Van Halen / Equipment used by Van Halen [Amps, Guitars, Effects]

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen was born on January 1955, 1 in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
He grew up in a musical family - his father was a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist - and from an early age he took classical piano lessons with his brother Alex.

However, their lives took a major turning point when they moved to California.
At first, Eddie played drums and Alex played guitar, but they soon swapped instruments.
Eddie becomes obsessed with guitar.
From the beginning, he excelled at "copying by ear," and instead of being able to read music,A genius sensibility to "listen and feel" soundAnd you will improve rapidly.

In 1972, he formed the band Genesis (later Mammoth and eventually Van Halen) with his brothers.
They rose to prominence in the local club scene and released their debut album, "Van Halen," on Warner Bros. in 1978.

"Eruption" is an instrumental track from this album that is about 1 minute 40 seconds long.
It became a shocking work that rewrote the history of rock guitar.
Tapping (right-hand technique) was previously seen only in classical and jazz music,
He performed it with overwhelming perfection in the context of rock guitar, shocking guitarists around the world.

"Jimi Hendrix Returns""The man who changed the future of the guitar" and was highly praised.
Eddie quickly rose to the forefront of the guitar scene in the late 70s and 80s.

Eddie wasn't just noticed as a guitarist.
Its innovation isPhilosophy of Equipment and Sound MakingIt also stood out in this respect.

Modified Strat "Frankenstrat", tuning stability savior Floyd Rose,
Volume pot resistance, effect loop, Variac (voltage control), etc.
The inventions and tunings he came up with wereThe benchmark for all future guitarsBecomes

The thick and lustrous distortion he pursues isBrown Sound" and was named
It's not just a tone,The philosophy of nuance and toneIt has been passed down to many guitarists as such.

Van Halen was the first vocalistDavid Lee RothDuring the golden age of
They have released many classic albums, including "Van Halen II" and "1984."
With hits such as "Jump," "Panama," and "Hot for Teacher," the band was able to adapt to the MTV era and rise to stardom.

In 1986, following Ross' departure,Sammy Hagarjoined.
Their sound changed to one that was more melodic and had a greater sense of scale, and albums such as "5150," "OU812," and "Balance" became successive hits.
During this period, Eddie also demonstrated his ability to adapt to synthesizers and digital equipment.

After that, the band went through a third period with Gary Cherone, a revival of the original lineup, and the participation of Van Halen's son, Wolfgang Van Halen.
Although the band has reformed and disbanded many times, they have always remained at the heart of rock.

In 2007, Eddie co-founded his own brand, EVH, with Fender.
Guitars (EVH Wolfgang), amplifiers (EVH 5150III), accessories (D-Tuna, straps, picks), etc.
An activity that gives shape to the ideals he has accumulated over the years and passes them on to the next generation.We will also focus on this.

In the latter stages of their live career, they began to perform more with their son Wolfgang, and the band began to have the feeling of being passed down as a family.

In 2019, it was reported that Eddie was battling cancer, but he still refused to put down his guitar.
Even during his illness, he continued to record and study at home, and passed away on October 2020, 10, at the age of 6.

In response to his death, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, Eric Clapton,
And today's young guitarists all spoke of his influence.

Eddie Van Halen is not just a virtuoso,A guitar hero with all the qualities of a player, craftsman, builder, and artist.was.

And even today, his tone and spirit live on in the fingertips of guitar kids all over the world.

The EVH / Striped Series 5150 was Eddie Van Halen's main guitar from the mid-1980s onwards.Kramer 5150This is a signature model that recreates the look and spirit of the original in modern times.
The EVH brand's "Striped Series" is a series that faithfully reproduces the appearance of the custom guitars that Eddie actually used, and the 5150 model is one of the most popular of these.

The biggest feature of this guitar is the black and white stripes on a red background, and the large "5150" stenciled on the body.Iconic graphics.
This was also the name of Eddie's private studio, and was the number he was most attached to.

The body is made of lightweight basswood, and the satin-finished maple neck is Eddie's favoriteAsymmetrical Shapeis adopted.
The fingerboard is also maple,12-16 inch compound radiusIt has a structure that is resistant to choking even with a low action.
This allows Eddie's unique fast playing, harmonics, and right hand to be smoothly performed.

The bridge is an EVH brand.Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo (with D-Tuna).
This ensures stable tuning even with intense arm movements, and allows you to instantly switch to 6-string Drop-D tuning.

The pickup isEVH Wolfgang HumbuckerOnly one unit (bridge position) is installed.
Pickup selector and tone knob are omitted.Only one Volume knobThe super simple specification is,
It embodies Eddie's playing style, which is "sound and responsiveness honed to the utmost."

The knob is also labeled "TONE" as a homage to the original 5150 model.

The EVH Wolfgang pickups have a punchy midrange and an exquisite tone that is rich in overtones and not too bright.
Despite its high output, it also has good chord separation.The sound does not get muddied even in fast passages or when playing with a lot of arm movements.Is the feature.

This model is particularly

• Classic hard rock/80s metal tone
• Lead playing that makes extensive use of right hand and Floyd Rose
• Distorted rhythm guitar

It is suitable for the following uses, and is also an excellent guitar for beginners who want to play Eddie-style.

When you think of Eddie Van Halen, the first thing that comes to mind is
This homemade guitar, "Frankenstrat," features a black and white striped pattern on a red background.

He was Eddie's main guitarist from his debut through the early 1980s.
Its unique look and sound caught the eyes and ears of guitar fans around the world.

The Frankenstein is a modified Stratocaster built from parts sourced in a small workshop in Los Angeles.
The neck and body were purchased for just $200.
He was so thorough that he even painted and fretted the guitar himself.

Eddie, who originally liked the thick sound of the Gibson semi-acoustic ES-335,
A single humbucker pickup is mounted directly on the Stratocaster-type body (positioned diagonally),
We pursued the ideal high-gain sound by using a unique specification that bypasses the tone circuit.

Later, around 1979, a prototype Floyd Rose locking tremolo was installed.
Improvements have been made to ensure that the tuning does not go out of tune even with intense arm movements.

Country of Origin: Mexico
Body: Basswood
Body Finish: Satin Urethane
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Neck: Quartersawn Maple
Neck Finish: Oiled
Neck Shape: EVH Modified “C” Backshape
Scale: 25.5″ (648 mm)
Fingerboard: Maple
Fingerboard Radius: 12″-16″ Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm)
Frets Size: Jumbo
Nut: Floyd Rose R3 Locking
Nut width: 1.6875″ (42.86 mm)
Position Inlay: Black Dot
Truss rod: Two-way adjustable
Truss rod wrench: 2.5 mm Hex
Bridge Pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking
Neck pickup: Dummy Strat Pickup
Control: Volume
Pickup Switch: Dummy Five-Way Blade
Pickup configuration: HSS
Bridge: EVH-Branded Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo with EVH D-Tuna
Hardware Finish: Chrome Relic
Tuning machine: EVH-Branded Gotoh
Pickguard: Black Custom Frankie
Control knobs: Parchment Stratocaster-Style Skirt (Labeled “Tone”)

This model was developed jointly by Eddie and Music Man in the 90s, and along with his trademark Frankenstein, it is a popular model among fans and a wide range of people alike.

This model is the prototype for the company's AXIS, and has been tuned in various ways to suit Eddie's playing style.

It features an asymmetrical neck that is thicker on the 1th string side than the 6st string side, which is a characteristic of the MUSIC MAN, and combined with the oil-finished neck, it provides smooth fingering and a good grip.

The pickups are DiMarzio, and feature two humbuckers tuned specifically for this model, producing a powerful, bright tone.

The body top is made of beautiful quilted maple, giving it a luxurious feel, and the warm sound of the basswood body gives it a clear sound character with a distinctive edge.

It is a simple guitar with only one volume control and a TONE knob, and is designed to make the most of Eddie's playing style, which makes heavy use of distortion sounds and arm movements. It also comes with an EVH D-tuna, which allows you to lower the 1th string by one tone with just one touch.

In 2007, Eddie launched his own brand, EVH, under the Fender umbrella.
I've updated my signature equipment.

The core guitar is the new Wolfgang series.

The EVH brand will first release an elaborate replica of Frankenstein in a limited run of 300 pieces.
It caused a big stir.

Next up was EVH Wolfgang, who continued the concept of the Peavy era Wolfgang.
This model has been brushed up in detail.

For example, the latest main guitar, the Wolfgang Stealth,
The reinforced quarter-sawn maple neck features an ebony fingerboard and stainless steel frets.
In addition, EVH's original Floyd Rose with D-Tuna and EVH humbuckers are also included.
It is packed with specifications that meet Eddie's demands.

As its name suggests, Stealth has a jet black appearance and has been used frequently in live performances since 2012.

The EVH Wolfgang series as a whole is available in a wide variety of versions.
Limited edition models with striped patterns and semi-hollow construction are also produced.

The sound of Eddie Van Halen in his final years was created by EVH Wolfgang.
It was made possible by the EVH amplifiers mentioned below, and can be considered the culmination of his work.

The solid basswood body has an archtop finish inherited from the higher-end model, and the quarter-sawn maple neck is reinforced with sturdy graphite and bolted on.
The 12"-16" compound radius maple fingerboard is flexible enough to handle anything from powerful riffs to speedy lead playing, and features 22 jumbo frets for a smooth playing feel.
The neck end has a spoke wheel, making it easy to adjust the truss rod.

The direct-mounted EVH Wolfgang Humbucking Pickup is designed to maximize the nuances of your playing without relying too much on power, and outputs a thick, expressive sound.

The volume control pot uses an "EVH Bourns Low Friction Pot", and the tone control pot uses an "EVH Bourns High Friction Pot", providing even more comfortable operability and safety.

The bridge is equipped with an EVH brand Floyd Rose locking tremolo that maintains accurate tuning even with extreme arm playing techniques, and it is also equipped with a convenient EVH D-Tuna that allows you to instantly switch to drop D tuning.

This is a reliable guitar that is packed with the attention to detail of a top guitarist.
This is a masterpiece that will undoubtedly continue to be loved for generations to come, transcending the boundaries of artist signatures.

~Specifications~
Body:Basswood
Neck: Quartersawn Maple with Graphite Reinforcement
Neck scale: 25.5″
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard Radius: 12″-16″ Compound
Fret: 22F
Nuts: Floyd Rose R2 Locking
Bridge: EVH-Branded Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo with EVH D-Tuna
Pickups: EVH Wolfgang Humbucking(Direct Mount)
Controls: Volume (500K EVH Bourns Low Friction Pot) with Treble Bleed Circuit, Tone (250K EVH Bourns High Friction Pot),3-Position Toggle PU Selector

Along with the Frankenstrat, another guitar that supported Eddie in his early days was the Ibanez Destroyer “Shark.”
It has been in use since around 1977 and features an Explorer-type body and a silver pickguard.

Later, the body was boldly cut out to resemble shark teeth, which is where the nickname "Shark" was born.
This guitar was used on early Van Halen songs such as "You Really Got Me" and was the guitar that supported Eddie's raw energy.

"Bumblebee" appeared on the cover of their second album, 1979's Van Halen II.
This guitar can be considered a derivative of the Frankenstrat, with a black base and yellow stripes, and is equipped with a Floyd Rose tremolo, making it a guitar that emphasizes both looks and functionality.

Though it only lasted a short time, it was later famously placed in the coffin of the late Dimebag Darrell.
For fans, it is as legendary as the second one after Frankenstrat.

In the mid-1980s, Eddie's new main guitar was the Kramer 5150.
This is a red, black and white striped paint bike based on a Kramer Baretta, customized by the artist himself.

The body has a "5150" sticker, is equipped with a Floyd Rose, and is a single humbucker, making it a simple and practical configuration.
Following the 1986 album "5150," he continued to play the guitar as the band's main live performer until the early 90s.

The Steinberger GL2T is a headless guitar that was used around 1986.
It has a red, white and black striped design and is affectionately known by the nickname "Bento Box."

Its biggest feature is the special tremolo system called "TransTrem," which allows you to change the tuning of all strings up or down while keeping them locked.
It was used on songs such as "Summer Nights" that made use of the TransTrem, and was a model that embodied Eddie's experimental spirit.

In 2007, the EVH brand finally released an amplifier named after Eddie himself, the EVH 5150III.

This is a 3-channel all-tube amplifier head jointly developed with Fender.
This model is a dramatic evolution from its predecessor, the 5150.

The EVH 5150III has 3 independent channels, 100W output, and an effects loop.
With a full range of specifications, including a 4-button foot switch,
This makes it possible to create the diverse sounds that Eddie longed for.

Clean, crunch, and lead channels each have independent EQ and gain.
From clean, clear Class A tones,
Crunch produces a warm distortion characteristic of the Brown sound.
This one unit can cover all the lead sounds, from high gain to massive sustain.

Eddie paired this 5150III with an EVH Wolfgang during the reunion tour and final live performance period.
He has created a sound that can be considered the culmination of his work.

The 5150III has more stability and flexibility than the PV 5150.
It currently reigns as a top-class amplifier used by many professionals.

This amp, named after Eddie Van Halen,
It's truly part of his musical legacy.

When talking about Eddie's guitar sound, it is essential to
This is a modified Marshall amp head that I have been using since the 1970s.

Particularly famous is the 1968 100W Superlead (also known as the "Plexi").
Eddie did a lot of experimenting with this amp to get it closer to the distortion sound he was looking for.

A typical example is a method of adjusting the amplifier voltage using a variable transformer called a "Variac."
Lower the voltage to saturate the power tubes,
It is said that this produced the "brown sound" which has a unique viscosity and thickness.

Eddie himself has sometimes made misleading statements about this technique.
There is also a theory that they deliberately spread false information to prevent their competitors from copying them.

Regardless of whether this is true or not, the overwhelming tone that emanates from his Marshall guitars is
Their impact on the rock world is immeasurable.

Eddie turned up the volume on his Marshall amp to full volume.
It is said that he achieved the ideal distortion by using the preamps and EQ of echo equipment as a gain boost.

Without relying on the distortion effects that were common at the time,
The approach to making the most of the saturation of the amplifier itself is
This style was later imitated by many hard rock and heavy metal guitarists.

In that sense, Eddie's Marshall sound is a good example of "the equipment itself becoming a part of the performer."
This could be said to be the origin of his sound-making philosophy.

In the early 1990s, Eddie began developing a new amplifier to replace the Marshalls he had been using for many years.
The result was the signature model "5150" amp, created in collaboration with Peavey.

The Peavey 1992, which was released in 5150, is a 5150-channel vacuum tube amplifier head named after Eddie, "2".
It combines intense high-gain distortion and tight bass that could not be achieved with Marshall.

Eddie used this 5150 amp as his main amp during Van Halen's "Sammy Hagar era" and
I continued to use it until 5150, including its successor, the 2004II.

The PV5150 has been immensely popular since its release.
It has become a famous model that is still in production today under the name "6505."

The PV5150 (6505) is an all-tube 100W power amp with an effects loop.
This amp truly delivers the brown sound that Eddie envisions.

It's easy to use on both the clean and lead channels.
Many followers got their hands on this amp to pursue Eddie's sound.

Also, Eddie, when developing the 5150,
He says that rather than putting his own name at the forefront, he aimed to create "the best high-gain amp that anyone could get their hands on."

True to those words, the 5150/6505 series has become a standard high-gain amplifier used across genres.

This product is the culmination of Eddie's sound-making abilities and passion for equipment development.

The effector that gave Eddie's clean and lead tones a unique fluctuation was
This is MXR's phaser, "Phase 90."

He started incorporating these orange pedals into his boards in the late 1970s.
He used it effectively in his great solo performances "Eruption" and "Atomic Punk."

The Phase 90 is a pedal that creates a swirling phase effect with a simple one-knob operation.
Eddie slowed down the speed and added a slow sway to create a thick, undulating solo tone.

Also, in the intro of "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" there is a high-speed phase,
It creates a unique presence.

Eddie had a deep relationship with the Phase 90, and later MXR released a signature model featuring his striped pattern, the EVH Phase 90.

This model has an internal switch that allows you to switch between vintage mode and modern editing mode.
This is a pedal that fans will love.

Eddie himself once described the Phase 90 as "a magic box that lets you create your own sound just by stepping on it."
That phasing sound was an important part of his tone.

The only wah pedal supervised by Eddie.
The black background with yellow stripes is reminiscent of the "5150" era.

The setting suppresses high-frequency peaks, creating a natural wah curve that is gentle on the ears.
This effect was evident in songs such as "Mean Street" and "Pleasure Dome."

• Collaborating with Eddie Van Halen to capture the sound of his EVH5150™ in a pedal
• Multiple MOSFETs are stacked to create a tube-like overdrive sound.
  You can get anything from the classic Van Halen sound to today's extreme distortion with the BOOST switch.
• Boost and cut annoying noise with the GATE control.
• External dimensions: W128 x D92 x H55mm

A flanger that is responsible for the "jet plane" component of Eddie's sound.
In their signature track "Unchained," the heavy riff is perfectly combined with the pedal's roaring flange to create a memorable intro.

The signature model, EVH117 Flanger, is equipped with a switch that allows you to call up the “Unchained” setting with one touch.
It was used frequently in songs that made use of the flange sound, such as "And the Cradle Will Rock..." and "Drop Dead Legs."

The flanger was one of Eddie's favorite effects to use in live performances.

MXR Analog Chorus is the amp that Eddie used to play live.Wet/Dry/Wet (W/D/W) SystemThis is an analog modulation pedal that is believed to have been used in

This setup is from the late 1980s to the 1990s, and emphasizes the spaciousness of the space.
It has sometimes been used as a "pre-stage" or "complement" to a stereo delay or harmonizer.

The warm, subtle sway that is unique to MXR is a perfect fit for Eddie's style of "adding three-dimensionality without compromising the core of the distortion."
It was particularly effective in creating a sense of spaciousness in the background during lead solos and in creating depth in clean sections.

In songs like "Dreams" and "Right Now," where synth sounds and guitars blend together,
It is believed that the subtle chorus feeling of Analog Chorus supports the transparency of the song.

Although Eddie himself has not officially stated this, there have been cases where this model has been spotted on EVH's own board and rack.
This unit is a testament to the trust we have built with MXR and our commitment to sound.

Tape delay was an essential part of Eddie's sound from the 1970s to the early 80s.
Not only was it used for simple delay purposes, the preamp section was always on, playing an important role in adding gloss and thickness to the sound.

It was particularly useful for creating a floating sound in tracks like "Cathedral" and for adding depth to solos.
This "preamp effect" was carried over even after the later introduction of digital delay.

A rack-type high-performance digital pitch/delay unit introduced in the 90s.
It served as the core of a stereo wet/dry/wet configuration, adding spacious pitch shift and delay to the left and right amplifiers.

It has become an important tool supporting the three-dimensional sound of grand-scale songs such as "Dreams" and "Right Now."

This graphic EQ was the secret weapon that pushed early Marshall and perfected the "Brown Sound."
It was said to have been used to boost the mid to high frequencies and achieve more defined distortion.

Although he rarely appeared in public, he could be considered a symbol of Eddie's "behind the scenes sound-making."

The DigiTech Whammy is known as a great pitch shifter/expression pedal.
An innovative effector that allows you to change octaves up or down, harmony, etc. in real time by operating the pedal.

There is limited evidence of Eddie Van Halen using this pedal,
This has been seen in some live settings in the 2000s and in the solo song "Catherine."
It is also said that it was incorporated experimentally during his period performing with his son Wolfgang.

The Whammy was different from his usual Brown sound and was mainly treated as a "special weapon."
It was used in "Dive Bomb"-style expressions, raising the pitch by one octave, and in unique phrases during solos to emphasize individuality.

While Eddie's playing style favors simple compositions,
The reason why people embraced the "digital disruptive force" of Whammy was
This is also an episode that symbolizes the depth of his curiosity about sound.

The EVH signature pick released by Dunlop is
Made of celluloid with "Max-Grip" specifications,Non-slip and precise controlThe feature is.

It is available in multiple thicknesses ranging from 0.60mm to 1.0mm, and it is said that the designer himself chose the medium version.

The surface of the pick is printed with a red, white and black striped graphic, giving it an "EVH" look.

EVH brand shielding is also used to reduce signal loss during live and studio performances.
Carbon coating, gold-plated plugs, and double shielding construction minimize noise and degradation.

This balanced cable "doesn't thin out the sound, but also has few quirks," delivering the pure guitar sound directly to the amplifier.