Woodshed Ep 42- How to recreate the 90’s Eddie Van Halen guitar tone!

Just The Tone

Hello Music Lovers! Welcome to the very first Woodshed episode of 2021 and I wish you all a happy New year!
I wanted to start off 21 by showing you guys how to nail that 90’s Van Halen tone without having to buy 3 amps and cabs and tons of gear! I discovered this as a very happy accident! You can purchase the tone patch on my website or Patreon page! Cheers!

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#Woodshed #recreate #90s #Eddie #Van #Halen #guitar #tone

Originally posted by UCLa-1xUQNaNmQA4dcGs3XBA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BPr4vEfRU0

I just received my FM9 after a fairly lengthy wait time… and I love it. After using 2 x100 w Marshall Super Leads in stereo for years, I could pretty much duplicate any sound with my rig. But after a rather steep learning curve when first firing up the FM9 I can now do the same, and then some! But that's why these units are so good… their control and versatility.

Thanks for the EVH sound… you nailed it. I duplicated Ed's sound(s) with the Super Leads and a HUGE rack full of outboard gear when needed, but am not familiar enough with the FM9… so thanks for walking it through. I have my own sound, but am playing in a cover band now just for a few bucks and lots of fun, and this will come in handy for the EVH covers.

A lot of people seem to "feel" Eddie used way too much "grease" on his rig starting with 5150, but I disagree. It was Eddie… how can it be said it was too much when that is what he wanted?

Obviously Ed didn't need the processed, wet sound to play… he got by just fine prior to the Eventide and the rest of his gear before 5150. But he liked it… and no one sounded like Ed.

Put on some headphones and listen to 'Source of Infection' on OU812 (as one example)… it will turn your head around. It's so dynamic and unique it will almost make your head spin in sections. When anyone hears EVH, they absolutely know it's EVH because of that trademark tome/sound.

Thanks again, Mr. Wood… the FM9 is providing loads of fun and incredible versatility for me… without the weight and space of my long-time live rig.
I also purchased 2 Line 6 Powercab 2×12 pluses, running in stereo, and it's awesome. I get that live "In-the-Room" sound, which I was concerned about when trying the FM9. The cabs have great stereo widening settings and with 2 of them the sound is huge. I've tried miking the Powercabs and it sounds better than straight through to the console (the sound tech agrees). With some tweaking they sound exactly like my 4×12 Marshall cabs.

Thanks again for the tips.

42 thoughts on “Woodshed Ep 42- How to recreate the 90’s Eddie Van Halen guitar tone!”

@59plexi

at 8:23 am

tuned too high
@Now_or_Never_777

at 8:23 am

Thank you Andy
@stevestan6525

at 8:23 am

I love the Balance tone and also the VH1 tone. Those who ignore the later sound forget that EVH never thought that VH1 was the pinnacle and happily walked away from the older tech, with which he did make magic, into the newer tech, with which he made bigger sounding magic:) Cheers.
@stevestan6525

at 8:23 am

Totally amazing, thanks! But you should get a Wolfgang guitar….:)
@khristomasino4109

at 8:23 am

Hey guys does anyone know how to accomplish this on the helix? Delays do not offer a pan left and right. Thanks in advance!
@kgjohnson0240

at 8:23 am

Hey Andy is this preset available anywhere?
@evanmiller2579

at 8:23 am

Epic tone. Well done.
@4GuitarTrance

at 8:23 am

I just received my FM9 after a fairly lengthy wait time… and I love it. After using 2 x100 w Marshall Super Leads in stereo for years, I could pretty much duplicate any sound with my rig. But after a rather steep learning curve when first firing up the FM9 I can now do the same, and then some! But that's why these units are so good… their control and versatility.

Thanks for the EVH sound… you nailed it. I duplicated Ed's sound(s) with the Super Leads and a HUGE rack full of outboard gear when needed, but am not familiar enough with the FM9… so thanks for walking it through. I have my own sound, but am playing in a cover band now just for a few bucks and lots of fun, and this will come in handy for the EVH covers.

A lot of people seem to "feel" Eddie used way too much "grease" on his rig starting with 5150, but I disagree. It was Eddie… how can it be said it was too much when that is what he wanted?

Obviously Ed didn't need the processed, wet sound to play… he got by just fine prior to the Eventide and the rest of his gear before 5150. But he liked it… and no one sounded like Ed.

Put on some headphones and listen to 'Source of Infection' on OU812 (as one example)… it will turn your head around. It's so dynamic and unique it will almost make your head spin in sections. When anyone hears EVH, they absolutely know it's EVH because of that trademark tome/sound.

Thanks again, Mr. Wood… the FM9 is providing loads of fun and incredible versatility for me… without the weight and space of my long-time live rig.
I also purchased 2 Line 6 Powercab 2×12 pluses, running in stereo, and it's awesome. I get that live "In-the-Room" sound, which I was concerned about when trying the FM9. The cabs have great stereo widening settings and with 2 of them the sound is huge. I've tried miking the Powercabs and it sounds better than straight through to the console (the sound tech agrees). With some tweaking they sound exactly like my 4×12 Marshall cabs.

Thanks again for the tips.
@gokhanersan8561

at 8:23 am

Balance songs, except for Amsterdam and Balachiterium, were a disappointment for me. But the Balance sound, both the guitar and the drums, is my favorite of all time.
@deebop4904

at 8:23 am

It was the soldano SLO 100.
@deebop4904

at 8:23 am

Was that a pez dispenser in the beginning?
@funfreq9282

at 8:23 am

The last piece of that puzzle is the live aspect! Use 3 op’s and 3 Fr cabs and you will have a huge live sound !
@angrybuzzy

at 8:23 am

This is exactly what I was looking for. Andy! Rock on, sir.
@Tenfingersofdoom

at 8:23 am

I love this! I am in a band called IRON DRAGON. We do buttrock originals. If I use this tone to record, I'm guessing I don't want to double my rhythm parts? Do you know if Eddie doubled his parts?
@craigwhitaker1168

at 8:23 am

Next time I’m in Nashville with Riley, I need to geek out on EVH with you!!
@robgen06

at 8:23 am

monster playing and tone brother inspiring
@MikeLewis1964

at 8:23 am

Hey, when you were going left and right, I was even hearing it left and right on my iPhone. Just thought I’d let you know.
@Wylding756

at 8:23 am

You have skills, but your tone sounds nothing like EVH.
@johnrobinson7138

at 8:23 am

Awesome video. Just curious, why not use the Dual Delay in stereo that gives you delay times and panning for Left & Right? Was there something specific about the Digital Mono delay you liked better?
@brendonelton

at 8:23 am

Now I need 3 amps…
@Billy_bSLAYER

at 8:23 am

Lol, the drill when compared to Ed's is amusing, none the less.
@greghooper374

at 8:23 am

Dude! I was using my Eventide Pitch Factor detuned slightly, with a blend of half and got close. But, yours sounds right on the money, less chorus-y than mine.
@RodRanDusted

at 8:23 am

I was able to dial these settings with my HeadRush. It was good, but something not quite right. Took a break, went back with headphones, noticed my output was set to mono. When I switched to stereo and hit a chord, it was like the floor dropped out and the most LUSH VH tone flooded the room. Thank you so much Andy!!!!!
@potluckfishing

at 8:23 am

Sounds exactly like a 90s multi effects unit 🙂
@wiseowl2335

at 8:23 am

great stuff, thanks Andy
@kevinp_25

at 8:23 am

Fantastic! Quick question: I use my Fractal through a real amp FX loop and cab. Where would you put a low cut if not using the cab block? Amp block? EQ block? Filter? Something else?
@CoffeeDrinker71

at 8:23 am

Hi Andy! Great job creating the "Balance" era tone!! It's perfect!!! Question: I'm a long time Helix player but considering an Axe Fx system. Is your signal path coming out of the Axe Fx in stereo only? The Helix has multiple output choices between 1/4" and XLR options. For my WDW rig I use the XLR outs for the stereo "wet" signal and a single 1/4" out for the mono dry center channel (in a 3 cab setting). But, that limits me for recording this through a 2-channel interface into my DAW. If the Axe Fx is carrying your full signal path in stereo, then it would be much easier to record/capture in a DAW, and would seem like a better choice!!
@greenbaysixxstring5008

at 8:23 am

Not even close!
@quiktune6405

at 8:23 am

If you use my tuning system you can hammer down all you want on that trem.
@carterbenike265

at 8:23 am

its 798 ms and 398 ms…
@marcpendergrast5670

at 8:23 am

Actually…that does not sound good.
@jonb5150

at 8:23 am

Can’t seem to find the van halen patch for sale on your site Andy
@jonb5150

at 8:23 am

Can this be done with an Axe FM3??
@briandgr8st

at 8:23 am

So where can i get the drill? Amazon? Awesome tone!
@BrickWilliamsGuitar

at 8:23 am

Damn brother, you nailed that tone and it was far simpler than I thought it would be. Literally one of the greatest tones ever created. Ed was just brilliant.
@sdmfjoe5150

at 8:23 am

Well this is awesome. I just got rid of my digital rig, but I think Im going back to one. I currently have a Boss PS-6 and a Wampler Tape Echo Im trying to get this with my EL34 5150.
@guismth

at 8:23 am

Thats awesome!
@jimmycreamer7905

at 8:23 am

WOW WELL DONE
@carlosandchrlys7889

at 8:23 am

Tnxs
@carlosandchrlys7889

at 8:23 am

I do it in My ax8!!
@PonderosaSoundStudio

at 8:23 am

Those are, by far, the closest to replicating Ed's tones that I've heard yet. I was about to embark on trying for wet-dry-wet using my real amp/pedalboard, the Axe-Fx and UAD amp models, but this made all of that unncessary. Can't wait to take delivery of my Axe-FX III in the next few days (it should have arrived today if not for UPS Canada's utter incompetence)!!!
@christopher.k.guitar

at 8:23 am

Great job man!