Eddie Van Halen's Pedals and How YOU Can Use Them

[@sweetwater]

Channel your inner EVH or create a whole new sound, all of the essential building blocks are here! Push the auditory envelope with more pedals like these by hitting that subscribe button!

[@lcrecel]

I'm subscribed to Sweetwater and I buy all my new items from Sweetwater. First off excellent products, sales and service, plus it keeps money right here in the Hoosier State. Larry Crecelius Salem, Indiana

[@BlackCatBonz]

Nick, I just want to tell you that you are one of my favourite guitar players. I listen to the entire Rock You to Hell album from front to back about 4 times a month. You have an amazing ability to tell a story with a solo that many guys do not.

[@sweetwater]

💀🤘

[@edwardglyons]

Timing couldn’t be better. I’m just about to assemble my pedal board with these exact EVH pedals. Thanks heaps!

[@kyleolmsted5834]

Same here😂 I'm getting them for christmas!

[@nlrproductions8106]

Just thinking about it. Eddie in the early days wanted to keep his tone and tricks secret, just look at the frankenstrat going from the black and white to the iconic red, black and white look. When these pedals came out, I wondered if Eddie giving up the ghost in a way to the fans. The last great gift if you will. Eddie was a great guitar player and I miss him. Thank you EVH!!

[@CollectingwithCool]

He changed over the years and his approach became that of sharing what he learned along the way...read that Eruption book you see him grow up and grow wise in it...

[@CollectingwithCool]

@Just J I think you covered it all. Lol. Eddie did play a Les Paul quite a bit in the early days. Look up the US Festival. He played one that day as well. While you’re at it go pick up the new book ‘Eruption’ and read in Edwards own words how a lot of those deals you mentioned came about as well as how they. In the book he stated that As he aged he felt ok and relaxed enough to talk to people and other players about how he achieved certain effects or sounds more from the perspective of how to apply them in the studio than what the product was. Most of a players tone is from his hands and the way he plays. Eddie could have played through any amp and be recognizable. Go get that book it will be great for such a fan as yourself. Thanks for the comments and have a great new year.

[@JulioJustiniano]

I wouldn't doubt he kept certain secrets, but I'm also sure that after so many years of copycats he realized he can't be replicated. Also there was one time he gave some terrible advice on amps and he felt immediate guilt after because whoever followed his advice would straight up fry their amp.

[@ivorharden]

As Alex once said to Eddie - "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery".

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

His tone is overrated!

[@JohnnyBeane]

Edward is the greatest!!! Love the Dunlop line of EVH effects!!!

[@AdventureswithRoger]

I love Nick’s videos! I too lived the 80’s/90’s golden age of hard rock, and could absolutely identify with trying to nail Ed’s tone. Back in the day, I read the guitar magazines (there was no internet), and found Ed was using a Phase 90: first pedal I bought after a distortion pedal. But it didn’t sound right. It was a block logo instead of script, and it was great for Nazareth’s “Love Hurts”, but nothing Vanhalen. The block logo phase 90 is not subtle at all. I own the MXR Echoplex, and yes, it belongs in front of the amp. I also own the anniversary red (instead of white) EVH flanger and also bought the EVH chorus when it came out. It’s a good chorus, but it wasn’t doing much more than the modulation I already had. For a fact, no guitar stores ever stock them, so all you can do is buy one and try it, to see if it gets you where you wanna go. On Eds last pedal board, that I saw at least, was a light blue MXR Chorus. The one pedal missing, that any serious Vanhalen follower should have, is a Mooer Pitch Box (MPS1). Set on -2 detune, it nails the Hagar era sound that I could never figure out. It’s a jewel at around $56 on eBay. I don’t know how that little mini pedal recreates that wide sounding effect with only one speaker from my combo. To recreate the first VH album style reverb, I use an MXR Reverb pedal. They aren’t cheap, but do the job and aren’t a one trick pony. You get a VH jam space that compliments the echoplex delay, a cathedral size space for intimate solos, and it does this amazing synth-like fill that takes arpeggios to the next level.

[@howUdoin66]

Nick, once again, you hit it waaaaay out of the ballpark!!!! As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this video!! Being such a huge Eddie fan myself, I definitely want to go out and buy these pedals immediately!!! Thanks again!!

[@CollectingwithCool]

that book down by the white guitar on the left is an amazing read...as I was reading it I would play the songs they were talking about and it played out like a soundtrack...came to tears several times and saw a more human side of a lot of the guys involved in VH...nobody is perfect but this book felt like a fitting final note to Edward, the man, the musical genius, and the gear innovator who loved to destroy things to get what he wanted out of them. I will forever be grateful for having his music, amp, and guitars...you don't have to like VH songs but Ed deserves all the credit he gets.

[@josephlarson4643]

This is the best video I’ve seen on pedal order. For Christmas my wife got me the last two pedals I needed. The chorus and the echoplex. Thank you for the details.

[@bardicdad]

Thank you for the wonderful review of Eddie’s sound.

[@brianwatson8391]

Love Nick Bowcott's demo's he's a class act ! 👍

[@DukeHard]

I really appreciate the effort that went into this video.

[@Goober_77]

A few days ago I bought a Phase 90 and it's perfect for Van Halen tone even though it's the only pedal I have

[@ER-yq1lc]

"I'm guilty of doing that" LOL I've been listening to Best of Grim Reaper this week and it seems like every solo starts off with a dive bomb! Love it! Interesting to see the features added to the EVH pedals over the standard offerings, I think many of these would be useful on any kind of music.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

The last album and his use of the whammy pedal is sadly overlooked. I really love that album -- it was like he was on the verge of a new level.

[@mattbrumit8592]

I found myself wanting to like this video about 5x in the course of watching it. I wish this guy did all the demos. Well done.

[@simply3141592654]

Not an EVH pedal, but try a Eventide Micropitch or Boss PS-6 to get some Van Hagar "Balance" tones with the detune feature with a bit of dual staggered delay.

[@JPDC624]

Amazing that the rolling lick in Eruption is still played wrong after all these years. The five-note pattern is this: 1. Pluck open E string 2. Hammer-on 8th fret on B string 3. Pull off to 5th fret B string 4. Pull off to open B string 5. Hammer-on 8th fret G string Rinse and repeat. Bonus: Slide your hand up two frets and still use the open E and open B. That's the rolling lick in Somebody Get Me a Doctor. Have fun!

[@erikgeiser8226]

Excellent! I have owned all of these EVH pedals for awhile and I still got some very helpful info here! RIP EVH

[@marksmusings670]

I've got the Phase 90. Love it!

[@Krullmatic]

When Ed did the hand rubbing on Atomic Punk, he didn't rub it faster at the one part. He had is delay on a fast slapback, and clicked it off and on accordingly. I saw it in a Music is Win video, where Tyler talks about and demonstrates that. No wonder I had trouble playing Eddie's music. He only used an effect for a few seconds in between chord changes a lot of the times. Amazing!

[@Krullmatic]

@@mulfss Hey that's cool Luke! Thank you for informing me. I don't care for Larson myself, and I rarely watch his videos. I just seen he had an episode about EVH, and I clicked. The few videos I've seen of his are not funny at all and he seems so condescending. God Bless and Merry Christmas!

[@michaelkennedy2190]

RIP 🙏 The one and only King Edward !! Long live the King!!! Thanks for all the inspiration the music and all the amazing EVH gear!!!

[@allezjohn]

Great video! You guys should do more like these... on pedals of other legends/albums... Appetite, Back in Black, LZ 1, etc... or even examples of how to get a specific sound with quality reasonably-priced pedals (like Boss, MXR/Dunlop, EHX, etc) versus with boutique pedals.

[@qwertyytrewq98765]

Can’t remember if I commented already but thanks for this video Nick. I loved it. And I go back and refer to it constantly.

[@taurushamilton2739]

Great video! Wonderful insight on Eddies tone. That 5150 overdrive pedal will probably be my next pedal purchase, that thing rocks hard !🤘🏾Thanks..

[@edsterling5258]

Nick, very well done here sir. Spot-on playing and tone. Great job! BTW my band in the 80s used to rehearse S.Y.I.H. from GR, great song!

[@nickbowcott8822]

Thanx Ed, mucho appreciated!

[@CorvetteStingRayLane]

Awesome information about the pedals that Ed used. Thank you very much!

[@johnnyb3987]

Nick is hands-down the best product reviewer at Sweetwater. The most "okayest" guitar player in the world and a funny, cool human being. I always watch his videos when I come across them because even if I'm not interested in anything, it's just great to have a laugh. He's the real deal. You rock Nick!

[@leonskum.5682]

Gorgeous lefty guitar!!!

[@stevestarr6395]

Great demo and effects!!

[@tommotzko5914]

Great job! Appreciate the great reviews and explanations!

[@paulgorhamiii9926]

Man. The good stuff, your a great teacher Nick. Very niiice video, well done Sir.

[@donaldyoung9838]

Nick Your Video Is Definitely Top Notch I Learned A lot An I Also Own The Eruption Book Love It Thanks For All You Do For Sweet Water An Amazing Guitar Playing

[@jerryc1491]

Nice Edward chops

[@waynelewis8710]

Always loved the mxr pedals more than other brands.

[@allenmitchell09]

Sweetwater, I like this gentleman doing my demos! thanks!

[@doctorsoncbd]

Awesome demo Nick! The before and after effect nailed it in bringing out EVH's signature sound! Like he said, just a little bit of spice makes the steak pop!

[@francoisfavreau769]

Great demos as usual ,the one you did for the EVH mxr chorus had so much feel to it even if you said and i quote"What you've just heard was awful playing with a really cool pedal" but to me it is great playing,the 2 most important are there the tone and the feel and i saw you closed your eyes lost in the moment so you definitely have great feel.Thank you for sharing your passion

[@sparky3801]

I'm new with guitar pedals and this video helps so much! Thank you, it was really helpful and masterfully done!

[@locommotionmusic]

00:38 van halenize ... awesome 🤘😈

[@PaulSmith-um2tp]

Thank you that was excellent info

[@PaulRhodes420]

I'm a Sweetwater customer, I'd like to get the EVH Overdrive peddle. I'll have to get with Bob, he might could get a deal for me! Love your sound, Eddie will always be missed!!! 🎶🎸✨EVH✨🎸🎶

[@radioface3306]

Is that Nick “Grim Reaper” Bowcott?! Dude, you were a big part of my metal adolescence! Cheers, mate!

[@sweetwater]

😎🤘

[@SlamminSkins]

I'm a drummer but I love this shit!😜😜

[@MKRISING75]

Most awesome video loved it Nick!That is my dream set up!!🤟🏻Long live the KING EVH!Thanks Sweetwater for a great video also.

[@edwardberthelette2700]

Great info. Enjoyed the ride.

[@CongealedMilk]

damn it Sweetwater, You Really Got Me. Gotta get this.

[@brivington2011]

Awesome video Nick! My favorite is the...ah....the ah....well all of them! Nice riffage also!

[@Angus_Gibson]

Subscribing simply for the fact that I'm learning a lot and this bloke seems like a guy I'd have a beer and a guitar jam with

[@JayGuitars1]

@nick fabulous job mate, from a fellow Van Halen loving lefty, g’day from Australia 🇦🇺🎸

[@michaelschiessl8357]

Great video Nick we sure miss him don't we!!

[@lcrecel]

If i were able i head to Ft. Wayne just to hear you. Everyone has there favorite guitarist. But by for your # 1 on my list. By the way, I'm a leftie also. Rock on Brother. Thanks

[@michaelmetal71]

fellow lefty here too,nicks band grim reaper is very underrated

[@lcrecel]

@@michaelmetal71 I have heard that before.

[@nickbowcott8822]

Thanks Larry...both flattered and humbled! If you ever make it to Sweetwater, please look me up...just ask reception to holler at me! Happy Holidays! Cheers, Nick

[@dowens3781]

I'm a lefty guitarist as well. Rock on 🤘

[@lcrecel]

@@dowens3781 I'll tell you a good one. Yes I'm left handed but i play a guitar strung right handed. Yes, it's a fact and there's many others that do the same. I was raised in a small town in Southern Indiana 70 years ago and there was'nt such a thing as a left handed guitar around back then. So i bought an old used flattop guitar and turned it upside down and taught myself to play. Later on i found out about left handed guitars, but i thought to myself. Why would i want to learn to play all over again so for over 60 years I've played this way without a problem. Matter of fact it's nice. I can go in any music store and try out a guitar.

[@ekw555]

Nick, just wanted to say I've been a big fan of your work from way back in the Grim Reaper days. when I was in college

[@frederickthorne2496]

great video - cheers

[@nellyjohnson263]

Brilliant,i love the way you presented the article.neil,hull

[@gearhead4526]

Excellent as always Nick!

[@davidcobb7287]

Excellent job Nick.

[@jasoncyphers2077]

Thankyou!!!!! Very educational my friend!

[@chewchy9052]

excellent video ty.. I have 4 of those reviewed, need to add the last two!! ty soo much~!

[@hawkfan1212]

VERY informative video and D@MN good guitar playing! Thank you for saving me tons of trial-and-error setups!

[@DANWRIGHTITIS]

GREAT vid ick!1 I love all the subtle humour too!! Close But NO Cigar !!! That was a great tune by our Tom! I wonder who played Guitar on that? same moonlighter who produced the album too! Cheers from madrid

[@GGood]

I got the honor of meeting nick at sweetwater hq and there’s no one who would make this video better than him

[@lcrecel]

I can believe that .You can tell on here that he's for real.

[@lcrecel]

Damn your a lucky man.

[@Redhotchilipprs]

It’s been said before but man! What a great video! Knocked it out of the park man! On my 4th view and still learning more stuff!

[@gokhanersan8561]

Seeing another lefty playing a lefty Eddie guitar-touched my heart.

[@henrytuton9019]

Enjoyed your review

[@ivorharden]

I was alive when EVH was alive. The Mozart of Guitar.

[@dylannnnnnnnn]

If you weren't alive when Eddie was alive you'd be about two years old mate.

[@TheWarriorSongProject]

Dude said "Van hANALyze"...🤣🤣🤣

[@m-funkshun]

Awesome review and quite entertaining, thank you.

[@jeffjasso4876]

The first time I heard king Edward was in 78’ or so… my uncle which already was 16 years old I was 5 .. we were going to the store but he took a scenic route..in El Paso Texas their is a road on a mountain called Rim road..he had the 1st record on 8 track…as we were going over the mountain “Eruption” was playing and I remember asking him.. are those aliens from outer space talking too us? And that was it🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@dougsteeleguitar]

The EVH chorus is AMAZING. The rest i don't know about.

[@ZombifyYourself]

Just wanna point out the flanger example that’s said to be after the Atomic Punk solo is 100% phaser; flanger is used in the beginning of the solo (the string/pick scraping that leads into it)

[@jonmarsh4763]

Good ear. That's how I hear it too. The palm rakes at the beginning of the song and after the solo sure sound like a phaser to me. The intro (only) to the solo sounds like a flanger. Two different sounds. The flanger is a lot more metallic sounding than the phaser, and seems to have a wider sweep.

[@ZombifyYourself]

@@jonmarsh4763 those are phaser. he also pops it on for one run of the riff after the solo and then turns it off again, though that one is a lot more subtle on the ears.

[@destinyreturns4885]

Fantastic presentation. Thanks so much...

[@tangopatela1896]

Gracias maestro!!!

[@danielsantini4580]

Sweet 😎🎸🎸🎸. Next, Dimebag!

[@bryanclees7826]

Nick i love ya brother your still rockin is an inspiration to alot of us keep it going and keep the pedal to the metal 😎

[@josem2558]

Hola, yo tambien doy zurdo.buen equipo.5150.🤘😎🤘

[@sebastionhawk5565]

WELL DONE;Thank you!

[@1davejsutdave1]

If you look at the last tour Eddie was using the MXR Analog Chorus and not his branded one. All the other pedals were on his board though except the distortion one because obviously his head was getting that tone.

[@warmitag]

His branded one wasn't out yet

[@TheBlackStrat502]

Fun video! Great job

[@shadyburnike264]

I miss him so much..😪

[@Jarrodpimental]

The overdrive is brutal with the gain all the way up. It’s a full bore distortion pedal honestly. Capable of thrash metal easily.

[@Highrollinhunter]

Yep

[@MetalMayhem1978]

You’re an absolute legend Nick. I love your videos. You’re not a bad guitarist too! Hahah just kidding, you’re about 1000 times better than me! Keep up the good work.

[@kmortensen]

Thanks Simon Van Halen!

[@SteveMavronis]

Great video!

[@mrsamick]

Those settings you had on the pedals, are they the most accurate ones?

[@gnnradio3652]

The quilted LH is beautiful. Would love to find one

[@TheAdilson65]

Excellent video!!!

[@tino0217]

Great presentation

[@dannainan]

Dodgy transcriptions LOL! Thank you for this great video!

[@vintagetrk]

I'd love to see how ya hook all these pedals to your head. I have a line 6 HD147 head and would love to run this setup.

[@Garrett-In-Canada]

wait is that left handed charvel a custom shop? ive never seen one in left yet

[@josephfolgo5079]

Thankyou. Could you detail how to get your sound and tone. Sounds great. Just like Eddie. Tyyy

[@nycshelbygt500]

Guitar World, February 2016 issue with a B&W photo of EVH playing his reliced Wolfgang on the cover. Hard to find the actual article. Chris Gill of Guitar World who wrote the article, is the author of the EVH biography entitled "Eruption", and released in Oct. 2021.

[@Sd12sx23]

Very informative. Now if i could only play more than than the first 3 chords of a van halen song!😂

[@JudgeFredd]

Great playin'

[@gibson2546]

Wow ! amazing pedals . 🤟🤟🤟

[@flogginga_dead_horse4022]

great video, thanks

[@Mrthreadedtime]

Iinteresting the signal chain has the drive last...but makes sense if EVH did not use an FX loop in the early days...the drive would always be last if the amp is the drive.

[@Jaxisagod5]

Hey Nick, big fan and fellow lefty. How can I buy one of your guitars? Anything you want to part with?

[@michaelmetal71]

i’ll take that cool lefty white stripes charvel

[@KHGuitarFreak1988]

Gonna have to insure those index and middle fingers for the quoting :p