CC- Frankenstein

[Blix]

Sooo, the Frankenstein is evidently a CC with 25 years of wear/use/abuse right?

I've been of a EVH quest lately, and the CC is indeed the pickup getting me closest to that tone. Something about those fat crunchy highs.
Fat highs? Yeah that sounds moronic, but I swear this pickup has it...

 

[IanBallard]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Yeah, it's pretty close. The Frankie pup is 14k and the CC is 14.4. We also don't know, unless Seymour or others "in the know" comment, if there is a difference in the wind or if the coils are asymmetrical on either.

But sound-wise, yeah it's close if you have an amp that gives similar EQ and crunch to a Super Lead Plexi. I have an EL-34 driven Crate that comes in the ballpark with the bright and mid-boost circuits on.

Remember the pickup EVH sells, states it's "modern take" on the old pickup. So, likely Seymour voiced a higher output pickup like old one, so that if Ed used it on stage with his normal rig, it would sound on-par with his high output Wolfgang guitars. Also, when Ed switched to a Floyd around the time of Fair Warning, he needed a higher output pickup to fatten the tone, so it's likely that guitar had more than one pickup in it over the years. The "Frankie" is supposed to be the one that was in it when it was retired after Diver Down and there are allegations that the CC was similar to the one in his Kramer prototype he used on 1984.

 

[Aceman]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Greatings blix!

CC has long been a recommended go to pup for VH. I have one in an Epiphone LP, and if I really want to nail pretty woman, or panama - that's my go to.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

The CC is a great choice for VH......but with the right guitar and amp. I had a CC in my Kramer baretta for a while. It was made of a all maple and had a floyd. It's safe to say that thing was BRIGHT! the CC really helped fatten it up. When I played it through my JCM800, it got pretty close to Van Halen......especially Ed's "1984" tone.

IMO, the CC is best used with a bright guitar or a bright amp....or both.

 

[marcello252]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

I built a CC/59 hybryd, using the CC A2 magnet, for my ash strat and now the vibe is (amazingly) pretty close to what I perceive as the vh sound.

my .02

 

[Blix]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

I think we should make a sticky for Van Halen pickup FAQ. Call it something Vague like '78 Brown sound guide... to you know hide the fact the SD actually makes a few Van Halen styled pickups... Don't tell nobody.

Just saying. It'll be the equivalent of "No Stairway to Heaven" for the forum. Just point to the sticky.

Haha yeah, there is quite a few of them, and here I am with another..
Oh well.

 

[Blix]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Hey man... No biggie against you... We just get a lot of those questions and I think it is sticky worthy.

Rock on buddy.

Yeah, no problemo. I'm a moderator at a huge longboard forum, I really should know better :1: Hehe. : private:

But to be relevant(ish), fun clip of my CC in action:

http://soundcloud.com/amund-blix/tears-3 Just half the song, but still fun.

Kramer Pacer Classic 2010 that came in the mail yesterday.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Simply put, the Frankenstein pickup is nothing more than a dead-on reproduction of a very specific pickup in a very specific guitar.

 

[Blix]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Simply put, the Frankenstein pickup is nothing more than a dead-on reproduction of a very specific pickup in a very specific guitar.

Uhm yeah it is...

I'll buy one and find out myself. Thanks for chiming in Evan.

 

[whatshisname]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Yeah, I wouldn't take Evan's word for it. It's not like he would have any inside information, or anything... :doh:

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Yeah, I wouldn't take Evan's word for it. It's not like he would have any inside information, or anything... :doh:

I think he believed every word Evan said. What wasn't said is exactly what very specific pickup was in that very specific guitar that they duplicated. Thats what Blix wants to find out

 

[IanBallard]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

I think he believed every word Evan said. What wasn't said is exactly what very specific pickup was in that very specific guitar that they duplicated. Thats what Blix wants to find out

The last one that was in it. I think that's pretty clear. There were likely previous pickups but that's not what the EVH model is supposed to be. After the Floyd, he needed a thicker, hotter pickup. It's not going to replicate "Little Dreamer" tone, but more of an "Unchained" tone.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

The last one that was in it. I think that's pretty clear. There were likely previous pickups but that's not what the EVH model is supposed to be. After the Floyd, he needed a thicker, hotter pickup. It's not going to replicate "Little Dreamer" tone, but more of an "Unchained" tone.

I think your missing the point....

 

[astrozombie]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

I think your missing the point....

I think I'm missing the point too.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

I think I'm missing the point too.

Could the specs of the Franky pickup be any closer to a particular existing model?
Who do you think likely built that pickup for Eddie in the first place?
Maybe the same people who replicated it for him?
Think maybe they know but can't talk for contractual reasons??

Do you really think EVH stand for "Evenly Voiced Harmonics" or JB stand for "Jazz/Blues"? Which guitarist to you think "78" refers to?

If I wake up in the morning and there is snow on the ground I don't need the weatherman to tell me it snowed over night.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Lol

 

[Blix]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

I think he believed every word Evan said. What wasn't said is exactly what very specific pickup was in that very specific guitar that they duplicated. Thats what Blix wants to find out

Uh, this thread lived on and I didn't notice. Yeah, you are correct.

I ordered a Frankenstein this morning, so I''l figure out myself how much the CC and Frankenstein differs, or not

 

[Rick]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

I ordered a Frankenstein this morning, so I''l figure out myself how much the CC and Frankenstein differs, or not

Well?

 

[Blix]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

Well?

I did a recording with the guitar before changing the pickup, and recorded again immediately after, and after A/B'ing them going back and fourth a million times I found a difference, the tiniest itty bittiest difference.

The Frankenstein is just a little hair warmer and have slightly less output, but it's virtually impossible to hear really.
As far as I'm concerned, they are the very same pickup, with the small difference possibly being the degaussed magnet.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: CC- Frankenstein

FWIW,

Seymour duncan sh-11 Custom-custom- 14-k,symetrical wound with AWG 43 poly,full strength alnico II magnet,4 conductor wire standard,

EVH frankenstein- 14.k,symetrical wound with AWG 43 poly,degaussed alnico II, vintage braided 2 conductor wire standard.
looks to me the only DIFFERENCE is the aged magnet in the EVH.

here is a guy who took readings of each coil on a frankenstein pu proving it is symetrical

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=33832