walt
New member
As many of you know, I ordered a 78 from the custom shop and got it yesterday. I installed it in my strat, replacing the VHPaf with the A2 mag as a comparison. I've just got done playing it at a low volume level (wife hasn't left the house yet) and have a slight comparison to the VHPaf with the A2 mag.
78
open sounding which I expected, sort of bright (my strat is on the bright side, may have to go with 250 volume, there is also no tone on this guitar) plenty of mids and a spongy bass. The midrange isn't in the lower range, but pretty much in the "middle" where they should be which probably helps with the harmonics this pickup gets. Also it is very articulate which I like alot (9.1k, thank you mj.). This pickup doesn't have a compressed tone due to the fact that it is a low output bucker and will get you in the ball park of the great Mr. VanHalen. This pickup is sensitive to the volume knob so a number of other "Eddie" tones are available if you play with the volume. Overall I do like it and was worth the money.
VHPaf with A2 mag
opening sounding and articulate with the sense of "air" in the sound. The Virtual Technology and Airbucker Technology along with the A2 magnet really put this in the same class as the 78 with the following exceptions. The VHPaf did not lose it's lower mid range punch/growl with the magnet change but the highs did get softened but you still need to run it with 250 volume to keep the highs tamed (again my strat tends to be on the bright side). Very harmonic friendly as with the 78 and sensitive to the volume knob position. The VHPaf is wound at 9.13k verses 9.1 for the 78.
I will try to post some clips of both using the same guitar and amp model patch. I think if you don't have the $160 for the 78, the A2 magnet swap in the VHPaf will get you there. They both sound simular with the VHPaf having more bottom mids than the 78 (not by much mind you, but if you hit your low E string and dive bomb the whammy, you'll know what I mean).
Both great pups either way!
78
open sounding which I expected, sort of bright (my strat is on the bright side, may have to go with 250 volume, there is also no tone on this guitar) plenty of mids and a spongy bass. The midrange isn't in the lower range, but pretty much in the "middle" where they should be which probably helps with the harmonics this pickup gets. Also it is very articulate which I like alot (9.1k, thank you mj.). This pickup doesn't have a compressed tone due to the fact that it is a low output bucker and will get you in the ball park of the great Mr. VanHalen. This pickup is sensitive to the volume knob so a number of other "Eddie" tones are available if you play with the volume. Overall I do like it and was worth the money.
VHPaf with A2 mag
opening sounding and articulate with the sense of "air" in the sound. The Virtual Technology and Airbucker Technology along with the A2 magnet really put this in the same class as the 78 with the following exceptions. The VHPaf did not lose it's lower mid range punch/growl with the magnet change but the highs did get softened but you still need to run it with 250 volume to keep the highs tamed (again my strat tends to be on the bright side). Very harmonic friendly as with the 78 and sensitive to the volume knob position. The VHPaf is wound at 9.13k verses 9.1 for the 78.
I will try to post some clips of both using the same guitar and amp model patch. I think if you don't have the $160 for the 78, the A2 magnet swap in the VHPaf will get you there. They both sound simular with the VHPaf having more bottom mids than the 78 (not by much mind you, but if you hit your low E string and dive bomb the whammy, you'll know what I mean).
Both great pups either way!
