Awesome, awesome work Sean! I love the intro explanations and demos... very informative and cool. And of course your performances are absolutely spot on too. The drums to this track were tricky enough, but all that crazy guitar work had to be a massive challenge to decode, much less play! Wow, it's really impressive! And thank you for the shout out and for the collaboration. Bravo Sean! 👏👏👍👍🤘🤘💥💥
I can't thank you enough for collaborating with me on this one Mike! Same goes for you decoding and nailing the 9/8 intro & outro, along with the rest of Alex's wizardry. 'Me Wise Magic' is no 'walk in the park' (on Sunday afternoon! Haha) to play. Keep on rockin' my bro! 🙏🙏 🤟 🤟🤘🤘
what masterful performance and song in general, still curious why they never ever performed it live. it is so ambitious i bet it took them a long time to record it! VH and you guys too! awesome job
Thanks so much! I think Eddie knew MWM was way to involved to pull off live to full effect. His hands were certainly full with TransTrem and Sustainer duties just for starters, not to mention DLR who could barely pull off the vocals in the studio, let alone live. I read that it took 2 weeks of multitracking, numerous takes and tons of effects to get his vocal good enough for prime time. So yeah, your bet is spot-on! 👍
@@seanmccaberocks In a way I think it is one of their most ambitious and involved pieces ever no? It's amazing and I bet was a B to record, guitar included! :)
at 6:26 I thought the sustain+harmonics were turned on but they seem to be off. What happens if you keep it on? I mean, unless VH was making pinching harmonics on the originals, but even then with sustain & hamonics buttons there would be no need for pinching I guess... Anyway, amazing work, I just LOVE this music, especially its harmonics!!! Thank you so so so very much for this!!!
Interesting you mentioned this... I wondered the same in trying to decipher Eddie's wizardry on MWM! I was confused at times whether he was using the sustainer, pinched harmonics or a combination of both (or nothing at all) for the desired effect. TBH, I was unable to perform the whole sustainer sections in one take to my satisfaction. I laid down several, and then chose the best ones to edit down to one seamless take, both sonically for the DAW, and visually for FCPX. No doubt through all of this, I accidentally flipped the switch(es) on-to-off and vice versa, in trying to keep my fingers in time with my confused brain. So, I can't be sure that my most accurate actual takes made it to the final video edit you viewed. I hope this explains it. 😉 Good catch there... and great ear! 👂
Hey Deyan... Yeah, I took your advice and made that funny Chinese bridge "malfunction" into a blooper! Bruce Lee helped drive it home. 🤣 I would LOVE to see you bang out your own version of MWM. At some point, you MUST show us that beautiful, white Newburgh Era GL2T of yours in action. Maybe even knock out 'Pleasure Dome'? I know you have lots of other great stuff in the works. First things first! 👍🤘
Thanks for recognizing my "painstaking" efforts! 😅 Yeah, ain't gonna lie, this one took some time to complete. But it was well worth it in the end. EVH Rocks! I remain his humble servant. 🎸
Right?! I never thought of that, until you just mentioned it... but I also covered 'La Grange', and come to think of it, did that same kind of "Billy Gibbons thing" here with my voice on Dave's low part. Great observation and comment! 👍🤘
Not only impressive playing, but the custom made guitars you have are a joy to behold. I LOVE the idea to do the yellow/black bumblebee, white/black and red, white and black Frankensteins combined into one! The matching headstock with Sammy-era logo is a nice touch to boot. Then, making your own steinberger transtrem as well?! Awesome all around! Might I ask what kind of bridge, where you got it and if it required any changes on the nut side? May have to replicate this somehow with one of the cheap Steinbergers, a knockoff Strandberg or possibly even a real one.
Thanks so much... especially for taking the time to notice and compliment my guitars. They all have a story, with great memories of sourcing, swapping parts, pickups, pots, necks, painting (OK, not so much on painting!!! Haha), etc. Us old dudes must have healthy hobbies in our retirement to keep busy! ;-) As for the bridge, I just finished replying to another question about it, so I will paste it below for your convenience (BTW, only swapped out the grub screws on the nut side): "Thank you! Ah, my "Chineberger" S-Trem! Now that's a wonky thing... I did the work myself. It's actually a "hybrid" between a 2nd hand S-Trem I bought cheap for parts, and the infamous Chinese "Overlord Of Music" headless guitar bridge (I actually bought 2 of those to have extra parts for perceived inevitable breakdowns, which of course did occur.) I combined parts to make it work to my liking, including but not limited to swapping out springs (original was far too stiff) adding thrust bearing washers (original teflon washers were sticky, cheap and prone to cracking), and finally some gun oil to get things slippin' and slidin' smoothly. Would I recommend doing something like this? Well, only if you like to tinker, have plenty of patience and want to save a few bucks ('cause ya gotta dig DEEP if you want a real TransTrem!) 🤘"
Thank you! Ah, my "Chineberger" S-Trem! Now that's a wonky thing... I did the work myself. It's actually a "hybrid" between a 2nd hand S-Trem I bought cheap for parts, and the infamous Chinese "Overlord Of Music" headless guitar bridge (I actually bought 2 of those to have extra parts for perceived inevitable breakdowns, which of course did occur.) I combined parts to make it work to my liking, including but not limited to swapping out springs (original was far too stiff) adding thrust bearing washers (original teflon washers were sticky, cheap and prone to cracking), and finally some gun oil to get things slippin' and slidin' smoothly. Would I recommend doing something like this? Well, only if you like to tinker, have plenty of patience and want to save a few bucks ('cause ya gotta dig DEEP if you want a real TransTrem!) 🤘
@@seanmccaberocks thanks for the reply! I do have the patience but after viewing the video, I can’t work out how you were able to get it to lock like the real transtrem. You really knocked it out of the park!
Well, totally understandable... because it's an optical illusion. I was not able to get it to lock like a real TransTrem, but if it looked that way, then "Mission Accomplished". My intentions were not to fool anyone, as you can see from this pasted excerpt at the top of my video description (I understand most just watch RUclips videos without reading the description, so again, it would be most difficult to figure out how I pulled this off without first reading the Description): "*Disclaimer: The S-Trem bridge does not have locking positions, so I could not nail that "F# Stop" exactly like King Edward. However, to stay as true to the original as possible, I transposed applicable sections in my DAW in advance, so that I could continue playing in the proper "open" positions. For all intensive purposes, it should appear exactly the same as if I were using a TransTrem instead of an S-Trem." Hope this clarifies, as what I did took quite a bit of analyzing and transposing in advance, prior to actually playing the part for video. It's kind of like all those guitarists who play "Summer Nights" using a capo, only in this case, my capo was a "virtual" one, in the form of pre-transposed sections. The great lengths we go to in order to emulate our idols! 😅
😜 Thx! There was def some experimenting going on, with plenty of studio tricks utilized when they recorded this obscure track. Those were some of DLR's highest (and lowest) vocals ever! I agree, that lower thing he did with his voice is way cool! 😎
@@seanmccaberocks DLR proved he could get back with that band and still rock it! Are your EVH style guitars Chinese as well? Those Floyds look similar to AliExpress version. Any good?
The EVH Tour Relic (used in solo) and Wolfgang Special Bumblebee (hanging on the wall) are both Chinese knockoffs. The 3-in-1 Frankie is a Partscaster I painted and built myself (and added a Fernandes Sustainer Kit). With some (OK, A LOT! Haha) of work and parts-swapping (Prob more trouble and expense than it was worth, but I like to tinker), they are all playable, but out-of-the-box, OMG! 😱 Still, they look the part just fine on RUclips! 🤣 When it comes to laying down tracks in the DAW, I mostly go with my "baby", a 100% REAL 1980 Fender Strat (used on MWM intro and outro) equipped with a much-preferred Kahler, along with a meaty Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound'er in the bridge position (or select from a number of my other real, non-Chinese axes) 🤗 The AliExpress Floyds... Yeah, they are total JUNK! 😜 If trying to save a few $, at least upgrade to a genuine Korean "Licensed Under Floyd Rose Pats." bridge. MUCH better! 👍
Awesome, awesome work Sean! I love the intro explanations and demos... very informative and cool. And of course your performances are absolutely spot on too. The drums to this track were tricky enough, but all that crazy guitar work had to be a massive challenge to decode, much less play! Wow, it's really impressive! And thank you for the shout out and for the collaboration. Bravo Sean! 👏👏👍👍🤘🤘💥💥
I can't thank you enough for collaborating with me on this one Mike! Same goes for you decoding and nailing the 9/8 intro & outro, along with the rest of Alex's wizardry. 'Me Wise Magic' is no 'walk in the park' (on Sunday afternoon! Haha) to play. Keep on rockin' my bro! 🙏🙏 🤟 🤟🤘🤘
Wow! Do you give lessons?
LOVE IT!!!!
THX SO MUCH!
+1!!
Great job!
Hard work pays off!
Very entertaining and accurate!
Thanks for the nice nod! "Accurate" is always nice to hear when covering EVH. "There can be only one". Long live King Edward! 👑🤘
what masterful performance and song in general, still curious why they never ever performed it live. it is so ambitious i bet it took them a long time to record it! VH and you guys too! awesome job
Thanks so much! I think Eddie knew MWM was way to involved to pull off live to full effect. His hands were certainly full with TransTrem and Sustainer duties just for starters, not to mention DLR who could barely pull off the vocals in the studio, let alone live. I read that it took 2 weeks of multitracking, numerous takes and tons of effects to get his vocal good enough for prime time. So yeah, your bet is spot-on! 👍
@@seanmccaberocks In a way I think it is one of their most ambitious and involved pieces ever no? It's amazing and I bet was a B to record, guitar included! :)
at 6:26 I thought the sustain+harmonics were turned on but they seem to be off. What happens if you keep it on? I mean, unless VH was making pinching harmonics on the originals, but even then with sustain & hamonics buttons there would be no need for pinching I guess...
Anyway, amazing work, I just LOVE this music, especially its harmonics!!!
Thank you so so so very much for this!!!
Interesting you mentioned this... I wondered the same in trying to decipher Eddie's wizardry on MWM! I was confused at times whether he was using the sustainer, pinched harmonics or a combination of both (or nothing at all) for the desired effect. TBH, I was unable to perform the whole sustainer sections in one take to my satisfaction. I laid down several, and then chose the best ones to edit down to one seamless take, both sonically for the DAW, and visually for FCPX. No doubt through all of this, I accidentally flipped the switch(es) on-to-off and vice versa, in trying to keep my fingers in time with my confused brain. So, I can't be sure that my most accurate actual takes made it to the final video edit you viewed. I hope this explains it. 😉 Good catch there... and great ear! 👂
Very impressive! Thanks for sharing!! 🤘🎸
Thx so much! It was my pleasure (dome?) 🤗🤘
This is the COOLEST video of ANY kind I've seen for a very very LONG TIME! Great Job!!
Oh Wow! Such a COOL compliment! 😎 You made my day! 😊 Thx so much, and keep on rockin'! 🤘
I’m dying! At the end! Dying I tell you! 🤣 Excellent work, guys! Makes me want to shove my other projects aside and do my own version. 🤘🤘
Hey Deyan... Yeah, I took your advice and made that funny Chinese bridge "malfunction" into a blooper! Bruce Lee helped drive it home. 🤣 I would LOVE to see you bang out your own version of MWM. At some point, you MUST show us that beautiful, white Newburgh Era GL2T of yours in action. Maybe even knock out 'Pleasure Dome'? I know you have lots of other great stuff in the works. First things first! 👍🤘
Great job!! This is a hard song to pull off as well as this.
Thanks for recognizing my "painstaking" efforts! 😅 Yeah, ain't gonna lie, this one took some time to complete. But it was well worth it in the end. EVH Rocks! I remain his humble servant. 🎸
Cool! Always dug this song, I always thought Dave was doing a kind of Billy Gibbons thing with the low part of the vocals.
Right?! I never thought of that, until you just mentioned it... but I also covered 'La Grange', and come to think of it, did that same kind of "Billy Gibbons thing" here with my voice on Dave's low part. Great observation and comment! 👍🤘
Not only impressive playing, but the custom made guitars you have are a joy to behold. I LOVE the idea to do the yellow/black bumblebee, white/black and red, white and black Frankensteins combined into one! The matching headstock with Sammy-era logo is a nice touch to boot. Then, making your own steinberger transtrem as well?! Awesome all around!
Might I ask what kind of bridge, where you got it and if it required any changes on the nut side? May have to replicate this somehow with one of the cheap Steinbergers, a knockoff Strandberg or possibly even a real one.
Thanks so much... especially for taking the time to notice and compliment my guitars. They all have a story, with great memories of sourcing, swapping parts, pickups, pots, necks, painting (OK, not so much on painting!!! Haha), etc. Us old dudes must have healthy hobbies in our retirement to keep busy! ;-) As for the bridge, I just finished replying to another question about it, so I will paste it below for your convenience (BTW, only swapped out the grub screws on the nut side):
"Thank you! Ah, my "Chineberger" S-Trem! Now that's a wonky thing... I did the work myself. It's actually a "hybrid" between a 2nd hand S-Trem I bought cheap for parts, and the infamous Chinese "Overlord Of Music" headless guitar bridge (I actually bought 2 of those to have extra parts for perceived inevitable breakdowns, which of course did occur.) I combined parts to make it work to my liking, including but not limited to swapping out springs (original was far too stiff) adding thrust bearing washers (original teflon washers were sticky, cheap and prone to cracking), and finally some gun oil to get things slippin' and slidin' smoothly. Would I recommend doing something like this? Well, only if you like to tinker, have plenty of patience and want to save a few bucks ('cause ya gotta dig DEEP if you want a real TransTrem!) 🤘"
Awesome job! Can you talk a bit more about that modified tremolo? Like who did it and how?
Thank you! Ah, my "Chineberger" S-Trem! Now that's a wonky thing... I did the work myself. It's actually a "hybrid" between a 2nd hand S-Trem I bought cheap for parts, and the infamous Chinese "Overlord Of Music" headless guitar bridge (I actually bought 2 of those to have extra parts for perceived inevitable breakdowns, which of course did occur.) I combined parts to make it work to my liking, including but not limited to swapping out springs (original was far too stiff) adding thrust bearing washers (original teflon washers were sticky, cheap and prone to cracking), and finally some gun oil to get things slippin' and slidin' smoothly. Would I recommend doing something like this? Well, only if you like to tinker, have plenty of patience and want to save a few bucks ('cause ya gotta dig DEEP if you want a real TransTrem!) 🤘
@@seanmccaberocks thanks for the reply! I do have the patience but after viewing the video, I can’t work out how you were able to get it to lock like the real transtrem. You really knocked it out of the park!
Well, totally understandable... because it's an optical illusion. I was not able to get it to lock like a real TransTrem, but if it looked that way, then "Mission Accomplished". My intentions were not to fool anyone, as you can see from this pasted excerpt at the top of my video description (I understand most just watch RUclips videos without reading the description, so again, it would be most difficult to figure out how I pulled this off without first reading the Description):
"*Disclaimer: The S-Trem bridge does not have locking positions, so I could not nail that "F# Stop" exactly like King Edward. However, to stay as true to the original as possible, I transposed applicable sections in my DAW in advance, so that I could continue playing in the proper "open" positions. For all intensive purposes, it should appear exactly the same as if I were using a TransTrem instead of an S-Trem."
Hope this clarifies, as what I did took quite a bit of analyzing and transposing in advance, prior to actually playing the part for video. It's kind of like all those guitarists who play "Summer Nights" using a capo, only in this case, my capo was a "virtual" one, in the form of pre-transposed sections. The great lengths we go to in order to emulate our idols! 😅
Chine-berger? GOLD! That was a great treack, if DLR would've sung it all in lower voice. Great job!
😜 Thx! There was def some experimenting going on, with plenty of studio tricks utilized when they recorded this obscure track. Those were some of DLR's highest (and lowest) vocals ever! I agree, that lower thing he did with his voice is way cool! 😎
@@seanmccaberocks DLR proved he could get back with that band and still rock it! Are your EVH style guitars Chinese as well? Those Floyds look similar to AliExpress version. Any good?
The EVH Tour Relic (used in solo) and Wolfgang Special Bumblebee (hanging on the wall) are both Chinese knockoffs. The 3-in-1 Frankie is a Partscaster I painted and built myself (and added a Fernandes Sustainer Kit). With some (OK, A LOT! Haha) of work and parts-swapping (Prob more trouble and expense than it was worth, but I like to tinker), they are all playable, but out-of-the-box, OMG! 😱 Still, they look the part just fine on RUclips! 🤣 When it comes to laying down tracks in the DAW, I mostly go with my "baby", a 100% REAL 1980 Fender Strat (used on MWM intro and outro) equipped with a much-preferred Kahler, along with a meaty Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound'er in the bridge position (or select from a number of my other real, non-Chinese axes) 🤗 The AliExpress Floyds... Yeah, they are total JUNK! 😜 If trying to save a few $, at least upgrade to a genuine Korean "Licensed Under Floyd Rose Pats." bridge. MUCH better! 👍
Me Wise Magic, Amsterdam, Fire In the Hole. Had there been more of the good stuff in the 90s Van Halen would’ve continued.
Yes indeed! The tracks you mention are a small and wonderful taste of what could have been...
Missing Wah pedal eddie use on me wise magic
🤔 Please jump ahead to 5:27 in video to see EVH 95 Wah Pedal. Maybe my foot was a bit slower than my fingers though? 🤣 Thanks for watching! 😉