RSSCategory: Edward Van Halen

Fair Warning Tone Ain’t All the Same

Fair Warning Tone Ain’t All the Same

Got it in my head to figure out which Van Halen song tones – not album tones – I liked the most. Started with Fair Warning, whose balls I just can’t get enough of…which doesn’t sound so good but you get what I mean. Listen to it cranked in my car because that’s the only […]

March 24, 2014 | By | 2 Replies More
Pondering VH’s Fair Warning Tone

Pondering VH’s Fair Warning Tone

LOVE the first four Van Halen albums. Always have, always will. Love the rest too, including the Van Hagar years (oops, forgot about VH III…), but those first four vinyl donuts are to me and many others just the nads. The nadliest of nads. They’re a band kicking the world’s butt in every way, and […]

December 5, 2012 | By | 27 Replies More
Which Bogner Are You?

Which Bogner Are You?

Recently I was ruined yet again by a good amp. This time a bud’s Bogner Shiva, EL34 version. Let’s call him Sean – because that’s his name…. He’d been talking about how awesome it was for a while, and even though I know he has good ears, wasn’t too motivated to go try it. I’d […]

November 21, 2012 | By | 3 Replies More
The Gene-EVH-Ace-Joe Perry Connection

The Gene-EVH-Ace-Joe Perry Connection

Have you picked up “Guitar World Presents 40 Years of Van Halen” yet? Zactly – I didn’t even know it existed until I saw it in a bookstore (remember those? lol). Anyhow, I’m always amazed at how I think I’ve memorized every word ever written about Ed and his gear and then I read something […]

June 14, 2012 | By | 6 Replies More
More On the YMI5150 Model-A Guitar

More On the YMI5150 Model-A Guitar

Few weeks ago I posted a brief “review” (outdated word) of Kevin Holbrook’s YMI5150 Model-A guitar. As a brief reminder, what got my attention were the following things: > A good wood combo: swamp ash, maple/rosewood. > An interesting and unique combo of components resulting in a Strat-shaped and -scaled guitar with an ABR bridge […]

June 5, 2012 | By | 3 Replies More
Did You Read the Esquire EVH Piece Yet?

Did You Read the Esquire EVH Piece Yet?

We’re going to have to wait yet another week for the interview with Kevin Holbrook of YMI5150 guitars because we have yet another newsworthy event. This time it’s the recent Esquire interview with Edward Van Halen. Now before you EVH fans get to getting your hopes up, let’s bear in mind the same ol’s: 1. […]

April 20, 2012 | By | 8 Replies More
Show ‘Review’: Van Halen at the Garden

Show ‘Review’: Van Halen at the Garden

Took my 10-year-old son to see Van Halen at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 1. I think he was more excited to see them than I was – not that I wasn’t, but this was the mighty Van Halen whose tunes the both of us have copped, jammed to and listened […]

March 8, 2012 | By | 1 Reply More
Thoughts On Van Halen’s New One

Thoughts On Van Halen’s New One

Been listening to Van Halen’s A Different Kind of Truth over and over and over for a while now. Couple reasons: 1. It’s great, and I’m a teenager again (minus a bunch o’ hair), running up to my room to put 1984 on the turntable. 2. Sometime after X listens (X = 1,000? 10,000?) things […]

February 23, 2012 | By | 8 Replies More
New VH Kicks A** Big-Time!

New VH Kicks A** Big-Time!

So everyone’s asking me, “Where the F is your review of the new Van Halen?” And I’m like, “I’m workin’ on it, man!” One reason it took a little bit is I wanted to catch up with Pete Thorn to get his comments on the tracks. If you haven’t heard of him, Pete is an […]

February 10, 2012 | By | 9 Replies More
Here’s the New VH Single/Vid: 50w?

Here’s the New VH Single/Vid: 50w?

Update from a reader (thanks!): Tattoo is is based on an old song, “Down in Flames” – check it below. “Tattoo.” Is it me or have we never heard a Van Halen tune like this before? If Ed used his “grail” Marshall Super Lead on this album, don’t think we’re hearing it on this tune! […]

January 10, 2012 | By | 3 Replies More
Breaking Down the VH NYC Debut

Breaking Down the VH NYC Debut

She’s the Woman! Cafe Wha – yeah man! Couldn’t wrangle my son and I an invite, so instead awaited the sure-to-follow YouTube vids. Fingers were crossed that the band would play some new tunes, though had to admit that didn’t make much sense since they hadn’t even released a tune yet. Anyhow, here’s what we […]

January 9, 2012 | By | Reply More
Bonamassa Hears Clapton in EVH: You?

Bonamassa Hears Clapton in EVH: You?

Lots of well-known axe-slingers are quoted in Neil Zlozower’s new (and awesome) Eddie Van Halen book. One is the current white bluesman extraordinaire, Joe “gingers o’ fire” Bonamassa. What he says is interesting, and not sure I can hear what he’s hearing. Bear in mind a couple things: 1. EVH has said many times that […]

December 22, 2011 | By | 14 Replies More
Have You Gone Extra Slinky Yet?

Have You Gone Extra Slinky Yet?

When I recently got an email from a WoodyTone reader – let’s call him Mike because…that’s his real name – I was stoked because I like light strings. I played 10s for years, then went to 9s after getting back into the whole EVH tone quest. With 9s I noticed that the notes “opened up,” […]

December 14, 2011 | By | 14 Replies More
EVH Fans, Get This Book Now!

EVH Fans, Get This Book Now!

If I ever had a doubt I’m a huge Edward Van Halen fan (never had any doubt, but…), any such insane thought was erased when I finished reading Neil Zlozower’s new Eddie Van Halen book. Yep, reading. Actually got a little emotional at the end of it (*sniff*), reading Nuno Bettencourt’s story about a recent […]

November 30, 2011 | By | 5 Replies More
Last Word on EVH Pedal Mods?

Last Word on EVH Pedal Mods?

Did Edward Van Halen have his MXR phaser and flanger modded to boost or not? The initial interviews are inconclusive. Exhibit A, from this recent post: I use a phase shifter, a Phase 90 – MXR, I think. It doesn’t really phase – it just kind of gives you treble boost, which I like. Cuts […]

September 14, 2011 | By | 4 Replies More