Two VH 1978 tour shows for comparison................

[harddriver]

1978 Selland Arena show where Ed uses multiple Bandmasters to reamp 12301 where I assert is VH1 tone in a bottle.


Now we have the Tokyo Japan leg of the tour where we all ave seen the Japanese tour pictures of nothing but stacks of newer Marshall Superleads alongside 12301 and the bare wood plexi head reputed to be a Superbass per Dave Friedman. So we know in these Japan shows Ed was not using the Fender Bandmasters like at the Selland Arena show. Now I propose that there is a definite difference in the two reamped tones. The Japan show sound like VHII recorded, it's still a very good tone but it is not the VH1 live tone he gets at the Selland arena show. The magic component is.................................

[PLX]

The magic component is.................................

...the Boss GE-10 equalizer.

[harddriver]

The magic component is.................................

...the Boss GE-10 equalizer.

Even with Ed using the Boss GE10 as a line driver in Japan he does not have the same VH1 tone that he gets in the Selland Arena show. So assuming most of his guitar effect pedal signal chain remained the same as in the Selland show and the Tokyo Japan show it starts to become clear what that big difference between shows is....................................................

[PLX]

The magic component is.................................

...the Boss GE-10 equalizer.

Even with Ed using the Boss GE10 as a line driver in Japan he does not have the same VH1 tone that he gets in the Selland Arena show. So assuming most of his guitar effect pedal signal chain remained the same as in the Selland show and the Tokyo Japan show it starts to become clear what that big difference between shows is....................................................

Ed's live tone is an interesting topic, to be sure. But it's easy to imagine Ed using various signal-chain configurations based on the venue, how drunk he was, how bad Dave was irritating him, how much gear Pan Am airlines lost during the trip back from Japan.. etc.

I've always focused on his recorded tone on the first 4 records. That's what I'm chasing

[harddriver]

Here's what was used on the Japan leg of the tour, notice the blue MXR 6 band... all Marshalls for reamping no Fender Bandmsters. Al Estrada likes the Boss GE10, I 've owned a few myself but I don't feel they are integral to Ed's tone, the blue MXR 6band I feel has more of an effect IMHO. The Boss is very HiFI and clean the MXR is not that's the magic of the MXR. You really have to try them both out to really hear what each brings to the table. I've have sold all of my Boss GE10's and I don't miss them. YMMV

[PLX]

Here's what was used on the Japan leg of the tour, notice the blue MXR 6 band... all Marshalls for reamping no Fender Bandmsters. Al Estrada likes the Boss GE10, I 've owned a few myself but I don't feel they are integral to Ed's tone, the blue MXR 6band I feel has more of an effect IMHO. The Boss is very HiFI and clean the MXR is not that's the magic of the MXR. You really have to try them both out to really hear what each brings to the table. I've have sold all of my Boss GE10's and I don't miss them. YMMV

That's the Boss GE-10 sitting there in front of the two Echoplex's, bottom of the photo, cropped to where you just see the top of the sliders.



There are two - one had gaffer's tape over the sliders to lock them into position.

[harddriver]

I'm not denying Ed picked up and used the Boss GE10 starting in Japan. The above recording was in June 1978 the Selland Arena show was September 1978 after the Japan leg of the tour so I will assume Ed is still using the Boss GE10 at the Selland Arena show. So that would negate the Boss GE10 for the differences in the two amp tones between the two shows.

I think any EVH enthusiast should pick up a Boss GE10 and hear what it does and what it brings to the table and what it does not, hell, I owned three of them, they make a great effects buffer for driving long line signals. I just don't think they are responsible for the VH1 tone as the album was done without one which is my point. There is distinct difference in the amp tone from Selland arena show and the Tokyo show, I'm using theses two because we know what amps were being used the reamp 12301.

I will also add the Die Laughing Live show recorded 12/20/77 right after them recording the VH1 album which has the same VH1 tone like the Selland arena show and the amp tone is much different than the Tokyo amp tone. This was done without the Boss GE10 yet he has that telltale VH1 tone here. I have not seen what amps were used to reamp the Die Laughing show, but I think I know what my ears tell me.

[PLX]

I'm not denying Ed picked up and used the Boss GE10 starting in Japan. The above recording was in June 1978 the Selland Arena show was September 1978 after the Japan leg of the tour so I will assume Ed is still using the Boss GE10 at the Selland Arena show. So that would negate the Boss GE10 for the differences in the two amp tones between the two shows.

I think any EVH enthusiast should pick up a Boss GE10 and hear what it does and what it brings to the table and what it does not, hell, I owned three of them, they make a great effects buffer for driving long line signals. I just don't think they are responsible for the VH1 tone as the album was done without one which is my point. There is distinct difference in the amp tone from Selland arena show and the Tokyo show, I'm using theses two because we know what amps were being used the reamp 12301.

I will also add the Die Laughing Live show recorded 12/20/77 right after them recording the VH1 album which has the same VH1 tone like the Selland arena show and the amp tone is much different than the Tokyo amp tone. This was done without the Boss GE10 yet he has that telltale VH1 tone here. I have not seen what amps were used to reamp the Die Laughing show, but I think I know what my ears tell me.

I've got all those VH boots. Love listening to how Ed's tone was pretty much "there", even back in those days.