Van Halen Balance Tone

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

I thought he used 5150 amps back then? Are you talking about the Soldano Amps? Do you know what model of amps they are?

Correct. Balance was the 5150 mixed with the plexi in a wet dry wet configuration. You can really hear the plexi in the background of a lot of those tracks like seventh seal. Slo100 was only used on OU812, and For unlawful carnal knowledge. EBMM guitars with the DiMarzio axis pickups were used for balance. For F.U.C.K he used more than one guitar, mostly his Kramer possibly with a ‘59 or JB etc... (he claims it was a stock Duncan 59, others really suspect it was a JB, which is the pickup DiMarzio based the axis bridge model on) and possibly the axis prototype guitar was used.

Like I mentioned earlier, since you brought up Humans being, that was recorded after the balance album around ‘96-‘97 before the ill fated VHIII. That as mostly just his 5150 and Wolfgang. The stock Wolfgang’s had a pickup in the bridge which was lower output than the neck (I have one of the very first production wolfies). If ed really did prefer it that way, it used a special wind where it was started with one gauge (42) and finished with another (43) There’s nothing Duncan’s line like it. The closest you will get is the custom 5. Peavey does however sell both pickup lis that were in the Wolfgang so you can get them if you want, and for probably less than a new Duncan.. Personally I have swapped the pickup s around in that guitar and prefer the hotter neck pickup in the bridge and weaker bridge in the neck, it sounds remarkably close to the AXIS set this way.

 

[RedDeansNRice]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

I have learned that my guitar is bigger than most others and very heavy. It should cause the guitar to have a deeper or thicker natural tone? I have also read that this body style should resonate more than some others. Does that mean that I will need to use a ceramic magnet pickup to overcome that? It seems like many different pickups can work and I need to buy a new amp more than anything.

Now I think I'm looking for a more well rounded pickup that can cover many bases and still work for VH.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

JB

 

[RedDeansNRice]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

Searching this forum, everyone keeps saying that the JB is not suited for les paul type mahogany guitars. My guitar is not a a les paul but is the same scale with a glued in neck and same bridge.

My forum reading shows that a SH-5 would better for my guitar but changing the magnet to a A8 magnet would be even better. Where do I buy this pickup, or do I have to make it like the forum says? The forum searches say it's called a C8. I can't find it in the pickups for sale and this is a lot of reading and arguing in threads. How do I know which is right?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

Well, a Custom 8 isn't a production pickup. You have to buy a Custom, Custom Custom, or Custom 5 and swap out the magnet. As far as what is better in your guitar- lots of people use JBs in LPs. What don't you like about the sound now? Is there a tonal problem you want to fix? What do you hope to gain with a swap?

 

[RedDeansNRice]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

When I hit my top two strings together or most any multi string chord it sounds like my guitar is out of tune for a couple of seconds, then they come back in to tune if you let it sustain for a little while. I don't think the pickup is very good. My guitar is tuned by a tuner and I know that is right.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

That sounds like you need thicker strings. What do you have on there now? If they are 9-42 and you strum hard with a medium or heavy pick they will do exactly what you describe.
The solution is to develop a lighter touch, use a thinner and more flexible pick, or install heavier strings. I use 10-52 personally.

 

[RedDeansNRice]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

I use these.

[url=https://imgflip.com/i/2f58yf]https://imgflip.com/memegenerator[/URL]

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

You're hitting the strings too hard. If you have 6 strings in line (Fender style) and especially if you have no string trees it will accentuate this problem. There is no way for a particular pickup wind to put your guitar out of tune.

 

[devastone]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

When I bought it I was told that it has a guitar fetish chunky p.a.t. at the bridge, and some kind of Dimarzio at the neck position. I can't really remember. Can I check that?

The GFS Chunky PAF will be close enough, it is similar to a Custom (I never said that). You have other stuff that needs work first, amp, effects, and, the worst thing to hear, practice. (I really hate to say that but touch and feel only comes with fretboard time). The "out of tune" problem isn't related to a pickup, it's most likely a touch issue, you may be fingering some strings heavier than others and with jumbo frets it will cause inconsistent pitches. Or, as Christopher says, you may be strumming too hard, hard to tell through a forum, but it will come to you as you get more time in and focus on specific things.

The good news is, you don't have to spend money to fix those issues, the bad news is, you have to spend lots of time. But remember, PLAY guitar, don't WORK it, so enjoy the journey.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

My #1 is a mahogany body guitar with a JB in the bridge.

\/\/\/\/

 

[Securb]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

That sounds like you need thicker strings. What do you have on there now? If they are 9-42 and you strum hard with a medium or heavy pick they will do exactly what you describe.
The solution is to develop a lighter touch, use a thinner and more flexible pick, or install heavier strings. I use 10-52 personally.

Dave is 100% right. I use light strings and a beyond heavy pick, it is all about attack. I spend 80% of my time playing unplugged working on touch and dynamics. Don't sweat the small stuff it will all come to you in time. Go to the music store and pick up a ton of different picks and play around with them. Some guitar players use the same pick they fall in love with for everything. Me, I treat them like paint brushes, each giving a different stroke and texture, and will even switch mid-song for different tones. No way is right or wrong you need to find your feel, style and muse, then you will be alright.

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

I suggest you try DiMarzio Air Norton (DP193) neck and Air Zone (DP192) bridge.
Steve Blucher hooked me up with those for my Peavey Wolfgang and that guitar sounded amazing with those pickups.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

I’d also suggest getting a professional setup done for your guitar.

 

[Herby]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

That sounds like you need thicker strings. What do you have on there now? If they are 9-42 and you strum hard with a medium or heavy pick they will do exactly what you describe.
The solution is to develop a lighter touch, use a thinner and more flexible pick, or install heavier strings. I use 10-52 personally.

Absolutely! Light strings require a light touch. I use a balanced tension gauge of 9, 12, 16, 24, 32, and (46 wt VH detuna). on 25.5 necks. (10-49 on 24.75 scale), with a heavy pick.
I found that shorter 24.75 scale with slightly heavier strings is more forgiving...

 

[SFW]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

For the Balance record, he used the original 5150 (the 5150II wasn't out until VHIII). The guitars were a mix of the EBMM and the proto Peavey Wolfgang. If you want balance tone, get a Peavey Wolfgang and a 5150. Throw in some pitch shift and you're there. My college roommate worked at the Peavey Leaksville plant where the Wolfgangs were built during the Eddie years. We both had Wolfgangs and 5150s. I promise that the Balance tone can be achieved with them. The Pitch shift is the icing on the cake.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Van Halen Balance Tone

For the Balance record, he used the original 5150 (the 5150II wasn't out until VHIII). The guitars were a mix of the EBMM and the proto Peavey Wolfgang. If you want balance tone, get a Peavey Wolfgang and a 5150. Throw in some pitch shift and you're there. My college roommate worked at the Peavey Leaksville plant where the Wolfgangs were built during the Eddie years. We both had Wolfgangs and 5150s. I promise that the Balance tone can be achieved with them. The Pitch shift is the icing on the cake.

His plexi was also refurbished and mixed in heavily on that album, possibly it was when Bogner did it. I went into detail about that earlier along with other aspects. The 5150ii wasn’t out however the combo was, which has an overdrive channel that more matched the 5150ii’s. I also still have a 97’ Wolfgang which is the year they were introduced, and two 5150’s, one early 90’s block letter, and one brand new script. you can’t quite nail it with just that, but close enough for most.

I flipped the pickups around on that guitar and it sounds closer.