What is "Brown Sound" I Always Hear Referenced About EVH

[Zing!]

Still rather amazed J. Shanks and VH/Roth were able to recapture the Brown Sound as well as they did on ADKOT. It's definitely not exactly the same as the 6-pack days due to the leap in technology, but it's definitely the closest we've heard in nearly 30 years. Ed's tone went from bad to worse with each release after '1984.' Other than issues with compression, the effort to pin down the near-mythical 'Brown Sound' of Van Halen was a huge success by the band for this release. For me, listening to ADKOT is like the musical equivalent of finding the lost Ark of the covenant...

[Hardrock69]

I always say to hear the Brown Sound, listen to the first TWO VH albums.

That is the guitar sound we all talk about when using that term.

[Yount]

Dave quoted the "brown sound" in his book as "girl friendly." eg. women won't cover their ears even when Ed is up in the high registers. Something about being high but also "in command and strong" as you play.

I always thought it came from the fingers (or somewhere inside of Ed) but now feel "brown sound" is just a term used to sell whatever it is that Ed is currently endorsing.

[Zing!]

I always say to hear the Brown Sound, listen to the first TWO VH albums.

That is the guitar sound we all talk about when using that term.

Can we include Fair Warning on that list?

[NIN1211]

Can we include Fair Warning on that list?

Unchained seems to some it up.

[Blaze]

The way I describe it or come to understand it is, it is dirty, smudged, messy, pertinacious, assiduous, and diligent,
but not sloppy like the Stones can be.
A sort of Passacaglia,
Here is an example score of a Passacaglia by Bach.


I can see the similarities.

I could not find a score of Eddie’s music. Moreover, most scores written today for mass market are incorrect or open for interpretation (politely put). Therefore you are not going to find a complete score of Eddies, unless Wolfie has became an adept of written musical language AND produces it himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passacaglia

[SNIPER]

I get my fair share of brown sound from my ass on a daily basis.

[DLR Bridge]

In EVH's own words he said the brown sound was getting his guitar to sound like Al's snare drum. Al tuned his snare so it sounded like hitting a hollow log. The sound of wood basically, thus, brown.

If you have ever watched the brother's warm up at sound check there is a nice thunk to Al's drums. He has a unique tone and Ed has the same thing going with his guitar.

I think you feel the brown sound more than you hear it. It hits you right in the chest and doesn't fry your ears with high end frequencies. It's go a nice chug to it but still plenty of mids and highs.

Actually a lot of this sound gets absorbed by the audience in a full venue. I always though VH got a better sound in an empty hall. So did Rush by the way.

Such a precise, accurate, pleasant to read and informative post. And for the exact opposite of that, see post #4.

You pegged it pretty much how I've known it to be through the years of Ed's interviews. My personal favorite brown sound can be heard on just about any 1984 live bootleg. Now this is just my choice, but damn, if that guy didn't get the creamiest caramel bluesy tone with that bridge pick-up only Kramer Baretta. Warmth through and through. That's what brown is to me. The '07-'08 tour sound offended my ear. Everything sounded like it started with the letter R. More like a blood red sound. He's onto something good right now, thank the lawd.

[Hummarstra]

never mind

[Hummarstra]

Let me Google that for you

I clicked that and thats' FUCKING hilarious!!

[ELVIS]

It's a fucking term associated with Ed's unique guitar sound.

Anymore stupid questions?

What a fucking asshole you are...

[LoungeMachine]

What a fucking asshole you are...

Isn't that the pot calling the kettle brown?



You post asshole replies on a daily basis here......

[Hardrock69]

[ashstralia]

to me, 'little dreamer' sums it up from 0.00.

[private parts]

Showing my ignorance here... I've seen VH live since 1977, have all of the records and simply don't know what this means. Little help please? Also, what are some of EVH's music that has brown sound. Thanks in advance.

Let us not forget that there are several shades of brown:

VH1 = Atomic Brown
VH II = Neutron Brown
Women & Childrens First = Fallout Brown
Fair Warning = Apocalyptic Brown
Diver Down = Californication Brown
1984 = 80's Totally Awesome Brown
ADKOT= Rainbow Brown