Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
- Thread starter pittbull
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idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
The PAF Pro is more Joe Satriani than EVH. It is a very nice smooth pickup with decent clarity but it isn't rude enough for Van Halen. Their original PAF comes close though. I also think their virtual hot PAF might be a good choice.
The PAF Pro is more Joe Satriani than EVH. It is a very nice smooth pickup with decent clarity but it isn't rude enough for Van Halen. Their original PAF comes close though. I also think their virtual hot PAF might be a good choice.
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
+1 Paf Pro sounds real similar to Vai and not alot like Vh
+1 Paf Pro sounds real similar to Vai and not alot like Vh
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
I was just playing my PAF Pro equipped Yamaha today. I'm going to go against the conventional wisdom here. You know how a lot of people say a CC will do awesome early VH? (If you don't know, they do say that!) I have always felt that the PAF Pro is sort of like a CC lite. I think it would do early VH Very well! It was this afternoon inmy living room!!!!!!!
A lot of people get all up-tite about exactly what sort of old Gibson PAF he used. I think they miss the big point: Ed just threw the guitar together. The real VH sound comes from that Brown Modded-Marshall. And the effects, of course. The one thing IMO that has really been key to a really good VH tone has been some subtle mid boost. Not too much - or maybe not too much mid cut. I think PAF Pro bumps in the middle in a nice way for early VH - perhaps better than the CC.
I was just playing my PAF Pro equipped Yamaha today. I'm going to go against the conventional wisdom here. You know how a lot of people say a CC will do awesome early VH? (If you don't know, they do say that!) I have always felt that the PAF Pro is sort of like a CC lite. I think it would do early VH Very well! It was this afternoon inmy living room!!!!!!!
A lot of people get all up-tite about exactly what sort of old Gibson PAF he used. I think they miss the big point: Ed just threw the guitar together. The real VH sound comes from that Brown Modded-Marshall. And the effects, of course. The one thing IMO that has really been key to a really good VH tone has been some subtle mid boost. Not too much - or maybe not too much mid cut. I think PAF Pro bumps in the middle in a nice way for early VH - perhaps better than the CC.
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
Welcome to the forum. This subject has been addressed MANY times. Try the search function.
But to answer your question...+1 to Omni9X. Many forum users have also created great early EVH tones with the Custom series pickups backed off a bit from the strings.
DiMarzios are a bit compressed (to me) so I don't think they are the best choice for early EVH tone. You need a more "true" PAF tone. Keep in mind EVH worked with Seymour Duncan in the early days...probably a better choice than DiMarzio.
Another option...search the forum for hybrid pickups. Our own BachToRock makes them. 1 bobbin is a '59, the other is a Custom series (get the A2 mag version). It does early EVH very well too.
Keep in mind the '78 or "Evenly Voiced Harmonic" custom shop pickup as well...Evenly Voiced Harmonic...E V H...get it? ; )
Welcome to the forum. This subject has been addressed MANY times. Try the search function.
But to answer your question...+1 to Omni9X. Many forum users have also created great early EVH tones with the Custom series pickups backed off a bit from the strings.
DiMarzios are a bit compressed (to me) so I don't think they are the best choice for early EVH tone. You need a more "true" PAF tone. Keep in mind EVH worked with Seymour Duncan in the early days...probably a better choice than DiMarzio.
Another option...search the forum for hybrid pickups. Our own BachToRock makes them. 1 bobbin is a '59, the other is a Custom series (get the A2 mag version). It does early EVH very well too.
Keep in mind the '78 or "Evenly Voiced Harmonic" custom shop pickup as well...Evenly Voiced Harmonic...E V H...get it? ; )
Last edited:
walt
New member
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
The VHPaf is anything but compressed, the CC to me was compressed, the 59 was open sounding but was lacking something, the VHPaf really nails the early VH stuff. Ed experimented with both Duncan and Dimarzio, so it's really hard to tell what he was using and when he was using it.
The VHPaf is anything but compressed, the CC to me was compressed, the 59 was open sounding but was lacking something, the VHPaf really nails the early VH stuff. Ed experimented with both Duncan and Dimarzio, so it's really hard to tell what he was using and when he was using it.
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
I've tried th VHot PAF in a couple guitars. Most people love 'em--I can't stand them. Just a matter of personal preference I guess.
As far as the compression thing goes I was generalizing DiMarzios vs Duncans. It wasn't a very apt statement in regards to the specifics of his question or the pickups that were mentioned--my bad. I agree about the Custom being compressed and I have no first hand experience getting EVH tone out of them...I'm just going by what many forum bros have said.
I've tried th VHot PAF in a couple guitars. Most people love 'em--I can't stand them. Just a matter of personal preference I guess.
As far as the compression thing goes I was generalizing DiMarzios vs Duncans. It wasn't a very apt statement in regards to the specifics of his question or the pickups that were mentioned--my bad. I agree about the Custom being compressed and I have no first hand experience getting EVH tone out of them...I'm just going by what many forum bros have said.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
A Seymour Duncan '78 Model, '59 Model or a DiMarzio PAF in a mahogany bodied guitar through a loud Marshall. Remember, most of Van Halen 1 was recorded with a Korina Ibanez Destroyer.
Now, what I use, even though it doesn't nail the tone but that's not the point, the vibe is more important, is a DiMarzio PAF in my Kramer, a Brobucker in one Strat and a Custom Custom in another Strat. Both Strats have an alder body. Any of the those guitars can get in the ballpark and capture the vibe with the right amp settings.
A Seymour Duncan '78 Model, '59 Model or a DiMarzio PAF in a mahogany bodied guitar through a loud Marshall. Remember, most of Van Halen 1 was recorded with a Korina Ibanez Destroyer.
Now, what I use, even though it doesn't nail the tone but that's not the point, the vibe is more important, is a DiMarzio PAF in my Kramer, a Brobucker in one Strat and a Custom Custom in another Strat. Both Strats have an alder body. Any of the those guitars can get in the ballpark and capture the vibe with the right amp settings.
scotchtape
New member
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
hi all....
been watching ur comments and so confusing so i will end this ..
check this site and read it... http://www.legendarytones.com/evh pickup.html
hope these helps.
hi all....
been watching ur comments and so confusing so i will end this ..
check this site and read it... http://www.legendarytones.com/evh pickup.html
hope these helps.
Reckless Abandon
New member
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
The amp is the most important thing we mortals can do to get that sound.
The amp is the most important thing we mortals can do to get that sound.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
Not surprising considering most of the first album was recording with an early Korina Destroyer (pre-butcher job).
Is that Super Strat of yours one of your two Clones?
Not surprising considering most of the first album was recording with an early Korina Destroyer (pre-butcher job).
Is that Super Strat of yours one of your two Clones?
51501984
New member
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
Yep , it`s the first Clone I got with a maple neck and hardtail bridge. That early Ibanez Destroyer Ed had supposedly had a Super Distorton with an A2 magnet in it.
Yep , it`s the first Clone I got with a maple neck and hardtail bridge. That early Ibanez Destroyer Ed had supposedly had a Super Distorton with an A2 magnet in it.
roadstar II
New member
Re: Dimarzio Paf Pro For Old Van Halen Sound
yes and most dont know that ibanez had two stock super 70's pup back then
I have 3 super 70's and they sound very EVH, moreso than the duncan EVH(78)
or the 59. the super 70's have a gibby T-top style tone which is very glassy and almost P-90-ish. try one and you will see what i mean
getting back to the paf pro, through my marshall plexi RI the paf pro sounds real early EVH.
I disagree about the pro sounding VAI I
think it is more about what amp you use with the paf pro
with a plexi the pro is not VAI at all
yes and most dont know that ibanez had two stock super 70's pup back then
I have 3 super 70's and they sound very EVH, moreso than the duncan EVH(78)
or the 59. the super 70's have a gibby T-top style tone which is very glassy and almost P-90-ish. try one and you will see what i mean
getting back to the paf pro, through my marshall plexi RI the paf pro sounds real early EVH.
I disagree about the pro sounding VAI I
think it is more about what amp you use with the paf pro
with a plexi the pro is not VAI at all
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