The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

[Robert S.]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

What everyone in this thread is missing (as well as the other thread about someone claiming to replicate the Frankenstein pickup) is that the 78 and the pickup in the Frankenstein are not the same pickup. It's not because we had to "change" something, or because of any agreement with Fender, etc. It's because the pickup in the Frankenstein represents what is in his Franky today. It is not the 78, which represents a very special pickup Seymour wound in 1978. The Franky pickup is not a modified 78 either. It's a different pickup.

We can not and would not divulge any details, but suffice it to say, some details will probably come out over time. I can tell you this: Some of the rumors I see (as well as the assertions of the so-called replicas) are completely absurd. If you want the pickup that's in the Frankenstein, then buy that guitar, or wait around until someone like Eddie or Fender decides to sell that pickup. To go to a third party for what they interperet as the replica of that pickup, to me, is complete silliness. It's like making a "Slash replica" pickup. The guy has been playing Alnico II Pros right out of stock since the beginning. All you have to do is order an Alnico II Pro. Why would someone claim to "replicate" it? Do our employees somehow wind it differently when we can tell it will go to Slash? :banghead: No. It's the same great hand crafted pickup you can buy at your local retailer.

As of right now, I can tell you with nearly 100% accuracy that no one is making an correct replica of this pickup. I haven't tried them all, and it seems like every boutique pickup maker has a pickup with some fake Van Halen-ish name. Some are attempts to copy the 78, some are attempts to copy the Frankenstein pickup, and some are attempts to copy the Custom Custom, and no one can do it better than Seymour. So to me the rest of it is just fodder. But everyone likes a mysteries and treasure hunts, so it'll never end. And Eddie did use lots of different pickups and guitars, so depending on what you're trying to chase, it could keep you busy for quite awhile!

I like having Frank around!

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

What everyone in this thread is missing (as well as the other thread about someone claiming to replicate the Frankenstein pickup) is that the 78 and the pickup in the Frankenstein are not the same pickup.

I thought my quote said exactly that....... Hmm....LOL

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

As of right now, I can tell you with nearly 100% accuracy that no one is making an correct replica of this pickup.

If the Metro amps dudes are to be believed, Ibanez probably could........LOL
:naughty::naughty::naughty::scratchch:scratchch:scratchch:sword::sword::sword::nana::nana::nana::bigok::bigok::bigok:

 

[kjrocks]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

I thought my quote said exactly that....... Hmm....LOL

I read it

 

[open]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

After reding Frank's post,there you have it,do some experimenting on your own,just like Ed did.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

We as guitarists are spoiled today, we "know" that 500k is the "norm" for buckers. Gibson did it, and eventually everyone followed suit. BUT if you take the timeline context of Van Halen for example, he knew he needed a pot, a short one like Fender uses because it was a strat body. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess he didn't exactly go to GC and ask for a 500k pot or Gibson pot. I'm going to guess he used what he had around, what fit, or what he canibalized. Luke

Can I start the thread where we discuss whether Eddie used 250k or 500k pots? Nothing like 3 or 4 pages of EVH obsession over his potentiometers. More like the X-Files or CSI trying to uncover the mystery. lol

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

After reding Frank's post,there you have it,do some experimenting on your own,just like Ed did.

If you're paying $60 a pop to have the thing overnighted, and another $90 to have it installed, this experiment becomes very expensive very quickly.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

the best thing to do, is to take an EVH project and add your own bits and pieces to it. A lot of people want ed's tone from VH1, but in reality, nobody will ever be able to (im guilty of trying to get it to). only ed can sound like ed, its just like if ed hear you play and wanted to sound just like you......he wouldn't be able to cuz its just the way it is. I remember reading an interview from ted nugent and he said when he and van halen played on the same tour one year and Ed let him plug his guitar guitar into his set-up and ted said he still sounded like ted. so be creative and take something Ed did and build off of it

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

I thought my quote said exactly that....... Hmm....LOL

It sort of did. What I'm referring to are the posts suggesting that it's like only mildly different than the 78, or that it's like "loosely based on" the 78. It's not. So yes, you said it correctly, but I was reacting to stuff like this:

I heard that when they first came out (the 78 model) they were great Pickups but I think that SD had to change something in them due to Ed`s new deal w/ Fender.

Anyway it's all in good fun. Let's keep it light-hearted. If someone wants to suggest that they know the secret recipes just by looking at or taking readings from something, while not considering that Seymour actually DOES know the secret recipes, and is in many cases responsible for a lot of artists' secret recipes, that just adds to the fun.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

It sort of did. What I'm referring to are the posts suggesting that it's like only mildly different than the 78, or that it's like "loosely based on" the 78. It's not. So yes, you said it correctly, but I was reacting to stuff like this:

Anyway it's all in good fun. Let's keep it light-hearted. If someone wants to suggest that they know the secret recipes just by looking at or taking readings from something, while not considering that Seymour actually DOES know the secret recipes, and is in many cases responsible for a lot of artists' secret recipes, that just adds to the fun.

Its all fun Frank. I love this stuff!!! I understand completely where you are coming from.. Don't mind me being a smart ass..... Sense of humor is a little dry sometimes. I do think its funny though how you guys are obligated to be as secretive as EVH was just because he could.....LOL

 

[Thunder]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

Hey Joeyfingers.
I've got a 78' in my Strat and it nails VHl & ll easy. This is the 'pickup' as frankfalbo
stated. There's other parts to the equation though; ash body Strat / maple neck - 500K pot
- EQ to push front end of good cranking Marshall - Greenbacks. This should get you real close.
You also have to remember that there was alot of studio magic made by Ted Templeman too.
Anywayz, the 78' is the Real thing!

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

how about the '78 in a kramer? i got a kramer '85 baretta rissue and am thinking about putting the '78 in it. any imput?

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

how about the '78 in a kramer? i got a kramer '85 baretta rissue and am thinking about putting the '78 in it. any imput?

Oooo. That could be cool.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

Oooo. That could be cool.

ya im thinkin the same thing:naughty:

 

[Thunder]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

The 78' wired direct to the pot would be COOL!

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

The 78' wired direct to the pot would be COOL!

what do you mean "directly to the pot," i thought thats how all pups are wired?

 

[Thunder]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

Wire it directly to the input lug. No tone control either.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

Wire it directly to the input lug. No tone control either.

ya my baretta reissue does not have a tone control, just the single volume knob

 

[Thunder]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

Perfect! My 78' was originaly hooked up to a 5-way. Cool, but not as cool as wired direct. Some players say it dosn't matter, but I can definetly hear the difference.

 

[kramer.geetar]

Re: The "78" /AKA EVH pickup

how about the '78 in a kramer? i got a kramer '85 baretta rissue and am thinking about putting the '78 in it. any imput?

Not sure how that would sound would be interesting though cause that Baretta Reissue is made of maple. I have the '78 model in my '83 Kramer Pacer Special (poplar body) and its unreal. I had it before in my '86 Kramer Focus 1000 (alder body, Japanese made import version of the Baretta) and its was awesome too. So I would definitely give it a shot if I were you