Pickups for early VH sound
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IanBallard
New member
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
No, because the 78 is a tad hotter and wound differently. If I'm not mistaken the Super 70's wind was about the same as a 59N (high 7k range) but had the A8 in it. Maybe you could swap the A2 for an A8 in your 59 and get a Super 70 kind of tone?
I also have a Super Distortion that I'd like to mod with an A2. I'd really love to build a VHII yellow/black someday and that would work nice, since that guitar (at least initially) had a DiMarzio in it and Ed (allegedly) did a mag swap and liked it better than the ceramic.
No, because the 78 is a tad hotter and wound differently. If I'm not mistaken the Super 70's wind was about the same as a 59N (high 7k range) but had the A8 in it. Maybe you could swap the A2 for an A8 in your 59 and get a Super 70 kind of tone?
I also have a Super Distortion that I'd like to mod with an A2. I'd really love to build a VHII yellow/black someday and that would work nice, since that guitar (at least initially) had a DiMarzio in it and Ed (allegedly) did a mag swap and liked it better than the ceramic.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
I'd rather have a Grolsch...
I'd rather have a Grolsch...
AudioWonderland
New member
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
The correct answer IMO is the PG
The correct answer IMO is the PG
IanBallard
New member
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
Maybe somebody should build a very accurate replica of the VH1 guitar and test out several of these (and other) choices with an accurate amp setup. It would be interesting.
Maybe somebody should build a very accurate replica of the VH1 guitar and test out several of these (and other) choices with an accurate amp setup. It would be interesting.
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
I want to shootout a '78 and a VHII bridge model vs. the Screamin' Demon/490R hybrid I made. Not because I'm going for VH tone either, I want to use them as neck pickups.
I'm gonna go buy some Grolsch now.
I want to shootout a '78 and a VHII bridge model vs. the Screamin' Demon/490R hybrid I made. Not because I'm going for VH tone either, I want to use them as neck pickups.
I'm gonna go buy some Grolsch now.
marcello252
Well-known member
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
I've just made a 59/customcustom hybrid with the A2 magnet and it sounds veeeeeery good in my strat.
I've just made a 59/customcustom hybrid with the A2 magnet and it sounds veeeeeery good in my strat.
Desert
New member
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
I'd love to see the documentation. I have never seen an interview that claimed that. Phasers run before a dimed decent Super lead sound like VH I, IMO, same with the Flanger.
Ed even said in one early interview that Jose would mod his MXR Phase and Flanger pedals for more gain. I don't know why someone would want that in a set-up where they are going to clean power amps.
I'd love to see the documentation. I have never seen an interview that claimed that. Phasers run before a dimed decent Super lead sound like VH I, IMO, same with the Flanger.
Ed even said in one early interview that Jose would mod his MXR Phase and Flanger pedals for more gain. I don't know why someone would want that in a set-up where they are going to clean power amps.
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Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Players-Positively-Van-Halen-Winter-1986-Vol-2-No-2-Free-USA-Shipping-/130597288337?pt=Magazines&hash=item1e68347991
i read that mag so many times as a teenager. Everything you need to know is in there and in Ed's own words. Its all the interviews he does up to 1984 he says pretty much everything that you can glean about his early sounds. Theres also a section of eddie's "tips for beginners" and few transcriptions of eruption etc by Steve Vai.
If you are a VH nut, id recommend buying it straight up before someone else does.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-Players-Positively-Van-Halen-Winter-1986-Vol-2-No-2-Free-USA-Shipping-/130597288337?pt=Magazines&hash=item1e68347991
i read that mag so many times as a teenager. Everything you need to know is in there and in Ed's own words. Its all the interviews he does up to 1984 he says pretty much everything that you can glean about his early sounds. Theres also a section of eddie's "tips for beginners" and few transcriptions of eruption etc by Steve Vai.
If you are a VH nut, id recommend buying it straight up before someone else does.
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Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
Is it Ground Hog Day already? Damn, I never sent anyone a card....
Is it Ground Hog Day already? Damn, I never sent anyone a card....
AudioWonderland
New member
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
The best early tones are from a PG IMO. From Fair Warning through maybe 5150 a CC is the best choice. After that who knows or cares. Its just a generic high gain sound
The best early tones are from a PG IMO. From Fair Warning through maybe 5150 a CC is the best choice. After that who knows or cares. Its just a generic high gain sound
richard parker
Active member
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
dazzlindino
New member
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
have 59's with a2 and a5
have 78 with a2 and tried a5
have dimarzio super distortion ceramic
have seymour custom custom a2 tried a5
have seymour jb a5 tried a2
tired them all with the same maple cap fretboard northern ash standard vitage trem
answer: old school undipped unwound coils jb to 15k with a sandcast a5....
have 59's with a2 and a5
have 78 with a2 and tried a5
have dimarzio super distortion ceramic
have seymour custom custom a2 tried a5
have seymour jb a5 tried a2
tired them all with the same maple cap fretboard northern ash standard vitage trem
answer: old school undipped unwound coils jb to 15k with a sandcast a5....
Re: Pickups for early VH sound
Ed used a low output A2 pickup which he rewound. So A2 would give it a warm sound. I've had very Ed-like tones with my Gibson Burstbucker3 which is A2 vintage pickup but the hottest Burstbucker which gives it enough power to do all the heavy stuff. It's very raw and unpolished sound for rock.
Some say the Dimarzio Tone Zone is one of the "EVH" pickups out there. It's very warm open sound but with a lot of power which will help to get the headroom. Low power pickups can sometimes be hard to play with a lot of gain they might get muddy.
If you can spend the money, the Duncan Custom Shop 78 might be THE "EVH" pickup, because hte fisrt Van Halen album came out 78 and the pickup used to be called "Evenly Voiced Harmonics" ( E V H ) Coincidence?
Ed used a low output A2 pickup which he rewound. So A2 would give it a warm sound. I've had very Ed-like tones with my Gibson Burstbucker3 which is A2 vintage pickup but the hottest Burstbucker which gives it enough power to do all the heavy stuff. It's very raw and unpolished sound for rock.
Some say the Dimarzio Tone Zone is one of the "EVH" pickups out there. It's very warm open sound but with a lot of power which will help to get the headroom. Low power pickups can sometimes be hard to play with a lot of gain they might get muddy.
If you can spend the money, the Duncan Custom Shop 78 might be THE "EVH" pickup, because hte fisrt Van Halen album came out 78 and the pickup used to be called "Evenly Voiced Harmonics" ( E V H ) Coincidence?
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