van halen 1 sound duncan 59 or dimarzio vhpaf

[WhooHoo]

A 70s DiMarzio Super Distortion (Mighty Mite is similar) into a stock 68 specs Plexi.

The ceramic core is there.

Also Floyd instead of a Fender and no Variac and no Echoplex or Phase and also attenuated and a cam recording but still the core is there.
Also the Super Distortion probably needs to be lowered a bit as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLuQMbgD3SM

[Christopher Caruana]

A 70s DiMarzio Super Distortion (Mighty Mite is similar) into a stock 68 specs Plexi.

The ceramic core is there.

Also Floyd instead of a Fender and no Variac and no Echoplex or Phase and also attenuated and a cam recording but still the core is there.
Also the Super Distortion probably needs to be lowered a bit as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLuQMbgD3SM

that actually sounds pretty cool. Sounds more like 80's hard rock though rather than old school VH. I like it though

EDIT: how do you its a '68 plexi though? the description doesnt say anything about it being played through plexi

[WhooHoo]

Everyone can hear different things.
If you ask me that is close to the 1977 VH boots and WB demos and VH1.
It's not going to ever be exact but ballpark, yes, and there are no effects or reverb etc.
I do think the pickup probably needs to be lowered a bit though.
Ed had it just above the pickguard.

The Mighty Mite height in 1977, just above the pickguard.



The PAF height in 1978, up as far as it can go really.



That's Ralle and he's got his gear detailed over at Metroamp.

[WhooHoo]

Here is a gear tour of the above clip if anyone is interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcDvi1orA1A

[ledvedder]

I have recently put a Dimarzio SD in my homemade strat, and I don't think it comes close to VH. It seems way to hot and boomy. I'll have to try backing it as far away from the strings as I can. I'm also awaiting an A5 mag to try in it.

[Christopher Caruana]

Here is a gear tour of the above clip if anyone is interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcDvi1orA1A

I really like how much that super D is driving your plexi hotter. Sounds good man

[misterwhizzy]

Can we rename the Pickup Lounge to Advanced Van Halen 315?

[IanBallard]

Great clip man! I'm not totally convinced of anything as far as Ed's early setup anymore. He was very secretive and blew smoke up everybody's butt, to keep people from copping his sound. When he said, "I don't like DiMarzios" it may actually mean, "These are my secret weapon".

I also notice that his live sound is considerably less growly and gainy than in the studio. I posted a clip from the early 80's where his live tone was downright twangy and spanky with virtually none of the GRRRRRR of the studio recordings. He may have preferred the PAF's live and used hotter pups in the studio. I also think he used more than one amp in the studio, one for cleans and another for growl as he indicated in early interviews. He also used hybrid amps with different speakers for different sounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKBKRt5xl3k

Definitely less gainy than the studio. No question. I think Ed knew that gain was more audible on a record, whereas the notes would get lost live. A cleaner, more defined sound translates better live for sure.

[Ed Hunter]

Can we rename the Pickup Lounge to Advanced Van Halen 315?

ahem... U mean 316! Lol

[IanBallard]

Van Halen 3:16 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, Edward so that whoever believes in him shall not suck at guitar but will forever be haunted by his tone.

[Ed Hunter]

Van Halen 3:16 -- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, Edward so that whoever believes in him shall not suck at guitar but will forever be haunted by his tone.

LMAO..! I guess dimarzio will see a sales spike in thier SUPER D models now? Lol

[IanBallard]

LMAO..! I guess dimarzio will see a sales spike in thier SUPER D models now? Lol

Honestly, that pickup built that company and still, to this day, is one of the best pickups they make. I would not surprise me at all, if Eddie someday admitted that's what was used.

However, I'm really not interested in getting that sound, because it's only partially Ed's sound and partially Ted Templeman's vision and Landee's engineering. I'd be much more interested in getting the live tone, which Eddie had more control over. He always said he liked a "clean sustain" which to me is more embodied in those live clips.

But the bottom line for me, is that I want MY OWN sound. Although it's nice to get tips on getting AN AWESOME SOUND, which is clearly what we're talking about here.

[Ed Hunter]

Honestly, that pickup built that company and still, to this day, is one of the best pickups they make. I would not surprise me at all, if Eddie someday admitted that's what was used.

However, I'm really not interested in getting that sound, because it's only partially Ed's sound and partially Ted Templeman's vision and Landee's engineering. I'd be much more interested in getting the live tone, which Eddie had more control over. He always said he liked a "clean sustain" which to me is more embodied in those live clips.

But the bottom line for me, is that I want MY OWN sound. Although it's nice to get tips on getting AN AWESOME SOUND, which is clearly what we're talking about here.

i hear ya bro. My tone borrows from the eruption tone but the end result is my own tone.

[51501984]

I have recently put a Dimarzio SD in my homemade strat, and I don't think it comes close to VH. It seems way to hot and boomy. I'll have to try backing it as far away from the strings as I can. I'm also awaiting an A5 mag to try in it.

Try messing with the height of the super d before you give up on it, its sounds good in my alder and mahogany strats. Even though dmzs tone chart shows it heavy on the bass Ive never found it to be boomy. Forums member erikh recommends lowering the bass side of the pup and keeping the treble side a little closer to the strings and he's right

[Ed Hunter]

Try messing with the height of the super d before you give up on it, its sounds good in my alder and mahogany strats. Even though dmzs tone chart shows it heavy on the bass Ive never found it to be boomy. Forums member erikh recommends lowering the bass side of the pup and keeping the treble side a little closer to the strings and he's right

This is my religion when usin hotter pups say 13k and up and also a very important thing to remember the DSD has a larger than standard ceramic magnet and a duncan distortion also uses a large double size ceramic so runnin these bad boys close to the strings aint a real good idea...

[ledvedder]

I'm not really trying to cop Ed's sound. Although, I find myself always dialing things in to get as close as I can with whatever I'm playing through. I've just fallen in love with that tone over the years. I'd like to find the right pickup that gives me the feel and dynamics of his sound. Obviously, with a Peavey Classic 50 and a Jet City 20 combo, my amps aren't exactly what would get me close. I'd love to get hold of a Laney Pro Tube 50. I don't have the money to spring for an SLP or Plexi.

[Christopher Caruana]

I'm not really trying to cop Ed's sound. Although, I find myself always dialing things in to get as close as I can with whatever I'm playing through. I've just fallen in love with that tone over the years. I'd like to find the right pickup that gives me the feel and dynamics of his sound. Obviously, with a Peavey Classic 50 and a Jet City 20 combo, my amps aren't exactly what would get me close. I'd love to get hold of a Laney Pro Tube 50. I don't have the money to spring for an SLP or Plexi.

go for a JCM 800. They go for pretty reasonable on the used market. The Laney Protubes are a good choice too

[ledvedder]

go for a JCM 800. They go for pretty reasonable on the used market. The Laney Protubes are a good choice too

I've considered the 800, but I like that the protube has a bit more gain on tap. And they can be had for < $300. With a family and all, I find it hard to justify too much money on an amp.

[IanBallard]

Try messing with the height of the super d before you give up on it, its sounds good in my alder and mahogany strats. Even though dmzs tone chart shows it heavy on the bass Ive never found it to be boomy. Forums member erikh recommends lowering the bass side of the pup and keeping the treble side a little closer to the strings and he's right

Yeah, it's got a wonderful, thick growl to it but boomy it is not and I had it about 2 nickels distance from the strings.

[Despair]

I'm not really trying to cop Ed's sound. Although, I find myself always dialing things in to get as close as I can with whatever I'm playing through. I've just fallen in love with that tone over the years. I'd like to find the right pickup that gives me the feel and dynamics of his sound. Obviously, with a Peavey Classic 50 and a Jet City 20 combo, my amps aren't exactly what would get me close. I'd love to get hold of a Laney Pro Tube 50. I don't have the money to spring for an SLP or Plexi.

Huh. I played a Classic 50 2x12 in the store that just fell straight into AC/DC and VH2 rhythm tones. Don't remember what guitar I tried it with, though. I always regretted not having cash on hand to snag that amp. Wonder if it was stock... Salesman sneered at it when I asked to try it, then thought I'd switched to one of the Marshall combos when I bought strings afterwards.