VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
- Thread starter fretburner
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fretburner
Well-known member
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
i was out for a while... i finally found this thread which i started...thanks for all the replies!
i've been listenning to a lot of van halen these past few weeks, and i always marvel at the sound of his guitar in "balance". kickass tone!
i was out for a while... i finally found this thread which i started...thanks for all the replies!
i've been listenning to a lot of van halen these past few weeks, and i always marvel at the sound of his guitar in "balance". kickass tone!
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
ya i dug out Balance too and have been listening to it a lot.... I have a bunch of copies of Balance as a local Pawn Shop was selling them for a $1. Also been listening to the 1996-ish Best Of they put out with the 2 newist songs they recorded with Roth. Can't Get That Stuff No More has to be single coils.... it has a raspiness to it that i hear as single coils into a 5150... i've seen photos of Ed with Wolfgangs with singles.....
But that Wolfgang he has with a Transtrem and a Sustainer that was on Me Wise Magic must be something else!!!!!! Space age guitar!
fretburner said:
ya i dug out Balance too and have been listening to it a lot.... I have a bunch of copies of Balance as a local Pawn Shop was selling them for a $1. Also been listening to the 1996-ish Best Of they put out with the 2 newist songs they recorded with Roth. Can't Get That Stuff No More has to be single coils.... it has a raspiness to it that i hear as single coils into a 5150... i've seen photos of Ed with Wolfgangs with singles.....
But that Wolfgang he has with a Transtrem and a Sustainer that was on Me Wise Magic must be something else!!!!!! Space age guitar!
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
That's the album that really got me hooked on VH and has always been my favorite. I have a bootleg DVD of the first show, and I don't remember seeing a Wolfgang in use, but there may have been a few songs cut out. Personally, I think "Take Me Back" was recorded with an LP, but I could be way off on that one.
Anyone remember seeing the first ads for Wolfgangs in the Musician's Friend catalogs where the picture of Eddie actually showed him playing an EBMM?
That's exactly how he played it during the show.ErikH said:
That's the album that really got me hooked on VH and has always been my favorite. I have a bootleg DVD of the first show, and I don't remember seeing a Wolfgang in use, but there may have been a few songs cut out. Personally, I think "Take Me Back" was recorded with an LP, but I could be way off on that one.
Anyone remember seeing the first ads for Wolfgangs in the Musician's Friend catalogs where the picture of Eddie actually showed him playing an EBMM?
inter
Member
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
I've always dug Balance too.
I've considered what made the tone so cool, espeacially on the live shows, it's not the gear.........
It's just Eddie on top of his game
.
Those grooves are some of my all time fav's, god know's how he went from this to VH3.
I've always dug Balance too.
I've considered what made the tone so cool, espeacially on the live shows, it's not the gear.........
It's just Eddie on top of his game
. Those grooves are some of my all time fav's, god know's how he went from this to VH3.
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
I have a tape of various late night talk TV shows VH Played live on to promote Balance and Ed sounded amazing! So glad i own a 5150.... mind you i harte some of the tone he has on the Live Right Here Right now cd's but i think it was a mix i hate..... there is a high pitch hum on the WGFA cover part of that cd that drives my ears nuts...
I have a tape of various late night talk TV shows VH Played live on to promote Balance and Ed sounded amazing! So glad i own a 5150.... mind you i harte some of the tone he has on the Live Right Here Right now cd's but i think it was a mix i hate..... there is a high pitch hum on the WGFA cover part of that cd that drives my ears nuts...
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
^Man you do not say so...it has the most annoying mix ever, plus all kinds of highpitched crap going on, not nice background noise at all
^Man you do not say so...it has the most annoying mix ever, plus all kinds of highpitched crap going on, not nice background noise at all
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
I think you're right. That's probably the biggest change of all. I'm sure he had a lot of the same equipment on Balance that he had on For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.inter said:I've always dug Balance too.
I've considered what made the tone so cool, espeacially on the live shows, it's not the gear.........
It's just Eddie on top of his game
Those grooves are some of my all time fav's, god know's how he went from this to VH3.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
The guitars mostly, although he had some Wolfgang prototypes at the time. Balance was done mostly with the 5150 and the old Marshall (which was reconditioned by someone in Europe). For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge was Soldano's and 5150 prototypes.JacksonMIA said:
Matt Blackett
New member
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
OK--
I waited a long time to chime in on this one but I can't take it anymore. Eddie's Balance tone is just another example of his chorused-out Eventide tone that robbed him of all his guts and balls. He's my favorite guitarist ever but the best Hagar-era song can't hang with the worst Dave-era tune. Come on! Raving about any of that latter-day VH is like going on and on about Robert DeNiro's work on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and never mentioning Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, or Goodfellas.
OK--
I waited a long time to chime in on this one but I can't take it anymore. Eddie's Balance tone is just another example of his chorused-out Eventide tone that robbed him of all his guts and balls. He's my favorite guitarist ever but the best Hagar-era song can't hang with the worst Dave-era tune. Come on! Raving about any of that latter-day VH is like going on and on about Robert DeNiro's work on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and never mentioning Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, or Goodfellas.
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
A lot of us still enjoy that Balance tone and sound... It's nice and fat to my ears..... I'm a bigger Fan of the Roth era songs and the ripsaw tone ED got on the First album-(Runnin With The Devil is my fav VH tone of all time, EX into Marshall) but as far as modern guitar tones go i like the Balance tone a lot... That slight Detune thing he does with the Eventide is weird.... but he likes it i guess.... Must be like some sort of Chorus like effect when he adds the Detuned stereo rig to the mono original amp in the middle...
Matt Blackett said:
A lot of us still enjoy that Balance tone and sound... It's nice and fat to my ears..... I'm a bigger Fan of the Roth era songs and the ripsaw tone ED got on the First album-(Runnin With The Devil is my fav VH tone of all time, EX into Marshall) but as far as modern guitar tones go i like the Balance tone a lot... That slight Detune thing he does with the Eventide is weird.... but he likes it i guess.... Must be like some sort of Chorus like effect when he adds the Detuned stereo rig to the mono original amp in the middle...
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
Why is it that whenever the topic of Ed's tone from 1986 onward comes up there's always someone that has to bash the whole thing? Just because it's not satisfactory to your taste or doesn't meet some mythological criteria (which is how it comes across every time no matter who says it) doesn't mean it sucks. That's being pretty closed-minded as a musician IMO and I'm damn surprised it came from someone who works for the host of this board.
Since when is it wrong for a player to change gear or God forbid add something to his/her setup simply because he/she likes it? WTF is that all about?
Lots of us talk about growing and evolving as players yet when it comes to influences, some here don't want them to grow and change at all. That's pretty stupid isn't it?
Why is it that whenever the topic of Ed's tone from 1986 onward comes up there's always someone that has to bash the whole thing? Just because it's not satisfactory to your taste or doesn't meet some mythological criteria (which is how it comes across every time no matter who says it) doesn't mean it sucks. That's being pretty closed-minded as a musician IMO and I'm damn surprised it came from someone who works for the host of this board.
Since when is it wrong for a player to change gear or God forbid add something to his/her setup simply because he/she likes it? WTF is that all about?
Lots of us talk about growing and evolving as players yet when it comes to influences, some here don't want them to grow and change at all. That's pretty stupid isn't it?
Matt Blackett
New member
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
OK Erik--
I hear you on this and I agree with what you wrote in large part. What you dig is what you dig and no one can contradict that. This is a subject that is very near and dear to my heart and Van Halen (along with the Beatles) is the reason I started playing guitar and got into the music biz. But here's the thing--just because I work for Duncan doesn't mean I check my opinions at the door before I go on the forum. Just the opposite, in fact. Because they're only my opinions, I'm going to give it to you straight every time (although I don't mean to be offensive--just passionate). Please don't take it personally, any more than I do when someone writes that the Duncan JB "sounds like a$$" or something like that. So, sorry that I put you off, but you've got to admit that my Robert DeNiro analogy was pretty funny.
OK Erik--
I hear you on this and I agree with what you wrote in large part. What you dig is what you dig and no one can contradict that. This is a subject that is very near and dear to my heart and Van Halen (along with the Beatles) is the reason I started playing guitar and got into the music biz. But here's the thing--just because I work for Duncan doesn't mean I check my opinions at the door before I go on the forum. Just the opposite, in fact. Because they're only my opinions, I'm going to give it to you straight every time (although I don't mean to be offensive--just passionate). Please don't take it personally, any more than I do when someone writes that the Duncan JB "sounds like a$$" or something like that. So, sorry that I put you off, but you've got to admit that my Robert DeNiro analogy was pretty funny.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
Matt, I'm right there with ya as far as Van Halen being dear to your heart. He's been my top influence since I started playing, along with Ace Frehley. That's why I defend the entire career, not just one era. I can't stand back and look at Van Halen as just with DLR because in reality, it's not. Had you prefaced it with "in my opinion", my reaction would probably have been different. Thanks for chiming back.
Oh, I didn't see The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle movie.
Matt, I'm right there with ya as far as Van Halen being dear to your heart. He's been my top influence since I started playing, along with Ace Frehley. That's why I defend the entire career, not just one era. I can't stand back and look at Van Halen as just with DLR because in reality, it's not. Had you prefaced it with "in my opinion", my reaction would probably have been different. Thanks for chiming back.
Oh, I didn't see The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle movie.
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
I had Balance cranked in the car on the way home.... almost blew the speakers again.... and it's a new car, 6 months old..... Anyways as far as Balance goes i love the fact Ed got his animal noises on the end of his Instrumental tune..... Between that and Amsterdam i played each at least 3-4 times on the way home....
I had Balance cranked in the car on the way home.... almost blew the speakers again.... and it's a new car, 6 months old..... Anyways as far as Balance goes i love the fact Ed got his animal noises on the end of his Instrumental tune..... Between that and Amsterdam i played each at least 3-4 times on the way home....
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
I had it cranked yesterday as well after reading the thread.
I really like the tone on Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do it's unrelenting, machinelike I would say. I have associated that tone with him for a long time, before even the VH1 stuff.
I really like Livin with the Aftershock too.
Don't know Matt, I was never that taken with all the Roth era lyrics or DLR's intensity everyone talks about. I've certainly NEVER cared for his vocals. I think it's a time thing. Ed came up and changed electric guitar. Everyone who was there when that happened in 78 wanted him to stay just like he was right then.
Then you have us younger guys who heard the Van Hagar stuff on the Radio and had to listen to older albums to hear Roth. So maybe that's why there's the difference?
Luke
WhoFan said:
I had it cranked yesterday as well after reading the thread.
I really like the tone on Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do it's unrelenting, machinelike I would say. I have associated that tone with him for a long time, before even the VH1 stuff.
I really like Livin with the Aftershock too.
Don't know Matt, I was never that taken with all the Roth era lyrics or DLR's intensity everyone talks about. I've certainly NEVER cared for his vocals. I think it's a time thing. Ed came up and changed electric guitar. Everyone who was there when that happened in 78 wanted him to stay just like he was right then.
Then you have us younger guys who heard the Van Hagar stuff on the Radio and had to listen to older albums to hear Roth. So maybe that's why there's the difference?
Luke
JeffB
Let it B
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
I'm sure that has alot to do with it Luke!
Had I grown up hearing 5150 as my first VH experience and being wowed by it, I'd likely think it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's all relative!
general relevance to the thread:
I know for me VH "died" with the introduction of 5150...it was a decent album...but the tone...and the change in musical direction..it was NOT VH to *me* (and I've not bought a VH album since..I've got no clue about this "Balance" tone...the last new VH song I heard was probably that poundcake thing or whatever it was called). I like Sammy..great singer, good guy......just didn't like the direction VH went with him singing.
AFAIC not VH1 or VH2 or FW or W&CF or whatever is *THE* VH...AFAIC, 1984 is the high point and masterpiece of his career...no guitar tone will ever sound as good to me as what he got on "Drop Dead Legs". From there the brown sound turned into the "mushed out effects laden" sound. then again I've always preferred a dry, raw, "clean" signal. In fact I hate buying studio albums/cds as I much prefer the sound of live music..cos the studio is full of too many "tricks"..you can only doctor a live recording so much.
All of my heros have changed gear and tone over the years barring a very select few...Schenker's tone is horrid these days...has been since he switched to 2205s (IMO). John Sykes tone too. The guys in Maiden. And I call a spade a spade..Schenker was my hero...doesnt mean he isn't a whackjob in his personal life or that I have to love his tone now (or then, or whatever)...he's a guy just like you or me...I guess as I get older, I see them more as real people and less as Guitar Gods..if I think it sucks, LOL, I'll say it sucks :bigthumb:
I think we all have to face that professional musicians,just like the rest of us "normals" all use the best they can get until they can find something that is better to their ears and/or they get bored with what they have and want to change. EVH is no different. When you are onstage for the majority of a year pumping out the same frigging tunes with the same frigging exact tone, night after night after night...it's GOT to get boring/stale....
Luke Duke said:
I'm sure that has alot to do with it Luke!
Had I grown up hearing 5150 as my first VH experience and being wowed by it, I'd likely think it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's all relative!
general relevance to the thread:
I know for me VH "died" with the introduction of 5150...it was a decent album...but the tone...and the change in musical direction..it was NOT VH to *me* (and I've not bought a VH album since..I've got no clue about this "Balance" tone...the last new VH song I heard was probably that poundcake thing or whatever it was called). I like Sammy..great singer, good guy......just didn't like the direction VH went with him singing.
AFAIC not VH1 or VH2 or FW or W&CF or whatever is *THE* VH...AFAIC, 1984 is the high point and masterpiece of his career...no guitar tone will ever sound as good to me as what he got on "Drop Dead Legs". From there the brown sound turned into the "mushed out effects laden" sound. then again I've always preferred a dry, raw, "clean" signal. In fact I hate buying studio albums/cds as I much prefer the sound of live music..cos the studio is full of too many "tricks"..you can only doctor a live recording so much.
All of my heros have changed gear and tone over the years barring a very select few...Schenker's tone is horrid these days...has been since he switched to 2205s (IMO). John Sykes tone too. The guys in Maiden. And I call a spade a spade..Schenker was my hero...doesnt mean he isn't a whackjob in his personal life or that I have to love his tone now (or then, or whatever)...he's a guy just like you or me...I guess as I get older, I see them more as real people and less as Guitar Gods..if I think it sucks, LOL, I'll say it sucks :bigthumb:
I think we all have to face that professional musicians,just like the rest of us "normals" all use the best they can get until they can find something that is better to their ears and/or they get bored with what they have and want to change. EVH is no different. When you are onstage for the majority of a year pumping out the same frigging tunes with the same frigging exact tone, night after night after night...it's GOT to get boring/stale....
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JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: VH - Balance ... Amp, Other Gear
Jeff, you should really give Balance a listen if you can find someone who will let you borrow it or whatever. To me, it's quite different from any of the other Van Hagar albums (not like Roth era, though). It's quite toneful (to me) and has a lot of good guitar (and other instruments!) work. I listened to a lot of others before, but that's the album that really turned me on to Van Halen.
I'm not saying you'll like it as much as 1984, but it's one that definitely deserves to be listened to.
Jeff, you should really give Balance a listen if you can find someone who will let you borrow it or whatever. To me, it's quite different from any of the other Van Hagar albums (not like Roth era, though). It's quite toneful (to me) and has a lot of good guitar (and other instruments!) work. I listened to a lot of others before, but that's the album that really turned me on to Van Halen.
I'm not saying you'll like it as much as 1984, but it's one that definitely deserves to be listened to.
