Eddie's Playing 1994 - 1996

**Reckless Fable** · 03.19.07, 10:38 AM

I wanted to discuss this in the guitar forums because I don't want this turning into another Dave/Sam flamewar in the "Main" area. Plus, I'd like to just specifically talk about Eddie's guitar playing and not the politics behind the band, which to some may be important, but is not the purpose for this thread.

Brett mentioned in one of these threads that Eddie was smoking from 1994 - 1996. I remember at the time being utterly impressed each time I saw VH live on the Balance tour. While Ed wasn't jumping around due to his hip, his playing had a "little something extra" that I haven't heard since. He was crisp, clean, hungry and playing with more emotion than at any point in his career. Not that he was "better" than when he was 23, but he was matured and seasoned, yet also still hungry.

So, I went to YouTube and found that some dude had recently posted the Pensacola Balance show on there. I started watching last night at 10:00pm and didn't finish until 11:30pm. I couldn't stop watching because it was so amazing to me how freaking incredible Eddie sounded. All the little naunces within the songs, and the riffs that turned me on to Eddie in the beginning were all executed to perfection. I forgot what a ferocious song Aftershock was!

Naturally, I was pretty bummed after watching those videos when compared to the current status of the man, but the purpose of this thread isn't to discuss Ed's current situation.

What did you fellow guitar heads think about Ed's playing from 1994-1996? Also, what 3 songs that weren't played during the Balance tour would you have liked to see that Eddie play that weren't played (forget about the logistics of who the singer was)?

Personally, I would have liked to see him play "I'm the One," "Mean Street" and "Summer Nights."

**Rockguitarstar** · 03.19.07, 11:54 AM

You know in all honesty his playing through the end of the III tour begining from 94 was unreal bro. The bootlegs I have from the balance tour and the II tour are just off the charts, I think his writing and his live playing benefitted so much from the fact that he wasnt drinking. No one could touch Ed at that point in music...

**SuckaInA3Piece** · 03.19.07, 12:12 PM

Despite what some think, Ed was still drinking on that tour. I've got a few boots where he's chugging cans of beers here and there. I do think he'd tried hard to curb his drinking though, but that's not what this thread is about.

At some point on that Balance tour his tone got too wet for my tastes, but his playing was unreal. His best ever? Nah, I like the first two tours, and the OU812/MOR tours the best, but I believe someone mentioned his maturity, and I think that's what I liked the best. He was who he was, and he did what he did best. He didn't have to jump around and be that crazy and wild EVH we all love. His lack of mobility really made him just sit back and kick out some crazy solo's and really inspired playing overall.

The one thing I don't like about the Balance tour is the set list. If I had to choose three tunes it would be Good Enough, A.F.U. and Summer Nights.

**vhin04** · 03.19.07, 12:22 PM

I think his playing on the Balance tour was incredible, but after a while I did get sick of that very processed sound he had going on then. His playing on the III tour was really incredible also, and I preferred his tone on that tour, which was much less processed and much more raw. He really had his shit together on that tour also. His playing on the 04 tour, well, that really wasn't up to Eddie's abilities. A lot of it had to do with that stupid sustainer, and a lot had to do with the alcohol. I was really impressed with Eddie again on the Fender NAMM video, even though he was just screwing aroung and making noise, his tone was back and his fingers were moving pretty good. I hope this stay in rehab really does it for him, because if it does, watch out.

**TheMightyCopenHalenII** · 03.19.07, 12:42 PM

His playing during that time was phenomenal...I actually dug his tone as well.
He was crisp, on time and exected very well. Don't Tell Me fuckin' whomps.

I would have liked to have seen 5150, Source of Infection and Dance The Night Away. I don't know if they would have worked vocally, but i would have even taken instrumental jams of: I'm The One, Drop Dead Legs and Little Guitars would have been bitchin'. I'll name the whole catalog if I don't stop here...

**gproud5150** · 03.19.07, 12:45 PM

Ed's playing in that era was great, but I agree that his sound was so washed out/processed it was terrible. I thought his playing and sound on the III Tour were above anything in several years, even when I saw them on the F.U.C.K. tour in '91. He was just so on, his sound was a lot better (though still too much rack gear), and he was so fit and healthy looking. I used to watch the boot from Australia all the time until I lost it. If anyone has it?... :-)

**Cooler5150** · 03.19.07, 01:30 PM

I agree Ed's sound was pretty wicked during this period. Also great during "3" as well. My least favorite period of his was absolutely the "FUCK" tour. Just listen to the opening riff of "Ain't Talkin'..." on "Live RHRN," it sounds so muddled if that makes any sense. Nothing raw about it at all...almost too quiet in a way. May have been just the recording, but just my 2 pennies anyway.

**Jeffc12** · 03.19.07, 01:53 PM

This era is my favorite era of Van Halen. Balance was incredible. The Paper view show they did was amazing. Three was incredible as well. Maybe even just one notch up form the Balance tour. I have always said that if Sammy or Dave had been in the band on the Three tour they would have destroyed the world that year. The other thing from that era is the Garage band jam. One of my favorite Eddie performances ever. With all the artists that were on that stage, he really stood out. Also the ALS benifit he did with Lukather and Shean too. Every thing is gold in the mid 90's with Ed.

**rolsguitars** · 03.19.07, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Rockguitarstar

You know in all honesty his playing through the end of the III tour begining from 94 was unreal bro. The bootlegs I have from the balance tour and the II tour are just off the charts, I think his writing and his live playing benefitted so much from the fact that he wasnt drinking. No one could touch Ed at that point in music...

I'm gonna agree with this here, I thought his playing right thru the 3 tour was awesome, but went downhill quick after that, anyone know when the allstar Jam
with Paul Sheaffer, Ritchie Sambora, Sheryl Crow etc etc was ?? now that show he was totally off Sambora made him look like a fool was that after 98' ??

**Reckless Fable** · 03.19.07, 05:45 PM

I wasn't a big fan of metal pick during the III era. The metal hitting metal kinda grates on my ears, however, Ed's playing was fantastic.

BTW, does anyone know how Ed got that "single coil" sounds playing Runaround on the Balance tour? He's always played his amber/quilt, humbucker EBMM, but he gets a single coil tone without the coil tap. Very interesting...

**kowski** · 03.19.07, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Reckless Fable

I wasn't a big fan of metal pick during the III era. The metal hitting metal kinda grates on my ears, however, Ed's playing was fantastic.

BTW, does anyone know how Ed got that "single coil" sounds playing Runaround on the Balance tour? He's always played his amber/quilt, humbucker EBMM, but he gets a single coil tone without the coil tap. Very interesting...

It always sounded to me like he's using a dirty channel on one amp and a clean channel on another simultaneously. He also had that EBMM with a piezo that he used for CSLY, but I haven't seen video of him playing Runaround from that tour to see if he's using it or not.

**Reckless Fable** · 03.19.07, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by kowski

It always sounded to me like he's using a dirty channel on one amp and a clean channel on another simultaneously. He also had that EBMM with a piezo that he used for CSLY, but I haven't seen video of him playing Runaround from that tour to see if he's using it or not.

Kowski:

Check it--Here's Ed playing Runaround on the Balance tour:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lz6lblsVbwc

**Wolfgang_'99** · 03.19.07, 07:09 PM

good vid. good boot.

**kowski** · 03.19.07, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Reckless Fable

Kowski:

Check it--Here's Ed playing Runaround on the Balance tour:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Lz6lblsVbwc

Thanks! I was wrong on both guesses, it's just clean channel at the beginning. I guess it's the way he's got it set, probably has the Bright switch on. I noticed he kicks on an octaver for a few seconds, too.

**Reckless Fable** · 03.19.07, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by kowski

Thanks! I was wrong on both guesses, it's just clean channel at the beginning. I guess it's the way he's got it set, probably has the Bright switch on. I noticed he kicks on an octaver for a few seconds, too.

I'm about 95% sure that it isn't a clear channel only. Maybe one channel clean, but one dirty with a lot of delay. I think the "bright" settings might be part of it, but something else is making the sound "pop" like a single coil.