Favorite EVH Rip Off

[Thwap]

My favorites of that whole era would be Warren and Nuno, but as has been said, I wouldn't say either one was overly Van Halenish.

[jwoods986]

Lynch is my favorite off that list, so I picked him (but I love Randy and Vai too). I don't consider him a "rip-off" but he was influenced by EVH. From what I've read, it sounds like Lynch, EVH, and Randy would all see each other play and nab stuff from one another.

Nuno should definitely be on this list. I like his playing (especially on Pornograffitti) but he could easily be called an EVH rip-off.

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Originally Posted by Salamander In The Sun

I'll have to look that up. I was really surprised myself when I read that Randy didn't like Ed's playing.

Lynch, Rhoads and Van Halen were in the same club circuit and many times performed in the same venues, Xciter,Mammoth and Quiet Riot so they all used to see each other. Randy did the two handed tapping thing because all his students wanted to learn how to do that. Lynch copied a bit more because he did admire VH but I wouldn't say his a rip off IMO Lynch was far more accomplished in the guitar than VH but he did acknowledge that VH and Malmsteen were big influences!

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Originally Posted by Holy Katana

Steve Lynch came up with his tapping technique around the same time as EVH, actually. At least, that's what he said in an interview he did with BOSS on their podcast.

Steve Lynch's technique is a trillion light years ahead of Van halen's but in reality the true inovator and inventor of the 8 finger style tapping was Jeff Wattson from Night Ranger.

[waylay00]

Warren's tone on a couple of tracks on "Invasion of Your Privacy" seem to have that brown sound, but I still don't think any of these guitarists are "rip offs" of EVH.

[JVal4]

This would be a great post/ debate if it wasn't for the title. NONE of the players are as accomplished as ED. (with the exception of possibly Randy Roads) This is a no-brainer. They were/are all killer players, so that really doesn't matter anyway. He was in the limelight before them, so I see what was meant.

I wouldn't call these guys EVH ripoffs by any means. Vito B. of White Lion was dogged for sounding too much like Ed. He was a killer player and actually took it as a compliment. (He did at times seem a bit more melodic than Ed though) He had a similar style at times, but who cares- he rocked.

Randy Roads and some of the others seemed to go a bit deeper into diatonic theory and what not, but that has little bearing on writing music or selling albums. Keith Richards, Slash, etc.....

I do know that R Roads really admired alot of what EVH was doing. It's well-documented. Remember that back in those days EVERYTHING was a competition as opposed to now days where it seems most of the better musicians respect and support each other. THEY LEARNED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DOG EACH OTHER.

To me the biggest issue is that all of them guys play circles around most of the guys today in bands. The writing is now mediocre and the guitar playing is remedial at best.


CHEERS,
JV

[quiksilverdew]

Sorry if the title is misleading, I just simply didn't know how to put it. What I mean is players that have a strong Van Halen influence, whether or not they are better or worse than him. They all add their own style and flair and thats what this poll is about.

Night Ranger rocks, both guitarists were great.

Warren DeMartini does NAIL that brown sound on Invasion of Your Privacy, something that I recently came across in this newly acquired Kramer's bridge pickup (Seymour Duncan, but I don't know what model, probably a JB)

I think that Vito took tapping from something that made the music sound unique, to something that made it sound musical (Wait, Little Fighter, etc.)

George Lynch in my eyes is one of the greatest lead guitarists ever, and when I think of a 80s shredder playing a ripping solo, I think of him!

To be honest, I used to be a huge fan of Randy's but I am not so much anymore, but he has always been a huge influence in my playing.

Nuno is great too, but I also never thought of him as being influenced by EVH...I guess he is though now that I think of it...

[JVal4]

I think for most of the 90's you'd be hard pressed to find anyone out there that wasn't influenced by Ed. That's why I simply can't understand why he gets demonized so much on this site. Even Satch and Vai were influenced by him early on. Although, for them they went into a whole different dimension- another discussion perhaps.

I have a guarded anticipation for the upcoming tour. If he's clean, he certainly will wake alot of folks up who never got to experience his prowess.

In the mid to late 70's there was already a bunch of "young guns" in California that were tearing it up. (These guys in the post were among several) When VH took off, he led the way for the 80's sound and eventually the dam broke loose with all these great players.

As much as I thank God that the days of the mullet are officially over, I do miss seeing so many great players- IN ROCK BANDS.

EVH's influence was more than just right-handed tapping. The use of the 3rd when playing chords (not just 1-5 power chords) ; not many rock musicians did so at the time. He also used the sus4 chords, which also weren't used too often- almost ALL of the guys in this thread utilized this chord type when transitioning chords- a definite EVH influence. The coming of the brown sound, the use of harmonics, the whammy bar etc, etc, etc,,,the list really goes on. It blows my mind that VH 1 was released over 30 years ago. The playing holds up to anything on CD even today.

We shall see what the fall brings!!!

JV

[screamndemon69]

I voted Warren but Vito always had the best VH sound, he's just not my favorite. That was a hard choice as Lynch kicks some serious A$$ as do the rest of the list.

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Originally Posted by JVal4

I think for most of the 90's you'd be hard pressed to find anyone out there that wasn't influenced by Ed. That's why I simply can't understand why he gets demonized so much on this site. Even Satch and Vai were influenced by him early on. Although, for them they went into a whole different dimension- another discussion perhaps.

I have a guarded anticipation for the upcoming tour. If he's clean, he certainly will wake alot of folks up who never got to experience his prowess.

In the mid to late 70's there was already a bunch of "young guns" in California that were tearing it up. (These guys in the post were among several) When VH took off, he led the way for the 80's sound and eventually the dam broke loose with all these great players.

As much as I thank God that the days of the mullet are officially over, I do miss seeing so many great players- IN ROCK BANDS.

EVH's influence was more than just right-handed tapping. The use of the 3rd when playing chords (not just 1-5 power chords) ; not many rock musicians did so at the time. He also used the sus4 chords, which also weren't used too often- almost ALL of the guys in this thread utilized this chord type when transitioning chords- a definite EVH influence. The coming of the brown sound, the use of harmonics, the whammy bar etc, etc, etc,,,the list really goes on. It blows my mind that VH 1 was released over 30 years ago. The playing holds up to anything on CD even today.

We shall see what the fall brings!!!

JV

Sorry dude but there were many players doing that way before Van Halen did, ie:Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter,Gary Moore, Alvin Lee, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Glen Tipton, K.K. Downing, Mathias Jabs and many others. To VH credit he combined all those techniques and took them to the next level...

[JVal4]

I never asserted that he was the first to use two-handed tapping. By the way, you forgot Emett Chapman and Jimmie Webster. However, he certainly did take it to a whole new level. As a matter of fact, tapping was taken to another whole dimension in 1982 with Stanley Jordan.

That's what the greats do though. They are simply an "amalgamation of all their different influences" and take their own "concoction" of these different ideas/ techniques to another level. (was a great quote by E. Johnson)

As a matter of fact, Satch stayed away from the tapping early on as he said it was "Eddie's " thing. He will use it now and then though, but obviously quite sparingly. I think the fact that he was cogizant of this made him go in other directions and develop his own style much quicker.


JVal

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Originally Posted by JVal4

I never asserted that he was the first to use two-handed tapping. By the way, you forgot Emett Chapman and Jimmie Webster. However, he certainly did take it to a whole new level. As a matter of fact, tapping was taken to another whole dimension in 1982 with Stanley Jordan.

That's what the greats do though. They are simply an "amalgamation of all their different influences" and take their own "concoction" of these different ideas/ techniques to another level. (was a great quote by E. Johnson)

As a matter of fact, Satch stayed away from the tapping early on as he said it was "Eddie's " thing. He will use it now and then though, but obviously quite sparingly. I think the fact that he was cogizant of this made him go in other directions and develop his own style much quicker.


JVal

First of I did not leave anybody out I said many more...
Second: Did I mention anything about tapping??? you talked about a bunch of techniques and that is what I was referring to. People try to give EVH more credit than he actually deserves...
FYI:Stanley Jordan was not the only one with bidextral tapping accomplishments early on! there was Jeff Wattson and a bit later Steve Lynch and Craig Goldy

[JVal4]

I never said, implied, or hinted that he was the first to do anything. I guess I don't understand your point then.

Do you mean that other guys used most all of these techniques before him? REALLY??!! Is this a surprise about anyone who plays the guitar?

If you simply don't think he had the immense impact on players in the 80's, then ok we'll agree to disagree. But let's not argue about our opinions.

You obviously know your history and alot of people seem to overlook that aspect of the guitar. I learn alot myself when I take a look at a guy's influences, as well as the chops he throws down. You get an inspirational sense of how someone learns to play the way they do.

JV

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Originally Posted by JVal4

I never said, implied, or hinted that he was the first to do anything. I guess I don't understand your point then.

Do you mean that other guys used most all of these techniques before him? REALLY??!! Is this a surprise about anyone who plays the guitar?

If you simply don't think he had the immense impact on players in the 80's, then ok we'll agree to disagree. But let's not argue about our opinions.

You obviously know your history and alot of people seem to overlook that aspect of the guitar. I learn alot myself when I take a look at a guy's influences, as well as the chops he throws down. You get an inspirational sense of how someone learns to play the way they do.

JV

I came across as jerk, sorry, I was in a bad mood! anyway I do acknowledge that EVH influenced the 80'S guitarist inmensely but not to the degree some people, critics and mags make it out to be... besides as I said before, Rhoads and Lynch for example were coming along at the same exact time as he did and were just as good and if not better than him as is the case of later guitarists who took what EVH did and pushed the envelope further!!! so I guess we do agree in the end

[bobby simcox]

and i used to get ripped on for not caring for Jimi Hendrix!!!