What makes him good? Sound? Creativity? Ability? A combination? Something else?
His ability to make something new popular before others did. He was the first to make that brown sound famous. He was the first to make clean fretboard tapping famous. Others have claimed to have done these before Eddie and LOTS have imitated him afterwards, but he not only did them, he did them well and he made them well known. :)
You know funny enough I used to think he was too noodley. However, he advanced the bar on playing technique pretty far. Not only that but if you sit down and study his rhythm playing....dude is genius. Very creative.
I was late to the party with EVH....but now that I GET it.....WOW!
I agree with FB on a couple things. Never thought he was too noodley. I always loved that. But his rhythm playing is incredible on some songs. Like Petrucci, there are places were his rhythm playing is harder than most peoples LEAD playing.
Also, I love his style overall. Not just the tapping. He said at one time that he plays blues notes in a rock style. I tend to like guys who do that, but he obviously does it VERY well. He's also been very creative with whammy bar use, harmonics, volume swells, etc...
I heard the last minute or so of VH's newest release today but wasn't really paying attention until I heard the DJ mention it and their upcoming tour somewhere around here.
I guess I should pay more attention to the radio than to driving amongst the idiots :-) .
Perhaps a new chapter for EVH?
I think he's the best. Rhythm is beyond what people do today. His guitar playing, sound, personalty, can be picked without the band. That is a achievement many damn good guitarist will never match. Unique. Alone.
I am partial to rhythm guitar playing. If I were a good guitarist, I would choose to be good at rhythm, not lead. I love that part of music. Especially in blues.
Speaking of the ED, it's nice to see he's back in fine form, I mean REALLY back. The dude has clearly been practicing, he has not played this well in a loooooong time. Good for him I say.
This was from just two nights ago in LA. When he goes into the dreamy part of "Cathedral" I got a little chill. His tone is even back in shape. Nothing new or fresh sadly in this solo, just the same stuff we've heard before, but crikey, he's gotta be able to file for social security soon (?) and yet he can still play like a mutha...
http://youtu.be/Me61Qlgqj5o
Kabala — Feb 10, 2012
http://youtu.be/Me61Qlgqj5o
Excellent stuff. Really enjoyed that.
I started to wonder how he could find his stomps in all that fog! ;D