How I Get My Van Halen Tones

Kind of a rig rundown of the guitars, pedals, amp, and recording gear I use to get close to Eddie’s tones.

[@wakjob961]

Boss & MXR... respect. Nice to see someone using common affordable pedals and not some persnickety high priced boutique stuff for a change.

[@briandietrich1373]

Agreed!

[@davidgangemi3314]

The secret ingredient in any great recipe is usually the cheapest. Good enough for Eddie,good enough for us!😊 Boutique pedals are mostly overpriced and overrated. I don't recall Eddie using a rack either. Not on the first 6 lps anyway. Those are the best ones. Nobody chases his Hagar era tone too much.

[@mikeoxlong4588]

boutique stuff is mostly a meme the only exception are old school british pedals like pete cornish, solasounds, roger mayer etc

[@MrBarefoot09]

and a heavily modified amp that we have no idea how to replicate

[@waynemetallum7623]

Doesn't matter when hes using a high price boutique persnickety modified vintage marshall ☠️

[@mesoanarchy]

The Stealth is incredible. The pickups on it catch the bottom from the Marshall perfectly while mods and highs are still crystal clear.

[@prepared7341]

that kill switch on the Wolfgang is awsome, what a great addition to a already perfect guitar

[@johnpalm8816]

Not quite the EVH tone (it has to be more crispy and less delay in the mix). But your sound is so amazing. The amp is killer:-) As you already said, don’t buy EVH amps for an EVH tone. But I realy like your sound! EVH or not EVH, you rock 🤘

[@TheNocturnalEvil]

The crispy high end on the album is the result of the EMT plate reverb. It's tough to nail the reverb tones of a real EMT reverb with pedals. Oddly enough Eddie hated the plate reverb tone on the VH1 album..😂

[@BAND-MAID-USA]

All that money in gear and nowhere even near Eddies tone lol. This sounds EXACTLY like every other Guitar Center tone chaser.

[@mikemcgrath6391]

Dude, Just excellent. Playing, Video, Content... Everything. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Subscribed.

[@TheMid1001]

man that marshall sounds AMAZING! I wish I had it. I think you should have more mid on the amp. Also, great playing, great video, great rig!

[@jefferyryan7232]

Awesome! I love this description of how it all comes together, and YES Hayden deserves a treat! ❤️

[@tonytrotter2708]

Awesome video and great playing. I love that Kramer

[@Im2Old4ThisShite]

The switch was reversed for the purpose of preventing his forearm from pushing it up and off of the bridge position when doing hammer ons.

[@jimmyz2098]

Great playing, tone, and gear, my Van Halen loving Brother. Rock on. In Halen we rock. Cool vid! Thanks, and hope all is well.

[@DaddyOAmps]

When the Wolfgang came out Eddie said the switch was reversed because with the switch down, he would knock it to the middle position accidentally with his forearm while tapping.

[@Jwall3366]

Yeah your right. Thats the real reason. If its in the down position while tapping it easy to accidentally flip it up

[@averydempsey4468]

I never noticed how much better the Frankenstein humbucker sounds than the Wolfgang

[@jelmeromero]

Wow that’s a lot of gain! I didn’t know you could get so much gain out of a plexi. Cool!

[@3500ton]

It’s a Bray circuit cascaded obviously

[@thebudge333]

Well it’s not a Plexi. It’s a MkII JMP.

[@jwilder2251]

First riff you cranked was brown sound to me. I know some of you guys are searching for that last 1% but man you sound great as-is

[@Cherry_Sunburst]

Very, very nice video! Thank you very much and keep on doing what you do...!!! Long live the KING/EVH of rock guitar playing. CHEERS.

[@Mickcotton]

That’s Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing. Rock n Roll RIP EVH ❤️🌸🥂

[@rickgoddard6925]

It's your world thanks for inviting us in phuqin good bite of tones great set up!

[@josephrusso7069]

Great tone. Cool playing.

[@williambogoger8126]

Great video!! RIP EVH

[@tfbattag]

Thanks for this. You inspired me to buy a Bray 4550! Should be here any day now!

[@jHeminway]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@cheesewesil18]

Man that wolgang made a difference in tone! I will also add the neck on Evh 5150 isn’t like Ed’s kramer. His guitar felt more like a musicman

[@JeffDufour]

Hey I'm your 1,000th subscriber! Great video and love the sounds you're getting man.

[@jHeminway]

Thanks for the sub!

[@olivervixiennedominic6737]

The toggle switch thing is more practical than the usual gibson switch. More reason to wire it that way, anyway I've heard that Ed wired his that way because it gets in the way when he's tapping the harmonics.

[@paulmenard6219]

Great video man… fantastic playing and amazing collection you’ve got there.

[@jefferyryan7232]

That smirk after the Stealth killswitch demo! 😂

[@freegee3503]

FINALLY someone with the proper Ed treble twisted full on right!

[@rjh1469ii]

Great stuff dude! From one VH tone chaser to another, all cool stuff!

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Great video. Nice to see your selection of pedals. They all do the job. But the main part of Eddie’s tone, apart from his fingers, was the amps. You have nailed it. I have the Phase 90 and the EVH version, and they both seem closer to the correct tone turned all the way down. A you have done. The Frankenstein sounded closest to Eddie’s tone for Running With the Devil.

[@Raimo23]

100% brown sound. You kick ass dude

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

Awesome video, great channel. Van Halen 1 is mostly an Ibanez Destroyer #2459 with Super 70 pickups on all songs that don't use a whammy.

[@watchingthecrazyworld7761]

Cool I was looking for something to give me the EVH tone, and who knew that all I needed was $6,000 🤣🤣🤣

[@I__NeoN__I]

Dude the equipment in your room cost more than my house hahaha... great video! Thank you!

[@Satchafunkilus]

Great rig going there bro, killer cut tone. I have the Mesa Badlander which I see you also have, I wanted the 1987X but went Mesa, I still want the 1987X, one day, soon...I also have the Wolfgang made in Japan, and the Frankenstrat.

[@federicomejia2929]

Great video bro!!!

[@watertech011]

thanks for sharing your experience

[@davidgerlach1132]

2004 2xDeizel Herbert Mk2 CH2 does EVH beautifully on any super Strat with a faren 14K or lower. As EVH always said, the tone comes from the fingers.

[@duckydrummer6331]

I prefer the Frankenstein guitar over the stealth Wolfgang because the wolf is a small guitar. It almost looks like a junior guitar when I play it because I’m 6ft 3in. Frankie is a little bigger. The sound and tone on VH first album, he never got that tone again. He said he got tired of it and moved on to more tone chasing. My question…..why not keep that VH1 tone?? It was killer. A lot of guitarists would have kept that sound for their entire career.

[@PainterDans]

I traded off my Wolfgang because of the narrow nut width.

[@mikemcgrath6391]

I hear you, I am tall and sometimes my Wolfgang feels small. But it rocks.

[@ryanfraley7113]

I really like the size of the Wolfgang because I'm closer to where Ed was size wise, I'm 5'10" and 150 pounds. As a fairly recent beginner that size is way easier to handle.

[@craigharrison5406]

I read somewhere that Eddie used a Gibson PAF humbucker he pulled out of an ES-355 in the original white and black Frankenstrat from Van Halen I but who knows how accurate the source was. I have a Kramer 5150 replica that has a Dimarzio Super Distortion and it's the closest I have ever got to his VH I tone. You should check out this Paul Gaustad guy's videos, it's unreal how close he gets to Ed's sound. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b362pGeeZbOifpo

[@dennisdaniel1146]

Wow. He is amazing. Thanks for the information.

[@digitalchris6681]

Ooh, that's some man cave. I'd just love to have a few beers with you whilst trying out your (and my) kit....

[@helio1055]

PS-6 sounds better in front of the amp as opposed to the effects loop in my opinion, WAY better tracking due to the distortion being after it. Underrated pedal

[@copper7733]

Holy crap, I have the same amp altered by David too! I run `90 volts with the varia and it nails the first album sound!

[@GabeHelma]

Hellyeah +1 on the scumbacks! Love them. I have a J75 and a H55 scumbacks @30w in a 4x12 with 2 celestion 12L35 speakers. Sounds amazing!

[@GonzaCordovez]

with miss Haden at your team you are all for the win!!!

[@Suncoastpainting]

Awesome Tone! Great guitars.

[@sidripster506]

Killer. The last guitar sounds ssswwweeeeeeettt❤

[@stevestarr6395]

Great demo and the Bray sounds awesome! If you change pickups in the one guitar the 78’ kills and believed by many to be THE pickup in the Black and White Strat. Have one in an ash Strat and it nails the tone on VH1!!

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Wow, Jeff. That's nice. I covet that amp. I've known about David Bray for many years, but always lived in apartments, so getting one of his amps was just not feasible. I'm working with a Kemper and as i'm transitioning into a ToneX, i'm needing to add some pedals that the Kemper was handling. re: the Phase 90-any particular reason why you chose the Block version instead of the '74 Script reissue? Most of the common 'wisdom' says that Eddie's block version was actually Script circuitry as MXR was moving from one case to the next. Oh, and the flanger.... I was hoping to not have to spend so much on the huge MXR/EVH versions. Good to know i can just get the micro for those three notes!

[@cbx1168]

Awesome sound

[@newkurosawa]

Sounds amazing, possibly the nearest I have heard to the original.

[@thebudge333]

Check out Jim Gaustad’s channel. That’s probably the closest.

[@milkboom8640]

Great video man! it really helped me

[@UNSC-ow3bh]

Back in the day I heard Coke WAS part of the Van Halen sound!!😎🤣🤘🤘

[@bortz0230]

Very interesting and well done video. Guitar choice or pickups seems to be a small factor in VH1 tone . Watch the top jimi brown sound kemper YT video and you'll see this guy nails it better than any Bray/Suhr/Friedman/Granger/Metro amps.

[@michaelmitchell5909]

That was pretty bad ass man

[@foggyblues13]

Great video! Great Playing!

[@jefferyryan7232]

I’d love to take some lessons from you!

[@oscarangulocr]

Nice video Man!!! 🔥🎸

[@IndyMotoBoy]

Well explained Awesome explanation

[@asnark7115]

Some stuff I've seen says the pickup on that Ibanez destroyer was a stock Alnico 8, and the superstrat had a pickup from a Gibson 335.

[@danielabilez3619]

Many variables in an equation. You have been busy. I don't hear EVH. But, I love it and wish you luck. A lot of hard work and money. Journey well

[@oldrrocr]

Dude! I'm making one of these now... thanks for the info!

[@mikejennings681]

Great job all way voice your own great job sr

[@jameschapman9796]

nice job !!!!

[@lenpyros658]

Great video thanks for the insight!!

[@ruperterskin2117]

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@martysparacino6682]

I heard the first album he use a Gibson paf, Just what heard from an interview, then he made his own pups that was made to a close paf!

[@lowalkoroc]

Sounds bang on man!

[@johndeschain2156]

nice run through

[@bonzodog67lizardking15]

Eddie Van Halen reminds me of the saying, "The first man who said a woman's lips were like a rose was a genius...the second guy who said it was an idiot." There's something to be said for originality. All his fans have failed to move the ball even a little from the goal post Eddie left it.

[@Mujcanal]

I know now ! the secret sauce is in messy cables and dust on the pedalboard…. Ha ha, only joking ! Great video, skills and sound, thank you it was pleasure to watch and listening.

[@arthurcaesar2200]

Sound is great but that hat is the best. Go Bs!!

[@go4384]

Nearly any Gibson PAF pickup out of any les paul will sound about as good as the EVH pickups for early VH tone - most believe it was a les paul pickup put into a strat body

[@turbo280z]

Great video thanks man

[@skylineXpert]

In terms of 1971 quarters. D series Is the way to go. Ordered some S series as well and a relic D on ebay. Then I ordered 3 non relic D series as well. you can basicly get them for 2.50 to 5$ on ebay. But as a european I cannot really get a good shipping deal for a simple coin. Unless I use an agent with a US shipping adress. Now they are with my agent and I just ordered them to bundle up my many packages. Then I cannot wait until we hit 15*c In northern europe and I can start on my 2nd project

[@johnklaich9201]

Good stuff…thank you

[@toneleudy]

You convinced me to get another plexi

[@-jeffk3339]

Well done

[@kennethhoneycutt4513]

Man I love your rig that one you were talking about putting another pickup in what about a JB Duncan

[@paulsanders1]

Thank you

[@FortessofShred]

Pretty sure Eddie claimed it was a bridge pickup from an old ES-335. If that's true, wouldn't that be a Gibson PAF?

[@johnedwardsmarroquin3452]

Killer sounds

[@fernandolopes2544]

Amazing! But when you have a bray modded Marshall it makes all the difference.

[@user-kb8fe4vd4j]

What does “bray” means?

[@lolxd7753]

@@user-kb8fe4vd4j The last name of the dude that modded it

[@CoolhandLukeSkywalkr]

Incredible tone, but noise gate would be beneficial. Revv g8.

[@jonb5150]

It's close but not quite, the sound here is much more compressed.

[@ericandrews1661]

It all sounds really good! I use a SD pearly gates most of the time but you can't beat the 59. So simple but good. I wanted to ask you what model the 800 Is.

[@michaelcantinieri7890]

Ed used a lower output pickup..Seymour Duncan has 2 versions..a 78 model and a Frankenstein which funny enough they make for EVH

[@ericandrews1661]

@@michaelcantinieri7890 I never tried the 78 but have the Frankenstein in a guitar and it's a good one. However I think its a little hotter. Around 14k.

[@michaelcantinieri7890]

It is..just got a Hand wound 78...waiting to pop it in

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

I like the black guitar sound the Best

[@GuyNarnarian]

Great tone. I'm guessing not great for bedroom volume? LOL. Amp has monster gain at that level.

[@JohnBenoit46290]

thanks hayden!

[@MuvoTX]

Very cool vid... do you leave the EQ with that mid boost curve constant ON? Interesting take on the Duncan 59. I use a 59 on 87' baretta... i like its lower output. dont quote me on this, but I think its a little more touch-feel responsive than my higher output tone zone, and duncan distortion. The 59 when I roll back the vol knob it really has an upper frequency clarity that I like... kind of "chimey" like a single coil, but not that extreme.

[@jeffreyrivers1983]

Hey Jeff... I'm Jeff too

[@donaldyoung9838]

Hey Buddy That Is Some Awesome Playing I Was Wanting To Know How Are Your Running Chain On Your Pedals An Your Settings Thanks

[@merlesmith6794]

Fuuuuh. Nice collection of amps.

[@jimmyjennings4089]

Personally when i hear an amp and a pedal board set up that lets you get that squeal that Eddie got in the first riff in beautiful girls off VH 2 i feel like im pretty close in the ball park anyway.

[@JT-id9nn]

My David Bray modded Marshall 1987x doesn't sound like that when I run time based effects in front of the amp. Sounds great just crazy loud, even with volume knob on back turned down.

[@wanderdworld]

Where did you get the EVH Wolfgang?? That is a beautiful guitar. That is as close as you can get to Eds brown sound. I have a Marshall DSL 100H and I'm swapping it for a EVH 5150 III EL34. I heard a few demos on you tube. Your gear sounds exactly like the EVH 5150 III. In fact that modified Marshall sounds so close to Eds gear you would have to pull the curtain back to see who's back there. Great job

[@AikiBagua]

Not bad, but there is no substitute for doing it the way Ed did it...100w plexi with the "Ed mods' and a Variac...

[@brianwilliams4467]

Also when you tap on A les paul style guitar your hand wants to hit the pickup selector to the neck pickup. That's another reason he reversed the pickup selector

[@lexbertc]

Eddie used a Ibanez destroyer on VH1

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Just throwing this out, cause I found out through trial and error and some wtf moments. If you're running non true bypass pedals through a series fx loop you'll definitely lose some volume and tone. I've found most boss affects are not true bypass. I invested in true bypass and all the fx loop joy returned. I love in room miss, your vids are fine.

[@rollingedges9469]

That graphite in the neck well...

[@davidcamarda8723]

You have one too many guitars. I'll take the gold top with the p90s thank you. Great vid.