when strat players discover VAN HALEN

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Let the dive bombs BEGIN!! Thanks for having me dude.

[@jenniferditty2904]

I enjoyed your video. Long time VH fan.

[@raymcnemar764]

Nice crossover!

[@teresathomley3703]

Nice to see you all becoming a KZbin guitar tribe of sorts.

[@toby_blyth]

Great feature man

[@gun_toting_lefty]

So glad to see you here! BOOP!

[@retropyro]

Massive Van Halen fan and the biggest lesson I learned from Eddie was "If it sounds good, it is good", doesn't matter if its about music genres or guitars.

[@Loiyaboy]

YES! And that right there is what made him special. Flatting the B string, his composition and sense of swing and classical music, mixed into the rock genre, all of it. He doesn't get enough credit as a musical innovator as he should.

[@johnhill762]

Sometimes, though, when it sounds good, it’s just not well-written. I prefer music that is well-composed as opposed to “sounds good”.

[@raymo6795]

@@johnhill762 I think VH music is well composed ..and sounds good.

[@voodoochild1975az]

He kinda hated labels and boxes. Music is music. Good is good. The dude could enjoy jazz, country, metal or classical. He was kinda genre blind. I also learned this lesson from him. If it sounds good it is good. Period

[@jeffrowlette]

I was underage, playing pinball in a bar, when my friend put Running With The Devil on the jukebox.... This was around 1979 - I was 12. I was like "WTF am I hearing?!"

[@aldito7586]

That's really burnt. 1979. That's when I started playing.

[@beachcomber4141]

I borrowed the first Van Halen record around 1981 from a neighbor and had the same story as everyone else. WTF IS THIS?!?! Total mind blower. The tone, the attack, the clarity, and the tapping made the guitar sound like a different instrument, and from that point on, basically every one who picked up a guitar tried to sound like him in one way or the other.

[@jeffrowlette]

@@aldito7586 I started 3 years later 👍

[@SEKreiver]

EVH definitely motivated me to play rock guitar.

[@markusvainio7878]

12?!

[@SGBassplayer]

I stopped talking about Eddie Van Halen years ago because people my age already know how good he was and the people younger than me wouldn’t believe it. Rest In Power, Edward; you were the best that rock and roll ever had to offer.

[@voodoochild1975az]

Well said

[@williamallen7386]

Idk, I raised my kids on Ozzy, Van Halen, etc, and they still appreciate it. I always had guitars in the house and Eddie was and always will be the man. My youngest took me see them when they brought Roth back into the band, which was really cool, even though Roth was pathetic, lol. She's also in a band (lead singer) and every time they do an Ozzy or VH song, she dedicates it to her dad.😊 I get a round of applause from the people at the show, lol. My oldest daughter asked me to take her to meet Zakk Wylde when she was like 13. He was doing a CD signing at a little record shop near by. That was really cool. Got to hang out with Zakk, watch him play for well over an hour. He just sat down with an acoustic and went off. He was friggin phenomenal. There were maybe fifteen people there, middle of the day. Then, my wife and I got to go to his show that night. And if my daughter hadn't asked me I would've never even know he was in town. I guess my point is, never stop talking about guys like Eddie, because some young people do listen.

[@Vidarboots]

Hell yeah I'm a Van Halen fan. How can you not like them? Their music is so full of joy and enthusiasm.

[@MrClassicmetal]

100% correct! EVH's playing oozes emotion, as it's filled with joy and enthusiasm. What a voice!

[@cataclysmicconverter]

And their concerts were so fun! Before the sterile, high tech environment so many shows are today. I liked when there were liquor bottles, beer cans and ashtrays were on top of the amps and they were still a new band and full of fire.

[@JohnConklin-r8k]

You nailed it!! Joy and enthusiasm!!

[@RipVDub]

Eddie Van Halen is reason why I started playing guitar and later making music. Hands down, the most influential guitarist to come along since Les Paul, Jimi Hendrix, Clapton, and Jimmy Page. Welcome to the EVH family! Loved the interview with Rob.

[@peter-0200]

Yep, same here. I built a super strat in 85 and began the Ed tone chasing journey. Haven’t stopped.

[@voodoochild1975az]

Shit, I was a third generation drummer and Eddie made me betray the family and pick up a Fat Strat (hss).... I like drums. I really do. I still get behind a kit once in a while and have a BLAST. I really like drums. But I $^$@*$# LOVE guitar... and being forced, compelled to pick one up and learn to play? That's Eddie's fault. Me, you, and a few million others... The man made a bit of dent in the guitar works didn't he? Eddie and Jimi. Jimi and Eddie. No one inspired more or changed guitar more than those two. My dad is why I am a musician. Eddie is why I am a guitarist.

[@rockerbuck967]

Hearing "Eruption" got me hooked on guitar. I didn't even own one yet, so I used to "jam" with my mom's fly swatter. Once I got a real guitar, there was no turning back. That was 20+ years ago. Guitars have come and went over the years, but every time I see my wife grab a fly swatter it triggers those memories.

[@coppulor6500]

Those vintage fly swatters were sweet

[@markrajfura4443]

@@coppulor6500 Then they went electric

[@mikeshelogowski434]

I told my uncle, who taught me "I want to play like Michael Jackson's guitar player on Beat it!!" I had no idea who eddie was😅 Cut to one year later, I owned every album.

[@evanansot6335]

I was born in 1963, and have been a Van Halen fan since they first came out in 78. Basically because of Edward Van Halen. The greatest guitarist of all time.

[@cataclysmicconverter]

'65 here and man, I remember the first time when my brother dropped the needle on that record from "this new band you gotta hear" on a super high end stereo. There is no substitute.

[@gun_toting_lefty]

'64 Dude! My 14 year old brain was not ready for when the needle hit that album on that turntable! Keep rockin' Bud!

[@montreauxs]

Nope.. Polyphia..

[@johnhill762]

EVH is nowhere close to greatest. SRV, Hendrix, Rhoads. So many other great guitarists.

[@daa5249]

@@johnhill762 I communicated a few years back with a rock guitarist from the 80's that saw both Rhoads and EVH before they made it big and he said Eddie was the better guitarist and he saw them both up close in the clubs.

[@worshiptutorials]

“Ambient worship player” with a tele, confirmed 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@mikecole4489]

Hahahaha I’m guilty as well

[@YooperRev88]

I “third” this!

[@Jesusplaysastrat]

I’m hopping in on that too!!

[@aldito7586]

Cant go wrong with a nice Tele!

[@t.sewell1513]

Joe Duplantier. Tele player…kinda.

[@Polasyn]

“WOOIMBOUTTAMAKEANAMEFOMYSELFHERE” 😂 0:37

[@Bug_Man_Semo]

I love Robert Baker! I've been watching him for probably 7 years.

[@BrentLeVasseur]

Van Halen was known for two handed tapping, but what really made him great was his rhythm playing. Check out Ben Eller’s video on the impossible to play Van Halen riff, which dives into his crazy fast swing rhythms.

[@Jkr66]

This vid took me back a bit. I was taking guitar lessons the summer of 1982 in a suburb outside Detroit. The guitar store was literally called Rock City. It was a factory for Eddie Van Halen's AND Randy Rhoads clones. I remember the thing to do was take your Fender strat, replace the neck with a Charvel neck. Bore out the area under the bridge pickup and put in a Seymour Duncan humbucker. Then ad the Floyd Rose. The rest of the pickups were taken out completely along with the tone nobs and with just one volume nob. THAT was the ultimate Heavy Metal machine. It was rather expensive back then for a 16 yr old so I never did it. A few years later they started making "Metal" guitars that had all the goodies on it already. Me and my best friend were the only Black kids in our neighborhood who liked Van Halen back then. Great episode Mike, brought back a lot of fond memories. 👍🏽🎸🤘🏾

[@JTCox]

I got to see them live in 1980. Dude was on a whole different level as a player! He was the GOAT for my generation!

[@beachcomber4141]

Yeah man!! He basically, for better or for worse, spawned Hair Metal with his amazing guitar technique and all those players trying to sound like him.....and even the few that got close still did not have his boogie swing. Van Halen was the model of a rock and roll band at its best in the 80's hands down. Before 1978 when VH1 came out, all the rockers had one model or another of Gibson guitars and Strats until Eddie created the super strat. Then they ALL had a strat shape with a humbucker and a Floyd Rose.

[@hoilst265]

@@beachcomber4141 People somehow lump him in with the uber-technical players, sweep-picking 32nd notes at 200bpm in 17/13 time or whatever, but the man was a rocker, first and foremost. His lead was great, but his riffs? Unchained, 5150, Panama, Ain't Talkin' Bout Love - that's where the meat is.

[@williamfreeman9995]

Thanks!

[@2345678264]

the gambit impression was pure GOLD

[@robertmueller2023]

Lots of radio play in the summer of 1979: Dance The Night Away. I didn't start playing guitar and discover Van Halen I until 1980.

[@beachcomber4141]

1981ish here. I was 11 and it was the meanest guitar I have ever heard. And to this day it gives me chills to listen to some of those songs on VH1 as the guitar is just so badass. Kids now a days need to remember that there was NOTHING that sounded like that in guitar playing before that record besides the lucky ones who saw them live in the 70's. Similar to Hendrix. To understand how impactful and revolutionary Jimi's playing was, you have to put it in perspective that NOTHING sounded like that before Hendrix.

[@s1231-b2g]

Right on!! For me probably when diver down came out some time in jr high. I’m amazed that people are still ‘discovering’ Van Halen. That ship sailed d decades ago man.

[@LXS-ud6yf]

@@beachcomber4141 Oddly enough, Ollie Halsall -- who's not well known -- sounded a bit like Eddie back in 1972! Check out Patto's "Loud Green Song": kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4DbhZiYaJKSr6M

[@paulc7486]

4th grade. Someone brought in Mean Streets. I remember listening to the vinyl record, during lunch. Music changed.

[@jonstirling9169]

I first heard Eddie when I was 11 in 1978. I knew the only way I was going to be able to play even remotely close to his abilities was to practice every day for hours. What I loved most about his playing was how excited he sounded while playing. Though I’m not much for copying him, I did manage to capture some of that excitement I felt as a kid in my playing.

[@hoilst265]

You know when you rock out playing air guitar? Eddie did that...except he has an actual guitar in his hands. There are a lot of really good, fast, intricate guitarist out there, yeah, but none of them looked as casual as Eddie. Dude was a natural.

[@slimfire5475]

I to heard Eddie for the first time the same year ,I was 24yrs and the song was Jamie's crying.Went out a purchased the album and went to thair Concert in 1979.It was LOUD and we were two rows back! RIP Eddy

[@Zundfolge]

I'm old, I started playing in the early 80s. There was a time in the early 90s that all I owned was super-strats with floyds (including a couple I built ... you build a guitar with a floyd and still love the floyd you're a cultist ... I guess I'm a cultist and even though most of my guitars these days are hardtails, I still find myself reaching for that phantom bar once in a while). As for when I heard Eddy the first time, I was an obnoxious 10 year old Kiss Army member and a friend early in '79 said "you gotta here this!" and I never bought another Kiss album again.

[@bence42]

I just own double locking guitars since 2002. :)

[@AnimatorsatWork]

Massive Van Halen fan. My dad turned my on to them he saw them in 1982 and 1984 and then he took me to see them in 2007 when the reunited with DLR and Wolf joined them. It’s so awesome how his whole life he was searching for the tone, built his own guitars, tore apart and rebuilt his own equipment, all for the sake to find his sound. And there really was no sound like Eddie Van Halen before Eddie Van Halen.

[@jimgodofbiscuits]

I heard VH for the first time live in '78. I had not yet heard of VH and my buddy and I took a bus to a smaller general admission type venue (hotbox) to see Black Sabbath and the opening act VH comes out and damn. Blew the roof off the place. Got the album next day and never missed any future VH tours. Good times.

[@TheNotoriousRoj777]

@MikeCole, you are awesome at hosting these videos! Just saw this today, and I'm an instant fan! Rock on!

[@KevinWiley8]

Really, really good interview and video! For me as a "Tone Chaser" I remember Guitar Mag would publish a "Rig Rundown in the back of the mag. That when I learned about Eddies Variac. Cranking the tube amp but lower the cabinet volume made the biggest difference to my rig and my tone. I remember back in '01 or '02 practicing like a kid again. You brought that all back! Thank you!

[@GTX1123]

I'm 62, going strong as a gigging guitarist. I'll NEVER forget that cold Feb 1978 night doing homework (rare for me LOL), listening to DC101 FM. I started playing guitar 2 yrs earlier. DJ says; "here's a new band from L.A. called Van Halen. This is gonna BLOW your mind"; then the long siren from "Running with the devil" comes on then the song🤯A week later I heard Eruption and went completely😱LOL. Life was NEVER the same after that. No guitarist was ever the same. Eddie blew us out of the universe and then some.

[@SleepySlimTV]

Eddie was just a one of a kind. Often imitated, but never duplicated. 'Live Without A Net' is peak Eddie for me. While I tend to prefer the David Lee Roth era albums, he was really firing on all cylinders for that performance.

[@Tatted-ne7tu]

Awesome subject today. As a teen growing up on hair metal I stumbled on to Eddie by way of catching the world release of the “Panama” video on headbangers ball. It wouldn’t be until my 40’s that I really dived into his playing and tone. I sat in a bar having a conversation with Dimebag and he convinced me that I was missing out. For me when it comes to Ed it was all about the swing in his playing.

[@teresathomley3703]

Glad to see you discovering more great players, Mike. Ed and Hendrix were the 2 big game changers as far as electric guitar goes.

[@tonyhill1141]

My cousin graduated in 79. My uncle had strung together speakers along his fence all the way around his pool for her party. I was 12 and sitting in a pool chair side eyeing much older girls when he put on Van Halen I. I was absolutely mesmerized. I have never been the same and thank God for Ed. His music changed my life and I’ve played guitar since 1981 solely because of him. I appreciate many great players but for me there is only one king.

[@francislemon7]

Eddie played with a very percussive right hand, like he never lost the drummer part of his musical upbringing. I think that's where the swing and groove came from that is so hard to copy. Lots of players can hit the notes at speed ( not me) but can't get the free and easy swing he played with, it's like he was surfing over the bass and drums.

[@gpapa31]

Perfectly said. He carried two things over to the guitar, his drumming grove and his classical piano licks (patterns). Hence why some of the solos need ridiculous hand stretches, because they are mostly fitting for keyboard which is turned differently, plus you have 10 fingers, instead of 4, to stretch a melodic pattern.

[@francislemon7]

@@gpapa31 I totally agree!

[@ddbrock9675]

The collaboration I didn't know we needed. Awesome, guys!

[@zoomzoom3950]

Floyd Rose are great once you understand them; they're even better once you get them in tune, and never change your string gauge again. one tip that made it much easier for me is to block the FR at level before you change your strings. Enjoy!

[@Valkron11]

I discovered a AA battery fits pretty good under the FR when I restring all the strings at once

[@alphagt62]

I do some simple guitar tech, and I have blocked several Floyd Rose bridges for a few local musicians, adding wedges from the back to lock them in place. Basically turning them into hard tails. Tremolo in general are over rated, you’ve got to be really good to need one, even then only certain genres use it. For those who don’t use it, it’s a major headache to string and keep in tune for no reason. Blocking the tail block adds some sustain as well. I’ve also blocked one side so it snaps back in tune more dependably, but it’s dives only, no pulling up on it. So far, no one has asked me to undo it.

[@zoomzoom3950]

@@alphagt62 no point in having a FR if you're going to block it IMO. I have hardtail guitars for that; I have several guitars with floating trems, mostly Floyd Rose; and others with traditional trems (e.g., Strat, Jag) I only block my trem when changing strings, it keeps it in place and it's faster to tune the new strings without the baseplate moving; once everything is in tune and at tension, I remove the block, and retune before locking the nut. quick and easy string changes for any trem system, especially floating trems like FR. my point was once you get it done the first time, and don't change your string brand/gauge, it's easier; blocking the trem during string changes makes it even easier. Cheers!

[@martinskoog1777]

@@alphagt62 shut up, and play

[@scarsofwisdom3189]

Agree, my PRS has a floyd with locking tuners too. A pain in the ass to set up, but once is done it has never gotten out of tune no matter what i do. Its amazing, FR add so much versatility

[@RareYogurtMale]

YES I love that you guys talked about how much influence Dimebag took from Eddie, his playing was something else and I’m glad it’s still inspiring people today

[@depopsalator_6448]

One of the most Eddie like solids from dimebag is probably “well meet again” off the 1988 power metal album

[@mxracer158]

What I love the most is how Eddie never stopped tweaking and trying to expand what the guitar can bring. Huge VH fan and great video, thanks for posting.

[@stauffrt2]

Hey Mike. Your videos are always a nice surprise. I’ve don’t the worship music and just rock and jazz bands like you. Keep doing these. Please.

[@danveca8304]

Every serious player needs their "EVH" experience. He means different things to different people. But he means something to everyone that hears him. The more you listen, the more you get it. Like Hendrix, Eddie's music will live forever!

[@jenniferditty2904]

Eddie said he didn't use pedals...he said you need a good guitar, a good amp, a cord and to know your instrument.

[@Copef1]

He used an MXR phase 90, an MXR Flanger, and an Echoplex tape delay. The famous slap back sound that Eddie gets comes from the Echoplex. MXR even makes an Eddie Van Halen model Phase 90 now. In fact, it impossible to get his sound on some songs without these pedals. I even once saw a video where he was using a wah pedal. I don't know where you heard he didn't use pedals, but he did.

[@bence42]

Cathedral?

[@jenniferditty2904]

Literally watched him say that yesterday in an interview.

[@bence42]

@@jenniferditty2904 not pedal but he used roland sde-3000 rack delays (two for stereo) for example. Not on the first album.

[@jenniferditty2904]

@@bence42 VH1 is still my favorite even though technically it is not the best one.

[@ianedmonds9191]

Made my own frankenstrat when I was 17. Chopped up my own strat copy and fitted two new pickups including a Schaller neck pickup and an Ibanez bridge pickup humbucker. Sounded great. Later on in life I gave it to the singer in my band. Luv and Peace.

[@oreally8605]

Actually, Steve Vai would take offense that he was trying to copy Eddie. Vai was very adamant that his playing was more intricate. 😊

[@johnhill762]

Vai isn’t like Eddie at all. In fact, most players in the 80s didn’t really sound like Eddie, even though everyone was influenced by him. Imo, everyone was copying Randy Rhoads in the 80s. The big blond hair, the leather outfits, and the obsession with metal solos that were very technical. Everyone liked EVH, but everyone was really trying to copy Randy (when “hair metal” really took off). But Vai and Malmsteen were guys doing their own thing completely.

[@Ramon-Maronier]

There’s obvious intricacy, and then there are deep intricate players. Vai is a bit more the obvious, Van Halen is a bit more blues, deeper sense of harmony, and deeper sense of rhythm. It’s why no one sounds or grooves like Van Halen. Because it’s intricate and sophisticated. It’s why their songs are iconic, and again, sounding like nothing else.

[@raymo6795]

@@oreally8605 I have heard Vai say, many times, the he was influenced by EVH

[@billtice5057]

Thanks for the Video! 🙌 I’am probably one of if not your oldest viewers. I remember when Van Halen 1 dropped. The guitar world was blown away, in ways that we don’t experience today because of the advancement of technology that sadly we don’t get to experience anymore. Anyway to answer your question. Yes… Eddie, launched a million plus guitar players. He is to be loved and appreciated for his innovative approach to guitar. He’s one of the biggest influences to all modern guitar over the last almost 50 years I know of. Dig into VH 1 and prepare yourself to be blown away by never before heard tones at this time in history.

[@addisonpons3538]

very cool video, Mike. Great topic and very knowledgeable guest.

[@Swervy9]

I really enjoy your channel! I have played guitar off and on since I was a kid and have recently gotten more serious. EVH is why I started play as well. As a kid in the 80's he was like superman. Great episode!

[@tomaslopez2940]

Finally! Think it’s time to look more into superstrats like the Jackson Soloist, Kramer Baretta, Ibanez RG550, or Charvel So-Cal?

[@southboundguitar]

My RG550 just sits in its case. It was the one I wanted to buy the most, but is the one I play the absolute least. 🙁

[@tomaslopez2940]

@@southboundguitar oof 😥.

[@anthonystoval9267]

​@@southboundguitar how come? Because of the tremolo? Or because it's just not what you thought it was. Personally I've never liked the feel of an RG. The tone is great though.

[@tommartling2473]

Played a 550 for years in bars (mid 80s thu 2000. Played hair band stuff. My Floyd Rose always stayed in tune. And I did alot of dive bombing. Set up takes a little extra work.

[@tomaslopez2940]

@@tommartling2473 yep I have a Jackson Soloist that came with a Floyd Rose Special and I upgraded it with steel parts and a brass sustain block. The pain of setting it up is worth the awesome tuning stability and range!

[@samdavparsley8266]

Very informative and joyful. I’m of the ‘70s ‘80s era. Everyone on the planet loved Eddie VH. I read a book as a teen about Jimi and Eddie. My life was fulfilled lol. At just under 55 I bought a drum kit a few months ago. So it took many many years to do something, anything. And I’m ultra beginner lol. But the Metallica Slayer scene came in very fast and blindsided the Scorpions,VH era. And before my time but nonetheless vital and pure perfection was Zeppelin. And mix all that in with GAP band, Bootsy, EWF. I mean music has the potential to shape or at least feed our lives with everything we need to know. Rush too. Didn’t want to forget Neil. Great video man. Rock on !

[@rogerforsman5064]

Eddies rhythm playing is also stellar! He really got the groove going!

[@pimpyohthrasth]

Jimmy is Jimmy. Eddie is Eddie. Randy is Randy. Dime is Dime Joe is Joe. Steve is Steve. What all of the great guitarists have is showing us how to take it further.

[@jmabs5096]

I think everybody who owns a floyd would say the same thing. ONCE you get it set, it's a dream of fun to play. All the other stuff related to Floyd's are a pain but it makes up for it with how much stuff you can do on a guitar with one.

[@shaft9000]

You must first realize that with the Fender Stratocaster It all goes through SURF MUSIC - specifically in SoCal !! Well apart from the tele's sound in country western, _surf_ is what made "The Fender Strat Sound" most distinct and discernible _in it's first decade, pre-Hendrix_ Eddie's stylistic lineage and GEAR gets going primarily with one man's insanely glorious quest: *Dick Dale* blasting his Strat through the 100+ Watt Showman amp(s). Then later we got Hendrix -> Clapton, Beck and Blackmore, with techniques picked up from Holdsworth, Mahavishnu/McLaughlin, Steve Hackett and Vittorio Camardese.

[@shaft9000]

p.s. to get into Surf played on Strats, Dale is a good start along with The Chantays ,The Ventures(who also played Mosrite and other Fenders), The Shadows, and many more.

[@voodoochild1975az]

Dick Dale is badASS

[@james_d_eaton]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Eddie Van Halen. A virtuoso performer, and amazing song writer. I really enjoy your content. Keep it up.

[@chill29394]

From a long time channel follower and huge Van Halen fan..this video was a cool surprise! ❤

[@danilorg]

I love Rob. Cool to see you guys are friends.

[@OSHomestead]

Another great video, thank you for your time!

[@frankking439]

Everyone mentions the tapping and dive bombs but neglects the fact that Eddie was an exceptional rhythm player.

[@NathanThurberMusic]

I saw Van Halen in Atlanta when Gary Cherone was singing for them. I wore the shirt the next day to school and got sent do the principal's office. All it said was Who the F#$K is Eddie Van Halen!? on the back and him giving the bird on the front. One of my proudest moments in high school.

[@Lespaul13100]

Great vid Mike! Eddie was such a huge influence on my playing! Of course, many others as well. But, hearing Van Halen The first time completely blew my mind! And only recently have I really started to delve more into his playing and tone, considering my band is doing more Van Halen songs. And I do yes play eruption at my gigs and I do my best to try and sound and play like him that I can, in his honor. Hearing the two of you play got me choked up. I have to admit, sounded so good! 😎🎸🤘

[@mikemccourt6225]

'79-ish - my 1st grade classmate had a brother in high school who played drums and worshipped Alex. I got to hear all of that stuff as it happened - it made an impression on my young ears

[@BeatleJWOL]

The jamming and Mike busting out his best butt rock riffs (No shame, I love them too :D) on a EVH Strat really sells how different Eddie was as a rhythm player, and I think some people forget that amidst the blazing fire of his solos.

[@tomdelaney419]

Rob is such a badass player!!!

[@signorenzo5957]

Hi Mike, I've only been a Van Halen fan for about a year, after 24 years I became interested in guitar again and when I was learning new songs I discovered Van Halen. I have always been a fan of Elvis, BB King, Led Zeppelin but never 80's rock until I discovered Van Halen and the genius of Ed. Of EVH's guitars I especially love the Striped 5150 model. From the moment I saw Ed VH I like a lot the combination of the ergonomic and whammy bar of the Strat design with the "warmth" of a bridge Humbucker pickup. Thank you for the video.

[@NZLatic]

Eddie was obsessed with Alvin Lee from 10 Years After in his early days. It was the speed of Alvin Lee’s playing, particularly on “Going Home” that attracted his attention. He was also a huge Black Sabbath fan too and covered tons of their songs. He didn’t even really get into the whole tapping thing until not long before they recorded the first Van Halen album

[@alanling1885]

I love Floyd Rose tremolos. Yes you got to set them up and that can be a pain but once they are dailed in they are great. Enjoy the guitar.

[@SteveTalamantes]

Eddie Van Halen was a guitar genius, effortlessly blending technical mastery with soulful creativity. His innovative style and electrifying solos redefined rock music, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire generations of musicians.

[@knowl1969]

Great video! Love Robert's channel....love EVH!

[@JohnnyFranchize]

Yes!!! My two favorite guitar youtube personalities on one video! I love it

[@CthulhuInc]

saw VH play in vancouver, bc, canada, way back in 1978 [or was it '79?]. great show, great music, great artistry. before i bought my first stereo, the chap at the music store played Eruption as a demo - he knew how to make a sale.

[@johnkruton9708]

Mike I’m a EVH fan since 78 when I was introduced to the first Album. I have a EVH Wolfgang special and a EVH LBXii with a 12” cabinet. I’m able to play that on about 9 in volume and in my 20’ x 16’ basement you can’t really be in the same space as it’s freaking loud!! I’ll have to decibel meter it next time. Anyway why I’m talking about loud and cranked up amps is how Ed said he learned to get all the extra special noises quieted and turned into music. Squeals, dives and all the extra bits come alive when you crank the amp. People that have shook his hands said his handshake was like granite. So his playing was fast and loose and improvised as he didn’t learn guitar traditionally. Granite hands with control allowed him to bring out all those sounds out of the guitar without many effects. So when he did use effects he made sure to make it count. Hammer on swells to make Cathedral. Embrace the craziness that is EVH style, wild with a lot of swing and rhythm. Just the right notes at the right time.

[@ipstacks11]

I’m old and a fan of early VH and almost nothing since DLR left. Those guys re-made Roy Orbison songs and The Kinks . . . so many. Their Fair Warning album was so awesome.

[@TRWilley]

There is a rhythmic swing to Eddie's playing that made him unique - I think that is what a lot of people who try to copy him miss - what a great rhythm player he was. A lot of it came from the fact that he played drums before guitar - I find that guitarists that also played drums have a tighter swing to their technique (SRV is another.) As great as his solos were, listening to his rhythm parts is even more educational and mind blowing.

[@Davidthestratman7]

Origanally the frankenstrat was built from seconds of boogie bodies. Great video man. R.i.p. King Edward. The comment thst how eddie didnt know how to sound like anyone but him is sooo true.... A lesson i always took to heart. Just play and take inspiration from others but sound like yoyrself. Great video

[@matthewcyahoo]

Massive Van Halen fan. Also massive Mike Cole fan. Love Robert's channel also.. Another good video..

[@rev.leonidasw.smiley6300]

Great show fellas!

[@pauljude]

I wish I'd held on to my Frankie but ..just didn't play it enough. Eddie, along with Stevie , Jimi and Slash are my Mt. Rushmore of greats. Great video and I love Rob too. Enjoying the channel sir.

[@AbeStephan]

Some of the Roth album era songs have Edward playing a Les Paul because he loved the beefier sound . He took a Les Paul pickup and put it in a strat style guitar for comfort and what he called the "wiggle stick" or a whammy bar a tremolo . He eventually got what he wanted : a Les Paul sound in a stratocaster guitar .

[@mikemcgrath6391]

love your content. Nice Job Mike

[@uziforyoutosay1749]

It’s not a dummy single coil, it’s a true pickup, put a micro slide switch 3 position, from Switchcraft into the pick guard. Now neck coil, both neck+bridge (really twangy) or bridge for the VH sound. Done.

[@cataclysmicconverter]

And could be switched with the pick.

[@tilemonkee5510]

Got my eye on one of those EVH sa-126 guitars. Really seems to tick all the boxes for me. Great video,bruh!❤

[@robertscharlow]

Huge VH fan. My very favorite guitarist of all time (Yngwie and SRV number 2 and 3, respectively, and the biggest influence on my playing, aesthetics, and tone). Legend.

[@petebrown3715]

Thanks for the video. Huge Van Halen fan, one of my top five reasons why I play guitar. I have two EVH guitars- EVH Wolfgang Special in black( total workhorse) and my EVH striped series w/ crop circles. Another fantastic guitar. Love the neck on it, so smooth. I'm not a huge floyd rode guy either but man they are awesome. The dtuna is quite convenient for drop D metal. Again great video.

[@RileySullivan]

Wait, no tone control or pickup selector? Just a single volume control, and a humbucker at the bridge. I’m gonna have to build my own Frankenstein Strat. Sounds like a fun little project.

[@beachcomber4141]

And the amazing thing is that Eddie became the greatest most influential guitar player after Hendrix with nothing but a volume knob and a PAF pickup with a Floyd Rose on a strat body.

[@AwkwardHypernerd413]

I found the 1971 quarter and told myself I’d build one when I found it. The hard part is… going from not knowing how to build guitars to knowing how to, and getting the money to do it

[@qhunt24]

I absolutely love this!! I have been taking lessons from Robert Baker for 4 years!!!!! Recommend him to anyone!

[@MashaT22]

Rob Baker knows his Van Halen?! I never noticed! 😱😂😉

[@davespin9034]

EVH Cameron Cooper nails him really well. So clean.

[@Robertstar-p9r]

I discovered Vanhalen from MTV at age 11. Then I started to buy every album, cassette until I had them all. I just saw the Sammy Hagar tribute and Joe Satriani really did a fine job of playing hits from one of the greatest guitarist, musicians in history . We miss you Edward

[@anthonyw5261]

Your taste in music is VERY IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT!!!

[@voodoochild1975az]

I am backwards in chronology. I was a third generation drummer. And a HUGE EVH fan. Eddie is why I started playing guitar. I am not a Strat player that discovered Eddie. I am a Van Halen fan that discovered Strats and modded a Fat Strat to extremes that would make Eddie smile warmly.... Texas Specials with a Duncan custom 'bucker... basically a 4 conductor EVH '78... 3x500k dpdt push pulls for always on neck (7 way switching). Tone for neck and middle. 500k resistor for 250k load. Tone 2 is tone for bridge and... series parallel switch for the RWRP Texas Specials with neck and middle... or a tone bypass in other positions. Vol is a coil cut. I think Eddie would approve....

[@crazorbackar846]

Top guitar channel. You rule!

[@GemeAle-x6r]

The Floyd is easy to maintain once you master it. Adam at FU-Tone has a great video on how to "properly" set up a guitar with a Floyd. The big downside is that you can really do unison bends, double-stop bends, etc. The tension drags the other strings flat out of tune when you bend. If you accept it, then it's a killer tool. A hard tail is great too. Different tools for different uses.

[@josephgrubb1105]

Awesome guys 🤘🏻

[@zoomzoom3950]

When I was a kid, I saw Van Halen live the first time when they opened for Black Sabbath on the Never Say Die tour in 1978. No one had heard of them before; we were all blown away by Eddie. for rock guitar, for me; there's before Jimi and after Jimi; then there's before EVH and after EVH. There hasn't been anyone since that has revolutionized guitar on the same scale IMO; Tosin Abasi and Tim Henson come to mind. IMO. Like EVH, I'm also a big fan of Allan Holdsworth. FWIW.

[@looney3574]

Very cool video! And yes Robert Baker is a badass on guitar!

[@EverlastingDominion]

Man, I love a Floyd Rose! I bought a PRS SE Custom 24 floyd in charcoal burst. I will never look back. I built a Franinstrat replica and I made sure to get a floyd for it.

[@jasonpost1771]

I’m waiting for mine to come in! Can’t wait 🤘🏻🔥🤘🏻

[@TheNewNoise7]

Van Halen guitar tone still one of my favorites of all time

[@ubermenschstream6765]

This series is amazing!!

[@Xaion6]

I absolutely love Floyds, I had one early on and got over the 'fight' and I fully understand it

[@KnapfordMaster98]

I have an old Kramer with an original Floyd Rose and I'd leave it home from college, and I'd pick it up out of the case months later and it would still be in PERFECT tune. Embrace the learning curve, it will become your best friend. Also, superstrats are cool and all but check out what Mick Mars was playing in the late 80s with Motley Crue. SuperTELES are where its at.

[@jaycareaga9929]

When Strat players discover Mike Landau.

[@adambolian4425]

Definitely a huge Van Halen fan Never bought an EVH, just bought a Kramer Assault plus and I love it Eddie played Kramer for a while

[@TheAceFox]

Found you on the SG video (loved it), knew I had to come back seeing that Frankenstrat in your hands. In a similar - not so similar world to Eddie, he really inspired a bunch of Strat players to mod their own and achieve whatever they can. Look at Billy Joe Armstrong's "Blue" Strat which had a Seymour Duncan JB-4 (I believe) in the bridge. Look at Tom Delonge's Strat (or any of his other guitars.) It's a hard tail, a Seymour Duncan Invader in the bridge wired up to a single volume knob with a treble bleed circuit. I've made my own from a Squire (before they did the signature reissue) and it's honestly my favorite guitar I have. You crank it, it lets you know that it's game time. You wind it back, it cleans up decently enough. $180 worth of guitar and pickup, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Would love to see your thoughts on the Tom Delonge signature (as I call it, the Delongecaster). Great stuff though, love the history lessons and just the outright enthusiasm in your videos. You've earned the Sub, keep it up and keep playing!

[@BotsWeekendCovers]

"Thats Eddie Van Halen Boy" Hell Yeah!!!!! Rob is a bad ass guitarist!!!!

[@beachcomber4141]

As far as guitarists who changed the game completely, meaning, there was before these guys then after and everyone ran to catch up, it was Hendrix and VanHalen. Like him or not, Malmsteen had a HUGE impact on influencing how the electric guitar was played as well, BUT, ultimately, there was before Hendrix, and after Hendrix, and before Eddie and after Eddie and both times guitar playing had a major paradigm shift. The importance of Edward to how the guitar is played today cannot be overstated.

[@cataclysmicconverter]

Agreed. Even if he wasn't the first to do the tap thing, he set off a whole new approach to guitar playing. Same for Yngwie, he came out with a whole new genre and playing style that was precise note for note and I've never seen him mess it up. He knows every note he's playing at any given time and doesn't need 24 frets or a Floyd, just a Strat with scalloped board. Do I listen to his records? No. But, just going to see him live to witness the sheer spectacle of his playing is something everyone should do at least once. Even if it does get tiresome after 45 minutes it's amazing to watch his mastery of the instrument. I've seen EVH many times and it's the same thing, but I never got bored watching him perform as he improvised so much within the original material.

[@beachcomber4141]

@@cataclysmicconverter Absolutely. When I hear the solo to Ice Cream man off VH1 it never fails to blow my mind apart. Let alone Eruption, I'm the One, and everything else in between. Where did that level of speed, precision, swing and feel come from? Miraculous stuff to be sure. And yea, Yngwie is mind blowing to watch even though I do not spin his records either. But amazing none the less.

[@cataclysmicconverter]

@@beachcomber4141 You nailed it right there. EVH could swing!