The DSD/Mighty Mite on VH1 theory

[EJSLPlexi]

. One important thing about the SH5 is that it's the only pickup that gave me those instant cardboard-like mids and a tight bass (eruption, atbl, ito).


but somehow the dsd sounds better for ice cream man- loose, bassy and fuzzy on the lower strings... what a nightmare!

My 2Cents? Someone was doing some pickup swapping/experimenting in the studio on that first record

Maybe he had this new duncan rewind and still wanted to use his old faithful mighty mite? so he used both at different times

[SteadyEddie]

The looser sounding stuff was the Destroyer. Listen to Eruption. That's clearly the Frankenstrat. Tight and percussive. Then "You Really Got Me." You know it's the Destroyer, what with the pickup switch stutter trick. It's fuzzy, softer sounding.

Really folks, some of you overthink this stuff just a bit too much.

[Tone Slinger]

I'm guilty (of overthinking too much) . I'm not real familiar with a Duncan SH-5, especially within my last 'growth' streak as a EVH tone chaser (though I've ALWAYS tried and been aware of Ed's tone). I do know that the 'Ice Cream Man ' iso that Stef posted is 100% DSD type tone.

I dont think Ed swapped pu's on that first album, but maybe he used 'slightly' different settings on the 6 band, that is, when he used it.

[garbeaj]

So stef...do you have any clips with the SH-5? I'm really interested now...I don't see any info on the Seymour website, but I haven't searched the forums extensively for more info on the pickup. Is it available F-spaced?

[stef]

So stef...do you have any clips with the SH-5? I'm really interested now...I don't see any info on the Seymour website, but I haven't searched the forums extensively for more info on the pickup. Is it available F-spaced?

Nope But I just found this old clip..it's a dsd f spaced (was brand new when I played that), crappy camera mic, ppimv on 1 , wrong speakers etc.... but now I want that fuzzy angry, nasty dsd sound back! It's my amp and my guitar, cab belongs to a friend of mine

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnGK32xbJM4[/youtube]

PS: I have a regular Sh-5 (stock spec: ceramic mag, 13K) and there probably is TH-5 (trembucker = f spaced) but this regular version is problem free IME and it's in the same pickguard where DSD was before. I'll try to make a proper clip with a sm57 and GB's....
edit: yes TB-5 exists
"application
"P.A.F. on steroids" tone. Used for classic rock, heavy rock, funk, punk, R&B, metal and drop-tunings.

description
Beefed up Patent Applied For tone for a hard-driving, kickin' sound with the right balance of power, sustain, and distortion. This pickup cuts through with a distinctive high end and midrange attack. The ceramic magnet and custom coil design give it compressed dynamics, an enhanced harmonic structure, and a punchy bass. Perfect for dropped tunings without "mushing" out. Comes with four-conductor hookup cable.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... ncan_cust/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[garbeaj]

Cool...thanks for the link. I can hear that F-spaced DSD pickup at work. I made a quick and rambling clip with my regular (non F-spaced) Super Distortion that had feedback problems using my 6402 re-issue Greenbacks and my Mod 5 Marshall:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7k56dpY_-g[/youtube]

I used the wrong mic (not SM57 but my Sennheiser MD-420) and the levels were not quite right, but you can get a rough idea of what I'm getting.

I now have the new F-spaced DSD which does not have feedback problems and I am using .009's now (I was using .11's) and hopefully I'll get it together to make clips with an SM57 and it will hopefully give me an opportunity to practice using .009's which are a bit of a struggle for me to get used to...

I'm wondering if the tremolo spaced SH-5 will be more of a happy medium between the P.A.F. regular magnet and the ceramic DSD?!

[stef]

Great chopsl! The sh-5 sounds just like you described - something between P.A.F. and DSD... I find it very tight sounding, it's tighter with the 9-42 strings than a DSD with 9-40. I also hear some JB-like qualities (sort of a mid quack thing), sometimes I like them and they help the guitar tone cut through the mix especially on solos, but sometimes it starts to annoy me. Never heard those frequencies with the DSD. I'm seriously thinking about putting my DSD back

[garbeaj]

Great chopsl! The sh-5 sounds just like you described - something between P.A.F. and DSD... I find it very tight sounding, it's tighter with the 9-42 strings than a DSD with 9-40. I also hear some JB-like qualities (sort of a mid quack thing), sometimes I like them and they help the guitar tone cut through the mix especially on solos, but sometimes it starts to annoy me. Never heard those frequencies with the DSD. I'm seriously thinking about putting my DSD back

Hmm...I'm actually now using Fender 150XL's with bullet ends and I have replaced the low E with a .42 bullet end string. Also using the Fender Medium celluloid pick is helping for all the VH-1 group of tones.

I may try the sh-5 at some point, but I'm really pretty happy with my new F-spaced DSD for now. I may try moving it a tad closer to the bridge, but the basic tones are making me happy now. Now I just have to tighten up my playing with these skinny strings...I play too hard on them after being used to the .11's for so many years, but I'm getting there:)

[Tone Slinger]

Ha Ha, yeah, imagine if you were using the purple tortex on those .9's . You would REALLY be knocking them about.

The medium celluloid Fender and the '9 guage strings really work good togather (I also use the Fender 150xl bullets (3150xl).

The clips were great guy's. I am also jonesing to get a sh-5 in my strat, just to compare. I dont think Ed used anything non stock, pu wise, until early '78 (just prior to the world tour). The first album was a Mighty Mite DSD clone imo. The Destroyer, like all tunomatic bridged, set neck 24 3/4 scale guitars, gets more bottom and push, as compared to a strat with equivalent pu, thats why the MM/DSD in the Franky and the Super 70 in the Destroyer seemed 'par' to one another in certain examples.

[garbeaj]

I dont think Ed used anything non stock, pu wise, until early '78 (just prior to the world tour). The first album was a Mighty Mite DSD clone imo. The Destroyer, like all tunomatic bridged, set neck 24 3/4 scale guitars, gets more bottom and push, as compared to a strat with equivalent pu, thats why the MM/DSD in the Franky and the Super 70 in the Destroyer seemed 'par' to one another in certain examples.

I agree. I think the full up 100w stack makes the Super 70 in the Destroyer sound closer to the DSD/Mighty Mite in the Frankenstein. The Super 70 doesn't work very well with my Mod5, but I think it would work great with a big full-up fire breathing and modded amp. There is a big difference in what would work in my Mod5 in my bedroom or small club and the real live fully cranked 100W Marshall with 4 screaming Celestions...