The Frankenstein Custom Humbucker is designed to provide the punch, power, harmonics, and dynamics that fueled some of the most exciting and memorable guitar riffs of all time. As unique as Eddie, the Frankenstein Custom Humbucker is perfect for rhythm, lead, and everything in between.
There are good tones, there are great tones, and then there are tones that change the world forever. Edward Van Halen’s sound is the latter …and it got there instantaneously, with the first chord of his first record 40 years ago. That sound—with its punch, dimension, aggression, and detail defined an era, launched a tsunami of imitators, and inspired a generation. Now you can get your hands on a pickup that can deliver those VH tones, with all the harmonics, complexity, and power associated with his iconic guitar parts. Massive power chords and soaring single-note lines are all at your fingertips. And because of its incredible clarity and depth, the Frankenstein Custom Humbucker is also perfect for those VH style riffs that combine chords, melody, and technical nuance all at once, maintaining definition and speaking with a loud, clear voice. Another hallmark of Eddie’s style is his brilliant use of dynamics. Whether by altering his attack or rolling down his volume knob, the Frankenstein Custom Humbucker is supremely responsive, making it easy to seamlessly morph from clean to dirty, for a range of tones few humbuckers can match. This is a pickup packed with inspiration.
The Frankenstein Custom Humbucker is proudly made in Santa Barbara, California.
We are passionate about quality so we ask for your patience while we craft your pickup. For shipping time estimates, please visit the Shipping & Returns page.
Posted by Johnny on 23rd Feb 2024
Needed a new sound for my 93 Les Paul. All my heroes were in the 70/80's. Wanted something to capture the sound of that era without trying to reproduce "eddy". This thing nailed it! I cut out all the wiring except the volume and main lined it.
Whoa...
Grin...
It's Hot?
Top of the line customer service too! When the relic-ing wasn't enough to match my guitar, MJ graciously let me stop by the shop and added additional love while I waited. ??
TY, TY, TY!
Expectations exceeded, well done. ??♂️
Posted by Larry on 10th Oct 2022
This was my first build of the Frankenstrat, and I wanted the best parts, and hardware that I could find, and did my research on pickups, and chose the Frankenstein humbucker. And I have to say, MJ did a fantastic job with this pickup, now I can see why Seymour Duncan is where they are, all the mids, highs, and lowsare right there. MJ knows her stuff, and she makes the best pickups. Thank you MJ for opening the door on making my first Frankenstrat, my first guitar.
Thanks to everyone at Seymour Duncan. Keep on Rock'in.
Posted by Unknown on 8th Jan 2020
This is it, the holy grail. I don't know why any other pickup exists to be honest, this thing is truly nuts. You have to play it to believe it. Plug it into the right gear and close your eyes, it's San Bernardino memorial day 1983. The dirt with all the clarity, the beautiful roll off cleans, the in your face brown sound is all here, for your ears only. Thanks for finally giving us the goods SD and EVH, it has been worth the wait.
Posted by David S. on 16th Nov 2019
This pickup has absolutely made my build. It's better than my highest expectations. The VH sound itself is nailed. Chimes all over the neck. Rich sustains.
I keep finding more and more that it will do. I never want to put the guitar down.
It's definitely in the same class as my Custom Shop LP. In fact, I'll reach for it more often than the LP.
Thank you for building this fantastic pickup for me, I'll enjoy it for years to come.
Posted by Paul G on 5th Oct 2019
Fantastic pickup! Love everything about it. Nice and punchy and sounds perfect! Thx MJ and Dennis for the great customer service and shipping to Canada.
Posted by Rich Brown on 16th Aug 2019
I really like the clarity that you can grab with just the volume knob. From good solid drive and low end, but doesn't drown the highs - to clean low drive for bright tones without losing the effects the accent the tone. The "brown tone" is there. Eddie Van Halen just amazes me with his research and ability to design. Take something of age, like this pickup design and make it work better than the new but not necessarily improved designs.
Posted by Roman K. on 15th Jul 2019
The Frankenstein pickup is easily my favorite humbucker I've ever played. It's got all that top end and mid range sizzle, with great chunky bass as well. It really livened up my guitar with a floyd rose on it, and has great sustain now. This pup is also super responsive to pick attack and your guitars volume knob, it cleans up and has an almost shimmering quality just by picking softer. Chords ring out true and don't get muddy, you can pick out every note being played. It's also a very harmonically rich pup, they ring out all over the neck with ease. It's got EVH tone in spades, it was exactly what I was looking for. The aging on the pup also looks perfect in my 32 year old guitar. I love this pickup!
Posted by Craig Oliver on 5th Jul 2019
Once again, there's a reason EVH is the king. He played with the sound and tone of his pickups so much, he finally produced the perfect pickup you need. And Seymour Duncan duplicated it perfectly. This pickup has great rock and heavy metal sound when cracked up. It's got such a animalistic growl to it. Then you can just about create a pinch harmonic anywhere on the fretboard where others have had issues. Then when you pull the volume back, you get such a warm, clean tone that is easily controllable with just the volume knob. I'm completely amazed and satisfied with this pickup that I purchased another one for a different guitar build and I can't wait to hear the sound in that one too. Thanks to Eddie for the decades of trial and error. And thanks to Seymour for duplicating that for others like me to be able to enjoy it.
Posted by Spencer on 26th May 2019
These are the most articulate pickups distorted Ive ever played. They nail that mid crunch sweet spot yet you can still identify the individual notes you're playing. Effortless harmonics for days! True searing leads!
Thank you guys at Seymour Duncan!!!