Best "VH1" Pickup?

[nitro]

Try many thinks(amps-pickups-effects-cabs etc,etc)listen to what your current sound needs and then go from there,just dont stay in the box,what I mean buy that is just dont go by what Ed said in interviews because some of it is BS,use your ears,and if you have been at it for along time like I have( early 70s) you then build experiance and knowledge.......

[SteadyEddie]

When someone (was it Nitro?) pointed out the DSD in the Fair Warning-era video, it made me wonder if EVH didn't have a hotter guitar for tours. Maybe he had gone back to the PAF for recording, maybe it worked with his prized amp(s) but on tour, it's more important to cut through, to have that attack and sustain especially since his style is so technique-oriented.

While recording, you can focus on technique more, and get away with using cleaner amps and pickups, but on tour, he's jumping around, he's singing, and can't focus on every little nuance, he'll need a little help from the gear and possibly stuck those hot-ass pickups back in his touring guitars (which he said he put together before a tour for like a hundred bucks apiece or so) so those squeals, harmonics, tapping, fast runs, etc., come through loud and bold even while he's running, jumping, with various intoxicants floating around in his system.

[Marshall SL12301]

When someone (was it Nitro?) pointed out the DSD in the Fair Warning-era video, it made me wonder if EVH didn't have a hotter guitar for tours. Maybe he had gone back to the PAF for recording, maybe it worked with his prized amp(s) but on tour, it's more important to cut through, to have that attack and sustain especially since his style is so technique-oriented.

While recording, you can focus on technique more, and get away with using cleaner amps and pickups, but on tour, he's jumping around, he's singing, and can't focus on every little nuance, he'll need a little help from the gear and possibly stuck those hot-ass pickups back in his touring guitars (which he said he put together before a tour for like a hundred bucks apiece or so) so those squeals, harmonics, tapping, fast runs, etc., come through loud and bold even while he's running, jumping, with various intoxicants floating around in his system.

I always thought that after the 78 world tour EVH never used his main marshalls live anymore due to the fact that they were lost by pan am. If he was using different amp he would also use different pu's

[Staalhoofd]

I tried a DSD (vintage) yesterday. Some things seem to fit, but one thing that really doens't fit is you loose the twangy bouncy treble that you hear on every note on the lower 3 strings on VH1.

I have another DSD. Will try a A5 and A2 to see if that improves things. Although I suspect that the amp will fart out (with a 220uF-330uF on V2). Then you might need to go back to a .68uF on V2.

If Ed tried a PAF magnet in a DSD, he would have been left stuck with an unused ceramic magnet. Any chance he used a PAF with a ceramic magnet? Maybe he just swapped magnets between his PAF and his DSD?

[Marshall SL12301]

I tried a DSD (vintage) yesterday. Some things seem to fit, but one thing that really doens't fit is you loose the twangy bouncy treble that you hear on every note on the lower 3 strings on VH1.

I have another DSD. Will try a A5 and A2 to see if that improves things. Although I suspect that the amp will fart out (with a 220uF-330uF on V2). Then you might need to go back to a .68uF on V2.

If Ed tried a PAF magnet in a DSD, he would have been left stuck with an unused ceramic magnet. Any chance he used a PAF with a ceramic magnet? Maybe he just swapped magnets between his PAF and his DSD?

a paf with a ceramic would sound very harsh and brittle. real ice pick to the ears

[Jeremy1283]

Also, do you think the pickups he used in some 77~78 bootlegs[video/audio] was the DSD in the frankie??

I think there are several to many on the board that think that could very well be true. One thing you have to remember is regardless of what Ed uses/used, it HAS to work with your gear. A potted PAF may sound great with your amp or maybe a DSD. I am using an EVH Franky replica in one and a DSD in another. I did have a '59 in the one with the DSD but just switched it out.

Things change. As Rockstah would say, "there is one way to find out."

then he would say, " go do some push ups" but the former is probably more germane your question.

How do you like the EVH pickup? I have a DSD i just installed and It doesnt sound that great!.

[rgorke]

Also, do you think the pickups he used in some 77~78 bootlegs[video/audio] was the DSD in the frankie??

I think there are several to many on the board that think that could very well be true. One thing you have to remember is regardless of what Ed uses/used, it HAS to work with your gear. A potted PAF may sound great with your amp or maybe a DSD. I am using an EVH Franky replica in one and a DSD in another. I did have a '59 in the one with the DSD but just switched it out.

Things change. As Rockstah would say, "there is one way to find out."

then he would say, " go do some push ups" but the former is probably more germane your question.

How do you like the EVH pickup? I have a DSD i just installed and It doesnt sound that great!.

Well, I sold the EVH a while back. The advice on height that jnew gave you is right on. I think your clip. With the DSD, height is a major player. Also, I have found, with my rig and to my ears, the early Duncan Customs sound the most EVH to me. They are very close in spec to a DSD and MM1300.

[fivecoyote]

Imo the EVH pickup "sounds like Ed." Unmistakable.

[garbeaj]

I'll make the statement again. There is no one Van Halen sound. You have to define what song or what general album tone you are looking for and then you set about achieving it with the right combination of guitar, pickup and amp.

[Jeremy1283]

Imo the EVH pickup "sounds like Ed." Unmistakable.

Im gonna give this one a go. Thsnks for your input..

[rgorke]

I'll make the statement again. There is no one Van Halen sound. You have to define what song or what general album tone you are looking for and then you set about achieving it with the right combination of guitar, pickup and amp.

yeah, that's true as well. I think there is a "base tone" for lack of a better term that is 75-80% amp tone. The pickup and other "effects" get you the rest of the way there....VH1, Vh2, etc. YMMV

[Jeremy1283]

I'll make the statement again. There is no one Van Halen sound. You have to define what song or what general album tone you are looking for and then you set about achieving it with the right combination of guitar, pickup and amp.

Agreed

[Jeremy1283]

image.jpeg (135.86 KiB) Viewed 2194 times

this was pics I took today at the Guitar center in hollywood.

photo-26.JPG (109.71 KiB) Viewed 2194 times

[EJSLPlexi]

Going by clips only the closest i have heard to the VH I strat tracks is RALLE' using a Mighty mite 1400.
http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php ... 00#p373615
You put ralle in sunset studio with that tone and presto VH I tone.
That pu has elements of both a DSD and PAF which is what i hear on VH I.

[Strat78]

I forgot about that clip, but Ralle always kills with his clips. Ha, I have a zebra MM 1400, it's going in tonight! That pickup Ralle has was a good one. I sent it to Ben and then he sent it to Ralph, who knows where it is now. I say spread the goodness around!