Getting The *Real* Eddie Van Halen 1st Album Brown Sound

[chrisom]

Interesting- One man's opinion but I don't necessarily agree with all he had to say...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klC5Od1KIcQ

[laneychris]

I'm not convinced are you?

[Tone Slinger]

I think I know who this is and although they 'Got the Ban, I was a Fan'. I really liked how this guy just joined up on the forum and WENT FOR IT. That was very much like Rockstah was here early on
I agree with pretty much all he had to say in the vid......( Though I dont like name calling and arguing) he backs up his findings with clips, and though he may not play early Ed as well as strat78, he certainly,imo, demonstrates a very authentic type dynamic to his clip that Ed had. This guy can rip real good on his own stuff.
I agree about the pu. I think Ed had a stock paf (most likely a Gibson factory overwind with an A5) on Vh1. As we all know, the early winding machines as used by Gibson(And Fender)were not totally accurate and standardized so some pu's got more turns/wind's. Right before the start of the 1st tour, I think Ed may have taken a paf or two to 'ol Seymour, and wound up liking one that was basically a '78 (9kish with A2). I hear an A2 magnet all over that 1st tour and second album, whereas on VH1 all the way up to the Whiskey '77/'78 New Years Eve sets, I hear a slightly different thing. Obviously there was a amp and set up difference between these gigs and that first tour, BUT, the pu might have been part of it.

[FL6]

I liked how he simply made a video of what he was doing. Text is fine, text with sound clips is better, text with video even better. For me anyways...I need to see what I'm hearing in real time to get a solid understanding and/or convincing, a full and complete demonstration.

[jnew]

HA! What do know. Another JTM-45 re-issue convert.

However, I can't say he was nailing the tone. Just my opinion though. Kind of think we all know who that guy is but regardless the 3 mandatory things he describes, are not really accurate. I'll go with the variac but before the other two, I'd put a 4X12 with the low wattage thumpers. Even if re-amping. And from there, focus more on the amp's circuit. I would be curious to know how he converted his.

[white noise]

I don't think that is the "real" brown sound, its missing something.

I do agree with the pickup.

Mark's Mod 5 and Ralle clips are way better!

[axeman]

NOPE

[jnew]

I believe Mark and Ralle favored DSD's. I know Ralle is using ceramic currently.

[echoplexi1974]

I can't get past that stupid reverb effect on his voice And he's really hung up on that echoplex circuit running TIS58 @ 20-24V.

Most players clips here at Metro are clear winners over this guy's tone IMO.

[jnew]

I'll give him that one. That circuit is noticeably better with more headroom at 22-24 volts.

[rgalpin]

when you bang on an E chord - it should bounce back in anger - here, it just kind of craps its pants and shrinks away. i just can't think of a "cooler" way to say that.

i feel like its a piece that some people don't pay attention to. the amp has to be STRONG. that's why it's so hard to get the real sound - it's easy to get a spongie gain that's easy to play and sustains forever... it's very difficult to get that gain and expression and sponge while maintaining a tennis racket stiffness that allows you to wack, bang, sting. that's what i'm after. and i've never gotten it to my satisfaction.

[Tone Slinger]

I think I see what your saying about how Ed's tone had that almost 'EXPLOSION' after he would strike open A or E chords. That is very hard to dial in for sure. I think that David Bray manages to get his amps (ground up builds or mods) to have that. It is a sound of PURE CRANKEDNESS.

[Tone Slinger]

I also see what y'all are saying about the Op's sound in the vid. I think its a no brainer concerning the things covered (though the echoplex isnt AS essential imo). His recording rig is coloring his sound in the wrong way imo.
I've found that v1 of 820/.68 (or 2.7k/.68) .0022 plate and v2 820/.68 is just TOO thin without the vowelly MEAT that Ed's tone had. I am leaning towards a fat cap of sorts for sure.

[echoplexi1974]

Good points Andy.

I really like the sprague atom 25uf (v2) in my 68' plexi. It just bumps the gain up a tad.

[Megaro]

I enjoyed his observations and opinions, but I personally did not hear VH 1 from his setup. It was a good tone -- but it was more of a generic early 80s metal tone to my ears.