The right pickup for me- Any advice?

[David McCarroll]

Originally Posted by sick-boy

If you're looking for "Brown" sound, don't forget that VH's pup was not some over-the-top, high output pup. You might be suprised by the tone you can get out of "underpowered" pups. Just my $0.02

In fact, EV's original frankenstrat had an underwound Gibson PAF - probably about a 7.1K pickup - most of his tone came from starving his Marshalls of power, hence lowering the point at which they run out of headroom and start saturating - am I the only person who thinks Eddie's tone started out stellarly good on say the first three albums then went steadily downhill?

[BozTheK]

Originally Posted by sick-boy

If you're looking for "Brown" sound, don't forget that VH's pup was not some over-the-top, high output pup. You might be suprised by the tone you can get out of "underpowered" pups. Just my $0.02

Yeah, that is another reason I went for a Norton, the Tone Zone has even more output than what I already have. I find that if I don't lower my cureent pickup slightly, it becomes to punchy and bass-y on cleans.

[BozTheK]

Originally Posted by David McCarroll

In fact, EV's original frankenstrat had an underwound Gibson PAF - probably about a 7.1K pickup - most of his tone came from starving his Marshalls of power, hence lowering the point at which they run out of headroom and start saturating - am I the only person who thinks Eddie's tone started out stellarly good on say the first three albums then went steadily downhill?

Well all that probably takes extra gear purchases, or even an amp mod. I'm not going to go that far. As for his tone, I think it sure did change a lot in his transition from Roth to Hagar (a change for the worse, in my opinion).

I only have 3 Van Halen albums (Van Halen, Fair Warning and 1984). I think that between all those albums his tone advances rather than changes- some sounds stay the same, whereas some tunes have a different tone to others.

Maybe I just don't like Hagar, but of the stuff I've heard EVH play on Hagar albums, his tone and playing seem so different that he sounds like an EVH rip off- despite being the man himself.


Well I'm dragging things off topic now. Checked with my guitar store today- my pickups, as well as a pedal I ordered several months ago- still haven't arrived! Getting tired of waiting with no news!

[winger]

I've been very happy with the Norton in my RG's bridge. But as mentioned above pickup height adjusments can have big results. Spend some time tweaking those before buying new pickups. It could turn out to be the cheapest fix. My $0.02

[tt0511]

I have a Norton in the bridge of my custom herc swirl guitar with the Air Norton in the neck. Quite a good versatile combo. I think You'll like that Norton in the bridge. I'm a big 80's head too and it can do a lot and get good harmonics. Quite different from Evo's and the Fred IMO. I had evo's in my stock JEM and the Fred in the bridge of my JS100.

Let us know how it goes. Good luck.

[buddroyce]

My vote would goto the Norton or maybe even the Air Norton in the bridge. If you need even more opinions you can try posting a message on dimarzioforum.com. One of the chaps there can give you some info there 'cause I think someone else there was looking for something similar to you.

(Larry Dimarzio is also on there and may even answer a question or two)

[BozTheK]

Thanks everyone here has been very helpful

All ordered up- just waiting for the damn things to arrive!

It's taking so much longer than it should be...

Guess I'm just gonna have to be patient