Edward Van Halen Interview & Tribute

In 1991 Guitarist magazine was offered a rare interview with Edward Van Halen. Master of the EVH technique, Phil Hilborne leapt at the chance and here it is, 20 years on, to mark Eddie’s sad passing...

- Phil Hilborne

The opportunity to talk to the man who popularised many of today’s guitar techniques, was one I was not willing to miss. So I cancelled my Friday gig, and at nine o’clock the phone rang.

The interview coincided with the release of the album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and the Edward Van Halen signature model from Ernie Ball/Music Man. Although not quite available at the time of the interview, I proposed that the Van Halen model was an important and interesting guitar...

EVH: It’s a fine instrument – my main guitar now. I hooked up with Sterling ‘Biff’ Ball about six years ago when the Ernie Ball Company made me some pure nickel strings with slightly heavier cores [Ernie Ball 5150 sets]. They last a little longer, don’t break as easily and they have a great tone. The gauges I use start with a 40 and end with a 9. Then about a year ago he approached me about building a guitar. I was kind of shopping around for a company that would make me one anyway, and since he’s only a couple of hours away, it was the choice thing for me to do. We’re real happy with it!

PH: I’ve only seen it in pictures so far. What’s the guitar’s basic construction?

EVH: It’s a two-pickup instrument, and the pickups have been designed jointly between us and DiMarzio. You can only get these pickups in this guitar. The front and rear pickups are totally different, and not interchangeable. The body is basswood and comes with either a bound flamed maple or bound quilted maple top, and the guitar has a 22-fret maple neck. I really hope people check it out and see the thought that has gone into it.

PH: Does the tremolo pull up very far? Has it got a back rout or anything?