Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

[51501984]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

I did too!!

To think I almost went and saw Styx in '81 and not VH yikes! One of the best things I ever did was sell that Styx ticket to be able to see VH on the Fair Warming tour

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

To think I almost went and saw Styx in '81 and not VH yikes! One of the best things I ever did was sell that Styx ticket to be able to see VH on the Fair Warming tour

talk about side stepping a landmine! LOL! although i dont hate styx they had some good stuff like renegade,blue collar man.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

Well I'm no KISS fan..and to me it doesn't really sound like KISS/Ace's tone at all. The amp definitely sounds more like a really hot 50W Metalface (or a totally jacked MV JMP) and not a warmer 100w Plexi.

That was from the "KISS Demo" or "Zero". They used their gear. Just goes to show ya... equipment is only part of the tone.

 

[pittbull]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

The Axe Fx unit is a pre amp is that correct ?? and you run that unit with a power amp,or is the Axe Fx a rack effects processor.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

The Axe Fx unit is a pre amp is that correct ?? and you run that unit with a power amp,or is the Axe Fx a rack effects processor.

It is a rack effects prossesor but the amp models in it are the absolute best out there. they sound the closest to real amps. I think that if you were not convinced enough just from listening to the dweezil vid tryin one yourself would make you a believer. these things are god like and i never talk like that about rack stuff. line 6 doesnt even come close! these are not cheap they go for $1500 and up.
http://www.fractalaudio.com/

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

The Axe Fx unit is a pre amp is that correct ?? and you run that unit with a power amp,or is the Axe Fx a rack effects processor.

Its both. You can run it with a power amp, or straight into a PA.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

one thing about the axe fx is that if you try it and say you dont like it then you are s**t out of luck as far as rack stuff goes, it is the best out there in multi-effect rack gear. I dont need to sell it , IT sells itself! LOL

 

[pittbull]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

After numerous pickup testing I did last night at a friends studio,there were many guitars that were setup for the correct van halen 1 sounding setup but with different pickups(different brands,Dimarzio,Duncan,Bareknucles VHII,etc etc) that have been talked about here and the Duncan Custom SH-5 was the pickup we kept going back to.There were 5 guitarist in the studio that were doing the testing I was included also.We also changed the height of all the pickups(adjustments,high and low)and the Duncan Custom SH-5 was the one.Many amps were used from A-Z.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

SH5 is a great pickup and that totally makes sense to me because it sounds like a focused PAF on fire with a tight balanced EQ that's all slightly shifted towards the higher end.

 

[pittbull]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

Right, it had that PAF flavor but with more horsepower.It also sounded opened and had clarity you heard ever note plus the harmonics exploded off the neck.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

Right, it had that PAF flavor but with more horsepower.It also sounded opened and had clarity you heard ever note plus the harmonics exploded off the neck.

and without patting myself on the back what did i say about the SH5 to you when you asked a while back? I may not know everything but i do know my old VH tones.LOL!! and regardless of what others may say in the future the stock YJM plexi does a great VH1 tone just as good as a MOD 5 plexi.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

SH5 is a great pickup and that totally makes sense to me because it sounds like a focused PAF on fire with a tight balanced EQ that's all slightly shifted towards the higher end.

I agree with this.
Seymour got it right the first time. Of the customs this is my personal favorite. i hear many complain it has a harsh ceramic tone to it? I think that is more myth than a reality. off all the ceramic pu's i have tried, I find the SH5 to be the warmest not harsh at all.
the single notes are not brittle and the lows are punchy and pretty tight. Love the burn the bent notes have with this pup
P.A.F on steroids is a good description for sure.

 

[pittbull]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

When people call Seymour Duncan for a pickup that has the Van halen 1 sound they should suggest the Duncan Custom SH-5 instead of the Duncan Custom Custom SH-11(thats the pickup they tend to push),plus it depends on there application.I think that some at Seymour Duncan and also other pickup comanys fall into believeing the Van halen BS if you know what I mean(Eddie Van halen early interviews about how he achieved his tone).

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

When people call Seymour Duncan for a pickup that has the Van halen 1 sound they should suggest the Duncan Custom SH-5 instead of the Duncan Custom Custom SH-11(thats the pickup they tend to push),plus it depends on there application.I think that some at Seymour Duncan and also other pickup comanys fall into believeing the Van halen BS if you know what I mean(Eddie Van halen early interviews about how he achieved his tone).

Well duncan is not the only company that has the wrong suggestion, for years dimarzio has told everyone to get a Tone zone if you like the ebmm EVH/ axis bridge pu and the TZ sounds NOTHING like the custom wound EVH/axis pup. I emailed them time and time again about this telling them to change it to the dimarzio AT-1 and they finally did just that.
Maybe if i bug duncan enough they will do the same about the SH-5?

 

[pittbull]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

Most of these pickup companys are really not into the Van halen 1 sound as myself and many others who are if you know what I mean, so they either assume on things or they use whats avaliable in magazines.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

Most of these pickup companys are really not into the Van halen 1 sound as myself and many others who are if you know what I mean, so they either assume on thinks or they use whats avaliable in magazines.

Well the worse pup for VHI is a alnico 2 model.
The A2 mag will deliver the VHII and one tones just fine but VHI requires the Burn and sting of a ceramic!:headbang:

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

After numerous pickup testing I did last night at a friends studio,there were many guitars that were setup for the correct van halen 1 sounding setup but with different pickups(different brands,Dimarzio,Duncan,Bareknucles VHII,etc etc) that have been talked about here and the Duncan Custom SH-5 was the pickup we kept going back to.There were 5 guitarist in the studio that were doing the testing I was included also.We also changed the height of all the pickups(adjustments,high and low)and the Duncan Custom SH-5 was the one.Many amps were used from A-Z.

any of these have a DSD loaded in it?

 

[pittbull]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

Yes,the Dimarzio Super Distortion was also used and if the Duncan Custom sh-5 didnt exsist that would be the pickup(Dimarzio Super Distortion)I would use.The Duncan sh-5 had more clarity and openness then the Dimarzio super distortion,the super D did have the push and aggressiveness if you know what I mean. They were both good for that sound.Height adjustments on the pickup do matter.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

Yes,the Dimarzio Super Distortion was also used and if the Duncan Custom sh-5 didnt exsist that would be the pickup(Dimarzio Super Distortion)I would use.The Duncan sh-5 had more clarity and openness then the Dimarzio super distortion,the super D did have the push and aggressiveness if you know what I mean. They were both good for that sound.Height adjustments on the pickup do matter.

This was my experience as well, the duncan had the better overall clarity and punch over the DSD when i A/B'ed them. I was not exactly blown away by the DSD for VH1. 51501984 sent me one to try and while it was good it did not take on the SH5 in any way for me. this was in a charvel through my old modded plexi 100 watter. i now use the YJM plexi and love it. I can set it to 50 watts or 100w and it will do any era VH without breakin a sweat!

 

[pittbull]

Re: Van halen 1 sound Duncan Custom SH-5 or Dimarzio Super Distortion

The Dimarzio Super Distortion was still good dont get me wrong.