Tim said something in an earlier post which rang an alarm bell in my head, shortly followed by a light bulb!
For years now I have been annoying my guitar playing friend by knowing almost instantly if a pickup has a ceramic magnet or not. My ears just do not like ceramic and Tim stating that, especially clean, ceramic tends to have a more clinical sound backed up my thinking/experiences.
I am absolutely in love with the tone the VHII is providing me. It certainly does capture that early Van Halen tone, it's big, open and brown, it has power but does not dominate proceedings. For me, it's the perfect humbucker for the bridge of my Strat, hence the reason it is currently sitting there!
Willo,
If you ever make get the chance to own a Plexi, a Mk.II 1959 or a reissue you will love the range of tones and the simplicity of the amp. One big piece of advice though.... if you ever fire it up at home make sure you live in the middle of nowhere... these are LOUD! I've worked with VHT, Engl, Koch, Trace Elliot, Peavey and Marshall JCM heads in my time, but none are as powerfull as a 1959 in terms of eardrum bursting potential! The tone is awesome though, after 1 the volume controls cease to do anything in regards to out and out volume, they just alter the amount of gain! It's a must experience experience! 8) :D
