Anybody tried the Seymour Duncan EVH pickup?

Ruben · Post by **Ruben** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:04 pm

I think I might order one, but first I like to know if there's anybody here who has or tried the Seymour Duncan '78 Pickup.
Any comments greatly appreciated!

guitar007 · Post by **guitar007** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:10 pm

I like it. I've had it for about 3 years now maybe? It's clear, loud...what a good P.A.F. style pickup should be. I believe the coils are un-evenly wound...or at least that's what I've heard. You won't go from C.C. DeVille to Eddie...but...it's a good pickup.

jnewlyn · Post by **jnewlyn** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:35 am

Can you measure the coils separately to confirm if they are un-evenly wound.

I just did this with a really old DiMarzio super distortion. It was real high output like at 14 on DC resistance. So I unwound the rear coil down to about 5.3 and the front coil to like 3.5 for a total of 8.80. I can't wait to try it out. I think it has a ceramic magnet though so that will work against me.

Ruben · Post by **Ruben** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:35 am

Just got a Seymour Duncan '59 from a friend

Haven't tried it yet but I do have 2 questions, maybe someone can help me out.

* How do I know wheter it has a Alnico II or Alnico V magnet?
Is it maybe stamped on the magnet itself?

* How does this pickup compare to the Custom Custom or EVH pickup?

Would save me a lot of cash if this one's great to!

Thanks for answering!

Bainzy · Post by **Bainzy** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 10:46 am

The '59 has Alnico V, the EVH and Custom Custom have Alnico II.

Ruben · Post by **Ruben** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:09 am

What's the main difference if I may ask?

And how does it compare to the EVH and Custom Custom pickup?

jnewlyn · Post by **jnewlyn** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:43 am

Good question. I'd like to know this myself.

Just as a quick follow up with my Super Distortion test, it really changed the way the guitar cuts through. Its cuts through with a hint of that really cool single coil bounce and feel but it was really sort of mid and bright aggressive. So what I did is rotate it around so that the 5.5 became the coil nearest the neck instead of the bridge and WOW, this made it sound really good. (for a DiMarzio SS anyway) As it was stock, it was horrible and now it sounds like something that is at least usable. In a LP, I bet it would be alot better. (as opposed to strat w/swamp ash body) Definitely some cool experimenting that can be done with things like this though. But overall, I think AlNiCo magnets are essential.

Bainzy · Post by **Bainzy** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:51 am

Ruben wrote:What's the main difference if I may ask?

And how does it compare to the EVH and Custom Custom pickup?

I haven't owned them all yet so I can't really rate them or be too specific, but the '59 is just over 8k, the EVH is 9.2k and the CC is (I think) around 14k resistance. That should give you some idea of how gainy the pickups are.

Word is that Eddie used a pickup with the "EVH" or "78" wind that the SD Custom Shop offers on the first few Van Halen albums, and then by the later early albums (fair warning in particular) he was using an Alnico II 59/Custom Custom hybrid. I know someone that recalls he was told about this hybrid by Ed backstage on the Fair Warning tour, and it kindof makes sense as you can hear the increase in preamp distortion and looseness in Fair Warning.

To make a hybrid, you need 2 seymour duncan pickups: a '59 and a Custom (custom custom preferably, but custom 5 would also do if you have a spare Alnico II magnet). Take a coil from each pickup so you have a slug coil from the 59 and the screw coil from the CC, and vica versa. For the best bridge pickup, have the CC coil closest to the bridge and use the Alnico II magnet, and when coil tapped make sure you use the coil closest to the bridge for the tap; that should give you the best sound. Now you should have enough to make another pickup, this time with the Alnico V magnet and the coils reversed.

Theres more information on the hybrid and detailed pictures/instructions in the ebook "How To Build Your Own EVH Guitars", that you can get if you PM a member on eddievanhalen.com's forum called 'frankenstraat'. Highly recommended.

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:15 pm

what does coil tapping have to do with anything though?

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Wed May 03, 2006 3:10 pm

i have had the duncan EVH,voodoo 59,59/custom hybrid and a tom holmes 455 pickup.by far the best for the VH sound in my opinion is the tome holmes 455.it just has that high end clarity that i hear on the albums that i have not been able to find in any other pickup i have tried!

jnewlyn · Post by **jnewlyn** » Wed May 03, 2006 4:12 pm

Clips? Samples? The most accurate I've ever heard have been either the Duncan 59, DiMarzio PAF and in some cases, a JB. Would love to hear samples wtih a the Holmes.

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Wed May 03, 2006 4:51 pm

here is my 12 series amp with a clean boost and the tom holmes 455 pickup.1st part is me,second is EVH
http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=18856

jnewlyn · Post by **jnewlyn** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:37 pm

OK, Definitely sounds good. I like its ring. Tough clip to tell overall however due to the fact that that particular song doesn't show what happens on the bottom end and IMO, that truly is the bottom line tell all. (no pun intended) Are there any other samples? I'd love to hear them.

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Wed May 03, 2006 7:35 pm

im not the best of players,but here ya go.
http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=19020
http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=18974

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Wed May 03, 2006 7:37 pm

a better one i found.
http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=18886