Hard Northern Ash and EVH Tone.

[arealken]

Some of us know that Warmoth has a connection to Ed's Grail tone of '78 /Eruption ( Boogie Body) . I'm thinking it has GOT to be substantially the hard Ash responsible for that sound. Sure I know about all the amps, effects, production, etc., but here's why I am thinking the Body made a big big impact.;

I have a hard Ash Strat. I really do not like the sound compared to most of my axes ( I play through a Hiwatt and Marshall, and Fender). It has none of the resonance of a premium tone wood Strat. Its hard, lifeless, and Cold.

Now maybe that's the exact formula for the VH1 Strat. I need to get some playtime with my North Ash Body Strat. I think for hot rod Marshall sound, with a few effects and the right cabinet, that might just be the ticket! Has to be. Why? There must be a reason. Do you think?

 

[amigarobbo]

I don't know about the sound but that be one heavy metal guitar.

 

[swarfrat]

While I do like early VH, I'm not a devoted follower, and my opinion may be subject to oversimplifying stuff I'm unfamiliar with - but that said...

I think EVH tone is about 98% pickup and amp (the remaining 2% being dominated by the bridge). Personally I greatly prefer JCM800's to Plexi's - as I feel Plexi's are kinda fizzy sounding, but that's where I'd start. I WOULDNT kill my shoulder until I had everything else checked off.

 

[musicispeace]

While I do like early VH, I'm not a devoted follower, and my opinion may be subject to oversimplifying stuff I'm unfamiliar with - but that said...

I think EVH tone is about 98% pickup and amp (the remaining 2% being dominated by the bridge). Personally I greatly prefer JCM800's to Plexi's - as I feel Plexi's are kinda fizzy sounding, but that's where I'd start. I WOULDNT kill my shoulder until I had everything else checked off.

Likewise, I have a great appreciation for early EVH and remember when we heard it first while in high school and our jaws dropped. But I find myself thinking that a lot of "the sound" had to be Eddie/pickup/amp. Arguably he played his amps as much as he played the guitar. I am not claiming to be any ground breaking player but of my 4 parts casters 3 different body woods are represented and the difference I find in playing them I attribute mostly to the pickups. (and one has a Bubinga neck which I think rounds the attack in a nice way)

 

[Cagey]

On the list of items that affect a guitar's characteristic tone, the body is fairly far down the list. Given the same amp, your playing style is number one, with a bullet. Following that would be the pickups, then the neck, then the bridge. Past that, differences get to be small enough that many people can't hear them. The differences are there, they're just very subtle.

There's a story out there of Ted Nugent showing up at a VanHalen sound check wanting to know how Eddie got his tone. What did he do to his amps? What effects did he use? Eddie gives him his guitar and says "have at it". Teddy gets to wankin' and crankin', and guess what? He sounded just like Ted Nugent! He's rightfully confused, having believed the dogma about equipment all these years. Turns out it really is mostly in the fingers.

I get that here all the time. I not only own a lotta guitars and have many others cycle through here, I have an Axe Fx II. The greatest differentiator by far is always the player. I don't even need to be in the same room to know who some of the players are when they plug in, no matter what guitar they pick up or which amp/effects group they use. I imagine if you asked some music store owners, you'd get the same story.

And it's not that one guitar player is "better" than another. They're all great. It's just a different touch, a different attack, little nuances that all effect how a string vibrates. It can actually be frustrating sometimes, because you'll be sure you've got a problem that starts in the gear, then some character comes over and blows you away on the same gear.

 

[Logrinn]

I imagine if you asked some music store owners, you'd get the same story.

I can confirm this having worked in a music store for fifteen years.

 

[swarfrat]

Distortion has a way of dominating tone. It generates content, and reduces the impact of earlier stages.

 

[dmraco]

my son did and EVH copy...we used alder because it was a body that was given to us.  I stay away from ASH because of weight and I HATE TO FILL GRAIN!!!

Tone wise they are very similar.  Like states before...with that much gain...body wood is negligible in its effect on tone.  amps and pickups are more a factor here.  Also...can you play like Eddie?!?!?

Eddies stuff now is primarily BASSWOOD.  All the EVH design guitar have it.  The American mades have a maple cap.