Updated Van Halen guitar / rig collection and Strap collection

**5150rob** · 12.03.19, 04:29 AM

Hey guys,
in the process of moving to a new place so b4 I pack everything up I figured Id do a quick video of the collection as it is today. There is a whole bunch of stuff I didn't really touch on (striped drill, bray box etc) I just kinda hit on the basics of the guitars but you'll all get the gist lol. My long time and good friend Scott Smith and I were talking recently and chuckling at how long we've been building, collecting and playing these guitars lol. its been one helluva fun ride.... well over 25 years haha... Hope you all enjoy.

Rob

**RRvh1** · 12.03.19, 04:56 AM

Simply a fantastic collection, Rob!
Both the signature models and the striped replicas... The green EBMM, Neptune relic, Rasta w/striped headstock, 5150 relic etc. all make me drool! Haha. Neat to see you also have the obscure 'Hydra' axe in the background.

Killer stuff, Bro!

P.S. - Good luck on the move, and enjoy your new place! Cheers, from Canada.

**RRvh1** · 12.03.19, 05:12 AM

I forgot to give kudos on your stellar looking/sounding amp & pedal setup... Love the way you have the amps tricked out, and how you approach getting Eddie's 90's era Balance tone with the wet-dry-wet signal chain.

I just had the Japanese release of Balance on the other night, and it's a killer sound!

**5150rob** · 12.03.19, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by RRvh1

Simply a fantastic collection, Rob!
Both the signature models and the striped replicas... The green EBMM, Neptune relic, Rasta w/striped headstock, 5150 relic etc. all make me drool! Haha. Neat to see you also have the obscure 'Hydra' axe in the background.

Killer stuff, Bro!

P.S. - Good luck on the move, and enjoy your new place! Cheers, from Canada.

thanks so much my friend I appreciate it. Been here at this place for the last 4 years since my divorce. Wow time flies. Lots of memories here and a couple relationships that I thought would work that didn't but oh well everything happens for a reason. Time for a fresh start and to build a new VH room lol haha.
Stay tuned cause start of the year Ill be posting more videos on my YouTube page once Im moved in and all set up.

Rob

**Dutchie5150** · 12.03.19, 05:40 AM

Your collection is ridiculously awesome Rob. Everything looks amazing... even the Hydra

Good luck with the move and we all look forward to seeing the new videos.

**EJC** · 12.03.19, 06:00 AM

Nice collection Rob...! I always thought I was an Eddie Fan, and all I have is 2 EVH Wolfgang standards, a Circles, and a 5150 III 15w head!

I guess the coolest shit I have is Diver Down vinyl signed by Paul Unkert, and 5150 vinyl signed by Jeff Babicz...

Don't worry about the relationship stuff man. Just live your life how you want.

At our age, most the women are just looking for someone who doesn't intimidate them intellectually or physically. And by that I mean, you are in shape and they don't want to feel like they have to keep up.

Your best bet is prob dating women 10-15 years younger than you.

PS - I watched a bunch of your vids, but I may have missed your weight routine?

I've been doing the typical

Monday: Chest/Tri's/Abs/Cardio
Weds: Back/Bi's/Abs/Cardio
Friday: Shoulders/Legs

for awhile and am thinking of switching it up for the new year. I also realized I had to give up the heavy weight crap. I no longer go over 225 on bench or 300 on leg press. Though I def still can physically, it just isn't worth the joint pain the rest of the week for me anymore. I don't want to be like these die hards in the gym in their 50s limping around talking about how much their shoulder hurts yet they still go stupid heavy every week and wonder why they are in pain...
~Peace
~Eric

**5150rob** · 12.03.19, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by EJC

Nice collection Rob...! I always thought I was an Eddie Fan, and all I have is 2 EVH Wolfgang standards, a Circles, and a 5150 III 15w head!

I guess the coolest shit I have is Diver Down vinyl signed by Paul Unkert, and 5150 vinyl signed by Jeff Babicz...

Don't worry about the relationship stuff man. Just live your life how you want.

At our age, most the women are just looking for someone who doesn't intimidate them intellectually or physically. And by that I mean, you are in shape and they don't want to feel like they have to keep up.

Your best bet is prob dating women 10-15 years younger than you.

PS - I watched a bunch of your vids, but I may have missed your weight routine?

I've been doing the typical

Monday: Chest/Tri's/Abs/Cardio
Weds: Back/Bi's/Abs/Cardio
Friday: Shoulders/Legs

for awhile and am thinking of switching it up for the new year. I also realized I had to give up the heavy weight crap. I no longer go over 225 on bench or 300 on leg press. Though I def still can physically, it just isn't worth the joint pain the rest of the week for me anymore. I don't want to be like these die hards in the gym in their 50s limping around talking about how much their shoulder hurts yet they still go stupid heavy every week and wonder why they are in pain...
~Peace
~Eric

haha thanks bro. yeah for the last year Ive been dating ladies 15 to 22 years younger than me lol and its been a lot of fun for sure. 2 of them I thought were gonna last and the last one of 3 years was a russian girl and I gave her EVERYTHING in my heart and she ended up moving on. Allhappens for a reason and now its time to move to a new place, continue to teach my Martial Arts and Firearms stuff and spend time with my kiddos and of course keep rockin the VH stuff

Ill be good to go and actually kinda excited to start over again. Even though it hurts like hell losing her to another guy I guess I shoulda seen it coming. thanks so much for all the kind words to bro and also to all of you for watching my videos on my youtube channell. Its because of all you guys I still love doing this stuff after all these years

So I thank you all.
and I hear ya on switching up the work out routine. I train different than I did back in my 20s and 30s. I dont lift heavy anymore I lift lighter and more reps and focus on cardio and core so I stay ripped up and in good shape. At 46 thats how I roll and what makes me feel good. I also still focus on flexibility and thats due to my Martial Arts. At 46 I still do full center / chinese Van Damme splits because I practice every day. Its basically all how you feel and live your life.
by the way.... I have a date with a new lady this Fri night and kinda excited

**Yaminub** · 12.03.19, 07:28 AM

Cool update Rob! I always forget how many of those damn striped Kramers you have. Seeing all these reminds me I still have three and a half guitars up with our friend in Michigan, looking forward to putting those back together with their new paint

I gotta do an update on what I'm working with soon. Just waiting on getting those three Wolfgangs back

Dave

**Skider** · 12.03.19, 08:36 AM

With your knowledge and Scott's, what's your opinion on the body wood for the 5150? Seems the debate is between basswood, poplar and swamp ash. Interested in your POV...

**5150rob** · 12.03.19, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Skider

With your knowledge and Scott's, what's your opinion on the body wood for the 5150? Seems the debate is between basswood, poplar and swamp ash. Interested in your POV...

let me just say this. For years and years I always thought it was Poplar and even after meeting with paul unkert a few years ago I thought the same. However I will tell everyone now I believe 100 percent its basswood now due to some info I got a year or so back. I have seen up close pictures of the real one too and its believe it or not a very grainy body. Its basswood.

Rob

**Yaminub** · 12.03.19, 10:28 AM

Basswood is great. I feel like for most "good" body woods are basically identical when it comes to sound. Difference between Maple and ebony on a fretboard is a bigger difference than basswood to mahogany on a body, I think.

**turnbuckle** · 12.03.19, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by 5150rob

let me just say this. For years and years I always thought it was Poplar and even after meeting with paul unkert a few years ago I thought the same. However I will tell everyone now I believe 100 percent its basswood now due to some info I got a year or so back. I have seen up close pictures of the real one too and its believe it or not a very grainy body. Its basswood.

Rob

Hmm, basswood, alder, poplar, and maple are all known for their closed grain structure.
Basswood is favored by carvers because of it's softness, homogeneous consistency, and lack of grain. It smells good when it's drilled, routed, or sanded, kinda like black pepper.
Ash and mahogany are way more open grained, and usually require grain filler to achieve a glass like finish, which usually shrink with age, making the grain a bit more visible.
If you can see an obvious grain texture, it may more likely be ash.

And that is a very impressive array of gear you live with.

**track 5** · 12.03.19, 11:03 PM

That's awesome! BTW. I actually have the best 7th tuner ever made.

Good luck on your move dude. Out.

**KS 5150** · 12.04.19, 08:02 AM

Wow dude!! Your collection is off the hook! I've seen bits of it in the past, but not the whole enchilada before....absolutely love your 2015 tour relic.....that's always been one I've thought about having built or modified. You brought it to life!

**ScottyBHarris** · 12.04.19, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by 5150rob

Hey guys,
in the process of moving to a new place so b4 I pack everything up I figured Id do a quick video of the collection as it is today. There is a whole bunch of stuff I didn't really touch on (striped drill, bray box etc) I just kinda hit on the basics of the guitars but you'll all get the gist lol. My long time and good friend Scott Smith and I were talking recently and chuckling at how long we've been building, collecting and playing these guitars lol. its been one helluva fun ride.... well over 25 years haha... Hope you all enjoy.

Rob

Rob,

Your collection is amazing, the attention to detail is beyond words. Is there an Edward guitar that you don’t have in your collection?

My VH room is nothing compared to yours bro. Nice Job!

Viva Van Halen!