van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
- Thread starter pittbull
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Majestic
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Have you read nothing that we've typed?
You need a PAF-type pickup, a Marshall, plenty of treble, and selective stomping on your delay and phaser pedal (set to zero).
You're making way, waaaaay too much out of this. There isn't a pleasant sounding tone on the album. It's very naked, raw, and in your face.
If you don't zing the strings like Eddie, you're not going to sound like him.
"Best right hand in the business", as Joe Satriani said.
Here is an example of VHaholic playing his '59. It almost sounds like "Eddie playing White Lion". The PAF is practically as naked as you can get, and that's the sound of VH 1:
http://www.jasonjosephphotography.com/wait59.mp3
:reporter:
Have you read nothing that we've typed?
You need a PAF-type pickup, a Marshall, plenty of treble, and selective stomping on your delay and phaser pedal (set to zero).
You're making way, waaaaay too much out of this. There isn't a pleasant sounding tone on the album. It's very naked, raw, and in your face.
If you don't zing the strings like Eddie, you're not going to sound like him.
"Best right hand in the business", as Joe Satriani said.
Here is an example of VHaholic playing his '59. It almost sounds like "Eddie playing White Lion". The PAF is practically as naked as you can get, and that's the sound of VH 1:
http://www.jasonjosephphotography.com/wait59.mp3
:reporter:
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
I'd give the pearly gates a go for the early VH tone.
I think it's about as close as you're going to get without going custom shop... Just IMO.
Sorry but that clip doesn't even sound close to EVH. It's way way to dark. I can get closer than that without even trying.
I'd give the pearly gates a go for the early VH tone.
I think it's about as close as you're going to get without going custom shop... Just IMO.
Sorry but that clip doesn't even sound close to EVH. It's way way to dark. I can get closer than that without even trying.
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MattPete
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
OK, I'd say that clip wasn't even close.
This is a lot closer (and I don't think this person was specifically shooting for VH): http://www.funnymoneyband.com/sw/tubesclip1.mp3
That clips was an SD Pearly Gates through an MXR EQ and into a modified Plexi.
OK, I'd say that clip wasn't even close.
This is a lot closer (and I don't think this person was specifically shooting for VH): http://www.funnymoneyband.com/sw/tubesclip1.mp3
That clips was an SD Pearly Gates through an MXR EQ and into a modified Plexi.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
VHolic rules and we're all fools...
I'm always amused when we go into Forensic Tone Scene Investigation mode with certain guys. Ed is one of them. He did crazy stuff. He did whatever worked. He changed his mind and gear - a lot. And, like a lot of the greats, what really makes his tone is his head, heart and hands.
Clapton's tone is in his hands mostly. He, or Ed, or a bunch of guys could walk in, pick up my LP, through my Roland Cube set on anything and be 80% plus Ed-tone. I could be in Ed's house with his official gear for what ever and not even get a 10% rating.
Get a strat w/ a 59 and a zingy Marshall and go for it! I'm not saying that there are tone hounds out there worth analyzing, but it's just foolishness with many - and Ed's one of them.
VHolic rules and we're all fools...
I'm always amused when we go into Forensic Tone Scene Investigation mode with certain guys. Ed is one of them. He did crazy stuff. He did whatever worked. He changed his mind and gear - a lot. And, like a lot of the greats, what really makes his tone is his head, heart and hands.
Clapton's tone is in his hands mostly. He, or Ed, or a bunch of guys could walk in, pick up my LP, through my Roland Cube set on anything and be 80% plus Ed-tone. I could be in Ed's house with his official gear for what ever and not even get a 10% rating.
Get a strat w/ a 59 and a zingy Marshall and go for it! I'm not saying that there are tone hounds out there worth analyzing, but it's just foolishness with many - and Ed's one of them.
Sirion
Well-known member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
If you want the brown tone, check this out. There's no magic to it. The guy who wrote this gets a perfect brown tone through a Crate solid state amp.
http://www.jfrocks3.com/jfrocks/brownsound.html
If you want the brown tone, check this out. There's no magic to it. The guy who wrote this gets a perfect brown tone through a Crate solid state amp.
http://www.jfrocks3.com/jfrocks/brownsound.html
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Ted Templeman is the missing ingredient to the VH I sound that really isn't going to be copied through a live rig. I've never heard anyone NAIL the tone from that album, not even Edward when he's playing live (granted he may not be wanting to get that tone). I've heard some people, like VHoholic, get close, but it's still missing something.
Ted Templeman is the missing ingredient to the VH I sound that really isn't going to be copied through a live rig. I've never heard anyone NAIL the tone from that album, not even Edward when he's playing live (granted he may not be wanting to get that tone). I've heard some people, like VHoholic, get close, but it's still missing something.
51501984
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Hey isn`t that the same pic that`s on page 1 of this thread. Some VH geek goofball already posted it:laugh2:
The November 2004 Guitar World has a center fold pic of the hacked destroyer. Looks like a SuperD. The real secret to the sound though is, if you look close, the pole pieces don't line up :laugh2: .
ps: here's a pic from the Kramer site but if you can get a pic of the GW center fold you can read quotes from EVH about the pup and hack job.
Hey isn`t that the same pic that`s on page 1 of this thread. Some VH geek goofball already posted it:laugh2:
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
That's dead ****ing nailing it...
I knew a pearly gates would be perfect for the VH tone.
That's dead ****ing nailing it...
I knew a pearly gates would be perfect for the VH tone.
roadstar II
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
this is why i kept saying the regular custom is more akin to eddies older tones
what tried is i used a ceramic custom and backed it far from the strings(like eddie does on his EBMM's and the wolfgangs) and the custom lost a lot of its compression and output.
it sounded much closer to his older first record tone this way:smokin:
the C5 is also great i just got one and agian when used backed away from the strings it takes on a real rewound PAF vibe like eddies
i use a hand wired plexi half stack and a old script phase 90 and a holy grail reverb
this is why i kept saying the regular custom is more akin to eddies older tones
what tried is i used a ceramic custom and backed it far from the strings(like eddie does on his EBMM's and the wolfgangs) and the custom lost a lot of its compression and output.
it sounded much closer to his older first record tone this way:smokin:
the C5 is also great i just got one and agian when used backed away from the strings it takes on a real rewound PAF vibe like eddies
i use a hand wired plexi half stack and a old script phase 90 and a holy grail reverb
roadstar II
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
he always said "REWOUND PAF's"
now that can mean ANYTHING other than a stock one:laugh2:
so he could have had it rewound to 16K to 10K, 9.6K who knows???
but i do now this seymour made ONE pup that was a dupe of his main PAF back then so he knows for sure.
I think that the EVH model or 78' is the copy of the old eddie pup
think about it who would know better as to what was done to eddies paf than the actual guy(seymour) who rewound it for him:dance:
as a matter of fact eddie almost sued seymour for trying to sell this paf back in 1978
he always said "REWOUND PAF's"
now that can mean ANYTHING other than a stock one:laugh2:
so he could have had it rewound to 16K to 10K, 9.6K who knows???
but i do now this seymour made ONE pup that was a dupe of his main PAF back then so he knows for sure.
I think that the EVH model or 78' is the copy of the old eddie pup
think about it who would know better as to what was done to eddies paf than the actual guy(seymour) who rewound it for him:dance:
as a matter of fact eddie almost sued seymour for trying to sell this paf back in 1978
IanBallard
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
My understanding is that Eddie hated DiMarzios, both the SuperD and the "PAF" model. His yellow/black guitar was built with one of the two and Eddie replaced the pickup a few times. The only thing he liked about that guitar was the neck and the look of it. He ended up putting the black headstock neck on his Frankie with the Seymour-wound PAF, from what I understand. His Music Man had "custom" DiMarzios but by that time, they finally figured out how to get a warm sound out of new pickups. However, I have an old SuperD and it sounds awesome, but it's over 30 years old and the magnet is comparably weaker now which helps warm the tone.
As far as "how to get the VH sound"... good luck with that. Michael Anthony stated that his dry studio sound was awful and shrill compared to what you hear on the record. Unless you have Donn Landee or Ted mixing your recording, you'll likely be chasing the dragon for years.
My understanding is that Eddie hated DiMarzios, both the SuperD and the "PAF" model. His yellow/black guitar was built with one of the two and Eddie replaced the pickup a few times. The only thing he liked about that guitar was the neck and the look of it. He ended up putting the black headstock neck on his Frankie with the Seymour-wound PAF, from what I understand. His Music Man had "custom" DiMarzios but by that time, they finally figured out how to get a warm sound out of new pickups. However, I have an old SuperD and it sounds awesome, but it's over 30 years old and the magnet is comparably weaker now which helps warm the tone.
As far as "how to get the VH sound"... good luck with that. Michael Anthony stated that his dry studio sound was awful and shrill compared to what you hear on the record. Unless you have Donn Landee or Ted mixing your recording, you'll likely be chasing the dragon for years.
JohnnyGuitarCA
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Nope. He slapped a Mighty Mite with clear bobbins into the Black & Yellow guitar for the VHII photo shoot. I've seen other pics of the Destroyer in different time periods and it had that pickup in it consistently. How are ya brother???
Nope. He slapped a Mighty Mite with clear bobbins into the Black & Yellow guitar for the VHII photo shoot. I've seen other pics of the Destroyer in different time periods and it had that pickup in it consistently. How are ya brother???
IanBallard
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
There's also the mystery of which hardtail he used, too! Maybe he used a Les Paul on "Running" and the other non-trem tunes. Maybe he had Seymour build him a few "78's" and he put them in all of his studio axes... I don't think anybody will ever know, unless Mr. Duncan himself chimes in and even he couldn't know what Ed actually used.. Besides, wasn't Gibson kind of throwing whatever magnets were available in their PAF's for years? A2, A3 and A4's were all prevalent in the 50's and A5's come out a couple years later.
I have to agree with those putting this all in perspective. We don't have Ed's fingers or brain, nor were any of us standing at Sunset Studios in the booth. We only hear what's on the record and that doesn't tell you much as to what the dry sound was like. If you're going for the final master sound, it's likely it wasn't what was actually coming out of those Greenbacks.
There's also the mystery of which hardtail he used, too! Maybe he used a Les Paul on "Running" and the other non-trem tunes. Maybe he had Seymour build him a few "78's" and he put them in all of his studio axes... I don't think anybody will ever know, unless Mr. Duncan himself chimes in and even he couldn't know what Ed actually used.. Besides, wasn't Gibson kind of throwing whatever magnets were available in their PAF's for years? A2, A3 and A4's were all prevalent in the 50's and A5's come out a couple years later.
I have to agree with those putting this all in perspective. We don't have Ed's fingers or brain, nor were any of us standing at Sunset Studios in the booth. We only hear what's on the record and that doesn't tell you much as to what the dry sound was like. If you're going for the final master sound, it's likely it wasn't what was actually coming out of those Greenbacks.
marcello252
Well-known member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
VH1 is a combination of things that add up a certain way, as is anything really.
By the time Ed was starting to be interviewed in 1978, he was moving away from VH1 (which he thought was too bright) so just about everything he said relates more to VHII than VH1.
These interviews are where the PAF thing starts from and they are after VH1.
Ed picked up some pickup tricks probably from Seymour Duncan in early 1978 and then swapped magnets etc but once again this would have been after VH1.
In 1977 he was using Mighty Mite Distortion ceramic pickups (DiMarzio Distortion clones) in the Strat but not necessarily in the Destroyer but in 1978 he did have the Mighty Mite in the Destroyer for VH11 and at this stage it might have had a non ceramic magnet.
A Mighty Mite or DiMarzio Distortion goes through Ed's chain and what's coming out of the speakers is all of the chain.
The guitar, pickup, phase, Echoplex, variaced amp rebiased and dimed, and the speakers and cab.
The phase creates a spacey thing for the solos and the Echoplex adds ambience and fills it out and the variac and rebias alters the EQ of the amp and Ed had a particular 1968 Marshall circuit as well that had it's own EQ to start with and he also had a larger than stock output transformer futher altering the frequency makeup or EQ for short.
The trouble with a PAF in the chain for VH1 is that it usually ends up sounding more like VH11 whereas a ceramic usually ends up sounding more like VH1 starting with that aggressive bright edge but eventually altered by the whole chain.
VH1 is a combination of things that add up a certain way, as is anything really.
By the time Ed was starting to be interviewed in 1978, he was moving away from VH1 (which he thought was too bright) so just about everything he said relates more to VHII than VH1.
These interviews are where the PAF thing starts from and they are after VH1.
Ed picked up some pickup tricks probably from Seymour Duncan in early 1978 and then swapped magnets etc but once again this would have been after VH1.
In 1977 he was using Mighty Mite Distortion ceramic pickups (DiMarzio Distortion clones) in the Strat but not necessarily in the Destroyer but in 1978 he did have the Mighty Mite in the Destroyer for VH11 and at this stage it might have had a non ceramic magnet.
A Mighty Mite or DiMarzio Distortion goes through Ed's chain and what's coming out of the speakers is all of the chain.
The guitar, pickup, phase, Echoplex, variaced amp rebiased and dimed, and the speakers and cab.
The phase creates a spacey thing for the solos and the Echoplex adds ambience and fills it out and the variac and rebias alters the EQ of the amp and Ed had a particular 1968 Marshall circuit as well that had it's own EQ to start with and he also had a larger than stock output transformer futher altering the frequency makeup or EQ for short.
The trouble with a PAF in the chain for VH1 is that it usually ends up sounding more like VH11 whereas a ceramic usually ends up sounding more like VH1 starting with that aggressive bright edge but eventually altered by the whole chain.
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IanBallard
New member
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Nobody knows. Nobody will ever know. Only God, the Pope and the Rothschild family knows, but they ain't talkin'.
Nobody knows. Nobody will ever know. Only God, the Pope and the Rothschild family knows, but they ain't talkin'.
Re: van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf
Ian i agree and i know that he didnt use the sh-5 ,BUT with all the needed goodies the duncan sh-5 sounds just like the opening A chord and the tight aggressive staccato notes that follow in eruption it is so much closer to that tone over the numerious pu's i tried that my search is over! Thank god! Oh yeah u too mr duncan! Lol
