VHII compared to?

[donbarzini]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever compared the VHII to any of the other EVH type pickups on the market? I notice that other manufacturers are using Alnico II and Alnico III for EVH's early tone. Does the Alnico V get you that vintage PAF growl and spongy tones that EVH had back in the good 'ol days?

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

I wouldn't use II's or III's. II is quite mushy in anything over 8K and III is very transparent and bright.
V is used in the majority of good rock pickups because of its agressive adge. IV is simular but with a sweeter more balanced tone.

[March]

One of my favourite store's that sells BKP's use this line... "Have you heard the Semour Duncan Sreamin Demon? Now imagine that what that pickup would sound like done properly!".

I have the VHII in my Strat and to be honest, it's my favourite BKP. It's not as high gain compared to a Crawler or an Abraxas, but it certainly lives up to the tag 'vintage hot'. It never gets mushy, bass notes just leap out of the guitar and the definition and articulation is evident in any musical situation you care to put the pickup in.

I love the early EVH tone, in fact, I think it's the best overdriven guitar tone ever commited to record and the VHII nails that tone.

[Eric]

One of my favourite store's that sells BKP's use this line... "Have you heard the Semour Duncan Sreamin Demon? Now imagine that what that pickup would sound like done properly!".

LOL

Good line there. I'm consistently amazed by how amazing the sound clips of the VH2 sound. When I started listening to clips the VH2 wasn't even on my list of possible buys now its in the lead.

Thank you Player's Forum.      :D

[TwilightOdyssey]

I wouldn't compare the VHII to the Demon, which is probably the SD pickup I'm most familar with, unless you figure that they are both meant for super strat style guitars, perhaps as the only pickup.

The VHII is much clearer, a lot more attack, and a more solid bottom end.  A lot of people go on about the 'growl' of the Demon, and it is good, esp in a maple bodied guitar, but the pickup sounds like butt in any other kind of body wood.

The VHII has more snarl, more bite, and just more INFORMATION. It's also more dynamic than the Demon. Plus, you can fit it into a wider variety of body woods. My VHII is in an ash Strat and it sounds killer.

[willo]

you can fit it into a wider variety of body woods. My VHII is in an ash Strat and it sounds killer.

Indeed...I have a set in a mahogany + maple cap Les Paul, and it too sounds killer.

A lot of cut...it can be powerful and then delicate, raspy or then smooth. I think I've put up a few samples in the Players room, if you've checked them out? I hope to do more, now I've got a valve amp.

I really really really like this pickup. However, I can't compare it to any of the pickups mentioned above, simply cos I haven't tried those. But I would recommend the VHII, very much - its a joy to play with.

[March]

I wouldn't compare the VHII to the Demon, which is probably the SD pickup I'm most familar with, unless you figure that they are both meant for super strat style guitars, perhaps as the only pickup.

The VHII is much clearer, a lot more attack, and a more solid bottom end.  A lot of people go on about the 'growl' of the Demon, and it is good, esp in a maple bodied guitar, but the pickup sounds like butt in any other kind of body wood.

The VHII has more snarl, more bite, and just more INFORMATION. It's also more dynamic than the Demon. Plus, you can fit it into a wider variety of body woods. My VHII is in an ash Strat and it sounds killer.

Twilight,

I think I know where the dealer is coming from having used the Screamin' Demon for a while in the past. It's Seymour's take on a hot PAF style pickup. But I also agree with you with regards the differences, but those are the very reasons but I love my Bareknuckles - they all deliver those qualities.

[Miracle Man Matt]

What is meant by the term 'brown sound'?  How would you describe this to a non-van halen player?

All I know is that he used a fairly complex setup, including a bodged strat with a 335 PU strapped to it. :oops:

oh yea, and whats the difference between VH1 and VH2?

I expect Im embarresing myself by not know some sacred basic knowledege that I should being a guitar player..... but boll*cks to it.

cheers

MMM

[willo]

brown sound is something that is powerful but smooth, fat and wide with great clarity, and bite if you dig in...or at least, thats how i'd try and define it!

EVH used a Plexi with a voltage adapter (Variac?) to lower the voltage of the amp from 120V to 90V (i think), and his custom strat guitar with the PAF attatched to get 'the' sound.