Comments on: Thoughts On Van Halen’s New One

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:38:52 +0000

You can’t assume certain tones, based on the magnet alone. A2 mags will aid the midrange focus of a guitar, but lack bass and treble response when you have a “hot” pickup such as Ed’s 14k preference. Think “Tone Zone”… a pickup with loads of “cocked wah” mids, big bass and nice treble detail, with an A5 magnet. His Wolfgang pickups use A5 magnets. Magnets alone do not determine tone. The wind, baseplate, pole pieces, etc… are factors as well.

By: Steve Anderson

Steve Anderson — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:47:02 +0000

Yes, it’s a Ripley guitar and the individual strings can be panned seperately.

By: guitthumper

guitthumper — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:49:35 +0000

Believe it or not that is the Ripley stereo guitar Ed’s playing on “Blood and Fire!” Ha!

By: GuitThumper

GuitThumper — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:10:52 +0000

Have you listened to “Blood and Fire” lately? Listen to how the guitar is split left/right. Two guitars? To my ears it almost sounds like it could be a stereo guitar a la “Top Jimmy.” Crazy talk?

By: Steve B

Steve B — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:29:53 +0000

Weren’t we first hearing the cocked wah sound on the ’98 Cherone tour?

I wonder if at his age, maybe EVH’s hearing has dulled in some frequencies and the new tone is compensating for it?

Regardless, the new record is great. Thank God.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:55:31 +0000

I saw VH in MI a few days ago. Ed had the honky tone on some songs, but on the mellower ones, it was much more similar to his older sounds. (Think “Dance the Night Away” and “Women In Love”.) Maybe the heavy channel on the 5150III naturally has that nasal EQ curve.

To my ears, there’s also a lot of post-production compression on his ADKOT sounds. That always means sacrificing a little tone for the sake of hugeness.

By: Ted Crane

Ted Crane — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:12:57 +0000

I just love EVERYTHING Ed plays on. Even VHIII