How to Sound Like Van Halen

[LLL]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6fVBUL3SmFifmQtVVM0NF83SHR2bDJ2THVKbGRfcXFLTHZWNFpCOTZuSTUzZ1VXX3hOeFk?usp=sharing

2 short RWTD snippets - there's a darker Celestion (20 or 25w Greenback) one and a brighter JBL (D120) one.

Take note that the tone is incredibly plain-jane Marshall, but has a good buzzy bite (the "buzzy" in the "bite" comes from variac'ing; I've used one myself).

There's also a single Echoplex repeat at low volume.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6fVBUL3SmFifmQtVVM0NF83SHR2bDJ2THVKbGRfcXFLTHZWNFpCOTZuSTUzZ1VXX3hOeFk?usp=sharing

2 short RWTD snippets - there's a darker Celestion (20 or 25w Greenback) one and a brighter JBL (D120) one.

Take note that the tone is incredibly plain-jane Marshall, but has a good buzzy bite (the "buzzy" in the "bite" comes from variac'ing; I've used one myself).

There's also a single Echoplex repeat at low volume.

Wow, what I treat. It's almost the audio equivalent of seeing KISS perform live without any makeup.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

At some point, a MV mod was done, but was subsequently removed. Last I heard, Guy Hedrick was doing builds for John Suhr. I believe the SL-68 is a Guy Hedrick design.

If you're looking for that compressed VH 1 sound, the Guytron GT100 will get you there, as it is based on Ed's early 'Vox AC15 into Marshall' signal chain. The first revision (Rev B, I think) was the best sounding, but its stainless steel chassis really holds the heat! :firedevil

The mv was speculated as very early, but still not 100%. He also used that as a line out to slave for later live and recorded albums, 5150 is a heavy example of the slaving technique. That album was overkill on it. Im with you, and do doubt he had any crazy modifications in that amp at that time. There were accounts of some adjustments done to it, but very minor and not until way after vh1.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6fVBUL3SmFifmQtVVM0NF83SHR2bDJ2THVKbGRfcXFLTHZWNFpCOTZuSTUzZ1VXX3hOeFk?usp=sharing

2 short RWTD snippets - there's a darker Celestion (20 or 25w Greenback) one and a brighter JBL (D120) one.

Take note that the tone is incredibly plain-jane Marshall, but has a good buzzy bite (the "buzzy" in the "bite" comes from variac'ing; I've used one myself).

There's also a single Echoplex repeat at low volume.

I have heard other isolated tracks of rwtd as well, and it does sound like he steps on a boost of some sort coming out of the verses.

 

[LLL]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

I have heard other isolated tracks of rwtd as well, and it does sound like he steps on a boost of some sort coming out of the verses.

He's just rolling the guitar's volume knob up/down. Non-master '68 Plexi Marshall of course.

The guitar? Theory being the Ibanez Destroyer for all non-trem tunes; Frankie for trem tunes.

So, theory - RWTD is the Destroyer with Super 70s... then again, could be Mighty Mite 1300 (DiM SD clone)

 

[LLL]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

Theory about the pot shaft in the back of the amp is when he bought it (the house amp) from Rose Palace, it had already had a MV installed.

But again, just theory...

 

[67Mopar]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

The mv was speculated as very early, but still not 100%. He also used that as a line out to slave for later live and recorded albums, 5150 is a heavy example of the slaving technique. That album was overkill on it. Im with you, and do doubt he had any crazy modifications in that amp at that time. There were accounts of some adjustments done to it, but very minor and not until way after vh1.

I asked Guy... Did you make any changes in the rebuild? He replied; "I tweaked the bias circuit a bit, but that was it. The signal path is stock." He was too the point, and lucid. He went to Ed's home studio, per invite. He said that Edward is a sort-of mad scientist when it comes to constructing sound, and described his method as "fluid". He mentioned several key points relating to Ed's effects, use of a variac, speakers, etc..., but I'm not going to get that ball rolling here.

The VH 1 tone is my favorite, but it's a laborious sound to work with. I found myself feeling worn-out after a minimal amount of playtime. I can see why Ed opted for a more attack friendly sound of VH II. Some say this was his MV mod tone. VH WACF sounds like a blend of the first two albums tones, maybe?

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

 

[JohnnyBsurfin]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

Eddie was so badass!

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen

 

[JohnnyBsurfin]

Re: How to Sound Like Van Halen