EVH tone

[renovatr]

Hello fellow guitar geeks, Can you recommend a pickup that nails Eddie`s tone on VH1? So far, I`ve purchased The SD Frankenstein pu, the SD Custom Custom pu, the SD JB antiquity and dare I say the DiMarzio super distortion pu... and believe it or not the Dimarzio is the pickup with the best response! The pickups with a ceramic magnet seem to have the closest tone but I think I can get closer! I have the correct amplification using a Marshall JMP Plexi reissue with a variac, lowering the plate voltage to the amp definitely makes a huge difference in achieving that tone. I`m also using a guitar with an ash body and a maple neck, so I feel that I`m on the right track... any recommendations would be appreciated!

 

[beaubrummels]

Welcome to the forum.

This question is well-covered. Searching past thread discussions would help the most. The short answer is that EVH used multiple instruments early on, so there probably isn't one pickup or guitar that does it all. But I'm sure you can find one of a few options that would suffice to do a lot of it. Conventional wisdom is that he had a Mighty Mite version of a DMZ Super Distortion in his Ibanez Destroyer and was used on most songs that didn't involve a vibrato arm, so it makes sense that it worked for you. Maybe have a look at these and see what you think...

 

[Sirion]

Welcome to the forum! One thing you do not mention is what speakers you are using. Unless this is something you believe already to have perfected, getting the ideal speakers for your cabinet is probably going to help you a lot more than all the pickups in the world are.

 

[Clint 55]

The 78 is supposed to be the EVH pickup.

 

[renovatr]

I did happen to see the Pete Thorn videos and they were very informative! Also, my 4x12 speaker cabinet is loaded with Celestion greenbacks, I haven`t had the chance to get the JBL D120s yet... I did purchase the ''78'' pickup years ago and unfortunately was disappointed with it...

 

[PFDarkside]

As cool as the Pete Thorn video is, Jim Gaustad does an amazing job of the full tone in this series. The takeaway is that a lot of the album was the Ibanez Destroyer, and probably loaded with some variation of a Super Distortion (either a Dimarzio or Mighty Mite version loaded with either the A8 from the Super 70, and A5 or A2 from one of his PAFs or maybe the stock ceramic)

 

[renovatr]

Thank you! I did happen to see all of Jim`s videos... I was communicating with him regarding the amplifier and guitar pickups... he gave me the suggestion about the JB antiquity pickup and although It sounds great I feel like it`s missing something...

 

[Masta' C]

... he gave me the suggestion about the JB antiquity pickup and although It sounds great I feel like it`s missing something...

If you aren't digging the '78 or the antiquity JB, you are probably looking for something with a bit more directness and output.

Next step up from the "Antiquity" JB would be the 35th Anniversary edition, which is my personal favorite iteration of the JB. There was a limited production version offered about 10 years ago, but the Custom Shop will wind you one of you ask.

Or, if you have the cash to spend and want to go real deal, old school, true-to-the-era with what EVH used, find a proper '70s "The JB Model" pickup. (Hint: there's one on Reverb right now!)

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Did EVH use the JB that way back, though? I always thought it was more of a late 80's thing for him. Like maybe even into the SLO era?

 

[idsnowdog]

Welcome to the forum.

This question is well-covered. Searching past thread discussions would help the most. The short answer is that EVH used multiple instruments early on, so there probably isn't one pickup or guitar that does it all. But I'm sure you can find one of a few options that would suffice to do a lot of it. Conventional wisdom is that he had a Mighty Mite version of a DMZ Super Distortion in his Ibanez Destroyer and was used on most songs that didn't involve a vibrato arm, so it makes sense that it worked for you. Maybe have a look at these and see what you think...

There were a few which sound like certain songs and albums but I thought the Mighty Mite really hit things on the head. I had ear fatigue leading up to the Mighty Mite but after hearing it just ticked most of the boxes.

 

[Mincer]

The Frankenstein from the Custom Shop is one that comes to mind. Read the description:

Edward Van Halen’s sound is the latter …and it got there instantaneously, with the first chord of his first record 40 years ago. That sound—with its punch, dimension, aggression, and detail defined an era, launched a tsunami of imitators, and inspired a generation. Now you can get your hands on a pickup that can deliver those VH tones,

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Is the Frankenstein is an antiquity'd Custom Custom?

 

[Mincer]

Is the Frankenstein is an antiquity'd Custom Custom?

Where does it say that?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Where does it say that?

I assumed? its is 14K A2. It is a rumor with a strong basis that the Custom was originally developed for him back in the day and he later modded it with a A2.

 

[Clint 55]

Get it and try it.

 

[beaubrummels]

The 78 is supposed to be the EVH pickup.

The 78 is how you get there with a 'normal' Marshall without a Variac. But if you've got the right amp and power management on it, then you'll need something else because the 78 will be too thin and bright.

 

[larryguitar]

I'll admit, watching Pete Thorn's video made me believe with the right amp, right hands and enough swagger in your playing, the pickup is almost irrelevant; so many of those sounded so close to EVH that I don't think the PU is the key factor.

Larry

 

[LLL]

LOL

Welcome to the forum.

This question is well-covered. Searching past thread discussions would help the most. The short answer is that EVH used multiple instruments early on, so there probably isn't one pickup or guitar that does it all. But I'm sure you can find one of a few options that would suffice to do a lot of it. Conventional wisdom is that he had a Mighty Mite version of a DMZ Super Distortion in his Ibanez Destroyer and was used on most songs that didn't involve a vibrato arm, so it makes sense that it worked for you. Maybe have a look at these and see what you think...

The 78 is supposed to be the EVH pickup.

The 78 is how you get there with a 'normal' Marshall without a Variac. But if you've got the right amp and power management on it, then you'll need something else because the 78 will be too thin and bright.

 

[LLL]

Hello fellow guitar geeks, Can you recommend a pickup that nails Eddie`s tone on VH1?

Don't let the "experts" steer you wrong.

It's the SH-5 Custom. Period.

And it is the only pickup from back then that has provenance; i.e. pickup tied to the Van Halen name (1979 Guitar Player mag SD ad for a brief month).

"PAF on steroids".

VH1 tone (as close as I wanted to get):






Also does a great 1984 album tone with some EQing (or just use the SH-11 Custom Custom, which is the SH-5s brother because same wind, but A2 magnet):



There's more to the album tone as well (68 Plexi w .68uF bypass on V2, Sunset Sound studios, EMT140, Pultecs etc) but that is a topic unto itself.

 

[LLL]

As cool as the Pete Thorn video is, Jim Gaustad does an amazing job of the full tone in this series. The takeaway is that a lot of the album was the Ibanez Destroyer, and probably loaded with some variation of a Super Distortion (either a Dimarzio or Mighty Mite version loaded with either the A8 from the Super 70, and A5 or A2 from one of his PAFs or maybe the stock ceramic)

Excellent suggestion!

Jim Gaustad knows his shit on VH and deep dives way more than Pete Thorn (who barely scratches the surface).

Ossie Ashen is another who knows the drill:

https://www.youtube.com/@ossieahsen6732