Pickups

**edguitarplayinfreak** · 03.03.05, 04:05 PM

Just wondering what kind of pickups are good for a rich tone but still pack some good crunch. Im basically looking for a good "classic" van halen sounding pickup. Im talkin bout specifics too. If you could help it would be great or just point me towards a thread that already has this. Thanks!

**Big Dainjerus** · 03.03.05, 05:27 PM

Seymour Duncan Evenly Voiced Harmonics (evh) is said to be really good, but really expensive. Others have said the 59' is good, I think that is what Ed used on his 5150. Holla.

**riddick** · 03.03.05, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Big Dainjerus

Seymour Duncan Evenly Voiced Harmonics (evh) is said to be really good, but really expensive. Others have said the 59' is good, I think that is what Ed used on his 5150. Holla.

Dimarzio Tone Zones are nice, and are pretty close to the ernie ball evh pickups.

Riddick.

**Thai Boxer 9901** · 03.03.05, 07:38 PM

I think SD just came out with a new '78 humbucker which is supposed to sound special or somethin. I havent tried it personally but I think it would be worth checkin out

**Majestic** · 03.03.05, 07:56 PM

Anything that isn't "harsh", and doesn't have a spike in the upper-mids will do, unless you don't mind using an EQ pedal.

I'd go for Duncan's '78 (or E.V.H.), or any slightly overwound PAF style pickup with an A2 magnet. A Seth Lover will do, even though it doesn't look the part.

You could try Duncan's Blues Trembucker, if it will fit your guitar.

You could always buy a Screamin' Demon and put a $5 Alnico 2 magnet in it. I've heard fantastic results with that, plus at 10k, it has a stitch more volume than a basic PAF.

**a5150guy** · 03.03.05, 08:29 PM

To me, a '59 is close, but the SD EVH has that little bit of "magic" chunk and chime that no other pickup I have ever played has. EVH = awesome string separation, clean harmonics and relatively low output. The EVH is glassy and squeeky without a hint of fuzziness. I actually had them wind me a few that were at 8.95k resistance as opposed to the usual 9.12k res, I know it doesn't sound like much, but the lower output made a pretty big difference. It gave me a little more headroom and dynamics on the strings. Something so many people overlook when trying to replicate the "tone".

**HugeVHfan** · 03.03.05, 11:44 PM

I would recommend ESP pickups. They may be a little too harsh, heavy, and distorted for the "Brown Sound", but then again, EDDIE's riffs ARE MEAN!!!

I read somewhere that Bruce Kulick, who is one of my favorite guitarists who I met this year at the ESP autograph booth (what a coincedence?!), uses ESP pickups when he does a cover of a VH song. He's done quite a few VH tribute stuff on many tribute albums! Check out: http://www.espguitars.com/

**Majestic** · 03.04.05, 03:42 PM

Most people feel they don't have the chops to play w/ low-output pickups, and ignore the genre totally. Then they whine about getting Ed's tone.

I know it took me about a week to adjust when I went from my 5150 combo to a vintage club-style amp. The switch to lower output pickups isn't nearly as traumatic.

Bottom line is that if you've mastered the fundamentals, you can make an acoustic squeal, let alone an electric guitar.

I've backed-off of giving clinics on getting Ed's early tones. I've heard guys use Twizzlers for cables, and Twinkies for amps, and pull it off. If you've got the chops, an EQ pedal (for subtracting harsh frequencies), and the right minor modifications, you can sound very similar to Eddie with almost anything.

If we want to be specific about it, then yeah.....a slightly overwound & wax-potted PAF pickup with a vintage magnet, whether it's an "aged" Alnico 5, or an Alnico 2.