EVH sound any advice?

Re: EVH sound any advice?

WoodyTone said:
Ace is 100% right, except maybe a few more % to Ed's hands and aggressive technique.
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Just ball parkin' it. The main point is that with a decent amp/multi-fx it's not hard to get that sound any more. Playing like Ed, also no greaat mystery these days.

I really think people wayyyyyyy over analyze his tone/sound.

strat style +
paf +
Mega drive Marshall +
phase/flange/delay/verb

It's probably a present on most cheapo-digitech boxes.
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

ok guys, i got the custom custom humbucker installed yesterday into my 57 strat, sounds nice and now i know that Aceman is 100% correct, the guitar is a small part, the amp is the big thing, then the fingers, i have the egnater rebel 20, its very cool amp but i think for sound like aint talkin bout love, it doesn't pull it off with the harmonics and stuff, if you guys have time check out this guy playing on you tube he pulls it off pretty good, and i went on his web site and he is has van halen setting that he use on vox tonelab. i am thinking if you dont have one of these amps you need a type of pedal, or effects, when i use my DS-1 or blues driver, it just sounds over driven and and fuzz, just sounds like crap. i am going to pratice a lot try to get the 15% of the tone right with my fingers. DAMM van halen is tougher then i thought i would be !!!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqsuet6lMzE
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

aceman what kind of pedal u think i should get for reverb, flander, phase delay? my amp doesn't have any reverb or delay etc...
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

Verb - get a Verbzilla. Early VH uses a dripping wet plate reverb. It really makes the sound! Later VH uses standard verb, or none. For Ain't tazlkin' a lot of plate verb left and dry right - use the delay to make that happen.

Delay - I'd use a DD3. On Ain't talkin' set for a single repeat at a fairly high level, but short repeat.

Flange - any old thing. For Ain't talkin' kick it on for the bass riff, or if you can find a pedal that lets you set the range of the flange so it's only/mostly on the bass end. ADA was the official pedal. Of course, there is the VH model from MXR.

Phase - any old MXR phase 90. But a cheap Boss will work. Or again, the EVH model by MXR

In my old age I rely on attitude more than the gear.

Also - on 1984, and 5150 on, I find a chorus is really helpful. A key to his sound there is there are almost two delays. One delay is a very long delay on the chorus sound (Some chorus pedals let you adjust the width of the delay - big delay needed) Then there is a second ambient delay. It's kinda weird, but it really hits the sound of 5150 era VH. Particularly with that CC!
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

Christopher Caruana said:
+1 on the TZ......did the EBMMEVH dimarzio signature bridge become the TZ after edward went to Peavey?
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No, The EBMM Axis was already in development when EVH signed with EBMM. He loved the design and feel and made it his sig model guitar. DiMarzio and EBMM worked together on the pickup design. Of the two highest models that EVH liked, the highest is still used in the EBMM Axis models being made currently. The second highest model was sent back to DiMarzio and it became the Tone Zone.

The Tone Zone is not and was never in the EBMM Axis...
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

gev -- Um, yeah -- EVH is just about the toughest rock stuff to cop, period. I've been trying for 30 years, still don't have it down. Pedals: get the EVH model flanger and phaser, you will be happy. Any other flanger won't cut it -- I've tried most. Phase is less particular but he designed that pedal, so.... I own it and it sounds great.

Re: copping Ed-like harmonics et al, yeah, you can model it or get it via a Dist pedal, but that still won't have you PLAYING like Ed though you may SOUND more like him. To do that, play any good tube amp boosted but dry, and work at it until you can do it. Like I said, 30 years and counting...


Interesting, Butch, thanks.
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

Aceman said:
Verb - get a Verbzilla. Early VH uses a dripping wet plate reverb. It really makes the sound! Later VH uses standard verb, or none. For Ain't tazlkin' a lot of plate verb left and dry right - use the delay to make that happen.

Delay - I'd use a DD3. On Ain't talkin' set for a single repeat at a fairly high level, but short repeat.

Flange - any old thing. For Ain't talkin' kick it on for the bass riff, or if you can find a pedal that lets you set the range of the flange so it's only/mostly on the bass end. ADA was the official pedal. Of course, there is the VH model from MXR.

Phase - any old MXR phase 90. But a cheap Boss will work. Or again, the EVH model by MXR

In my old age I rely on attitude more than the gear.

Also - on 1984, and 5150 on, I find a chorus is really helpful. A key to his sound there is there are almost two delays. One delay is a very long delay on the chorus sound (Some chorus pedals let you adjust the width of the delay - big delay needed) Then there is a second ambient delay. It's kinda weird, but it really hits the sound of 5150 era VH. Particularly with that CC!
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I've got to the point where I am convinced that the CC is the best pup for both my Kramer 84 Baretta and ESP LTD. I love the 59(8) but it would be nice if it were just a tad more alive. Next time I swap strings in my ESP I will be taking the A8 mag out of the CC and putting back in the A2 mag...my cheap ESP LTD sounded best with the CC..and for my Baretta I may order another reverse Zebra CC or BKP VHII reverse Zebra pup for it.
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

You might also want to hit the front end with an MXR 6 Band/Boss GE-7 set at a slight frown curve or a TS-9 set for boost. And the 78' definitely has the early EVH MoJo!
 
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Re: EVH sound any advice?

JB_From_Hell said:
One thing I'd add that is important to that type of tone is light gauge strings.
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Absolutely, as well as the right pick, picking technique, etc. The more you can get just like Ed, the more it will help -- though I've heard guys who can do it without all that because they have the hands.
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

JB_From_Hell said:
I agree. One thing I'd add that is important to that type of tone is light gauge strings.
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As a finer point, I agree. There is definitely a slinky, stretchy noodely sound/feel to his playing that is thin strings.
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

Aceman said:
As a finer point, I agree. There is definitely a slinky, stretchy noodely sound/feel to his playing that is thin strings.
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I think a lot of that also comes from the Alnico 2 magnet. Every time I've tried one in a pickup it immediately gives me that sort of tone and feel and it just lends itself to that style of playing.
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

GoDrex said:
I think a lot of that also comes from the Alnico 2 magnet. Every time I've tried one in a pickup it immediately gives me that sort of tone and feel and it just lends itself to that style of playing.
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I like the A2 in the CC for sure.

As for strings it's no big secret that EVH used an .09 and .42 on the Es...at least until his cusom 5150 strings came out...which were a mixed set...hybrid.


I have always only used a .09 on the bottom and have experiemented with up to 46 on the bottom E.
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

I LOVE playing thru gear that sounds close to EVH sound(s)...but it's ME doing it, ya know? Now THAT is a good time! To me it's about enjoying music. :-)
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

the guy who invented fire said:
Strat+PAF+Cranked amp (Plexi if ya got one) with a CLOSED back cab and Greenbacks=EVH or as close to it as anybody thats NOT EVH will get...
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werd!

You have to remember - Ed might have used any guitar, pup, string or whatever that was lying around at the time for anything you have ever heard. setup was not likely the same song to song, let alone album to album. don't over think it. Play loud, and have fun.
 
Re: EVH sound any advice?

Aceman said:
werd!

You have to remember - Ed might have used any guitar, pup, string or whatever that was lying around at the time for anything you have ever heard. setup was not likely the same song to song, let alone album to album. don't over think it. Play loud, and have fun.
Click to expand...

The set ups were never the same song to song...thats why I didn't list a specific set up or get into the "let's split hairs about Ed's pickup" game...

A Fender style guitar with a bucker in it through a cranked amp that wiht a closed back Greenback cab will get you close...

A lot of Ed's early sound was for sure VOLUME...I for one don't think you have to have a lot of volume to get a good sound but there are some sounds out there....The Brown Sound, Cream era Clapton, early ZZ Top, etc that you will never nail unless you can crank a fairly large amp...sorry...
 
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