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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Van Halen. Every item links to its public source.
28 items · Last checked

What gear does Van Halen use?

Eddie Van Halen said he built his Frankenstrat from a Charvel body and neck and played through MXR pedals and rebuilt Marshalls. Michael Anthony was seen with a '64 Fender Precision through an Ampeg SVT, and Alex Van Halen played custom Ludwig kits with Paiste cymbals.

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Where to start with Van Halen's gear.

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What gear Van Halen uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Michael Anthony

15 items

Alex Van Halen

3 items

Eddie Van Halen

10 items
Questions

About Van Halen's gear.

What bass did Michael Anthony play?

Premier Guitar reports he used a '64 sunburst Fender Precision through an Ampeg SVT early on, then Jazz basses, Charvels, Sandovals, B.C. Rich, Yamaha signature models and Schecter. He built a bass shaped like a Jack Daniel's bottle that debuted in the Panama video.

What amp does Michael Anthony use?

Premier Guitar says he moved from Ampeg to Mesa/Boogie, SWR and Peavey, and that he now reaches for a Fender Rumble 800 head.

What drums did Alex Van Halen play?

Custom Ludwig kits with Paiste cymbals, including the white Ludwig kit with two long articulated bass drums from the 1980 Invasion tour, now shown at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a custom Ludwig kit for the 2012 tour.

What guitar did Eddie Van Halen play?

His Frankenstrat, built from a Charvel body and neck with one humbucker, then a Kramer 5150 and Wolfgang models from Music Man, Peavey and EVH, through rebuilt Marshalls, Peavey 5150 and EVH 5150 III amps.

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Van Halen
About this guide · Last checked

Van Halen were the Pasadena band of Eddie and Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, from the 1978 debut through 1984 and 5150. This guide covers the band's gear: Eddie's Frankenstrat, Marshalls and MXR pedals, Michael Anthony's basses and amps including the Jack Daniel's bass, and Alex's custom Ludwig kits and Paiste cymbals.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Van Halen didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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