Nailing Guitar Tones With Pete Thorn - Recreating Iconic Guitar Sounds Of Van Halen And Soundgarden 

Could listen to Pete Thorn all day, he is by far one of the most articulate gurus out there. Bless you Pete

Pete thorn looks like a 50's 60's comic book character materialized into the flesh and has a voice of radio and can play guitar. What a talented dude

Hey Papa just wanna let you know I've watched this video at LEAST 10 times, and I inevitably came back today to watch you guys geek out over the one we lost this week. Much love from a longtime fan.

Tone is in the hands is so true. I really found that out back in music college. One guitarist was just so much better sounding than all of us and everyone assumed it was his rig. But then one day we played through it and it didn't sound that good. So then we used his guitar as well thinking that was the secret. Again it didn't sound great. Then he used our rigs and sounded better then all of us again. I realised in that moment it was all in the hands.

Wow, two of the very best together. Thanks for a great time!!

I want that guitar Pete has for the Van Halen part. It looks so cool with that pick guard & sounds killer.

It's nice to hear you guys talk about Ed's rhythm playing and that sense of swing that was the early Van Halen sound

Pete is a rarity. Insanely talented, and super cool and genuine. 💚🎸

I think it's so awesome that Pete keeps pointing out how much of the tone is in your hands. This is easily the most important part of getting a good tone and cannot be over-stressed. I knew this as a kid listening to Jimi Hendrix playing a 12 string acoustic and it being instantly recognizable as his sound.

Pete Thorn is without a doubt an amazing player!! What makes him a cut above is his incredible attention to detail!! His vast knowledge of both dial a tone and playing it RIGHT,are what cause him to be in demand! So happy to hear another fellow Canadian has achieved a decent level of success!!

Best thing I've seen all day is Pete Thorn nailing the playing and the sound of early EVH.

"On Fire" was sick Pete, Nice job! "Hang 'Em High" was even better. Eddie's approach is the apex of how guitar should be played in any type of music. Strong, musical, innovative. Diggin' your vids man! Thanks again

That was a fantastic video! Thanks to both of you guys. You're awesome!

Awsome stuff fellas, love the V H stuff, I love when Pete shares his tone chasing secrets with us mortals great job PAPA

How could anyone give this video a thumbs down. This is fantastic if you have ever tried to get close to Van Halen’s tone! Pete this is close as you can get! Incredible playing too!! Thanks!

I haven't geeked out this hard over Van Halen since I was a kid. This was just fantastic. Pete is a dangerous man. That playing, even "sloppy" is just killer.

Finally! An episode on the elements of great tone. Hands are 90% but that 10% from equipment is a big part as well. Great stuff! 🤘🏼

This why Pete is awesome. He is such a good Player. But still a humble guy and most importantly a huge nerd like we all are ❤️

I think Eddy is channeling riffs thru one of those peddles.. spot on sound Pete you Rock man!

SOOO GOOOOOD ! Pete sez "You can turn something up but it just starts taking over everything else. Doesn't sound good."

Holy shit this is amazing. This needs to be a thing more often.

Great sound, playing, and demo. The EP Preamp (31:52)…what a find! Quote of the video, "I could have played that better." Ha...no, that absolutely rocked. Thanks boys!

Two of my favorite RU-vidrs together? Oh, yes. Yes indeed. 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

Love the tone both Brett and Pete get!! Totally inspiring!!! Great video boys!!!

Watching Pete play I’m the One finally taught me how to play that rhythm up to speed. I was playing far too lightly and couldn’t get the swing. Awesome!

Thanks papastache102! Such an awesome video. What a blessing to have been there in person.

Wow! That intro was F***in' AWESOME!!!

Papa puts on another super entertaining show. Pete Thorn, of course, is the perfect guest for an exploration of TONE. Check out his GROOMED NOODLER, live.

42:48 The exact guitar part I'm currently working on! 😂🤘🏻🤘🏻 It might be a while before i can play it like that. Great video guys!!

Why Would someone ask the dumb question, “why do you love Van Halen so much?” The bar has been lowered so much in music and people have no clue!!

Awesome video - 2 of the best there. Brett looked to be really enjoying that VH bit....I'd have been drooling over myself also.

Yeah ... Never thought to see this two great guitarist in one place... Thanks guys... BRETT AND PETE.

Pete is Godzilla crushing cities just for pleasure! Love listening to you Pete.

Great to see real guitar players talk about real gear. Guitar playing is still #1 in rock music !! I bought my Universal Audio OX about a month ago and it's one of the most used pieces of gear in my recording studio .. Thanks for the inspiration Pete!!

That was hilarious the way Pete described playing Van Halen, like being in a snow storm and you just keep on driving. It’s like being on a run away train.

Great stuff Pete! Your VH sound and playing are both awesome. Best approach I have ever heard! Great seeing Papa too! Fantastic!!

What a cool video! I really dig Pa Pa's interviews on so many different levels (not to mention his playing too). Pete is such a cool guy with amazing technique and a fantastic ear. The wisdom, experience, and insight imparted from these videos is just priceless. Thanks guys!!

"Black Hole Sun" was played on a Gretsch guitar, according to the guy that produced it!

Watching this video made me smile. That was fun! Been a long time since I’ve seen someone play guitar with a fun attitude. You’ve got a new fan.

Pete does a great job at nailing early VH, and is stellar at the technique. If anyone wants to hear the youtuber who gets the closest to early VH, all due respect to Pete, check out Jim Gaustad, the 'Brown Sound' quest. He's made a science out of capturing the Eddy sound. It'll blow your head off!

26:29 ....that's what I been saying for years! Only ever heard Slash and Zakk mention it. People just seem to miss how excellent and right-in-the-pocket his rhythm playing is! He's the Keith Richards of hard rock!

Anything that has to do with EVH is awesome!!!🔥🔥🔥

I was hired as a utility musician in 1999 for Jerry Cantrell bogey depot tour. Our first leg was in headlining, 2nd leg opening for Metallica fo 2 months( they was insanity) then the last leg was Cantrell headlining and ended the tour in Seattle at show box theater after I dtdyed in Seattle for another month to decompress and hang in Seattle. One day the guy I was studying with was good Friends with w chris Cornell. So he came to the house and he comes over to me and says “ hi I’m chris” and I was like duh!!! Cornell was larger then life and very cool and we named just myself and chris Cornell for line 4 hours. What a voice and what a creative force. I always remember how controlled he was w his voice and it appeared to be a loud voice but was really not that loud but rather, really controlled. What a force of nature

I watch a lot of these style of videos on RU-vid, and they don't even come close to this one. Pete is not only a hugely talented player, but the whole video is compelling watching. Picked up quite a few bits of info and tips during their conversation. Also convinced me to buy an Ox too.

This was just awesome! Would love to see more like this. Thanks guys!

Seeing Pete with Chris Cornell several times blew my mind he was unbelievable! Yogi was amazing also the other guitarist and Pete's friend! One of the greatest players and always improving

Another awesome video. I love Pete. He seems like such a nice down to earth and genuine person. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see videos like this with the Nashville dudes like Kenny Greenberg, Rob McNelley, Derek Wells that you have been interviewing but on tunes that they have played on. I really dig the "this is how i played this song" videos but man if the details of "and this is how I got that sound" were also included. Bases loaded homer for me! Rig rundowns too are awesome as well of course.

The only thing lacking for the old VH 1 tone here was a SH -5 Duncan Custom or a old dimarzio super d in the guitar. 14K impedance wit a ceramic magnet. Even pete will acknowledge that for that first record the guitar tone had a higher output ceramic pickup thing going on. As a matter of fact on Pete's original SL68 demo he used a gold strat with a single super d in it for the VH 1 tone then switched to a Suhr strat with a regular PAF type(8K) for the second records tone.

It's not the fact that you're both amazing it's the fact that you both look like two kids let loose in a candy store.....the absolute blast you're having geeking out reminds me why I'm learning and playing......

Great video! So much insight. I love the switch to Van Halen and you can hear the amp hiss in the background! Makes me feel soooo much better knowing it's not just me haha

Papa tosses his head back in awe with each layer....

Papa and Pete just the best!...Lovin the EVH breakdowns, all us 80's kids appreciate! 👏🏻😄🎸

What an incredible video. Papa, every time you smiled and laughed at the playing and tones, I did as well. I wanna party with you cowboys. Thanks for all you do Pete and Papa.

Watching a lot of him up close at his picking hand he holds the pick with different fingers too. I’ve seen a handful of videos where he holds it with his middle finger and thumb rather than index.

GREAT, GREAT, GREAT VIDEO!! Two really cool and awesome guitarists breaking down to other great guitarists!

44:31 YEAHHHHHHHH !!! DAMN!

THE BEST TONE I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG FREAKING TIME !!!!!

I normally dont comment but this was a lot of fun to watch..thanks for your time. both of you.

I could watch this ALL DAY EVERY DAY!! Thanks guys!!

Papasteche and Peter! 2 fucking legends! Greeting from Argentina

Holy shit! He figured out all of the toys I've been searching for for the last 20 years! Amazing. papastache's response every time he adds a toy is my exact reaction. Great video!

damn papa it's nice to see you after a long time!!!!! i was watching ur vids in 2013 and just saw your channel again and its made me happy!

Tell Pete to take apart a click pen and drop the spring into the whammy bar hole then screw the arm back in. It has just enough tension to hold it in place where you want. Love your channel. See ya.

Mr.Thorn is AWESOME!You are a very talented smart man. Glad you do these videos. Very informative. Plus love hearing you play.

Absolutely killer stuff! That was pure FUN! Thanks for that guys!

Black hole sun guitar was a Gretsch Silver Jet

Don't let anyone milk the cow under the fence for free. All the time and effort mean something. Takers only know what they think they want. Then they want something else. Always. Everyone needs to know their gear. Mr. Thorn, thank you for all.. ALl The informative videos. Merry Christmas

Pete, you rock. Great demo, as per usual.

Great sounds! Tube amp magic. And as you said, the cabinets and mics are critical. Ed used one cabinet with darker speakers (Celestion) and another with bright speakers (JBL silver-dome) that, combined, give that extra sparkle with the rich bottom. There's a misconception that the studio EVH sound had reverb opposite the panned guitar. But it's just stereo chamber added to everything; you can hear it at the end of Running With the Devil; the reverb is stereo. It's just that the hard-panned guitar masks the sound of the reverb on that same side until he's not playing.

right on with speaker cab tones - great point 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉so crucial in tone shapers

So glad to see these guys together in a video

Thanks Papa Stache! you just got a new subscriber! this was a fun side of Pete.. great interaction between a couple gearhead guitar nerds.. love it!!

Pete is the man! Such talent and such an articulate, thoughtful dude.

34:45 -"variac blabla" -"... hmm myeah" meaning: that's way too long lets just shut you off (turns on volume)

Indeed! That is in fact the key. Spending the time to NAIL the tone, licks etc. Those are the guys that get the gigs. Period.

The production details with sound examples start @ about 11:30 mins into this vid. re: 'Black Hole Sun'

This is wonderful, really entertaining. I actually think that Pete plays early Van Halen better than Eddie does now. Eddie's playing has naturally evolved, as every great players playing does. So for him I think playing the way he did in his early 20's would seem like a step back. But for the rest of us it's legendary playing. Pete really has tapped into what Eddie was doing way back when :-)

Pete is a great guitarist and so cool! Very down to earth. Dude knows his stuff!

...that was great ....to great guys ..... and total geeks ! ....like me 😎..PS...keep these type videos going ...ps ps....Popa Brett we wanna hear you play more too man ...you always make great sounds "...cheers

You can't not smile when you see Papa smile. I'm with you man - that EVH style tone was BITCHIN'!!!

Produce Like A Pro recently put up a video going in depth on Black Hole Sun with the producer of Superunknown.

Great Video, Nailed the Sounds! ...Hey make this a regular thing! Love watching your videos guys.

Pete is your ultimate geek guitar nerd. He knows his gear so well

yeah

Thanks guys. Pete is such a talent and great guy!

Eddy definitely had an aggressive attack. His tech used to setup his guitars to a cent that would conform to his fretting and attack in order to keep the guitar in tune.

Two of my favorites also,great to see you guys hangin,have learned a lot from both of you

Yup, loved EVH my whole life... but like most always fell short of his playing execution. Pete Thorn is THE best guy for trying to get into that.... zone (for the want of a better word). He totally get it. Check out his Eruption lesson, amazing!! You can play all the notes... and then Pete explains HOW and WHY to play the notes - completely next level. Kick ass ;) xo

Thanks, Pete and Brett. When it comes to guitar, I refuse to grow up.

I could listen to Pete riff out on EVH all day

This is a cool idea. I'd like you to try and decipher a couple "mystery" tones , Jimmy Page's tone on "Since I've been Loving you" and Jeff Beck's tone on "Going Down". In interviews they both dodged questions about the amp and recording set up. Jimmy said he used "some amp that was already there" and Steve Cropper said he thought they used a Gibson combo amp on "Going Down".

man the pleasure this video brings. I laughed along the whole way through. So good!

Love the smell of a tube amp!

Watching PT play VH is such a treat - thanks guys

Hahaha! Brett is unpayble! Hahaha! He kept on saying: "Yeah!... Yeah!.... Great!.... Yeah!... Yeah!... Yeah!" Hahaha! That made me laugh so much while I was watching. Hahaha! Thank y, Brett, for being so funny. :D

...e' tutto davvero speciale!!! Grazie mille!!!!! (it's all really special!!! thanks a lot!!!!)

Great Stuff! Pete is great, and Brett is doing great job on this channel!

Thanks Pete!

Well, time to sell the gear and move on to another hobby. 😎. This was fantastic.

Pete, that new PT amp sounds amazing! Can't wait to check one out!