Best Pick up for EVH tone?
- Thread starter 80sFan
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Majestic
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
Nope. His magic Marshall was stock.
.........moving on...........
Any pickup that DOESN'T have a harsh upper-midrange spike can do VH, provided the player is up to the task, and the amp/cabinets are appropriate.
If you want the supposed overwound, wax-potted and mis-matched genuine article, then buy the EVH. It's under $200. You'll be playing it for the next 30 years......that's quite a bargain, so please, STFU everyone.
If you don't like these EVH pickups, then friggin' sell them on EBay for $120 used. You're minus.....what.....$40? Boo-hoo.
Nope. His magic Marshall was stock.
.........moving on...........
Any pickup that DOESN'T have a harsh upper-midrange spike can do VH, provided the player is up to the task, and the amp/cabinets are appropriate.
If you want the supposed overwound, wax-potted and mis-matched genuine article, then buy the EVH. It's under $200. You'll be playing it for the next 30 years......that's quite a bargain, so please, STFU everyone.
If you don't like these EVH pickups, then friggin' sell them on EBay for $120 used. You're minus.....what.....$40? Boo-hoo.
Lightning
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
I've seen 3 EVH pickups side by side (from the same order) measure 8.4, 8.6, and 9.6. I asked my friend if they were ordered that way and the guy responded "No, I just ordered 3 EVH pickups...I wouldn't have even measured if you hadn't brought it up." My point is when ordering specify DC resistance and remember Eddie's was around 9.5.
I've seen 3 EVH pickups side by side (from the same order) measure 8.4, 8.6, and 9.6. I asked my friend if they were ordered that way and the guy responded "No, I just ordered 3 EVH pickups...I wouldn't have even measured if you hadn't brought it up." My point is when ordering specify DC resistance and remember Eddie's was around 9.5.
Majestic
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
Holy cow! I guess I assumed the variance would always be somewhere in the 9s, with an occasional 10.
An 8.4 EVH is basically a friggin' Pearly Gates, is it not? An Alnico 2 PAF with barely mismatched coils which are also barely overwound.
I've always assumed all EVHs would be in the 9s.
Lightning said:
Holy cow! I guess I assumed the variance would always be somewhere in the 9s, with an occasional 10.
An 8.4 EVH is basically a friggin' Pearly Gates, is it not? An Alnico 2 PAF with barely mismatched coils which are also barely overwound.
I've always assumed all EVHs would be in the 9s.
M
MrHeavyMetal
Guest
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
best ? cranked Marshall Plexi. yeah it's true. :burnout: Also throw in a set of 59's. seriously. :wink:
best ? cranked Marshall Plexi. yeah it's true. :burnout: Also throw in a set of 59's. seriously. :wink:
WICKED LESTER
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
EVH used a gibson PAF from a 1961 ES-335 on the first record by the time the second record came out he already had seymour duncan rewind that same paf a bit hotter/
the result is the 78 that is now available from duncan
EVH never used a custom-custom but he did use a stock duncan 59 on his one kramer for a while.
EVH used a gibson PAF from a 1961 ES-335 on the first record by the time the second record came out he already had seymour duncan rewind that same paf a bit hotter/
the result is the 78 that is now available from duncan
EVH never used a custom-custom but he did use a stock duncan 59 on his one kramer for a while.
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BachToRock
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
WICKED LESTER
EVH definitely used a Custom Custom... he was the one who "invented" it by putting a PAF magnet in place of the Ceramic magnet in a Custom... he indicated that in a Guitar World magazine interview back in the day... of course, you were not even born yet so you may be unaware of these facts.
I found out about the Custom/59 Hybrid from EVH himself backstage during the Fair Warning tour when he told me he really liked both the Custom with a PAF magnet and the Original PAF's or 59 Models, so he decided to make a pickup with one coil from each which gets you the best of both worlds... the guy had tons of guitars and loved experimenting so I think it would be safe to say that he never consistantly used the same equipment.
Also... his Marshall was definitely not stock... a buddy of mine saw it opened up in Jose's shop and said it had a bunch of GIGANTIC electrolytic filter capacitors that looked like sticks of dynamite in there... his MXR pedals also had some mods done to them.
WICKED LESTER
EVH definitely used a Custom Custom... he was the one who "invented" it by putting a PAF magnet in place of the Ceramic magnet in a Custom... he indicated that in a Guitar World magazine interview back in the day... of course, you were not even born yet so you may be unaware of these facts.
I found out about the Custom/59 Hybrid from EVH himself backstage during the Fair Warning tour when he told me he really liked both the Custom with a PAF magnet and the Original PAF's or 59 Models, so he decided to make a pickup with one coil from each which gets you the best of both worlds... the guy had tons of guitars and loved experimenting so I think it would be safe to say that he never consistantly used the same equipment.
Also... his Marshall was definitely not stock... a buddy of mine saw it opened up in Jose's shop and said it had a bunch of GIGANTIC electrolytic filter capacitors that looked like sticks of dynamite in there... his MXR pedals also had some mods done to them.
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WICKED LESTER
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
IF eddie used the custom-custom i was not told that by him?
he insists that VH used a overwound PAF that seymour wound for him from a 61' gibson PAF.
eddie did use a duncan 59 in one kramer guitar.
can you tell me what record(s) did eddie use the custom custom on?
a friend of mine is a close buddy of EVH's he has known him since they went to high school together.BachToRock said:
IF eddie used the custom-custom i was not told that by him?
he insists that VH used a overwound PAF that seymour wound for him from a 61' gibson PAF.
eddie did use a duncan 59 in one kramer guitar.
can you tell me what record(s) did eddie use the custom custom on?
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
That's surprising. Did your friend ever note any difference in sound between the three? Is there any way this is a measurement problem... different wire lengths, etc (I'm just guessing, please don't yell at me.)
My friend's Big Apple Strat with Pearly Gates in the bridge does a nice job with EVH tones... plus a lots of other stuff. It's a very versatile p'up.
Lightning said:
That's surprising. Did your friend ever note any difference in sound between the three? Is there any way this is a measurement problem... different wire lengths, etc (I'm just guessing, please don't yell at me.)
My friend's Big Apple Strat with Pearly Gates in the bridge does a nice job with EVH tones... plus a lots of other stuff. It's a very versatile p'up.
WICKED LESTER
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
yes this is right EVH did not want the pup to lose the PAF mojo, so seymour wound it as hot as could be done and retian the PAF'ness of it
anything over a certain resistance loses that magic of a older PAF. :yell:
if you listen to eddies tone on the first three (VHI,VHII,and WACF)
they all have that paf type tone only hotter.
Eddie also used self wound pups, he took a dimarzio distortion for the bobbins and rewound it to 9.5K or so, and used the gibson paf magnet in it
this is the pup that is in his ibanez "sharkie" axe.
and is used on most of WACF.
Lightning said:
yes this is right EVH did not want the pup to lose the PAF mojo, so seymour wound it as hot as could be done and retian the PAF'ness of it
anything over a certain resistance loses that magic of a older PAF. :yell:
if you listen to eddies tone on the first three (VHI,VHII,and WACF)
they all have that paf type tone only hotter.
Eddie also used self wound pups, he took a dimarzio distortion for the bobbins and rewound it to 9.5K or so, and used the gibson paf magnet in it
this is the pup that is in his ibanez "sharkie" axe.
and is used on most of WACF.
T
TheArchitect
Guest
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
What was that all about?
Majestic said:
What was that all about?
T
TheArchitect
Guest
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
As for the amp, thats a difficult stretch. my plexi has standard spec Filter caps that are decidedly large for what they are. Doesn't necessarily mean they weren't stock. Any more info on it?BachToRock said:
rspst14
Tone Cat
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
I think it's safe to say that Ed has told different people different things in an attempt to keep his tone somewhat unique. Imagine if everyone and their brother was trying to copy your tone, you'd probably be a bit hesitant to reveal any of your secrets.
If you want a pickup that will get you that tone, and you don't want to spend the money on a custom shop pickup, put an A2 or A3 magnet in a Duncan '59.
Ryan
I think it's safe to say that Ed has told different people different things in an attempt to keep his tone somewhat unique. Imagine if everyone and their brother was trying to copy your tone, you'd probably be a bit hesitant to reveal any of your secrets.
If you want a pickup that will get you that tone, and you don't want to spend the money on a custom shop pickup, put an A2 or A3 magnet in a Duncan '59.
Ryan
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
I asked this question once, and got a great answer, from a tech within SD. The small machines we buy at Radio Shack or similar places are prone to readings all over the place. Local interferance, battery power, tempature, and most importantly, not being calabrated correctly or often enough. The specs and tolereances posted by SD are made using high end, highly calabrated equipment.
Lightning said:
I asked this question once, and got a great answer, from a tech within SD. The small machines we buy at Radio Shack or similar places are prone to readings all over the place. Local interferance, battery power, tempature, and most importantly, not being calabrated correctly or often enough. The specs and tolereances posted by SD are made using high end, highly calabrated equipment.
M
MrHeavyMetal
Guest
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
"How to get EVH's tone" has got to be the most hashed and rehashed topic in the guitarist world. It does keep the GAS flowing. Nothing wrong with that.
"How to get EVH's tone" has got to be the most hashed and rehashed topic in the guitarist world. It does keep the GAS flowing. Nothing wrong with that.
VHoholic
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
Hey 80sFan. You can get an early VH-type sound by using most PAF style pickups. I personally think the 59 does a great job also at getting that older VH-like tone. Depending on what PAF you are using, it will give you a slightly varied version of the tone from one PU to the next but they will all get you in the ballpark. Here's a few clips i did with the 59 to give you an idea how it sounds. These clips were done by taking out Ed's guitar and adding mine. It gives you a good idea how the Pickup sounds with the actual songs. I also have a bunch of 59 and other PU clips in my sig if your interested in hearing them.
Every body wants some
Van Halen 1st album
1st Album
Mean Street
Various VH song parts
Hey 80sFan. You can get an early VH-type sound by using most PAF style pickups. I personally think the 59 does a great job also at getting that older VH-like tone. Depending on what PAF you are using, it will give you a slightly varied version of the tone from one PU to the next but they will all get you in the ballpark. Here's a few clips i did with the 59 to give you an idea how it sounds. These clips were done by taking out Ed's guitar and adding mine. It gives you a good idea how the Pickup sounds with the actual songs. I also have a bunch of 59 and other PU clips in my sig if your interested in hearing them.
Every body wants some
Van Halen 1st album
1st Album
Mean Street
Various VH song parts
BachToRock
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
The Hot For Teacher clip sounds real nice!
The Hot For Teacher clip sounds real nice!
John_E_Guitar
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
The Evenly Voiced Harmonics...hands down!!! I chased that tone for 25 years...never quite nailed it until I bought the EVH (AKA 78) and slapped it into my guitar. BOOM...there it was, the VH1 tone!
Amazing and wonderful pickup. :-D
The Evenly Voiced Harmonics...hands down!!! I chased that tone for 25 years...never quite nailed it until I bought the EVH (AKA 78) and slapped it into my guitar. BOOM...there it was, the VH1 tone!
Amazing and wonderful pickup. :-D
twoheadedboy
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
Yeah VHoholic, your '59 clips are the main reason why i bought a '59 in the first place.
Yeah VHoholic, your '59 clips are the main reason why i bought a '59 in the first place.
Majestic
New member
Re: Best Pick up for EVH tone?
Ed's amp was stock. He admitted that he lied, and that Jose never modded it.
This was verified by Van-Whatshisface (some Dutch amp guru) who restored the amp years later with Ed's blessing. It appeared in a guitar magazine sometime around either 1994 or 1995, I believe.
Now, whether that was an additional lie by BOTH of them......I couldn't tell you. But it *is* the latest story, and the one that's been around for about 10 years.
I've never heard of EVH fooling around with the Custom, not EVER until you, BachtoRock, brought it up. Not only do I believe you, but I think it's a great idea, and that it makes sense (I'm referring to the Hybrid). In fact, I'd love to have one.
The only pickups Eddie has ever admitted to using are overwound & potted PAFs, a '59, and a rewound DiMarzio Super Distortion with a PAF magnet. I've also seen a photo of a pickup with 2 blades on it, so who knows. This doesn't take into account the single coils and teles that appear here & there throughout his albums.
Ed's amp was stock. He admitted that he lied, and that Jose never modded it.
This was verified by Van-Whatshisface (some Dutch amp guru) who restored the amp years later with Ed's blessing. It appeared in a guitar magazine sometime around either 1994 or 1995, I believe.
Now, whether that was an additional lie by BOTH of them......I couldn't tell you. But it *is* the latest story, and the one that's been around for about 10 years.
I've never heard of EVH fooling around with the Custom, not EVER until you, BachtoRock, brought it up. Not only do I believe you, but I think it's a great idea, and that it makes sense (I'm referring to the Hybrid). In fact, I'd love to have one.
The only pickups Eddie has ever admitted to using are overwound & potted PAFs, a '59, and a rewound DiMarzio Super Distortion with a PAF magnet. I've also seen a photo of a pickup with 2 blades on it, so who knows. This doesn't take into account the single coils and teles that appear here & there throughout his albums.