Jim, never think that what you're doing here is unimportant or a waste of your time. You are speaking a language that millions of us know and have been waiting forever to use. Keep doing this Ed tone dissertation series. The detail you go into is so impressive and highly appreciated by all of us. This is a legacy you're putting out there. Will be around long after we're all gone. Bless you Jim. You are doing good work.
@@annieoneill4437 Lots of changes - but not to the amp...and remember, he never used that amp live after the first tour. It never went out on the road with him again. But he still always used 1959 Marshall amps. But 5150, there was a new guitar, different pickup, and a dummy load system, with rack effects, etc...completely different setup than the earlier tours
It is kind of puzzling. The playing alone should be turning hundreds of heads. I think because Jim goes the extra 5 miles in these videos, taking us down to the very flow of electrons that makes Eddie’s sound what it is, not everyone can grasp that kind of info. I totally stumbled onto Jim’s first video just last week. My grandfather was a musician and owned a TV and radio repair shop. My dad was a musician and worked as an industrial electrician. Music and technology are in my DNA, so Jim’s work has become an oasis for me.
What sticks out to me most in this video (aside from the fucking SPOT ON tone) is the intonation of the guitar. Ed trusted his ears more than a tuner, few people who play guitar can get those chords to sound so...crushing. It's like a chainsaw inside your brain when you hit those triads and the open chords just sound fucking incredible. This is Eddie's tone, there's no question. This is the only VH tone video anyone should ever need.
Zach, you're analysis is spot on. You can have all the gear, get the settings right, but you still need to feel, hear, attack the guitar, and make it intonate the way Ed did, in order to really get "the sound." Thank you for the input, and thanks for watching!
1000% agree, you so nailed what I was thinking. I just found this guy's channel and I am absolutely floored. He has captured Eddie's tone and phrasing better than anyone I've ever seen, and I've seen what seems like thousands of attempts.
Jim has been a good friend for years and on our last Nashville trip, his place was our first stop after the 10-hour drive. After a tour of his beautiful property, and a glass of "rot gut", we visited his studio. To experience this tone firsthand was amazing, I had to play thru his rig as well, the feel under the fingers was great. What was not expected is how reasonable the volume of a roaring 100 Marshall was when variac'd down. Jim and his quest for the brown sound is the real deal, his knowledge and of course playing are spot on.
Thanks Tim! C'mon down anytime - you know I've got plenty of that "rot gut" on hand for almost any occasion! 😉 Seriously, thank you for the kind words, and we'll see you next year, if not sooner.
I am staring at my screen in utter disbelief. It's like that moment in the movie Ratatouille when Aton takes that first bite and is transported back to his childhood. Some of those licks had my jaw on the floor. I've never seen anyone nail Eddie's tone AND phrasing so well.
I can't believe how accurate you are with the sound. Best I have ever heard. Absolutely accurate and you clearly have electronics and electrical knowledge. It is definately appreciated. I'm an 80s rocker myself (63 now). But I still appreciate the genius of Eddie. He knew what he was shooting for and he did it. Thanks for the knowledge, Chuck
Great tone. Great playing. Couldn't ask for more. I play guitar,, or at least attempt to play guitar. I'm currently battling pancreatic cancer. I truly believe that watching channels such as yours and trying to play as much as I can have extended my life thus far. Thanks for what you do brother. Rock on.. Sincerely, An Old Guy
Man, Tony.....that makes me tear up a little...keep up the fight! My thoughts are with you, and I sincerely hope you beat it! I'm praying you continue to "Rock on."
@@jegauss @8:04 YES PLEASE, what is he exact SPEC you ordered from Jalen Guitars and where did you order it? eBay? Thanks! BEST VH tone analysis EVER!!!
Man, I've never heard anyone nail the "Brown Sound" in all it's variations so well! These videos are required viewing for anyone trying to get that tone, great job as always!
Eddie said that the brown sound was him referring to Alex’s snare sound, not Ed’s guitar tone. It somehow got reinterpreted so that people use it to refer to Ed’s guitar tone.
This video is the kind of deep dive into history, gear and art that deserves more attention. Thank you for making this, clearly a labor of love. Much respect.
Your intro to Fair Warning and Fair Warning itself are the best I have ever heard. The tone & guitar response you've dailed in are truly amazing. That word gets overused I know, but simply put you have nailed the VH sound. Phenomenal work Jim. Congratulations and also thank you! Very enjoyable video.
That was so amazing! The sounds were so great and the details were very interesting. I’m going to try that setting with my variac. I’m amazed at how close the tone is that you were getting. And your playing was really enjoyable to listen to!
Thank you. Beware, some amps won't operate that low. It tends to just get too weak sounding, others can go lower. But, some just can't. I've got a couple other plexi 100s that sound great at 75 volts....so, just play around with it.
@@jegauss I messed around with one of my 50w Marshalls today. You are right, at 68vac it didn’t have enough juice, then going up in voltage, a little at a time, it just seemed to jump in volume. Pretty cool trick. The 4 input Marshalls are amazingly loud. This one has a b+ right around -400vdc also because they changed the power t a long, long time ago.
Brilliant! One of the most comprehensive dives into the EVH “brown” sound. This is a must watch for those looking to crack this iconic tone. Great playing too. Thank you.
Just discovered your channel and have been binging on these videos. Outstanding, fascinating, inspiring, empirically undeniable. You nailed it more than anyone else ove seen plus your playing is spot on natural with a similar swing and that looseness and rubbery bendy feel and vibrato that is so unique to Ed. I have not seen anyone else have it other than wolfie when they cover his stuff. I went on a Blackstone tone quest a while ago which was a fun thing to do but never to this level of detail. You are defo the top authority on Evh in my book. Looking forward to 1984.
Bravo! I've been waiting for this video You've got the correct growl and reduced top end. Never would have imagined that it was a JB of sorts. I've always liked that pickup, but found it too hot for VH. Watched this video three times so far: once for information and then twice for entertainment. Thank you, Jim. Keep up the great work!!
Thank you, sleggarri! This one took me awhile. I had to get that pickup wound, and I was testing a couple of other theories before I could wrap it all up...Thank you for watching!
I close my eyes and it sounds like Eddie. That's the closest I have ever heard to the Fair Warning sound. And the little nuances when you play are spot on. And to me, Fair Warning is the peak of his career tone wise. It's just special
Jim, I saw you on Tone-Talk and followed you since watching your Brown Sound videos like a bible. Man so far you have a great 'brown sound' so far! About the best I have heard! You and Pete Thorn have this down to a science!
Love your insights & dedication to chasing eddies tone Jim ! Your videos should have 100 X more views then they have very underrated channel, keep em coming !!!!
Thank you, Raymond! Very much appreciated! I'm probably a little late in "getting to doing these videos," but I kind of started as a tribute to Ed after he died...so, who knows, maybe I'll pick up some more views as we go along. Thanks again!
@@jegauss quick question, how did you learn to nail down each Vh lick to a tee, where & how do you find the most accurate tabs for the first 6 albums i bought a book and i can tell by ear listening to the isolated tracks that some of the tablature is wrong, I’m not that great of a player yet to master the ability to learn by ear so let me know. It just bothers me so much that every where i look it’s not what accurate to what’s on the studio recording !
@@raymondreyes497 Raymond, I wish I could tell you some good news. I don't know that there are many accurate tabs out there. Most of those submitted to large guitar publications are quite accurate, and you can find some really good lessons on youtube, but your best bet is to take a bunch of "opinions," lessons, tabs, etc...pick the ones that you think sound as close to what you hear from the actual recordings, or isolated tracks that you can also find on youtube, and keep playing. It won't feel like it, but you'll be developing your ear along the way, too...Also, I don't play everything properly either - a lot of it, yes, but I cheat here and there, too. I think it's great practice and great lessons to try to learn note for note when you're still "early-on in your guitar journey," and I still do it, but only when completely necessary, or if I'm taking myself out to do some woodshedding and want to learn a new technique. Otherwise, I've been playing for 46 years, I've done my own thing in the music biz for years, and I'm an old dog...I just always was a student of Ed, ever since '78, so I kind of learned the "feel" of how he played. That might've made it a little easier for me to fake? Who knows? But, you're on the right path. Just pull in sources from everywhere and use your ears to decide who's playing it the right way. The saying goes - "amateurs borrow, professionals steal." 😉 Learn everything you can from every source and always enjoy the process. Thanks again for watching, and good luck on your quest!
@@markhalen1410 We shall see...I'll probably end up doing some of it, but there's a lot of stuff that I don't have the proper guitar - I need a '58 Gibson Korina wood V for 3 of the songs, and a Kramer Ripley for another....but, I may find a work-around....
I worked for Kramer(84-'91), Eddie was using duncan JB's in the 5150's. In addition, in the early days, Seymour RECOMENDED a 250k pot with the JB, it transforms the pickup from an ice picky mid/treble response to a warmer, tonefull pickup. JB's have always been wound with two different coils, one stronger one weaker. Sound familiar?
That's some really great corroborating evidence! Thanks for supplying. I know that the very early JBs had the asymmetric coils, but the latest versions don't, and not even the antiquity does, at least nothing compared to the offsets in the early, hand wound versions. I've got a JBJ from approximately 84-85, that one also has balanced coils. But, like I've mentioned the early ones definitely did. I wonder it they're creating a balanced wind for better hum cancellation, but doing some "super secret scatter / pattern wind, to approximate the original's coil offsets...all very interesting. Also think the corroboration on the 250K pot is great! Thanks for jumping into the conversation, and thanks for watching!
Holy sh*t, I’m speechless. The dedication, passion and overall understanding is mind boggling! So interesting to watch too, man, You’re humble, and down to earth. Keep it going-
holy shit...that's exactly Fair Warning. I can't believe Ed didn't stick with this tone...it is just a beast. I'm not religious but you, Thorn, Garber & the Frankenstrat guru from "Johnny B Guitars" are all doing gods work. 1st I've heard the tone described as "hairy" but Unchained is really "brown & hairy".
This was another informative and entertaining video. I enjoy these tremendously. Some of the best explorations out there on this topic. The tone Jim is getting is superb. I don’t understand the folks that bash about being a copycat or the “…it’s all been done before” arguments. At the end of the day, these are killer tones that could suit a lot people and styles without sounding like VH. After all, hasn’t the argument always been “it’s all in your hands” anyway? 🤔 Keep up the great work, Jim and we’ll keep watching. 👍
Thank you! People are always going to bash, and people like to say "it's all been done before." But, honestly, I don't remember seeing anything as comprehensive, or if I may, as "close to the recorded sound, with the least convoluted, and logical setup out there...so, there's that. 😉 But, it's all good. Thanks for jumping in to the discussion, and thanks for watching!
Outstanding!!! I hated those speakers when I had them, doh! Guess I have to revisit them. I immediately sent an email to buy that pickup, wow, you(and Jalen) nailed it man. I have to look at my 68 clone too. It sounds great but I was never able to get it to sound like that with a variac. I need to figure it out. That FW tone is cemented into my head, it’s my favourite VH album/tone and this really is identical. You even got the sweep on the flanger to line up properly, 🤣. I have the one wire mod in my amp now and it sounds killer, but I have to set it back up like this and give the variac another shot. Thanks for sharing all this info and replying to questions, let’s keep VH’s tone, music, and memory alive, RIP Ed.
Ha! Hey Darrin! I've never been a fan of those speakers, either! But, they're required for this album, and I think a couple more, later on in the Sammy era...I just sent Greg, at Jalen, a note, that he may be getting some pickup requests for the "goofy" pickup wind I had him do for me a few months ago 😉. As far as your '68 goes, yeah, the one wire mod sounds great for a more "gainy" kind of tone, but it's not the way to go for this sound. If you start doing a redo, feel free to reach out to me. I'll give you some tried and true components that you need to utilize in your build. Nothing exotic, and it's all really stock iterations of the '68 plexi, and some of the published, and "whispered" off spec things in Ed's amp. Thanks again for watching, and giving some feedback!
@@jegauss don't know if this sounds more or less like VH compared to the other vids but it's my favorite tone you've gotten so far. Here's a zinger for you. If you follow Eddie's frank guitar you'll notice when he added the floyd to it originally (likely early 1980) he added a cream dimarzio/MM pickup. Also there are some photo's of the FW tour rehearsals where Eddie has on a purple sleeveless T. In those pictures you can see the cream pick up was still in the guitar. Greg make great pick ups and I have used a few over the years. Likely no matter what he builds it's going to be a slam dunk.
@@guitarfreak1970 Hey Bill! Thanks for watching and your feedback! I agree - Ed definitely put the Dimarzio or Mighty Mite in the Frank in and around the WACF tour, I think he was struggling with how thin the wireless units made his live rig sound. I also am relatively confident that most, if not all of WACF was recorded with a Super D or Mighty Mite, or both. Both the Chris Holmes Destroyer and Shark were so equipped. And, the Bee and the 2" thick mahogany "strat" both had the floyd and the DSD or Mighty Mite. I think he was fighting both that wireless and the floyd rose. I wouldn't be surprised if he did some of the rehearsals for the '81 tour with a Dimarzio back in the frank. But, he didn't use it on the tour itself. And, I can almost guarantee he didn't use it to record Fair Warning...trust me, I tried the DSD in multiple guitars in the prep and research to do this video. They're just way too compressed, and a little too dark in the upper mids/ highs. I also have a fairly long back story about the pickup that I had Greg wind for me. I won't bore you with all of the details, but it goes back to 1981-82 for me. I've had this pickup before, and it came out of a celebrity owned instrument. Gibson patent sticker and t-top bobbins...short A5. I had Greg re-create that pickup on a hunch. As soon as I dropped it in my Frank, it solved all of my "issues" that I was having with doing this video....So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it 😉. And seriously, thanks for watching and your input. I very much appreciate it.
That's extremely close Jim, I think personally it's as close to Ed's sound on FW as one can ever get. The other variables like studio EQ/balance in mastering across the frequencies can't be discounted but this is damn near the sound I equate to the brown sound we all love.
Thank you, Blackdog! Yes, it's hard to know exactly what happened in the studio and the actual room sounds, mastering, etc....but I just make my best assumptions. Thanks for watching!
That’s right. It’s hard if not impossible to know which EQs and compressors, etc. Don Landee put the signal though, let alone the sound of the console itself. Pultecs, Etc. The sound of the Sunset sound room and echo chamber, yada yada…
I have to admit I was skeptical that you could really capture the core tone of Fair Warning, but you really did it. I am super impressed. I love this tone. In terms of pickups, I had written off the JB because I just figured it was too common for Ed. I am a believer now and it was definitely was an available option for him in the 70s/early80s. Probably with some various pots and flavors of A2s and A5s as you suggest. Do you think the shorter A5 magnet in your JB helps to handle some of the brightness of the Floyd. I have long theorized that the introduction of the A2 magnet coincided with the addition of the Floyd. Maybe the regular A5 in the original JB from the 70s works better with a fender bridge?
Thanks Peter! I appreciate your skepticism 😉 Seriously, though...keep in mind that the JB in question is also an "early, asymmetric coil wind JB." You'll get close with an old JBJ or an antiquity, but they still aren't quite right. As far as the short A5 goes. They do have a lot of the same tonal characteristics as an A2. But they're weaker. That's kinda what I think Seymour was going for with the degaussed A2 in the EVH Frankenstein Humbucker. I think your theory is probably pretty close. Although, it's my theory that the reason Ed's was a short A5 to begin with, is that that's what would've been the magnet in that '61 PAF that Seymour originally re-wound. The one that I had back in the early, early '80s (supposedly came out of a celebrity owned guitar), also had a short A5 in it. And it had Gibson T-Top bobbins, plus a Gibson Patent sticker on it. So, it definitely wasn't a Duncan JB, but it was wound, very similar to the one that I just had Jalen wind for me, and used in this video....and, similar in spec to what you can find on a "research dive" on the internet, as to what those original 'unbranded" Seymour winds were. Often referred to as the "original JB." or just JB Model. And, I agree with your sentiment - I had written the JB off, because it was almost too obvious...anyway, hope that helps, and thanks again for watching!
@@jegauss Sorry I don't mean skepticism in you personally... Just that the Fair Warning could be replicated because it is such an enigma. I have a few of the The JB Model pickups without embossing on the base plate that I think are correct for the era you are referring to? Interestingly, I think that Ed had a JB in the 5150 Kramer possibly with an A2 as this pickup is close to what the Wolfgang had in the early 90s. Thanks for your response! Happy holidays.
@@petercampisi4449 No, no.....I didn't take it that way! And don't worry, I'm awfully tough to offend 😉 You may very well have one or two of those originals. If they have asymmetric coils, that's exactly what you have. I also got a JBJ, but that one has symmetrical coils (or really, really close - like machine error close). Also, Steve Blucher (Dimarzio) has said that the 5150 pickup that they pulled out of the 5150 was a JB with a flakey coil...he was tasked with duplicating that pickup (not with the flakey coil) for the EBMM guitar. Those Dimarzios had the A5...so, I'm not quite sure when they went to the A2s...but I know they eventually did. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
@@jegauss Glad to hear that you may do another video on Women and Children First...If you do, I recommend the Dimarzio x2n pickup (1979) in the destroyer. In my lawsuit era destroyer, it is amazing. A lot of drive, but warm and full sounding without as much of the brightness/harness of the Super Distortion. It definitely drives harder as well. Since WCF was recorded with a destroyer (Chris Holmes), I think the combination of this guitar/pickup is a likely candidate. Plus, Ed did have it on the white star guitar in around 1980. It seems to work better with blackback because it is so full-sounding. I don't find it as effective with greenbacks in my experience. FWIW, I am also really liking the JB in my destroyer as well for Panama. Even though I don't believe the destroyer was on that album, the JB just shines. Looking forward to pairing that pickup with a floyd. Anywho, these are just my thoughts if it helps. I hope all is well...
@@petercampisi4449 Hey Peter! I've just started my "tone testing" - record, listen, change something, record, listen, change something, etc....I also start these things with as much research as possible, too. A really good clue / place to start are those picture from the WACF session, where Ed is holding the roundback mandolin, while sitting on his 4x12. In that group of pictures, you can see the Holmes destroyer (with a covered humbucker in the bridge - Chris Holmes had Dimarzio Super Ds in it when he lent it to Ed). Ed is playing the Burst in one of those photos, and it's missing the bridge pickup / PAF (assuming he hadn't wrecked the pickup from the burst), so we've all kind of surmised that either the PAF from the burst has been installed into the Holmes Destroyer, or it's the original pickup from his destroyer, that he removed, because he didn't like the sound after he hacked it up...Then, you also see the Bee sitting in a stand (most likely loaded with the Mighty Mite 1300) and the 2" thick Mahogany bodied guitar that also had a mighty mite or super D in it. So, I'm thinking, and I'm hearing, at least to start, a return to the more traditional type of pickups, as used on VH I. This makes sense, from what I'm hearing - the fat cap is installed in the amp - the Schaffer Vega isn't being used, and the amp sounds warmer with no wireless and the fat cap. Also, just a bit more gain in the lower mids with the fat cap. There's also a possibility that the Shark comes out on Fools, but I'm not convinced yet. If the Shark is still configured the same as it was for VH II, then I'm thinking it still has the Super D, with the A5 mag in it......anyway, I know that's a lot...I'll start to hear these nuances once I get settled in the speaker cabinet / echoplex or no echoplex, etc... After the first tour in '78, he "retired" the '68 amp from touring, only to be used in the studio, and essentially used new Marshalls (all 1959 - 4-holers), and they're a little brighter, just a little less gain, and he was using a wireless which is a tone suck....I think that's where the Super D's and X2Ns came in to the picture - mostly for live use. Even though his guitar sounds pretty gainy in the studio, it's got clarity and dynamics that you tend to lose with overwound pickups...again, all speculation, and that's why this is a bunch of fun! Thanks for jumping in again!
Jim, you have really done your research! Holy schnikes, you really nailed that tone ! Smoking playing as well! 🔥 Thank you for being the tone scientist, and sharing your results with all of us on the interwebs. 🙌
Thank you for sharing all this insight! You have the whole package going on Jim, the playing and tone is top notch! Never would've of thought to use 75 watt celestions. Look forward to the next album info and your time on ToneTalk!
Awesome tone and you are very spot on with my fav VH album! That brown sound you have rips! It's still difficult for me when I reflect upon Eddie, but thank you for your time and efforts keeping the EVH passion alive, by demonstrating and explaining the technical aspect of his tone. EVH would certainly approve! Great presentation!
Thank you, Ty! I feel the same way about Ed. Still hard to believe he's gone. I guess that's one of the reasons I finally did this series of videos. Kind of a tribute to all that he's done, and try to illustrate / demonstrate his brilliance.
Great video Jim , thanks for this - love the tone you achieve . The pick detail is really interesting too. More like this if possible please -brilliant research.
Thank you! More than likely - I may circle back and get Women and Children First, maybe some selections from Diver Down and 1984 (1984 is going in a lot of different directions, and a few guitars are used, that I don't own, or can build - like the Kramer Ripley and that '58 Gibson, Korina V). But, we'll see. Thanks again for watching!
Mannnnn well you know I listen to everything there is online in this regard and this is the best hands down. Something about your review of VH album sounds in general just works. The more I dive into stuff since Ed passed the more I strayed from this being my fav album….but I’m back lol. Fair Warning is just a special child IMHO❣️🔥🤘 Thank you for this caring treatment.
Thank you Andrew! Very kind words...This album, to me, always marked the departure of people telling Ed what to do. You can just tell he's taking control of the music - all aspects. It's hard for me to choose, but this one rotates into my favorite VH album on a regular basis. Thanks for watching!
So awesome! So refreshing too! Because it's so simple really. I mean you don't have to even tweak any knobs, just turn 'em all up to 10! I can't wait to watch your other vids.
I have watched my fair share of Brown sound videos. Some were pretty good but brother you absolutely nailed it. I will never forget the first time I heard Fair Warning. I was in 7th grade and my buddy cranked it on his Boom Box. That is one of the greatest guitar tones of all time. Thanks for doing this.
Jim, never think that what you're doing here is unimportant or a waste of your time. You are speaking a language that millions of us know and have been waiting forever to use. Keep doing this Ed tone dissertation series. The detail you go into is so impressive and highly appreciated by all of us. This is a legacy you're putting out there. Will be around long after we're all gone. Bless you Jim. You are doing good work.
Very, very kind...I very much appreciate it! Thank you!
Agreed, thanks Jim!
Agreed. Thanks Jim!
Simply stunning - Eddie lives on.
Fair Warning and Mean Street in particular were, to me, the pinnacle of the EVH brown sound and I think you nailed it.
I agree. Thanks, Jason!
Question on Eddie van Halen 5150 tour the sound sounds different from the early day so what are the amp setting on his 100watt Marshall Plexi 69
@@annieoneill4437 Lots of changes - but not to the amp...and remember, he never used that amp live after the first tour. It never went out on the road with him again. But he still always used 1959 Marshall amps. But 5150, there was a new guitar, different pickup, and a dummy load system, with rack effects, etc...completely different setup than the earlier tours
@@jegauss I think the rack effects were in his Bradshaw rig, which many LA players used at that time.
@@ChromaticHarp Yeah, we all had those refrigerator sized process racks during that era...overkill!
I don’t understand why this video doesn’t have millions of views, this is outstanding!!
Thank you, Paolo!
I agree this guy needs more exposure
Me either. I can’t shut it off
It is kind of puzzling. The playing alone should be turning hundreds of heads. I think because Jim goes the extra 5 miles in these videos, taking us down to the very flow of electrons that makes Eddie’s sound what it is, not everyone can grasp that kind of info. I totally stumbled onto Jim’s first video just last week. My grandfather was a musician and owned a TV and radio repair shop. My dad was a musician and worked as an industrial electrician. Music and technology are in my DNA, so Jim’s work has become an oasis for me.
Heads up, not everyone is you
Wow. Insane work. That Hear About it Later intro was so accurate along with the rest. Been loving this series.
What sticks out to me most in this video (aside from the fucking SPOT ON tone) is the intonation of the guitar. Ed trusted his ears more than a tuner, few people who play guitar can get those chords to sound so...crushing. It's like a chainsaw inside your brain when you hit those triads and the open chords just sound fucking incredible. This is Eddie's tone, there's no question. This is the only VH tone video anyone should ever need.
Zach, you're analysis is spot on. You can have all the gear, get the settings right, but you still need to feel, hear, attack the guitar, and make it intonate the way Ed did, in order to really get "the sound." Thank you for the input, and thanks for watching!
great point. when playing chords of three or more notes, the intonation matters much more for distorted sound than undistorted sound.
There are alot of guys that can emulate his tone, it was his playing and writing that made him cool.
1000% agree, you so nailed what I was thinking. I just found this guy's channel and I am absolutely floored. He has captured Eddie's tone and phrasing better than anyone I've ever seen, and I've seen what seems like thousands of attempts.
@@RtroyD Nonsense , nobody comes close to his tone except Jim .
Jim has been a good friend for years and on our last Nashville trip, his place was our first stop after the 10-hour drive. After a tour of his beautiful property, and a glass of "rot gut", we visited his studio. To experience this tone firsthand was amazing, I had to play thru his rig as well, the feel under the fingers was great. What was not expected is how reasonable the volume of a roaring 100 Marshall was when variac'd down. Jim and his quest for the brown sound is the real deal, his knowledge and of course playing are spot on.
Thanks Tim! C'mon down anytime - you know I've got plenty of that "rot gut" on hand for almost any occasion! 😉 Seriously, thank you for the kind words, and we'll see you next year, if not sooner.
I wanna visit Jim’s studio. I’m a Nashville native.
This album was my favorite Eddie tone; that open G chord in the opening riff of Mean Streets is just perfect tone
Yep, agree. That's the tone to match for sure! Thanks for watching Scott!
absolutely... it sounds like its a million guitars; its so thicc, juicy and searing hot :D
I call it “The greatest G chord in the history of rock in roll”...🔥🔥🔥
Fucking A right! That open G with that wall ripping overdrive makes me just wanna break something!lol
Couldn't have said it better
I love the bite to EVH's sound and how it doesn't come off as metally.
Completely agree! That’s the illusive balance that IS the brown sound.
Looking back at this I have an update: I put a Khaler Trem and Bareknuckle VHII's on my Gibson SG and they're so sick. Long live EVH!
Dude!!!! You make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. You are "AWESOME". That's such a dirty sound. 👍👍👍
I am staring at my screen in utter disbelief. It's like that moment in the movie Ratatouille when Aton takes that first bite and is transported back to his childhood. Some of those licks had my jaw on the floor. I've never seen anyone nail Eddie's tone AND phrasing so well.
Ha! Thank you BL! I really appreciate it, and thank you for watching!
3:53 - Mean Street
17:09 - Dirty Movies
26:25 - Sinner's Swing
29:43 - Hear About It Later
33:57 - Unchained
Im just glad where still talking about the GOAT of rock guitar.
Ed your missed.
Hello
YOU’RE missed, not YOUR
You have a lot of money in that room.
You are a damn fine player.
Truly unbelievable! 🔥🎸
Thank you!
no fuckin way Jeffy loves EVH 🤣
your entire channel is an embarrassment.
I can't believe how accurate you are with the sound. Best I have ever heard. Absolutely accurate and you clearly have electronics and electrical knowledge. It is definately appreciated. I'm an 80s rocker myself (63 now). But I still appreciate the genius of Eddie. He knew what he was shooting for and he did it.
Thanks for the knowledge,
Chuck
Thank you, Chuck! Very much appreciated, and thank you for watching!
Great tone. Great playing. Couldn't ask for more.
I play guitar,, or at least attempt to play guitar. I'm currently battling pancreatic cancer. I truly believe that watching channels such as yours and trying to play as much as I can have extended my life thus far. Thanks for what you do brother. Rock on..
Sincerely,
An Old Guy
Man, Tony.....that makes me tear up a little...keep up the fight! My thoughts are with you, and I sincerely hope you beat it! I'm praying you continue to "Rock on."
Unbelievable. That guitar sound has never been bettered. Fabulous playing too. Respect. Speechless.
Thank you, Shane!
Well done. Refreshing to hear it done well with real amps in this era of computer modeling.
Thanks John! It's also more fun this way! Thanks for watching!
That’s outstanding! The best information about Van Halen’s sound I’ve ever seen. So many details and nuances. Thank you! Great job!
Thank you, Sergey! Thank you for watching!
I'm thinking this guy secretly worked for Ed at some point. He got that tone on lock down way too good!
@@christopherallen5603 Ha! Nope.....
@@jegauss @8:04 YES PLEASE, what is he exact SPEC you ordered from Jalen Guitars and where did you order it? eBay? Thanks! BEST VH tone analysis EVER!!!
@@INDSTRCTBLE I just replied on your other comment...let me know if you have any questions, and thanks again for watching!
Great! It’s wonderful to see the structure of his compositions so cleanly played, and your tone is wonderful.
Thank you!
Man, I've never heard anyone nail the "Brown Sound" in all it's variations so well! These videos are required viewing for anyone trying to get that tone, great job as always!
Thank you, Chris! Very much appreciated!
Eddie said that the brown sound was him referring to Alex’s snare sound, not Ed’s guitar tone. It somehow got reinterpreted so that people use it to refer to Ed’s guitar tone.
Well done!!! Sounds perfect. Your playing is great, also. Can’t wait to watch the other vids.
So nice. Thanks for sharing all your work, all this sweet breaking down of Fair Warning. This is such a blast!
Thank you, Leo! It is a blast - I have a great time trying to figure out what he was doing!
Truly well done. I appreciate the effort and the spot-on outcome. Really nice job!
Thank you, Craig! I appreciate it!
This is awesome- you’ve done a great service for fellow VH tone chasers here, thank you Jim!
Thank you! You're very welcome! Thanks for watching.
This video is the kind of deep dive into history, gear and art that deserves more attention. Thank you for making this, clearly a labor of love. Much respect.
This is a truly great video, thanks for putting so much work in to show everything!!!
sound killer, no matter the way you play, the tone is there and it's amazing.
Your intro to Fair Warning and Fair Warning itself are the best I have ever heard. The tone & guitar response you've dailed in are truly amazing. That word gets overused I know, but simply put you have nailed the VH sound. Phenomenal work Jim. Congratulations and also thank you! Very enjoyable video.
Thank you Max! And thanks for coming back to see this next video! Very kind words, and very much appreciated!
Incredible!!! You are an outstanding player. I'm really enjoying this deep dive into the sound of this album.
Thank you, Rian!
This is brilliant Jim! So glad to have found your channel
Wow! Completely nailed it! My favorite VH album for both songs and tone!
Thank you, Joe! Thank you for watching!
Killer stuff Jim !!! Ive heard a lot of guys try to emulate his early tone , but you've gotrrr nailed imo . The best I've heard !!
Thank you! Very much appreciated!
Dead spot on. Excellent job. Thank you for this video. This is my favorite album.
That was so amazing! The sounds were so great and the details were very interesting. I’m going to try that setting with my variac. I’m amazed at how close the tone is that you were getting. And your playing was really enjoyable to listen to!
Thank you. Beware, some amps won't operate that low. It tends to just get too weak sounding, others can go lower. But, some just can't. I've got a couple other plexi 100s that sound great at 75 volts....so, just play around with it.
@@jegauss I messed around with one of my 50w Marshalls today. You are right, at 68vac it didn’t have enough juice, then going up in voltage, a little at a time, it just seemed to jump in volume. Pretty cool trick. The 4 input Marshalls are amazingly loud. This one has a b+ right around -400vdc also because they changed the power t a long, long time ago.
From touch sensitive playing, to hand wire tube amps to mastering…this video has it all and kudos to you for all you w given to the community!
Thanks Chris! Thank you for watching!
33:57 - That tone is killer
Thanks! and I agree - Ed had a killer sound on Fair Warning!
Very cool video. Always love to to hear about all things Van Halen! Amazing sounds!! Congratulations!
Thank you! Very much appreciated!
These are the best VH tone videos out there. Very well done!
Thank you, Natasha!
Brilliant! One of the most comprehensive dives into the EVH “brown” sound. This is a must watch for those looking to crack this iconic tone. Great playing too. Thank you.
Thank you, Jeff!
Just discovered your channel and have been binging on these videos. Outstanding, fascinating, inspiring, empirically undeniable. You nailed it more than anyone else ove seen plus your playing is spot on natural with a similar swing and that looseness and rubbery bendy feel and vibrato that is so unique to Ed. I have not seen anyone else have it other than wolfie when they cover his stuff. I went on a Blackstone tone quest a while ago which was a fun thing to do but never to this level of detail. You are defo the top authority on Evh in my book. Looking forward to 1984.
Thanks again, jhep! I really do appreciate the kind words (in both of your comments) - means a lot....
Awesome! Just fantastic! The best VH sound I've heard. The meticulous hike is very impressive! Keep shooting the same videos!
Thank you, Vladimir! Much appreciated!
Wow Jim, such a fantastic video explaining everything and also your amazing spot-on playing of so many awesome tunes from EVH. Thanks so much !
Thank you, David!
Bravo! I've been waiting for this video You've got the correct growl and reduced top end. Never would have imagined that it was a JB of sorts. I've always liked that pickup, but found it too hot for VH. Watched this video three times so far: once for information and then twice for entertainment. Thank you, Jim. Keep up the great work!!
Thank you, sleggarri! This one took me awhile. I had to get that pickup wound, and I was testing a couple of other theories before I could wrap it all up...Thank you for watching!
This was absolutely fascinating.
Wow, outstanding work! Amazing tone, spot on!
Thank you!
Your playing, your tone, your vids are awesome, keep em coming👍👊
Thanks Mike! Thank you for watching!
I close my eyes and it sounds like Eddie. That's the closest I have ever heard to the Fair Warning sound. And the little nuances when you play are spot on. And to me, Fair Warning is the peak of his career tone wise. It's just special
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words!
Lol...when I hit play, I thought he was air guitaring it. 'Unchained' was identical..unreal. and all this shows how far ahead Ed was from the pack.
Best Van Halen Sound Scientist on the whole of You Tube....and i've seen them all!
Thank you!
Jim, I saw you on Tone-Talk and followed you since watching your Brown Sound videos like a bible. Man so far you have a great 'brown sound' so far! About the best I have heard! You and Pete Thorn have this down to a science!
Wow! Really awesome stuff. The tones are spot on along with your playing. Thank you for sharing. Long live EVH
Thank you, Eric! Very much appreciated, and thank you for watching!
Love your insights & dedication to chasing eddies tone Jim ! Your videos should have 100 X more views then they have very underrated channel, keep em coming !!!!
Thank you, Raymond! Very much appreciated! I'm probably a little late in "getting to doing these videos," but I kind of started as a tribute to Ed after he died...so, who knows, maybe I'll pick up some more views as we go along. Thanks again!
@@jegauss quick question, how did you learn to nail down each Vh lick to a tee, where & how do you find the most accurate tabs for the first 6 albums i bought a book and i can tell by ear listening to the isolated tracks that some of the tablature is wrong, I’m not that great of a player yet to master the ability to learn by ear so let me know. It just bothers me so much that every where i look it’s not what accurate to what’s on the studio recording !
@@raymondreyes497 Raymond, I wish I could tell you some good news. I don't know that there are many accurate tabs out there. Most of those submitted to large guitar publications are quite accurate, and you can find some really good lessons on youtube, but your best bet is to take a bunch of "opinions," lessons, tabs, etc...pick the ones that you think sound as close to what you hear from the actual recordings, or isolated tracks that you can also find on youtube, and keep playing. It won't feel like it, but you'll be developing your ear along the way, too...Also, I don't play everything properly either - a lot of it, yes, but I cheat here and there, too. I think it's great practice and great lessons to try to learn note for note when you're still "early-on in your guitar journey," and I still do it, but only when completely necessary, or if I'm taking myself out to do some woodshedding and want to learn a new technique. Otherwise, I've been playing for 46 years, I've done my own thing in the music biz for years, and I'm an old dog...I just always was a student of Ed, ever since '78, so I kind of learned the "feel" of how he played. That might've made it a little easier for me to fake? Who knows? But, you're on the right path. Just pull in sources from everywhere and use your ears to decide who's playing it the right way. The saying goes - "amateurs borrow, professionals steal." 😉 Learn everything you can from every source and always enjoy the process. Thanks again for watching, and good luck on your quest!
My favorite VH Album. Ed’s playing and soloing is so loose and grooving in a good way on this one.
Agreed...my favorite VH album too...great songs, great playing and great tone!!!!
Dude this is outstanding! Thanks for taking time to do this.
Thank you, Anthony!
Every album you've done is absolutely brilliant! Thank you so much:)
Yes! Been waiting for this Jim
Sorry, took a little longer than I had hoped...had to test a few "theories" first. Thank you for watching!
@@jegauss Thank YOU for doing this! Are you going to do the same deep dive for 1984?
@@markhalen1410 We shall see...I'll probably end up doing some of it, but there's a lot of stuff that I don't have the proper guitar - I need a '58 Gibson Korina wood V for 3 of the songs, and a Kramer Ripley for another....but, I may find a work-around....
I worked for Kramer(84-'91), Eddie was using duncan JB's in the 5150's. In addition, in the early days, Seymour RECOMENDED a 250k pot with the JB, it transforms the pickup from an ice picky mid/treble response to a warmer, tonefull pickup. JB's have always been wound with two different coils, one stronger one weaker. Sound familiar?
That's some really great corroborating evidence! Thanks for supplying. I know that the very early JBs had the asymmetric coils, but the latest versions don't, and not even the antiquity does, at least nothing compared to the offsets in the early, hand wound versions. I've got a JBJ from approximately 84-85, that one also has balanced coils. But, like I've mentioned the early ones definitely did. I wonder it they're creating a balanced wind for better hum cancellation, but doing some "super secret scatter / pattern wind, to approximate the original's coil offsets...all very interesting. Also think the corroboration on the 250K pot is great! Thanks for jumping into the conversation, and thanks for watching!
This was so good! Thank you for taking the time to do this. Cheers
Thank you, Ron!
Holy sh*t, I’m speechless. The dedication, passion and overall understanding is mind boggling! So interesting to watch too, man, You’re humble, and down to earth. Keep it going-
Thank you, Tony! Very kind words, and I very much appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
holy shit...that's exactly Fair Warning. I can't believe Ed didn't stick with this tone...it is just a beast. I'm not religious but you, Thorn, Garber & the Frankenstrat guru from "Johnny B Guitars" are all doing gods work. 1st I've heard the tone described as "hairy" but Unchained is really "brown & hairy".
Kind words! Thank you, and I'm sure my "compadres" thank you!
@@jegauss Friedman as well… I know he goes to bed thinking about this tone… that’s junkie status. 🤣
This was another informative and entertaining video. I enjoy these tremendously. Some of the best explorations out there on this topic. The tone Jim is getting is superb. I don’t understand the folks that bash about being a copycat or the “…it’s all been done before” arguments. At the end of the day, these are killer tones that could suit a lot people and styles without sounding like VH. After all, hasn’t the argument always been “it’s all in your hands” anyway? 🤔
Keep up the great work, Jim and we’ll keep watching. 👍
Thank you! People are always going to bash, and people like to say "it's all been done before." But, honestly, I don't remember seeing anything as comprehensive, or if I may, as "close to the recorded sound, with the least convoluted, and logical setup out there...so, there's that. 😉 But, it's all good. Thanks for jumping in to the discussion, and thanks for watching!
100% agree 👍🏼
Thanks for posting this. I love this album!!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
This is absolutely outstanding!! So informative and amazing playing too!
Thank you! Much appreciated!
Hear About Later one of my top 3 licks of all evh dirty movies as well. Thanks for hands on lessons will brush up on these.
You're welcome Dwain! Thanks for watching!
Outstanding!!! I hated those speakers when I had them, doh! Guess I have to revisit them. I immediately sent an email to buy that pickup, wow, you(and Jalen) nailed it man. I have to look at my 68 clone too. It sounds great but I was never able to get it to sound like that with a variac. I need to figure it out. That FW tone is cemented into my head, it’s my favourite VH album/tone and this really is identical. You even got the sweep on the flanger to line up properly, 🤣. I have the one wire mod in my amp now and it sounds killer, but I have to set it back up like this and give the variac another shot. Thanks for sharing all this info and replying to questions, let’s keep VH’s tone, music, and memory alive, RIP Ed.
Ha! Hey Darrin! I've never been a fan of those speakers, either! But, they're required for this album, and I think a couple more, later on in the Sammy era...I just sent Greg, at Jalen, a note, that he may be getting some pickup requests for the "goofy" pickup wind I had him do for me a few months ago 😉. As far as your '68 goes, yeah, the one wire mod sounds great for a more "gainy" kind of tone, but it's not the way to go for this sound. If you start doing a redo, feel free to reach out to me. I'll give you some tried and true components that you need to utilize in your build. Nothing exotic, and it's all really stock iterations of the '68 plexi, and some of the published, and "whispered" off spec things in Ed's amp. Thanks again for watching, and giving some feedback!
Hey Jim, wow, thanks!! I’ll be sure to give you a shout!
@@jegauss don't know if this sounds more or less like VH compared to the other vids but it's my favorite tone you've gotten so far. Here's a zinger for you. If you follow Eddie's frank guitar you'll notice when he added the floyd to it originally (likely early 1980) he added a cream dimarzio/MM pickup. Also there are some photo's of the FW tour rehearsals where Eddie has on a purple sleeveless T. In those pictures you can see the cream pick up was still in the guitar. Greg make great pick ups and I have used a few over the years. Likely no matter what he builds it's going to be a slam dunk.
@@guitarfreak1970 Hey Bill! Thanks for watching and your feedback! I agree - Ed definitely put the Dimarzio or Mighty Mite in the Frank in and around the WACF tour, I think he was struggling with how thin the wireless units made his live rig sound. I also am relatively confident that most, if not all of WACF was recorded with a Super D or Mighty Mite, or both. Both the Chris Holmes Destroyer and Shark were so equipped. And, the Bee and the 2" thick mahogany "strat" both had the floyd and the DSD or Mighty Mite. I think he was fighting both that wireless and the floyd rose. I wouldn't be surprised if he did some of the rehearsals for the '81 tour with a Dimarzio back in the frank. But, he didn't use it on the tour itself. And, I can almost guarantee he didn't use it to record Fair Warning...trust me, I tried the DSD in multiple guitars in the prep and research to do this video. They're just way too compressed, and a little too dark in the upper mids/ highs. I also have a fairly long back story about the pickup that I had Greg wind for me. I won't bore you with all of the details, but it goes back to 1981-82 for me. I've had this pickup before, and it came out of a celebrity owned instrument. Gibson patent sticker and t-top bobbins...short A5. I had Greg re-create that pickup on a hunch. As soon as I dropped it in my Frank, it solved all of my "issues" that I was having with doing this video....So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it 😉. And seriously, thanks for watching and your input. I very much appreciate it.
@@jegauss I gotta try that 250k pot.
Killer video Jim, you nailed the Fair Warning tone for sure, this video should have a million views, Keep bringing these killer videos!!!
Thanks Ricky!
Your channel has changed everything for me. Thanks for sharing all this info!!
Glad to hear that I could help! Thanks for watching!
That's extremely close Jim, I think personally it's as close to Ed's sound on FW as one can ever get. The other variables like studio EQ/balance in mastering across the frequencies can't be discounted but this is damn near the sound I equate to the brown sound we all love.
Thank you, Blackdog! Yes, it's hard to know exactly what happened in the studio and the actual room sounds, mastering, etc....but I just make my best assumptions. Thanks for watching!
That’s right. It’s hard if not impossible to know which EQs and compressors, etc. Don Landee put the signal though, let alone the sound of the console itself. Pultecs, Etc. The sound of the Sunset sound room and echo chamber, yada yada…
I have to admit I was skeptical that you could really capture the core tone of Fair Warning, but you really did it. I am super impressed. I love this tone.
In terms of pickups, I had written off the JB because I just figured it was too common for Ed. I am a believer now and it was definitely was an available option for him in the 70s/early80s. Probably with some various pots and flavors of A2s and A5s as you suggest.
Do you think the shorter A5 magnet in your JB helps to handle some of the brightness of the Floyd. I have long theorized that the introduction of the A2 magnet coincided with the addition of the Floyd. Maybe the regular A5 in the original JB from the 70s works better with a fender bridge?
Thanks Peter! I appreciate your skepticism 😉 Seriously, though...keep in mind that the JB in question is also an "early, asymmetric coil wind JB." You'll get close with an old JBJ or an antiquity, but they still aren't quite right. As far as the short A5 goes. They do have a lot of the same tonal characteristics as an A2. But they're weaker. That's kinda what I think Seymour was going for with the degaussed A2 in the EVH Frankenstein Humbucker. I think your theory is probably pretty close. Although, it's my theory that the reason Ed's was a short A5 to begin with, is that that's what would've been the magnet in that '61 PAF that Seymour originally re-wound. The one that I had back in the early, early '80s (supposedly came out of a celebrity owned guitar), also had a short A5 in it. And it had Gibson T-Top bobbins, plus a Gibson Patent sticker on it. So, it definitely wasn't a Duncan JB, but it was wound, very similar to the one that I just had Jalen wind for me, and used in this video....and, similar in spec to what you can find on a "research dive" on the internet, as to what those original 'unbranded" Seymour winds were. Often referred to as the "original JB." or just JB Model. And, I agree with your sentiment - I had written the JB off, because it was almost too obvious...anyway, hope that helps, and thanks again for watching!
@@jegauss Sorry I don't mean skepticism in you personally... Just that the Fair Warning could be replicated because it is such an enigma. I have a few of the The JB Model pickups without embossing on the base plate that I think are correct for the era you are referring to?
Interestingly, I think that Ed had a JB in the 5150 Kramer possibly with an A2 as this pickup is close to what the Wolfgang had in the early 90s.
Thanks for your response! Happy holidays.
@@petercampisi4449 No, no.....I didn't take it that way! And don't worry, I'm awfully tough to offend 😉 You may very well have one or two of those originals. If they have asymmetric coils, that's exactly what you have. I also got a JBJ, but that one has symmetrical coils (or really, really close - like machine error close).
Also, Steve Blucher (Dimarzio) has said that the 5150 pickup that they pulled out of the 5150 was a JB with a flakey coil...he was tasked with duplicating that pickup (not with the flakey coil) for the EBMM guitar. Those Dimarzios had the A5...so, I'm not quite sure when they went to the A2s...but I know they eventually did.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
@@jegauss Glad to hear that you may do another video on Women and Children First...If you do, I recommend the Dimarzio x2n pickup (1979) in the destroyer. In my lawsuit era destroyer, it is amazing. A lot of drive, but warm and full sounding without as much of the brightness/harness of the Super Distortion. It definitely drives harder as well. Since WCF was recorded with a destroyer (Chris Holmes), I think the combination of this guitar/pickup is a likely candidate. Plus, Ed did have it on the white star guitar in around 1980. It seems to work better with blackback because it is so full-sounding. I don't find it as effective with greenbacks in my experience. FWIW, I am also really liking the JB in my destroyer as well for Panama. Even though I don't believe the destroyer was on that album, the JB just shines. Looking forward to pairing that pickup with a floyd. Anywho, these are just my thoughts if it helps. I hope all is well...
@@petercampisi4449 Hey Peter! I've just started my "tone testing" - record, listen, change something, record, listen, change something, etc....I also start these things with as much research as possible, too. A really good clue / place to start are those picture from the WACF session, where Ed is holding the roundback mandolin, while sitting on his 4x12. In that group of pictures, you can see the Holmes destroyer (with a covered humbucker in the bridge - Chris Holmes had Dimarzio Super Ds in it when he lent it to Ed). Ed is playing the Burst in one of those photos, and it's missing the bridge pickup / PAF (assuming he hadn't wrecked the pickup from the burst), so we've all kind of surmised that either the PAF from the burst has been installed into the Holmes Destroyer, or it's the original pickup from his destroyer, that he removed, because he didn't like the sound after he hacked it up...Then, you also see the Bee sitting in a stand (most likely loaded with the Mighty Mite 1300) and the 2" thick Mahogany bodied guitar that also had a mighty mite or super D in it. So, I'm thinking, and I'm hearing, at least to start, a return to the more traditional type of pickups, as used on VH I. This makes sense, from what I'm hearing - the fat cap is installed in the amp - the Schaffer Vega isn't being used, and the amp sounds warmer with no wireless and the fat cap. Also, just a bit more gain in the lower mids with the fat cap. There's also a possibility that the Shark comes out on Fools, but I'm not convinced yet. If the Shark is still configured the same as it was for VH II, then I'm thinking it still has the Super D, with the A5 mag in it......anyway, I know that's a lot...I'll start to hear these nuances once I get settled in the speaker cabinet / echoplex or no echoplex, etc...
After the first tour in '78, he "retired" the '68 amp from touring, only to be used in the studio, and essentially used new Marshalls (all 1959 - 4-holers), and they're a little brighter, just a little less gain, and he was using a wireless which is a tone suck....I think that's where the Super D's and X2Ns came in to the picture - mostly for live use. Even though his guitar sounds pretty gainy in the studio, it's got clarity and dynamics that you tend to lose with overwound pickups...again, all speculation, and that's why this is a bunch of fun! Thanks for jumping in again!
Great video, you're nailing the tone. Great job keeping the sound alive. Rock on, RIP Ed🙏
Thank you, John!
I have enjoyed this video SO MUCH ! Many thanks for taking the time & making the effort in producing this masterpiece, Jim. Very much appreciated (y)
Thank you! Very much appreciated, and thank you for watching!
If you really want a pickup that nails the Fair Warning tone you need to look into Pariah Pickups. Their Van Halen themed pickups are incredible
Thanks, I have looked into their stuff....
These Jalen custom wound VH pickups are more accurate than Pariah's Pasadena series.
@@2216sammy 🤣
Could’ve sworn that the “brown sound” was actually Alex’s snare drum sound
It is / was...it got 'appropriated' to describe Ed's guitar sound....but yes, you're correct.
Way Awesome Info!!! Thanks for all the cool nerdy details, that helps a lot! 👍
And, thank you again! I very much appreciate it. Thanks for watching all these videos!
Jim, you have really done your research! Holy schnikes, you really nailed that tone ! Smoking playing as well! 🔥 Thank you for being the tone scientist, and sharing your results with all of us on the interwebs. 🙌
You're very welcome! Thank you for watching!
Fantastic. A great tribute and learning session of the master Ed sound. Jim, bravo my man.
Thank you, Mason! Very much appreciated!
Jim - really love your videos. Very helpful and entertaining.
Thank you, Trevorr!
Thank you for sharing all this insight! You have the whole package going on Jim, the playing and tone is top notch! Never would've of thought to use 75 watt celestions. Look forward to the next album info and your time on ToneTalk!
Thank you! Very much appreciated! See you tonight on ToneTalk!
I’m speechless. Absolutely Amazing. Thank You So Much !!!
Ive been waiting for this!
Awesome tone and you are very spot on with my fav VH album! That brown sound you have rips! It's still difficult for me when I reflect upon Eddie, but thank you for your time and efforts keeping the EVH passion alive, by demonstrating and explaining the technical aspect of his tone. EVH would certainly approve!
Great presentation!
Thank you, Ty! I feel the same way about Ed. Still hard to believe he's gone. I guess that's one of the reasons I finally did this series of videos. Kind of a tribute to all that he's done, and try to illustrate / demonstrate his brilliance.
Incredibly informative! Playing is definitely in the spirit! It’s fantastic! The sound is spot on! You nailed it!
Thank you, David!
Great video Jim , thanks for this - love the tone you achieve . The pick detail is really interesting too. More like this if possible please -brilliant research.
Thank you, Rich!
Just INCREDIBLE! I felt like I was in the studio with EVH. Thank you.
Nice job, Jim. Good enough to get me to subscribe. I especially like that you get into the recording aspects, too - the mics, the plugins, etc.
All these videos your doing are awesome! Hope you keep making more and more!
Thank you! More than likely - I may circle back and get Women and Children First, maybe some selections from Diver Down and 1984 (1984 is going in a lot of different directions, and a few guitars are used, that I don't own, or can build - like the Kramer Ripley and that '58 Gibson, Korina V). But, we'll see. Thanks again for watching!
@@jegauss Awesome! Looking forward to all your next videos . Thank you!
@@bgibson70 You're very welcome!
Wow!! Amazing playing. You nailed it. Great video.
Thanks Rich! Thanks for watching!
Brilliant! Ed is in the details. What a dedication to the maestro. Floored.
Mannnnn well you know I listen to everything there is online in this regard and this is the best hands down. Something about your review of VH album sounds in general just works. The more I dive into stuff since Ed passed the more I strayed from this being my fav album….but I’m back lol. Fair Warning is just a special child IMHO❣️🔥🤘 Thank you for this caring treatment.
Thank you Andrew! Very kind words...This album, to me, always marked the departure of people telling Ed what to do. You can just tell he's taking control of the music - all aspects. It's hard for me to choose, but this one rotates into my favorite VH album on a regular basis. Thanks for watching!
sounds awesome! I love this guitar sound!🔥🔥🔥
Thank you very much this was a very interesting video I love how you show all the components!
So awesome! So refreshing too! Because it's so simple really. I mean you don't have to even tweak any knobs, just turn 'em all up to 10! I can't wait to watch your other vids.
Very nice, Jim! Super detailed dissection of King Edward's wizardry.
Thank you, Brian!
I have watched my fair share of Brown sound videos. Some were pretty good but brother you absolutely nailed it. I will never forget the first time I heard Fair Warning. I was in 7th grade and my buddy cranked it on his Boom Box. That is one of the greatest guitar tones of all time. Thanks for doing this.
Thank you, Joe! Very much appreciated!
Haven’t watched this video for a while and man I still love it. Tone! The best I’ve heard
This deep dive into EVH sound on Fair warning is amazing. Technically excellent but the guitar playing is brilliant! I must see your other videos.
Ct
Much appreciated! Thank you!
Thank you for a deep dive, Amazing work!
Amazing stuff, Jim! Keep it up!
Thank you!
Dude, Awesome video!! Very informative and educational. You've obviously done your homework which means the rest of us won't have to.
Thank you!!!
Thank you and thanks for watching!