The real pickups behind Van Halen 78 album tone's and others.

[LLL]

Re: The real pickups behind Van Halen 78 album tone's and others.

Back on topic.... :13:

As we all (should) know, every album has tonal differences. So I think it's smart to note which album in particular...

I wouldn't use a '57 Classic for VH1 tone... or any 1984-before tone.

There are 3 pickups which I have used in my testing which cut the mustard using a plexi-style Marshall plus true EP-3 preamp:

1) SD SH-5 Custom w 6 hole trem (provenance in print as well - VH1)
2) SD SH-11 Custom Custom w Floyd (for later stuff like 1984)
3) BK VHII w 6 hole trem (with boost in front of plexi only; not powerful enough to drive plexi itself to VH1 levels)

Out of those three, the SH-5 Custom does VH1 the best with a '68 plexi (.68uF cap on V2) circuit and no boost, plus true EP-3 preamp (supposedly how Ed ran things).

And the SH-5 seems to share most of the tonal DNA of VH2 and the next two albums... meaning, you're definitely in the ballpark grabbing a $10 beer.
However, IMO the '78 (formerly known as Evenly Voiced Harmonics) style was prolly VH2... you could add the BK VHII to that as well.

Of note, Ed started slipping in more and more Eventide starting with VH2 (theoretically some bit guitar parts on VH1).

 

[pittbull]

Re: The real pickups behind Van Halen 78 album tone's and others.

Grumptruck that’s not me playing I found that on YouTube and it caught my ear. LLL I hear you the Duncan Custom and the Dimarzio Super Distortion for VH 1 , Rockstah Mod 5(Mark A. RIP) used the Dimarzio Super Distortion on all his clips which sounded amazing he used the Motorcity blackbelt(alnico II)pickup only on the clips with his Orange tolex amp which still had a great sound.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: The real pickups behind Van Halen 78 album tone's and others.

Back on topic.... :13:

As we all (should) know, every album has tonal differences. So I think it's smart to note which album in particular...

I wouldn't use a '57 Classic for VH1 tone... or any 1984-before tone.

There are 3 pickups which I have used in my testing which cut the mustard using a plexi-style Marshall plus true EP-3 preamp:

1) SD SH-5 Custom w 6 hole trem (provenance in print as well - VH1)
2) SD SH-11 Custom Custom w Floyd (for later stuff like 1984)
3) BK VHII w 6 hole trem (with boost in front of plexi only; not powerful enough to drive plexi itself to VH1 levels)

Out of those three, the SH-5 Custom does VH1 the best with a '68 plexi (.68uF cap on V2) circuit and no boost, plus true EP-3 preamp (supposedly how Ed ran things).

And the SH-5 seems to share most of the tonal DNA of VH2 and the next two albums... meaning, you're definitely in the ballpark grabbing a $10 beer.
However, IMO the '78 (formerly known as Evenly Voiced Harmonics) style was prolly VH2... you could add the BK VHII to that as well.

Of note, Ed started slipping in more and more Eventide starting with VH2 (theoretically some bit guitar parts on VH1).

I’m assuming you’re referring to the ceramic magnet Custom and not the A5 version?

 

[pittbull]

Re: The real pickups behind Van Halen 78 album tone's and others.

That’s correct,leaving for a gig have a great weekend.......

 

[LLL]

Re: The real pickups behind Van Halen 78 album tone's and others.

I’m assuming you’re referring to the ceramic magnet Custom and not the A5 version?

Yep. the Custom (SH-5), not the Custom5 (SH-14 IIRC).

 

[Bill Dennis]

This is incorrect, as the album was recorded August 30 – September 1977.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Halen_(album)

...aside the fact that the 1st album tone has zero evidence of an A2 magnet; on the contrary, it reeks of ceramic sizzle.

I think your point about the pickup being called the 78 meaning that it can't be what was in the B&W guitar is incorrect. I was around here back when that happened. Calling it the 78 was more of an obvious nod nod wink wink to VH because VH1 came out in 78. Calling it the 77 would have just confused people.

Now, that said, I don't really hear PAF on the first record.i think it's possible the Shark had a mighty mite or super 70 and the Frankie had what became the Custom. It's very hard to say. With the brightness of the jbl and boost of the ep3 preamp, it's a much murkier quesripn