How did Eddie Van Halen tune his guitar? Tom Weber explains Tempered Tuning | Interview

In this clip, legendary guitar technician #TomWeber tells the story of how he became the go to guy for #EddieVanHalen on the reunion and final tour of 2015. We also discuss the 5150 III amps and how close they are to what you buy in a store. Playback Tech Greg Rule also chimes in with some fun tidbits! You can watch the FULL CONVERSATION here: • Van Halen Tour Stories...
If you can PLEASE DONATE something to Tom Weber’s GoFundMe, it would be appreciated. He’s literally trying to SAVE HIS HOME! www.gofundme.com/f/tom-weber-...
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[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Check out my demo of the latest EVH 5150 ICONIC amp! ⚡️ kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaG8iqBoqamLidk

[@jameslleary]

Jeremy…Is there a way I can PM you? I have a question.

[@vanshipman]

I met Eddie in 1998 and he was one of the nicest fellows I’ve ever met. He gave me a couple of picks and oddly a cigarette. Lol He told me I’d give you a metal pick, but I don’t have too many and need to get through the tour. Boy do I miss Eddie being around and the what if’s of what else he may have recorded. He is the GOAT in my opinion. Rest In Peace Eddie 🙏

[@robertthompson9004]

I never got to meet Eddie. But I grew up listening to him and I sure do miss him,

[@NikkieRoxxx]

Dutchies always offer you one of their cigs if they smoke :)

[@stevestringer7351]

I agree with you my friend. I believe that he WAS a genuinely wonderful person. Of course we have ALL heard the stories of Ed in moments of weakness when he was drinking or "whatever else." But along with those stories the storyteller usually also says eventhough they had a bad experience with EVH, he was still a nice and generous man. I also believe that he knew that he was "special" in that, he was head and shoulders above most of the rest of us. But, he still appreciated playing of others and their styles. Also he had a GRUELING work ethic. He worked hard every day, all day and night. He was driven.

[@charliecoutts3003]

​@@robertthompson9004 2:14

[@user-rt9zq8rs9k]

I think Ed started using coins as picks when they were promoting VH3 .

[@frankperricone2065]

I got to go backstage for VH many times, its a shame it was during the Hagar days and has nothing to do with Sammy. It was the early to mid 90's and Eddie was not that freindly nor was Alex. My buddy worked for them for about 6-7 years. Started out as just hauling gear and got as far as when they were not touring he was working in the studio on salary plus getting very friendly with Michael and Sammy. He called me one night and put Sammy on the phone, they were laughing because Valerie kept calling Sammys house and telling Eddie to come home. Backstage when my buddies told Sammy he and myself grew up together since we were little kids and Sammy and Michael treated me like i belonged backstage. One night in N.Y. Backstage was so crowded that the stage manager was busting balls and my buddy gave me towels to hand the guys as they came of stage to look like i was working. In the early days i would not doubt that Eddie and Alex were a lot cooler because that is a lot of pressure keeping that Rock god impressions and ppl bothering him. Not once did i walk up to them and say anything or ask for anything and they left me alone because they new i was a freind and never got in the way, i was told that one day one when i was introduced to him. The real reason why im telling this story is because my buddy is gone for almost 10 years and when Ed passed it reminded me of my freind and when he worked for other bands before he hooked up with VH he would send me merch from the road of the bands he was working with, he was a great freind and i still miss him and not just for the times he got me backstage for Steve Miller, Heart Motley Crue, Rod Stewart, Bowie and others but growing up L.I. N.Y and going to shows before he started being a Roadie. RIP ED and more important RIP my freind Big Moon

[@michaelstevenanderson4961]

Wolfie did say that the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in California, (The last one) had to go to 110% on the reactor whenever Eddie plugged in and tuned up at the home studio in L.A. (Which explains all the Southern Calif. brown-outs in the late 1990's). Lol

[@PeteBreen]

"You're to set this up the way you think Ed would like it..." - trial by fire if there ever was one.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

For real!! Haha

[@edwardskol1812]

Saw this from your original interview but had to watch again. Love hearing these stories!!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

So much awesome!

[@100chuckjones]

In the late 70's I grew up listening to Hendrix (and playing guitar to). Felt I had been robbed not being able to see him live or hearing his new material. What I didn't understand was at that exact moment, there was another legend being born.

[@adajada818623]

Such great story about Eddie and his guitars. Thank you

[@richiecunningham7968]

Very interesting story, I’ll have to watch the rest of the interview. Very fascinating! Cheers - R

[@smallmouthguy2264]

I love listening to Tom such a great speaker

[@100chuckjones]

Great interview. Loved it.

[@ryanlee2546]

Awesome talk man thanks for sharing this! The short wire cutters story was funny too XD

[@terrywade8361]

I did the 0708 tour with Tom great guy love him dearly Matt and miss him dearly good to see you buddy your pal bif

[@flyingdutchman80]

Wow very cool stories. I could listen to Tom for hours.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Link to the longer version in the description! 🤘🏻

[@5150show]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@chriscampbell9191]

It substantiates the heat and discontent I myself went through years ago.... trying to figure out how to equally temper the tuning to fit my own playing. Throw in Open G tuning and it's a bit of work... until you get it down. Just throwing the strings on the digital tuner doesn't always cut it. Fascinating interview, gentlemen. Thanks for posting this.

[@DoktorDamage]

This is sooooo awesome !!!

[@ekrrethon1445]

That's like, the definition of integrity. Good stories man

[@ScreamingStevenHoward]

Tom installed a Satriani Full Shred pup and set up my Kramer sometime in the early 90's. It was a monster guitar when he was done.

[@leelauder4411]

Very cool man! Every song he wrote sounded different!! That s why!! Brilliant!!!

[@playhouse888]

agreed! Every song had its own distinct personality.

[@dereklemieux1340]

WOW! what a lucky guy to have the opportunity to contribute to his technical expertise to the sound of such a monster player

[@mattblatchley2061]

unbelievable video...thank you so much

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Cheers Matt! Hope ya subscribe 🤘🏻

[@mattblatchley2061]

@@JeremyWhiteShow crap! I forgot ...I WILL!!!

[@JamesZotaBaker]

Fantastic interview as always. I appreciate your show and the fact that you are so enthusiastic, but you're always mindful of not talking over your guests. Wonderful EVH history.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Appreciate the kind words James!!

[@stephenchaulker5521]

Very cool story 🏆

[@aphexlane]

If you see and feel Ed’s handprints at the hollywood guitar center you wouldn’t be surprised to hear his hands were really strong. He had huge godlike hands and fingers.

[@joepons329]

I found out where the brown sound came from. Check out palmer speaker simulator. Has a bright and brown switch built in ......😊

[@justincase6151]

In depth discussions like this are gold! Thank you!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Thanks man!

[@chazzkramer7676]

I've temper-tuned all my giutar playing life without realizing it! I thought i just wasn't any good at using a guitar tuner because my barre chording would always sound out of tune. So, I'd tune by ear a with an A barred at the 5th fret. Open chords became somewhat irrelevant with this tuning, but everything else i did was dead nuts on. I never knew there was a name for it!

[@SteveCarrDrivesAPrius]

I listened to Fair Warning one time while I was on the toilet, and believe me when I tell you I never met him but he's a really nice guy and stuff.

[@rossbyron]

have to watch this later

[@erichhitchcock3368]

I cracked up on the Ralph's stuff, reason being from watching a Norm MacDonald clip with Letterman where he mentions Ralph's quality produce.

[@syfman6]

Setup Masterclass...💚🎸

[@senrabnad]

Correction the Starwood Amphitheater show in Nashville was Oct 4, 1988 I know because I was there. It was the show where the band he produced "Private Life" opened for the band and during Ed's performance he knocked over his keyboard and looked/pointed backstage and had a lackey spring in and get it set back up. True story.

[@CoachingChaos]

I was there as well, and I well remember the keyboard hitting the floor, and the look on Ed's face, everything. So cool!

[@mojodojo5533]

This interview gave me confidence in all my EVH gear.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

10000% man!! It’s all legit 🤘🏻

[@mojodojo5533]

@@JeremyWhiteShow for Ed to want everyone to have EXACTLY what he has and uses is probably unheard of in guitar gear world manufacturing. I'm sure he had seen a lot of crap products out there. He always said he just wanted things to work properly.

[@BillDerBerg]

@@mojodojo5533 EVH gear is crap. get a Soldano Hot Rod 25 and a Kramer Pacer with a single 12k Duncan Custom Custom or '59 pup depending on how hot you want it. There's Your 1984 era to Van Hagar era EVH sound. Add Eventide, SPX90II or Roland SDE3000 to taste

[@akfreed6949]

That's why he quit with Peavey . It wasn't over money it was over quality issues that Peavey ignored .

[@XMetalChefX]

@@BillDerBerg OR... Hear me out... DONT sell your kids...

[@extremeguitarhero666]

Anyone knows where to watch the "Ralphs Story"? Can't tell you how many times I shipped there jus hoping to run into him

[@fmbighair]

“ Wave the magic wand over it” LMFAO

[@SuperGuitar38]

I have had luck with putting the tuner at 444Hz and 1 semitone (1/2 step) down or= 419hz total. Dokken, Pantera, and others do this offset too. I use a nice Peterson tuner too so this is accurate enough for me and matches perfect for playing VH.

[@owlperchedsilo3745]

Peterson tuner huh? i'll research that. cant find a decent tuner anywhere.

[@santiagodeponce9390]

Peterson ‘sweetened’ tuning

[@morsteen]

I've just been noticing that I have a very heavy hand,...and when I'm fretting I'm throwing the fretted note really sharp. Then I try to back my pressure off,...but end up going so light that it fret buzzes because im not really making the note sound at that point. Been getting really frustrated because everything always sounds slightly out of tune when I'm playing. Looks like I have to really dial in my intonation to be a bit flat.

[@akrasia1969]

Ok, how do open strings sound in tune when they are tuned flat to compensate for a strong fretting hand?

[@adamkorzon2972]

Depends on what kind of frets we are dealing with in most cases.But eddie likes the Bs lower to match the G.I did that before I learned about intonation.I push too hard can't help it.Mostly affects the heavier strings for me with jumbo frets.

[@d.7868]

Amazing talk! One thing I don't understand: if Van Halen always temper-tuned his guitar, does that mean Michael Anthony (and later Wolfgang) always tuned his bass to him? Or was his ferocious way of playing such that he brought a slightly flat tuned guitar to sound in tune with a bass tuned to straight chromatic pitch?

[@EthnHayabusa]

It's mostly for the thirds on the G and B strings when playing triads. As long as the E A D G strings match one another's respective instruments, there would be no issues.

[@BillDerBerg]

that guy is full of bullsh_t

[@fmbighair]

@@EthnHayabusa that makes sense if anyone else plays his guitar and it doesn’t stay in tune. Because it’s literally in his hands. How he pressed on the strings

[@bobmanners8624]

The latter.

[@akfreed6949]

As someone who doesn't know anything about playing or even tuning a guitar , in one guitar magazine interview he tried to describe how he tuned his guitar and it was hard for me to VISUALIZE how he did it . On top of it , nothing was mentioned if he talked about the tremelo being "blocked" .

[@paddysguitarshow2]

I think he done what's called blocking or decking the trem basically you can only pull one way on the trem so you can dive bomb but not pull the other way I'm sure all production evh guitars to this day are built like this

[@fivestring65ify]

@@paddysguitarshow2 Brad Gillis does the same thing.

[@rayfabris2512]

Did they ever do part 2? I wish they would, this is cool shit for rock musicians

[@jeffgoh4934]

Attack, that's almost everything for next level playing.

[@muurimc]

The longer version has so many stories.

[@fmbighair]

Where is the longer version?

[@muurimc]

@@fmbighair This one kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGHIpGd3nZWheLM

[@PedroLopezBeanEater]

“Hey! I’m familiar with the location of the studio! There’s a Ralph’s nearby! Look at me! Look at me!”

[@joemarabella2145]

The intro to "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love"...was that a flanger or a phaser?

[@mynameisdave613]

Flanger

[@iantaylor1524]

Job well done sir! Congratulations 🙏

[@patrickburke9764]

Someone tune his guitar for him there are people that have an hear for that and then there are people that can play a guitar rest in peace Terry !!

[@simply3141592654]

Have you ever had Chris Hubbard on? That guy from Michigan is phenomenal.

[@blndrckr]

Tempered tuning: standard operating procedure for 50 years plus in the pedal steel world!!

[@JonWRowe]

Interesting. But here's a question. EVH played open strings at times. How do you do that if a string is tuned flat like you say and have it sound in tune?

[@frankrichards3089]

My question

[@andycummings-music]

Just picking the string will cause it to go slightly sharp before it settles in tune. Like Tom said, Van Halen won't be on the note long enough for it to settle.

[@dariopuig1999]

It is in tune.

[@mercedese5507]

HOLY WOW JUST WOW.... My name is "*****" and I have tuned my guitar the same way as I play much like EVH myself not willingly . Rock chords 5ths.

[@frankrichards3089]

Change tubes between songs. Lol damn

[@therollband1290]

That’s bonkers

[@paulscountry456]

Decked Bridge is easier to set up than floater.

[@Cincinnatus1869]

By turning the pegs ?

[@AlienAI51]

🤘👹

[@zedmelon]

Everyone said it's the amp. I said, no it's gotta be the tubes. Ehhhh.... I was right. [upvoted]

[@laurelhardymarx]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="469">7:49</a>

[@jhend1000]

Ha! I thought I was the only one that used wire cutters as nail clippers.

[@snicker576]

Eddie Van Halen, the guitar player, is deceased :( He was a very talented guitar player who became famous in the 1980's "hard rock" music scene in America

[@snicker576]

He is known for "tapping" which is a Guitar Techique

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

Well that's a real revelation. Do you have any more information that we should about regarding Ed?

[@snicker576]

@@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973 Yes. Edward had a long battle with alcohol abuse, which is a very unhealthy condition that leads to deterioration in many humans.

[@eveningsun1208]

The standard guitar is in 12-Tone Equal Temperment. The only one in-tune interval is the octave, ALL other intervals are mistuned. Changing the fretting to pure Harmonic Series frets is called Just Intonation. This aligns the frets with the Harmonics and feedback. A company called FreeNote Music makes guitars and recordings in Just Intonation and other systems: m.youtube.com/@FreeNoteMusic

[@foto21]

Why does everyone else interrupt the guy who was there? These interviews need to focus on one person at a time.

[@shadowman1403]

Now I understand the story about Ted Nugent playing Eddie’s guitar and gear and baffled at how bad he sounded! Unreal, those little quirks with the top level musicians are always something with Science!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Totally 1000% accurate, only Ed sounded like Ed thru his rig! 🤘🏻 hope ya subscribe ⚡️

[@shadowman1403]

@@JeremyWhiteShow already subbed before you replied! 5.95k subs!

[@frankrichards3089]

Well Nugent not in his league anyway. No offense few were

[@user-rt9zq8rs9k]

It's not that he sounded bad , Ted sounded like Ted . He didn't sound like Ed .

[@garychambers5850]

That's insane, I would've told him to tune his own guitar. Its just a guitar? Dam... 🎸

[@EthnHayabusa]

Ed's tuning is honestly not that complex. Equal temperment 3rds sound dissonant with distortion. Tuning the B string 14 cents flat causes a "Just" third. Same thing that happens in slide guitar, a capella voice, fretless instruments, etc. Tune the B string flat until a second Inversion C Major triad (555 on the DGB strings, for instance) has no beating. Instant old Van Halen tuning. It also causes most traditional chord voicings to sound rotten. But, Ed played a lot of his chords on the middle strings, and honestly didn't use a wide variety of voicings. Mostly major or minor, along with their inversions and suspensions. Sounds great with the top two strings flat. Causes the difference tone (sub frequency caused when two notes ring with distortion) to be intonated, instead of sharp.

[@leonskum.5682]

I'm not technical but I once saw a video of someone showing you how to get the Unchained riff to sound right by tuning the G or B slightly out. Can't remember exactly.

[@GoodWolfWonRocky]

Would need Tom to tune my cable grinders it sounds like. Tuning from 6th to 1st, I've always had to tune the wound strings sharp, the G string (approx.) 15% flat, and the 2nd and 1st a couple cents flat. And still not in tune completely,, the design flaws can drive you nut. Until learning electric guitars are never totally in tune to them selves or any other instrument. People start drinking and fighting over thoughts of inferiority until learning the flaws. THEN, right when you feel somewhat sane after 30 years, you see Steve Vai's noodle fret guitar with tune o magic bridge with "s" and "c" shaped fretts in 1st octave. Would go self actualized to talk to Tom for an hour or 2.... Just all amazing folks on this video!! Thank you guys!! Very helpful and owe you.

[@shoominati23]

SO who's this other Tech that was living (probably still is) permanently in the Guest Host in the grounds of Eddie's house? (apparently the one who ran off with Craig Gass' ex GF) ? I thought that was his Guitar Tech?

[@cergiecergnul4916]

Talking about Rudy?

[@TruthSurge]

tempered hahhaa no. pianos are tuned to equal temperament. guitars, same. What Ed did on his guitar was detune the B string to just temperament related to the G string (so the G and B combined made a PERFECT maj 3rd, instead of the IMPERFECT one you get with equal temperament tuning). You cannot get something for nothing so if you flat the B it becomes nastily out of tune with the 4ths and 5ths you want and so you also need to detune the little E a BIT so it doesn't sound horribly out of tune with that just tuning B you just created by detuning it. IOW, you cannot get a note to MOVE AROUND to create a perfect 3rd here and a perfect 5 there. It will be out either here or there or both. just how fixed fret system works.

[@stevestringer7351]

On the part about Ed being adamant about the customer getting the quality he/she paid for...... While I know Ed had his line of amps, guitar, pedals etc. as a business venture. Of course he did. But I also think a big part of his lines of gear was meant for people to be able to afford a quality instrument at a fair price. However, the EVH lines of equipment have REALLY gotten so expensive that most of the average person cannot easily go out and just buy a Wolfgang guitar or 5150 amp. This isn't necessarily a complaint... it is merely an observation. On a positive note, the EVH lines of gear are high quality with very consistent quity control. So, eventhough there is considerable expense.... you know you got what you paid for.

[@user-rt9zq8rs9k]

When Ed endorsed Kramer , he never made a dime from Kramer . Contrary to many of Sammy Hagar's lies , Ed wasn't all about making money . He loved that Kramer was putting Floyd Rose tremelos on their guitars. He knew that if he were to be paid that the customer would be paying more for a Kramer . So he worked with Kramer for free so it would keep the cost down for the customers , many of which are HIS fans .

[@zandig666]

I made a science out of my tuning years ago I tune certain strings round 10cents flat

[@lonecrapshooter67]

Jesse the body Ventura tunes guitars

[@acidstorm001]

I play bass and have a strong left hand, and the exact same thing happens to me when I pick up a guitar and play it. I bend those strings right out of tune. I'm used to pressing much harder on bass strings, so when I do that with those thin guitar strings it sounds terrible. Not saying I'm an Eddie Van Halen, I can barely play. I just know from experience that can be a big problem for some people.

[@warrenkrivoniak7374]

Holy moyle. What a story

[@stevelafontaine3652]

I've been cutting my nails with wire cutters for 30 years , too bad me and Ed couldn't have hung out !!

[@roquefortfiles]

If you have to ask this question you're not a Van Halen fan. Good grief. E FLAT!!!

[@fromalongtimeago]

Ask Terry Kilgore. Eddie seemed to rip every kick he knows off of the guy

[@tino0217]

Screw the tuners, make it sound right

[@Nightjar726]

Too bad that era isn’t the golden tone he had from the past. Oh well. Still interesting.

[@johnmarshall3903]

Difference between Marshall and a chainsaw. No comparison

[@Shaylok]

Nah. I'm pretty sure he tormented and tortured his guitars into complete submission. That's why they sound so insane.

[@andrewsandoz8005]

Fanboys

[@davidemmons899]

The guy on the bottom right forgot he met Eddie Van Halen 🙄

[@mralmnthwyfemnin5783]

Get to the point of the f-----g title !!!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Faaahhhh Q

[@mralmnthwyfemnin5783]

@@JeremyWhiteShow OK.....I probably deserved that !

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

@@mralmnthwyfemnin5783 🤣🤣🤣

[@oddball746]

I find it hard to believe Eddie ever played in tune. When you play this way, there's no way it will stay in tune. Let me pull the high E across the board and tune it between notes ??? No way it's gonna happen. Let me distort this string and say, "oh that's in great tune. NOT !! Eddie would sound horrible if he played in tune. Don't get me wrong, there's a point where out is out fix it, but that's many concerts away, just gotta keep an ear on it. As long as each string sound different that the other, you're good to go. I play drums too and when I go around playing the furniture or the kitchen counter top or the fish tanks, some shoot at me others simply can't believe the music sounds really good, Annoying, YES, tuning, there's no tuning involved. Trained players just don't understand, they can't, it breaks all their rules.

[@fivestring65ify]

The guy on the top left is annoying.

[@gaelleonard8830]

They are ALL annoying...

[@JCDwyer]

Eeeehh, this sounds extremely overthought. I don’t buy it.

[@smelly_elvis]

BS

[@ab9957]

I know...when i arrive at the gig. I check for 45 mV of bias between the cathode and plates of all amps and if that's not right, I check the M&Ms in the green room.