Eddie Valen, Legendary Guitarist of Van Halen Dead at 65

[LBC]

Great article about Ed's early days when he was figuring out how to create his sound. Those that are guitar players, have much to thank Ed for. 

The variac/100 w Marshall story: 



https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/a15615/how-eddie-van-halen-hacks-a-guitar/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

This just goes to the genius and completely never before like him that was EVH...the Variac...his use of one...to get a 100 watt amp to sound cranked up without being turned all the way up...too fucking loud...literally changed how amps are made. He literally invented the 'Brown Sound' guitar tone. Before there were low wattage amps that sounded great...there were some low wattage amps that sounded great...but the only way to get 'That Sound' was to blow the roof off. I have a Boss Katana 50 amp that has an actual 'Brown Sound' setting...clean...crunch...lead...BROWN!

Not to mention that he was playing guitars he basically made himself...or at least had modified to such an extent that they were literally one of a kind guitars. 

The more you know or find out about him the more impressive he becomes.

 

[JimG]

Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar on Eddie 

They had to have know Ed was terminal. They've had some rough patches in the past, but neither of those guys are the types to hold a grudge. I feel certain things were right will all of them before Ed passed. 

I'd like to see the Circle someday. 

 

[JimG]

Not to mention that he was playing guitars he basically made himself...or at least had modified to such an extent that they were literally one of kind guitars.

I was actively playing lead guitar in a band at the time VH came out. I heard "You Really Got Me" on the Charleston AM radio (WTMA) and was shocked. I bought the 1st album and had no idea how Ed was playing all this stuff. It was in Eb and just so fast. It is still amazing. 

It was just a few years later I'm seeing these HS aged dudes playing "Eruption" on their Ibanezes and Charvels and they were good. They were running Tube Screamers into Marshall JCM800s. 

It was an amazing thing to see and a musical revolution that was unexpected. 

The variac thing apparently was hard on tubes. It has been said the most glorious tone you get out of a tube is just before one of the tubes is getting ready to blow. 

 

[GoldenSpur7]

Man, it's been a couple of days now, but this hit me like a gutshot.  I saw VH on Diver Down tour at the Coliseum in '82 (I think), it was fantastic. We had a big party beforehand, old friend of mine who I haven't talked with in ages tagged me and we talked about it. 3 of the people who were at it have passed. Time goes fast, man, it takes friends and guitar heros alike, RIP EVH

 

[Spur's Addiction]

They had to have know Ed was terminal. They've had some rough patches in the past, but neither of those guys are the types to hold a grudge. I feel certain things were right will all of them before Ed passed. 

I'd like to see the Circle someday. 

Yeah - Sammy Hagar said he and Eddie patched things up over the past couple of years. But they never made it public because they didn't want all the talk and rumors about a reunion tour, which they knew could not happen due to Eddie's health. 

 

[Spur's Addiction]

This just goes to the genius and completely never before like him that was EVH...the Variac...his use of one...to get a 100 watts amp to sound cranked up without being turned all the way up...too fucking loud...literally changed how amps are made. He literally invented the 'Brown Sound' guitar tone. Before there were low wattage amps that sounded great...there were some low wattage amps that sounded great...but the only way to get 'That Sound' was to blow the roof off. I have a Boss Katana 50 amp that has an actual 'Brown Sound' setting...clean...crunch...lead...BROWN!

Not to mention that he was playing guitars he basically made himself...or at least had modified to such an extent that they were literally one of a kind guitars. 

The more you know or find out about him the more impressive he becomes.

Here a good interview where he talks about all that stuff. 

 

[TheYancey]

I wanted to bang Valerie 

 

[LBC]

On 10/10/2020 at 9:20 AM, Spur's Addiction said:

Here a good interview where he talks about all that stuff. 

Thank you for this! I had forgotten that EVH had basically crossed a Strat with a Les Paul in 1976/77 and LITERALLY changed the guitar industry forever. There are entire guitar companies that sprang up based almost exclusively on this concept.

 

[JimG]

Thank you for this! I had forgotten that EVH had basically crossed a Strat with a Les Paul in 1976/77 and LITERALLY changed the guitar industry forever. There are entire guitar companies that sprang up based almost exclusively on this concept.

Yup....PRS might be one, but for sure Ibanez, Charvel Jackson, Shechter, ESP....at least to some degree. Ibanezes & Jacksons were the rage in the '80s. 

 

[Spur's Addiction]

Man I have been going back and listening to more VHh this past week. This has really stirred some memories. VH (Van Hagar really)  was the first band I really got into as a teenager. There were others, sure, but VH OU812 was what made me go back and get all their back catalog of albums with DLR. VH was my first concert ever. It was '91 I think in the Carolina Coliseum. Around the mid 90's I kind of stopped following them, and really haven't listened to them much at all recently. Up until this week. Going back and listening to their albums. It is all really great and holds up well through time. DLR and Hagar versions both. They made some great music. 

 

[Longhaul]

This was pretty cool:

https://metalinjection.net/video/eddie-van-halens-1987-snl-performance-resurfaces-and-hes-absolutely-flawless?fbclid=IwAR0XIKfCC_FtfOhp4yw4IzgQwH_TgdN926Cw-ug7P3vFuia3pNREiOT18Pg

 

[LBC]

Yup....PRS might be one, but for sure Ibanez, Charvel Jackson, Shechter, ESP....at least to some degree. Ibanezes & Jacksons were the rage in the '80s. 

IDK about PRS because they 'kinda' invented their own thing....after being influenced by the fast playing/humbucker trend...but Ibanez and Charvel/Jackson were direct results...Schechter and ESP probably to from a sheer 'sound' standpoint. But Charvel/Jackson absolutely got their start...in Southern California...making 'Super Strats'...Stratocaster bodies with humbucking pick-ups...with the 'Creative Graphics'...that everybody started playing after EVH made his own 'Super Strat' with the 'creative graphics' on his own with zero influence from anybody.