Eddie Van Halen vs Eddie Van Halen

[I Coulda Hada VH]

In honor of EVH's 64th birthday , let's try a little experiment. How about a civilized discussion of Eddie's guitar playing from 1978-1984 vs his guitar playing after 1984? What did you like and what did you dislike (if anything) from each era? Do you prefer his guitar playing from one era to the other? If so, why?

This is a discussion about Eddie's guitar playing only, not about the singers. You are not allowed to mention Dave, Sammy or Gary or make reference to the vocals, not even the backup vocals of Mike and Wolfgang. While we're at it, no mention of Alex's drumming either.

Don't be the guy or girl to break the rules so clearly explained above.

GO!

[Van Squalen]

In honor of EVH's 64th birthday , let's try a little experiment. How about a civilized discussion of Eddie's guitar playing from 1978-1984 vs his guitar playing after 1984? What did you like and what did you dislike (if anything) from each era? Do you prefer his guitar playing from one era to the other? If so, why?

This is a discussion about Eddie's guitar playing only, not about the singers. You are not allowed to mention Dave, Sammy or Gary or make reference to the vocals, not even the backup vocals of Mike and Wolfgang. While we're at it, no mention of Alex's drumming either.

Don't be the guy or girl to break the rules so clearly explained above.

GO!

Lame. Rookie maneuver. Just another Dave vs. Sam argument. Why do you do this?

Cloak it in all the context you like, that's all it's gonna be, and you knew that before you posted.

Come on, man. Better thread ideas if you feel you simply MUST start threads at all.

[danielleesale]

He was more innovative in the early days. The songwriting from 5150 and onward opened them up to new audiences, though.

[Hurricane Halen]

This is gonna be a clusterfuck thread! Why did you start this thread, Coulda? This is just straight up retard bus.

That being said, can’t wait to join in!!!!

HH<——— hates dumb ass threads like these. ————.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

This is gonna be a clusterfuck thread! Why did you start this thread, Coulda? This is just straight up retard bus.

That being said, can’t wait to join in!!!!

HH<——— hates dumb ass threads like these. ————.

Nice to see you have my back!

[Hurricane Halen]

Nice to see you have my back!

Of course!

Ain’t got your front tho, just saying. Brother don’t roll like that.

HH<——- EVH grew a number today. Wonder if he got musical spark today too——-

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Lame. Rookie maneuver. Just another Dave vs. Sam argument. Why do you do this?

Cloak it in all the context you like, that's all it's gonna be, and you knew that before you posted.

Come on, man. Better thread ideas if you feel you simply MUST start threads at all.

What part of not mentioning Dave or Sam confused you? Rookie.

[Van Squalen]

What part of not mentioning Dave or Sam confused you? Rookie.

You honestly expect people here to do that. YOU are the rookie, old man. Sheesh.

You're just comparing one era to the other. AGAIN.

You could've just said, 'in honor of Ed's birthday, let's talk about his best solo, or his best rhythm riff, or his best guitar."

But no, you had to do the same old Dave Sam hash. Sigh.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

You honestly expect people here to do that. YOU are the rookie, old man. Sheesh.

You're just comparing one era to the other. AGAIN.

You could've just said, 'in honor of Ed's birthday, let's talk about his best solo, or his best rhythm riff, or his best guitar."

But no, you had to do the same old Dave Sam hash. Sigh.

Squalen, you love to critique, but when was the last time you started a new thread?

[Van Squalen]

Squalen, you love to critique, but when was the last time you started a new thread?

You are the one who likes starting new threads. It's always one of two topics. Some variation on the Dave era vs the Sam era, or a ranking list.

If you're looking for new stuff to talk about, maybe re-read Dave or Sam's books, and go from there.

Or talk about the much underrated vocals of Gary Cherone. Or compare Mike to Wolfie. I noticed you've never done that in all your rankings. I wonder why?

I don't start new threads, haven't for years. That's what newbs do.

[Get The Show On The Road]

In honor of EVH's 64th birthday , let's try a little experiment. How about a civilized discussion of Eddie's guitar playing from 1978-1984 vs his guitar playing after 1984? What did you like and what did you dislike (if anything) from each era? Do you prefer his guitar playing from one era to the other? If so, why?

This is a discussion about Eddie's guitar playing only, not about the singers. You are not allowed to mention Dave, Sammy or Gary or make reference to the vocals, not even the backup vocals of Mike and Wolfgang. While we're at it, no mention of Alex's drumming either.

Don't be the guy or girl to break the rules so clearly explained above.

GO!

I like Ed's playing from 1978-1984 better than his playing from 1985 onward.

His early approach was more of a riff based approach and more aggressive. Probably having something to do with him being under the age of 30. He definitely had more of a gunslinger attitude toward the instrument, but he still played parts that fit the song, for example the solo in Jamie's Cryin', the interlude in Little Guitars, the Women in Love solo, etc.

I think his post 1985 playing was a more song based approach that saw the focus shift to more chordal structures with less riff based material. The solos didn't seem to be nearly as off the cuff and seemed more thought through. Its a more mature approach to the instrument which fits the fact that he was no longer a 20 something kid. He could still lay down a barn burner when he wanted to like SOI, and there were some riff based tunes like Amsterdam and Judgement Day, but the fire was definitely turned down a notch.

My preference is for the early approach because it appeals to me more, but he still was a better player than almost anyone in the second act.

[Team Edward]

Ed's guitar playing from 1978-1984 was just so innovative and mind blowing. That is the era in which Ed established and solidified his position as the greatest rock n roll guitar player ever. After 1984, Ed wrote some really phenomenal music. He wrote some killer riffs and delivered some nasty licks during this time period, for sure, but his guitar playing became more complimentary to the songs rather than the driving force behind them. Some of his best and most beautiful solos came from the post-84 era. His on stage delivery became less cavalier and spastic and more steady and professional.

On a related note, people talk about VH III as an experimental album for Eddie, and I disagree. Ed's experimental years were 1985-1996 and his experiments bore some tasty fruit. What we got with VH III was off-the-rails chaos.

[Raldo]

I prefer his playing during the 78-84 years.

[RRvh1]

I like both versions of Edward; the gun slinger, and the songwriter. Both are valid. Same as I enjoy his piano and keyboard/synth material.

Depending on my mood, of course. I like the music he writes, the melodies and note choices, the structures, and the various moods depending on the composition. To pigeon hole a specific era or to focus on only one aspect of his playing is actually very limiting, and almost a disservice to the Man and his musicianship. IMO.

[joezlo]

As a musician Ed just keeps getting better. The concept that his guitar playing is better post 84 to me is bunk. If you go solely by solo spots, 83-91 are phenoms. If you go by song crafting 86 - 00 go beyond guitar to full compositions (3 may suck to some one who wanted a 78 style VH record, but there is avant garde musicality where Ed does his thing outside the regular box, which is fun to listen to when you remove yourself from the "flustercluck" people view it as) If you want to go by guitar riffs, Ed could improvise something better than me on the spot when he was 16 and still could now. (perspective) Every VH record has some kind of guitar riffage that is the bomb:

My Favs:
Blueprint - We Die Bold (that gallop and chordal motif)

VH - I'm the One (a guitar clinic in itself)

VH 2 - Somebody Get Me A Doctor (volume swells and harmonic sprinkles after the guitar solo)

WACF - Romeo Delight (The harmonic taps, volume swells & Who/Zep esque breakdown)

FW - Unchained (The riff!)

DD - Little Guitars (Opening & verse riff)

84 - Hot For Teacher (Opening!)

5150 - Summer Nights (Stienberger magic!)

OU812 - Source of Infection (Taps & fast and loose solo)

FUCK - Judgement Day (Opening riff & whammy bar abuse)

Balance - Aftershock (Taps riff & making the Enter Sandman riff cooler)

Best of - Me Wise Magic (Stienberger magic again!)

VH 3 - Year to the Day (Killer riffage, good sustainer usage)

BOBW - Up For Breakfast (Badass riff to match the chopper effect - not to mention the wrist violin trick & even though its not guitar, the cello slides for each chord change during the guitar solo)

ADKOT - As Is (Drop 2 Hell anyone? Badass boogie riff with more hammer-ons than you can shake a stick at! On top of that, the D2H in the up position turns the regular tuning up a whole step! The boogie is in Bb even though its based around a A string position -still tuned down a half step like always)

It's not Ed vs Ed. It should be if you were stranded on an island for the rest of your life, which official VH releases would you bring with a limit of 4. (My wife and I do this all the time)