Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Eddie Van Halen talks gear in new Guitar Center interview


On a break from his band’s “A Different Kind Of Truth” tour, Eddie Van Halen sat down with the Guitar Center to talk about his line of EVH Gear and his need to explore and expand the reach of his instruments.

After years of product endorsements by a variety of equipment manufacturers, Eddie launched EVH Gear out of necessity, along the lines of how guitar inventor – and innovator – Les Paul got started.

“When I first met Les, I was amazed at how much we had in common,” explains Eddie. “Our approach – we didn't like anything that existed – so, we became friends because we'd always piss and moan about, 'Why doesn't this do what I want? Why doesn't that do what I want,' so we became very close friends. Not a year would go by where we wouldn't talk and just have it out about other people's gear and just cartoon on stuff. Everything we did was out of necessity. Nobody else made what we needed.”

Van Halen now has a complete line of guitars, amplifiers and more.

“I guess because I've developed enough designs to warrant a line and a brand rather than just have a signature model with a guitar company,” he says. “Another reason is that most guys don't build their own amps and they play a personalized version of a company's standard issue guitar. I build my own guitars and amps. These are the tools I need to do my job."

Eddie explains another bonus for the line, "What's cool is to see and hear what other people do with the designs I build and to know that the stuff is gonna be reliable for them. We beat the crap out of our stuff in testing, so you don't have to."

Check out the full line of EVH Gear here.

Read Eddie’s interview at Guitar Center here.

Up next for Eddie and Van Halen are a series of concert dates in Japan in late November.


Van Van Halen




See also:

Van Halen tour to miss Australia
Van Halen: Japanese TV special to air next week
Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10
Van Halen's Jump voted top sports song
VIDEO: Van Halen unplugged 1993
VIDEO: Dweezil Zappa rocks Van Halen classics
Van Halen: David Lee Roth in Japan promoting fall tour
Van Halen announce Japanese tour
Van Halen: Second Japanese show confirmed
Why Eddie Van Halen donated 75 guitars
Van Halen engineer talks about mixing latest album
VIDEO: Van Halen’s David Lee Roth – Love Train
Eddie Van Halen explains origins of A Different Kind Of Truth
Van Halen addresses Super Bowl rumors
VIDEO: Van Halen soundcheck with soundboard audio
Van Halen in talks to tour Australia this fall
RUMOR: David Lee Roth to address Van Halen Super Bowl rumors
Van Halen dates officially cancelled
VIDEO: Van Halen – Watch complete Los Angeles concert
VIDEO: Van Halen talk about the rock lifestyle
VIDEO: Van Halen – Japan tour commercial
Wolfgang Van Halen thanks fans for North American tour
RUMOR: Van Halen to play Super Bowl 47