have a pair of EHX 6CA7s; I set plate dissipation at 70%, or -40mA (standard for EL34 types).
I had to futz with the bias resistor to get the correct range, though. The stock resistor, after dropping the
voltage, wasn't giving enough. Not surprisingly, the tone was super mushy.
The only other thing to consider - there is a theory out there that if you go too low voltage for the heaters, cathode stripping occurs.
I can't attest to that from my own experiences but then again I dropped down to 100V, not 90V. Don't remember exactly
what my heaters were at but IIRC they were a hair under what they should be.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
There's a Soldano anniversary head with a variac built in. In the interview about it, he said the magic number he came up with was around 80-90 volts to match VH tone, but he recommended running at least 100 volts. I forget what the concern was (some other component I think, not the tubes)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
There's a Soldano anniversary head with a variac built in. In the interview about it, he said the magic number he came up with was around 80-90 volts to match VH tone, but he recommended running at least 100 volts. I forget what the concern was (some other component I think, not the tubes)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Masta' C
Well-known member
LLL
New member
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
^Some people talk the talk... while others walk the walk.
:laughing:
So, like I was saying, a lil' studio massaging is all you need with that SH-5 Custom.
Now that I have some time after my last project, let's take that clip I posted earlier:
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-lizard/lll-fylt-sh5-dry-ed-l-me-r-test
Ed's tone on the left channel has been "studioized"... my tone on the right chanel is 100% dry tapped off the SM57 mic.
(anyone who actually listened and has decent ears would hear this difference)
So let's head on down to the studio with that clip...
...take my part of it (the right channel)...
...and EQ it, compress it, put a phaser on that one part... and slap a little echo chamber on it (just like Ed's has in the left channel).
Here's what you get:
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-lizard/fylt-sh5-eq-match-wet-ed-l-me-r
...
Now let's throw a little Dave, Alex and Mike in the mix:
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-lizard/fylt-sh5-eq-match-wet-me-only-w-backing
See/hear? Same exact guitar track of mine in each of the three clips.
That's how it's done, Vinnie Vincent.
^Some people talk the talk... while others walk the walk.
:laughing:
So, like I was saying, a lil' studio massaging is all you need with that SH-5 Custom.
Now that I have some time after my last project, let's take that clip I posted earlier:
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-lizard/lll-fylt-sh5-dry-ed-l-me-r-test
Ed's tone on the left channel has been "studioized"... my tone on the right chanel is 100% dry tapped off the SM57 mic.
(anyone who actually listened and has decent ears would hear this difference)
So let's head on down to the studio with that clip...
...take my part of it (the right channel)...
...and EQ it, compress it, put a phaser on that one part... and slap a little echo chamber on it (just like Ed's has in the left channel).
Here's what you get:
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-lizard/fylt-sh5-eq-match-wet-ed-l-me-r
...
Now let's throw a little Dave, Alex and Mike in the mix:
https://soundcloud.com/lefty-lounge-lizard/fylt-sh5-eq-match-wet-me-only-w-backing
See/hear? Same exact guitar track of mine in each of the three clips.
That's how it's done, Vinnie Vincent.
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
Good to know.
But I think it's no secret anymore the pickups and effects used on VH1.
*eidt. Obviously the Sparkle Drive didn't exist in the late 70's It is a nice cheat for people who think they can get maximum headroom and poweramp distortion from a Plexi at bedroom or even small club venues.
Good to know.
But I think it's no secret anymore the pickups and effects used on VH1.
*eidt. Obviously the Sparkle Drive didn't exist in the late 70's It is a nice cheat for people who think they can get maximum headroom and poweramp distortion from a Plexi at bedroom or even small club venues.
Last edited:
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
9unsli9er,
My board starts with a clean 40 watt no master engaged Fender HR Deluxe on vol 4 >Sparkle Drive #1 allows me to adjust vol and grit for good rhythm & fills >Sparkle Drive #2 I can set for ANY kind of lead boost I want or need.
Sparkle Drives are underrated (IMHO) so it is my civic duty to point out that VooDoo Lab makes great stuff and they fixed both of mine for free after 2 years of hard use (in my youth) on the on/off switch.
I only mention it as some one else did, and not to go too far off topic. I told the owner I would plug them when given the opportunity.
sjb
9unsli9er,
My board starts with a clean 40 watt no master engaged Fender HR Deluxe on vol 4 >Sparkle Drive #1 allows me to adjust vol and grit for good rhythm & fills >Sparkle Drive #2 I can set for ANY kind of lead boost I want or need.
Sparkle Drives are underrated (IMHO) so it is my civic duty to point out that VooDoo Lab makes great stuff and they fixed both of mine for free after 2 years of hard use (in my youth) on the on/off switch.
I only mention it as some one else did, and not to go too far off topic. I told the owner I would plug them when given the opportunity.
sjb
allbutromeo
Well-known member
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
^ I didn't care for the Sparkle Drive when I bought it, now I realize that it was because I didn't understand how to make an OD work, or have a tube amp to get the full benefits from it. Now that I'm older and more experienced I found myself wanting to try it again, and found a deal on a Sparkle Drive Mod and it has passed up my OCD as my favorite dirt box/boost
^ I didn't care for the Sparkle Drive when I bought it, now I realize that it was because I didn't understand how to make an OD work, or have a tube amp to get the full benefits from it. Now that I'm older and more experienced I found myself wanting to try it again, and found a deal on a Sparkle Drive Mod and it has passed up my OCD as my favorite dirt box/boost
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
I thought Ace quit gigging because his gear is too nice to take out of the house.
I thought Ace quit gigging because his gear is too nice to take out of the house.
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Best humbucker for Van Halen sound?
I'm glad someone else has good ears around here! :headbang:
While I was shopping (for accessories) at Guitar Center, some dude brought in a mint SLP to sell. The store salesman was great and actually brought out a R9 Les Paul to test it.
I've played a few JMPs and JCMs but never through an actual Plexi/4x12. I was underwhelmed by the tone at reasonable volumes. Volume @ 2 is tinnitus worthy, let alone what Eddie must have been doing back in the day. I don't care how much wattage the variac shaved off, there is no way that level is useable for most indoor venues today lest you want extreme hearing damage. Ask Paul Gilbert.
So yes, the Sparkle Drive is a great way to get it from an actual Plexi.
For everything else, I'll stick with a 6505/5150iii
I'm glad someone else has good ears around here! :headbang:
While I was shopping (for accessories) at Guitar Center, some dude brought in a mint SLP to sell. The store salesman was great and actually brought out a R9 Les Paul to test it.
I've played a few JMPs and JCMs but never through an actual Plexi/4x12. I was underwhelmed by the tone at reasonable volumes. Volume @ 2 is tinnitus worthy, let alone what Eddie must have been doing back in the day. I don't care how much wattage the variac shaved off, there is no way that level is useable for most indoor venues today lest you want extreme hearing damage. Ask Paul Gilbert.
So yes, the Sparkle Drive is a great way to get it from an actual Plexi.
For everything else, I'll stick with a 6505/5150iii
