Author Topic: VH II & ??? (Read 14631 times)

Bird · « **on:** April 09, 2005, 06:04:19 PM »

I'm starting to pick up parts for a project guitar, and I'm wondering about pickups. It's going to be a Hard Ash, strat style body, maple neck. I want that early Van Halen sound, so the VH II is going in the bridge position. But I also want a lot of versatility, not just the Ed sound, any suggestions for the neck pickup?

Tim · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2005, 06:11:10 PM »

As with all pickups, the VH II will do alot more than Ed's tone(and then only if you can play like him

).
The VH II is a great players pickup with a huge tone and lots of clarity. It's quite pokey in PAF terms and excellent at 'clean' overdrive-it can really sing.
I wind a special VH II neck that partners the bridge-this one is quite hot with DC8K, still Alnico V but with a hefty offset between the two coils. No noise just big open neck tone.
Stu Bull of Total Accuracy plays these in his PRS Custom22 and he loves the neck tones -Danny Gill also of Total Accuracy also plays them.
The VH II really is a big surprise, it's a lot more like a single coil but a really powerful one without any noise.

Bird · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2005, 06:57:40 PM »

Very cool , sounds like the VH II is what I'm looking for with this project. I had an OBL in an Ed style strat (maple body) way back that sounded great with distortion, but was sooooo sterile when clean it was atiseptic. Are there any other combos you'd recommend? Cleans up with some warmth when you back off the volume, and smokes on the heavy stuff :twisted:

Tim · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2005, 07:20:56 PM »

Quote from: Bird

Very cool , sounds like the VH II is what I'm looking for with this project. I had an OBL in an Ed style strat (maple body) way back that sounded great with distortion, but was sooooo sterile when clean it was atiseptic. Are there any other combos you'd recommend? Cleans up with some warmth when you back off the volume, and smokes on the heavy stuff :twisted:

OBLs are built around ceramic magnets which can sound very clinical when run super clean. The best recipe for power and warmth is Alnico V-the bass isn't as tight as a ceramic but it's got a way better/warmer clean tone.

For a hot humbucker there's the Crawler, big fat PAF on steroids, Nailbomb, more organic mid and clearer highs or the Warpig, serious power but coil splits down really well and sounds surprisingly good for such a pokey humbucker.

Bird · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2005, 07:50:38 PM »

One last question... I promise. I'm picking up a couple distortion pedals from Rob Keeley (DS-1 Ultra & Java Boost), if the VH II are better suited to clean overdrive would one of the other combos be a better option with this setup?

Tim · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2005, 08:23:33 PM »

When I say clean overdrive I mean not fizzy or distorted. If you listen to Eddie, although he uses alot of gain, the lead tone sounds really clean.

The Java is an amazing pedal and will work really well with the VH II and also the Nailbomb and Warpig too. The DS1 I'm not so keen on but that's just me, I prefer the more harmonic asymmetrical clip of overdrive, although it'll work a treat with the Warpig. It might get a bit too mid rangey with a Nailbomb though.

Bird · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2005, 08:28:59 PM »

Instead of the DS-1 perhaps I'll have to consider the TS9 Baked Mod

Tim · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2005, 09:42:15 PM »

That's cool, so is the SD1 5* and the TS808 is great too.

HJM · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2005, 09:45:26 PM »

Quote from: Bird

Instead of the DS-1 perhaps I'll have to consider the TS9 Baked Mod

What's your amp? Are you using them on a clean channel or pushing a already overdriven amp?

HJM

Bird · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2005, 10:38:48 PM »

I have a Peavey Classic 50, which has really nice distortion. I haven't ordered the pedals yet, still trying to make up my mind. Most of the time I'll use them with the amp distortion. But using them with the clean channel will get some cool new sounds too.

jt · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2005, 02:57:32 PM »

Quote from: Bird

I'm starting to pick up parts for a project guitar, and I'm wondering about pickups. It's going to be a Hard Ash, strat style body, maple neck. I want that early Van Halen sound, so the VH II is going in the bridge position. But I also want a lot of versatility, not just the Ed sound, any suggestions for the neck pickup?

8) i have to whole heartedly agree with Tim here don`t be fooled by the name these P/U`s are Top dog if your a player . you have to work `em but trust me there brilliant and as for the Neck they Absolutley sing and i mean sing great rich warm tone i`m playing a cheap guitar [tradition mtp450] it cost me £400. off of Ebay wood configureation same as a Les Paul but P.R.S shaped body and my calibrated set of VH2`s are just exceptional and as much as i rave about the bridge P/U the neck is even better ! i kid you not. i`m about to make a seriouse guitar purchase in the next month and i wil put another set of VH2`s in it. when i`ve got time i will put a quick demo on the players page

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2005, 04:27:43 PM »

Just a word of caution- hard ash can be particularly bright.
The winding offset on the VHII that gives it the bite may prove to make for a bright/harsh combination (depends what amp you will be running through and whhether you will paint the body.
If it proves to be too bright you may wish to have less offset between the coils - or use a beefed up Mule.

Just my thoughts
I have VH2s in my Korina flying V and it sounds fantastic

Bird · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2005, 05:00:18 PM »

Is korina wood similar to mahogany for sound? I've heard very good things about korina wood. I guess I could go with swamp ash too. But the guitar would definitely be painted. I'd like to go with the hard ash, but I'll go with what's going to sound the best.

jt · « **Reply #13 on:** April 30, 2005, 03:19:03 PM »

Quote from: Bird

Is korina wood similar to mahogany for sound? I've heard very good things about korina wood. I guess I could go with swamp ash too. But the guitar would definitely be painted. I'd like to go with the hard ash, but I'll go with what's going to sound the best.

:guitar4: Hi man Check out the Warmoth site as they have a great discription of all the woods what they look like how they sound etc. if i remember correctley Gibson Fying V`s are made of Korina and or Gibson Explorers

Bird · « **Reply #14 on:** April 30, 2005, 04:11:42 PM »

Quote from: jt

Quote from: Bird
Is korina wood similar to mahogany for sound? I've heard very good things about korina wood. I guess I could go with swamp ash too. But the guitar would definitely be painted. I'd like to go with the hard ash, but I'll go with what's going to sound the best.
:guitar4: Hi man Check out the Warmoth site as they have a great discription of all the woods what they look like how they sound etc. if i remember correctley Gibson Fying V`s are made of Korina and or Gibson Explorers

I've been checking out Warmoth for a while now. I'm planning on getting my parts through them, very cool site. Felineguitars thought Hard Ash might be a little too bright for the body, and he's got more experience than I do. Not sure if I'll go with my original plan or go with something like the Korina wood now.