Pickup Shootout-59, EVH Frank, DSD, CC.

[Marshall SL12301]

Its funny how some pups do it better for some song clips and not others. The CC is more open. The franky pup sounds like a blanket is over the amp. But it works for for some.

One other thing that I would add is that I never touched the tone controls on the amp. Everything dimed except the bass. If it were me and I was using the CC or the EVH I would dial the mids back to about noon as they have big mids which take away a little top end sizzle that you hear in the DSD. My 2 cents.

I am glad you included this because like you said already the EVH and CC are MID HUMPED pu's both have a much higher 500K midrange than the others. the 59 is scooped,the dsd is as well but not quite as much

[Marshall SL12301]

Well it is amazing what my little Sony X10 smartphone mono speaker reveals on mixes, reverb tails, doubles etc, it has been reliable. Well hearing ash guitars would have been best, but alder is certainly better for attack and tighrer lows than basswood!

The evh pu is the VHII sound, strong lows, but a little unfocused- if this the seymour evh pu, I have used it and it is the best pu for your no good and doa etc, imo

The CC was very midhumped and would be more evident in other bodywoods, but not bad, imho the panama type tone


The DSD IS the incredibly obvious choice for VH1,★so much so it isnt even up for discussion, Ed has never like his VH1 sound hence has NEVER reinstated it on any recordings afterwards, but MOST VH nuts love this tone, so. Brassy hi- mids, great pick attack, tight lows, nice bloom on rung out chords and pinched harmonics

The 59 was nice, probably best for diver down tones, little harsh on highs in the artificial harmonics

GREAT EARS BRO! this is how i would describe those pu's.
as far as the EVH being a little bit unfocused there is a real easy definite cure,just replace the aged A2 for a new one!

[Marshall SL12301]

For me, the Custom Custom wins on most of the stuff, but DSD is better for ATBL and Runnin with devil easily

That's only cause you have one on yer kramer pacer bro! Just kiddn always loved the GR5 clips with that axe/pup
does anyone know which guitar eddie use on the intro to ATBL? many have said strat but it sounds really big like a LP on the intro?

[Thorny]

Update: I realized in the original clip that I posted that I had forgotten to pan the reverb correctly on the Super Distortion portion of the clip. It has been fixed. My apologies for any confusion.

See original post for corrected link.

[SteadyEddie]

I'd like to hear someone try out a Bill Lawrence L500XL or L90XL. Seriously. I've been rocking the L90XL for a while now and I tried the DSD after reading about it on this forum. The DSD stayed in my strat for 15 minutes. I couldn't wait for the soldering iron to heat up so I could put the BL back in. The BL has just as much output, maybe a bit more, but is much more open sounding.

[dirtycooter]

Aaaarrghhh.......can't seem to access the soundclip from soundclick on my phone!! Can't wait to get my ears on this. Seems the consensus here is all the pickups pretty much bring in different album tones and the DSD is the vh1 winner here for the majority of comments. This stuff here is great reference for checkin out different pickups and is mucho helpful for those shoppin around. Great idea man
As for the comment about intonation being off and the chords bein muddy with the dsd-already know its too close to the strings cause thats what excessive magnet pull will do being that close. Mine is pretty far away and it helps alot with this aspect. You'll get better more natural and open sustain further away.

[markstullkc]

Man, thanks for this!

Gotta say the '59 & EVH sounded good. EVH had more low end. Dimarzio sounded good too.

Did NOT like the Custom Custom.

[cary chilton]

Ibwould not like to hear any Bill L pickups nor do I support the idea helping perpuate the myth of his pickupss to keep fetching 400 bucks! Ka-riste

[SteadyEddie]

Ibwould not like to hear any Bill L pickups nor do I support the idea helping perpuate the myth of his pickupss to keep fetching 400 bucks! Ka-riste

???
What's with the 400 bucks?
His pickups are less expensive than Duncan or DiMarzio.

[Marshall SL12301]

I can get BL's for $40 new?

[Blix]

Awesome shootout, thanks! Most is said about how they compare, and I agree with most

Inspired by this I made a few quick clips as well, doesn't sound half as good as Thorny's but it is what it is...

First out: Railhammer Hyper Vintage in a Kramer 2010 Pacer, it replaced a 80's DSD, but I like the DSD better for VH, the RH is more of your standard "modern PAF", 8.5k DC resistance

http://soundcloud.com/amund-blix/railhammer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Next up is a Steinberger Spirit with a EMG 85

http://soundcloud.com/amund-blix/emg85" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And last, a 83' Kramer Pacer with a Motor City Black Iron:

http://soundcloud.com/amund-blix/black-iron" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Thorny]

Blix,
Do I remember your clips from the gear page thread that went on forever regarding Eds gain levels?

[SteadyEddie]

I can get BL's for $40 new?

I think the L90 is around 50 or 60 bucks. Some of his singles are around 40 bucks. He's got a dual blade single coil size for around that price, supposedly he's the first with that design, before Barden or Duncan's hot rails.

[Marshall SL12301]

Blix IIRC you had stated along with nitro that the EVH and CC are the same pup and that if you already own the CC that you should not even bother gettin the EVH frank pup?
I totally disagree bro

[Blix]

Blix,
Do I remember your clips from the gear page thread that went on forever regarding Eds gain levels?

That is correct. I have a couple clips there using the 50w Plexi I had a few years ago