JOHN 5 On DAVID LEE ROTH's 'Absolutely Wonderful' Song about Van Halen

[Seshmeister]

The difference is the resale value.
Ok, I never sell my gear, once I own it that’s it.

Of course this is the great argument we make to ourselves and partners - may as well have the cash in a guitar than sitting in the bank.

I haven't played one but as Zah says I really doubt a EVH USA built guitar can justify being 5 times the price and is it really likely to keep or increase it's value?

It's the same with most manufacturers like Ibanez or whatever but the difference seems to be more extreme with EVH because the price gap is bigger and the cheap ones are so good.

[ashstralia]

The difference is the resale value.
Ok, I never sell my gear, once I own it that’s it.
But I can’t bring myself to buy anything less than Japanese made.
Having said that, I see a ton of quality stuff coming out of SE Asia these days.

[ZahZoo]

The quality gap between the Standard, Special and USA models has really narrowed so much, it's really hard for me to say the extra $1000+ is worth it for the top end models. In many cases it's just finer finishes, bindings, colors or specialty woods... none of which, really effect tone and especially playability enough to justify the price difference.

[Seshmeister]

My brother who has been playing for 40 years bought an EVH standard last year, said it was the best guitar he had ever played and immediately went back to the store and bought another.

These things are made in Indonesia, didn't need a setup and cost under $700.

[ZahZoo]

EVH gear is all good quality stuff. You pay a slight premium in price but also there's the element of the slight variations in engineering for certain gear like guitar effects pedals that if you desire that different tone/function it's worth it.

I have an EVH Phaser... it's got the Script button which adds a warmer and smoother tone with distortion than a stock MXR Phase 90. So it's more than the original with a red/white/black stripe paint job just slapped on it.

But I'll add... I don't play any Van Halen tunes so my motivation for buying an EVH product was purely function based for my tastes rather than trying to sound like Ed...

[Terry]

Maybe up to a point but for whatever reason whether it was Ed or advisors or good luck but EVH stuff is very good and often great value too.

I've certainly never heard or read anything critical from anyone who had purchased Eddie Van Halen guitar gear in terms of said gear not being worth what they paid for it.

[Seshmeister]

All of which may well be true - I certainly have no reason to think it isn't - but in terms of selling gear to the readers of Guitar World magazine, it was a bit fish-in-the-barrel re: all Ed needed to do was slap his brand name on whatever. Mostly by virtue of the fact that he was...you know, Eddie Van Halen.

Maybe up to a point but for whatever reason whether it was Ed or advisors or good luck but EVH stuff is very good and often great value too.

[Terry]

Ed was very involved in the EVH Brand. EVH was his company. They contracted with Fender to do the manufacturing and distribution. Gretsch has a similar deal because Gretsch is family owned. I talked to someone who works for Dunlop and Ed was totally involved with the MXR line of EVH pedals. He wasn’t just slapping his name on stuff, he was involved in the R&D. It had to pass the Ed ear test and be able to hold up to hard use.

All of which may well be true - I certainly have no reason to think it isn't - but in terms of selling gear to the readers of Guitar World magazine, it was a bit fish-in-the-barrel re: all Ed needed to do was slap his brand name on whatever. Mostly by virtue of the fact that he was...you know, Eddie Van Halen.

[Terry]

Please don't start again with the whole Dave v. VH 1985 thing.

Yeah, good luck with that.

[wolfsbane]

Please don't start again with the whole Dave v. VH 1985 thing.

[ashstralia]

Intellectual curiosity is it’s own reward, regardless of the starting point.

[Seshmeister]

Ed was very involved in the EVH Brand. EVH was his company. They contracted with Fender to do the manufacturing and distribution. Gretsch has a similar deal because Gretsch is family owned. I talked to someone who works for Dunlop and Ed was totally involved with the MXR line of EVH pedals. He wasn’t just slapping his name on stuff, he was involved in the R&D. It had to pass the Ed ear test and be able to hold up to hard use.

Ok but... :D

[Nickdfresh]

Dave reminds me of a bored trust fund kid. Let’s dabble in this and that. I dated a rich chick that existed in that kind of world. Everything is an art project. It was a fun as hell fling but she wasn’t in the real world at all. Hey if you don’t have to really work to pay the overhead then you can live a Dave kind of life.

So he reminds you of, you?

[Nitro Express]

Dave reminds me of a bored trust fund kid. Let’s dabble in this and that. I dated a rich chick that existed in that kind of world. Everything is an art project. It was a fun as hell fling but she wasn’t in the real world at all. Hey if you don’t have to really work to pay the overhead then you can live a Dave kind of life.

[Nitro Express]

Meh.

Ed slapped his name/logo on a bunch of musical equipment. Not to say for a moment that wasn't successful, although how much input Ed had in any of his various signature equipment brands over the years post-manufacturing - in terms of how the merchandise was marketed and where it was sold - is an open question at best.

Doubtless, 'Ed' kept Van Halen going big after Dave left in 1985, inasmuch as Van Halen had continued success under Hagar. Once Hagar left and the Van Halens took total control of the band, Van Halen slowly but surely cratered. Cratered to the point when by the time 2007 rolled around, the band had no other realistic options other than to get Roth back if they wanted to keep getting big guarantees/big paydays.

Dave...post-YFLM, Dave has just been all over the place. Dunno if it was a function of boredom, or biding his time until he reunited with Van Halen or what. Hey, I'm playing Vegas. Hey, I'm an EMT. Hey, I'm touring with Hagar. Hey, I'm a morning show radio shock jock. Hey, I'm pairing up with a skin cream line. Hey, I'm playing Vegas again.

From all accounts from those who were there, Dave and the Van Halens couldn't work together by the time 1985 rolled around. Would a year-long break in 1985 have been enough to have made a difference in keeping the band together, or were Dave and the Van Halens so burnt out dealing with each other by 1985 that the split was inevitable? Who the fuck knows?

Ed was very involved in the EVH Brand. EVH was his company. They contracted with Fender to do the manufacturing and distribution. Gretsch has a similar deal because Gretsch is family owned. I talked to someone who works for Dunlop and Ed was totally involved with the MXR line of EVH pedals. He wasn’t just slapping his name on stuff, he was involved in the R&D. It had to pass the Ed ear test and be able to hold up to hard use.