The original pickup in Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstrat guitar was a Gibson PAF humbucker. He removed it from his Gibson ES-335 and installed it in the bridge position of the Frankenstrat. Van Halen also dipped the pickup in paraffin wax to reduce microphonic feedback.
Van Halen used the Frankenstrat extensively in the early 1980s, and it became one of his signature guitars. It is featured on many of Van Halen’s most famous songs, including “Eruption,” “Panama,” and “Jump.”
In the late 1980s, Van Halen began using Seymour Duncan 59HB pickups in his guitars. He used a 59HB in the bridge position of the Frankenstrat for the rest of his career.
The Gibson PAF and Seymour Duncan 59HB are both humbucker pickups, which are known for their warm, full sound and high output. They are both popular pickups for high gain and distorted tones.
The Frankenstrat was a custom guitar that Van Halen built himself, using a Fender Stratocaster body and a Charvel neck. He also made a number of other modifications to the guitar, including installing a Floyd Rose tremolo system and a single pickup selector switch.
The Frankenstrat is one of the most iconic electric guitars of all time, and it is credited with helping to popularize the superstrat style of guitar. It is also credited with helping to popularize the use of humbucker pickups in Stratocaster-style guitars.
If you are a fan of Eddie Van Halen and you want to achieve his signature sound, then using a Gibson PAF or Seymour Duncan 59HB pickup is a great place to start. However, it is important to note that your guitar and playing style will also play a role in your sound.
