van halen picks

[guitaral]

does anybody know what kind of picks EVH uses? also, could you have where i can buy them and what it's made out of included (also thickness)?

[keihan]

I have heard that, on some of the pre-Hagar (recorded) stuff, Eddie would use both Nylon and steel picks off and on. The reason for the steel picks was that they have a tendency to be brighter and really pull out those ghost harmonics that Eddie was so famous for in the early days. As for when he played live, I would guess he stuck to nylon. Steel picks are hard on strings and Eddie has a tendency to get mean with those suckers which would mean more broken strings during a live show if he was to use steel.

However, I'm not ceratin as to what he uses, during recording, today. I saw them on their last tour and he only used nylon, when playing live.

I wouldn't bank on using what Eddie uses for your own playing, however. Just find something you are comfortable with. If you are doing a lot of strumming, use a lighter guage pick...something with some flexibility. For faster picking and to ring out those pinch harmonics, you'll want picks that are fairly stiff.

[LypsLynch55]

I remember reading somewhere that Eddie typically used medium picks, like a Fender Medium (I think its like the equivalent to a .63 or .70 Dunlop). The picks I have from Ed of the 1984 Tour when my Uncle was one of his techs are just like Fender Mediums as well with the VH logo and his autograph on the other side...and mine are actually autographed w/marker .

What a cool 10 year old I was!

[keihan]

Originally Posted by LypsLynch55

I remember reading somewhere that Eddie typically used medium picks, like a Fender Medium (I think its like the equivalent to a .63 or .70 Dunlop). The picks I have from Ed of the 1984 Tour when my Uncle was one of his techs are just like Fender Mediums as well with the VH logo and his autograph on the other side...and mine are actually autographed w/marker .

What a cool 10 year old I was!

You suck! LOL!

[VHF]

Well unfortunately he used all different kinds of picks depending on the situation. Sometimes he even used dimes.

I do think that live it was usually a Fender medium.

[guitaral]

right now i'm using a dunlop nylon 1mm, but it tends to be slightly inconsistent with my tremelo picking. i tried sharpening the tip and that worked slightly well, but it is a pain in the ass, because i have to use sandpaper and have to gauge where the center should be. maybe i could buy jazz picks and go slightly thicker... i have played with 3mm's before, but they felt so thick! maybe if i could get used to it, i could use them. thanx for sounding off, guys

[LypsLynch55]

Well, yup, Im sure Ed used whatever he could get his hands on to play with....we all have used a quarter in a pinch!

I found a picture in a magazine (Guitar World "Van Halen" Guitar Legends Issue from about summer 2004 or so ago - pg. 69) where you can see Fender Mediums on his tack bar during a live show. Same picture from different angle is attached here. HOWEVER, like stated by VHF, he is seen throughout that magazine with different picks on his tack bar...most of them are "VH" promo picks (which are basically Fender picks with a VH logo and an Eddie sig on them).

[Spare-Flair]

I heard he used sandpaper before

[Powerslave214]

guitaral: If you like nylon picks with a pointed tip ( much as I do), you might like to try the Dunlop Jazz III, Jazz III XL (my favorite), and/or the Tortex Jazz models. They're all listed over at http://www.jimdunlop.com . Pickboy also makes a carbon nylon pointed tip that is the exact same shape as the Ibanez Paul Gilbert model pick.

As to what EVH uses, I've seen a *wide* variety of custom picks with his logos/signatures on the net. And most of them go for a pretty penny, too.