Eddie Van Halen early tone

Mats A · Post by **Mats A** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 3:43 am

I still think that much of Eddies tone on VHI was the recording studio and production. You can hear this is the tone but without the studio tinkering. To me it sounds like a great Marshall tone but nothing special. Much of it is his playing. He really was On Fire back then. I hear no mid boost from any graphic eq. If he used that it must have been just a slight boost to get a bit more push and not to alter the tone. The Echoplex could be used for that.

http://youtu.be/Ny3ZGMVKtjc

guitar007 · Post by **guitar007** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 3:42 pm

Hard to tell...the recording is of such poor quality.

jnew · Post by **jnew** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:46 am

That live tone sounds killer to me.

Yes, there are nuance flavors and dimensions in the studio tracks, whereby "The Tone" is presented. However, the album tone still has to arrive at that place, right? And getting to that place means running the right amp circuit, the right way. So let's look at it this way. If Ed cut those tracks using Peavey amps, or HiWatt, Orange, or whatever, with all the same post gear and techniques, would we hear "The Tone"? I don't think so. Those amps just don't behave the same way. And this would be for a couple reasons. One is that the circuits are just different and two, amps with master volumes would not likely have been an issue in playing clubs. So Ed may never have discovered the use of the variac which I think by now, we can all agree, is the biggest game changer in making a plexi amp go from tones of Zep, Free, Bad Co, etc. to early VH. Which leads to the 2nd part. Look at the guys around here who are killing with with "The Tone". No one has Sunset Sound rooms, 2" tape, Urei 1176's, etc. But with variac's and 12K series builds and a mic, stuff is getting done. Ralle is the only exception here as he doesn't use a variac. But he does have the amp right.

Mats A · Post by **Mats A** » Fri Dec 11, 2015 3:58 pm

But this isn´t a Peavey or any other amp It´s a Marshall. Even if he used more than one Marshall live i believe he used his original Plexi on the early tours. This is a pretty similar tone to VHI but live without the studio processing..
Where can i find these Ralle clips?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROVy36p ... 8E5C447D9F

jnew · Post by **jnew** » Fri Dec 11, 2015 4:55 pm

I am agreeing with you. I'm just saying that the tone of the amp can be heard without the post you hear on VHI.

Mr.Farva · Post by **Mr.Farva** » Fri Dec 11, 2015 7:55 pm

Mats A wrote:Where can i find these Ralle clips?

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... tent=music

Mats A · Post by **Mats A** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 3:45 am

Thank you!
Hearing this VH recordings i believe Eddies tone is more from the way he plays than the amps and stuff. He played with much more fire in the early days. He also played better then. Then it seems he got hooked on this tapping thing doing acrobatics and funny noises on the guitar. I guess there was a lot of partying going on also.

jnew · Post by **jnew** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 9:27 am

It's a stock 12xxx series amp layout. Amp sound is all in how he ran the amp. Without argument, YES, his playing is superior in technique, phrasing, feel and vibe but he ran that amp in a very particular way which changes how an ordinary plexi sounds.

Mats A · Post by **Mats A** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 10:34 am

You mean the Variac thing? Or do you think he slaved it into another amp?

jnew · Post by **jnew** » Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:58 pm

Variac, whether re-amping or not. I prefer without but variac is certain IMO. Maybe even two variacs.

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Eddie Van Halen early tone

Eddie Van Halen early tone

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