Frankie... 

New! Check the video playthrough on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rZOjLSHj92s

“Frankie” was the name Eddie Van Halen gave his guitar, a cross pollination of a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Stratocaster, that he assembled himself from different parts for a total sum of of only 150 dollars. A Frankenstein Guitar so to speak, made from a left over second rate body and many different parts: the Frankenstrat. 

The Frankenstrat was Van Halen's attempt to combine the sound of a classic Gibson guitar with the physical attributes and tremolo bar functionality of a Fender Stratocaster. He singlehandedly reinvented the electric rock guitar and style of playing. 

Eddie died last year, and to remember him, I’ve made several covers of some of his songs, this time I made an original track, however heavily based on his playing, soloing and riffs. 

I hope you can appreciate and enjoy this tune written for Eddie, the man who inspired young Daniël, like so many other kids, to pick up the guitar and want to play rock music.

Recorded with the EVH relic Frankenstrat (shown on the picture)
Track written, recorded and played by Dan van den Berg, loosely based on several EVH songs:
In a Simple Rhyme, Girl Gone Bad, You’re no good, Unchained, Dance the Night Away, Hang ‘Em High, Light Up The Sky, AFU, Hot For Teacher, So this is Love?, Hear about it Later.

Recorded March 2021,
Recorded using Amplitube, AURIA.
Photo and editing by Dan van den Berg

Frankie... (original)| Remembering Eddie

“I am a tone chaser... I love chasing tone...” - Eddie Van Halen

Always tinkering, Edward Van Halen made himself a guitar and gear that could match his ideas in sound.  From the first record onward, Eddie’s always had a great guitar sound, from the brown sound -as he called the sound of the early records- to the massive sound on his last album. Much, actually most of it though had to do with his mind, soul, feel, his hands and note choices. Edward thinks in outlandish bends, dive bomb whammy bar sounds, squeals and pinch harmonics, pick scratches, finger tapping, wild runs with short atonal interruptions in the blues scales, etc. etc. that I think was his way of surprising himself and with him so many of us rock guitarists back in the day. His tone is not so much about what you would call beauty in a classical sense, but more like extremely cool, explosive and intense. It changed rock music and put rock guitar back on the map, even the biggest pop artists wanted a taste of his playing, like Michael Jackson on his song `beat it’.

In memory and respect of the king of rock guitar, I am making a string of tracks, covers and some originals, that celebrate Edward Van Halen’s phenomenal playing. Of course I am emulating his tones and sounds, with the deepest respect for him. I don’t claim to come close to his tone and playing, it is with the humbled appreciation for the hero of my youngest years. An introduction, back then, to the electric guitar and rock music for me.

-Dan

I hope you can appreciate and enjoy this tune written for Eddie, the man who inspired young Daniël, like so many other kids, to pick up the guitar and want to play rock music.

Recorded with the EVH relic Frankenstrat Guitar.
Track written, recorded and played by Dan van den Berg, loosely based on EVH music.

Recorded March 2021,
Recorded using Amplitube, AURIA.
Photo and editing by Dan van den Berg

Tone Chaser (original)| Remembering Eddie

Play&Enjoy my new cover :)
I tuned up a littlebit 'cuz copyright ... :)
Gear:
Line6 Toneport
Telecaster with dimarzio humbuckers :)

Van Halen - Unchained

Play&Enjoy my new song !
I love Eddie Van Halen, and with that I want to honor everything he has taught us. For guitarists!
... Rest in Peace Master <3

Carry on EDDIE

And now for something completely different! Instead of a movie or TV show, Jake and Cutter decide to discuss the historical debut album of the band, Van Halen. From Pasadena, where it all started for the band, the boys discuss the album and its mammoth musical impact, while still getting into some significant political issues like the product supply chain problems and a US-Afghani luggage fiasco.

Ep 97 - Huntington Botanical Gardens | San Marino, CA - "Van Halen I" - Supply Chain, USA Baggage

Last week a unique relic guitar arrived to my place, a replica of a piece of rock guitar history: the Frankenstrat guitar of Eddie Van Halen. You can see the guitar in the picture here. 
It is the guitar of my youth, a guitar in the hands of Edward Van Halen, not only iconic in its appearance but especially in its innovative nature. Eddie had been tinkering with this guitar, made from left overs, it cost him only 150 dollars, however it contained all of Eddie’s gathered knowledge and experimenting. Recently under EVH’s own label there’s a whole striped series of his guitars being made. With the passing of Edward Van Halen last year I decided for all of the exitement and fun he gave me in my youth I’d purchase this guitar as a personal remembrance. And now holding it in my hands, what better to do than playing it to make a cover of one of his classic songs: Panama.

So here is, in full appreciation of Ed’s music and playing, my humble version.

-Dan

Recorded by request of GuitarPhil
All guitars, bass, drum programming by Dan van den Berg, February 28, 2021
Music by Van Halen, 1984

Panama | Van Halen (cover)... Remembering Eddie

I'm just a guy who love play the guitar :))

New Album out now! https://danielvandenberg.bandcamp.com/album/short-tales-for-three-guitars

This site is for my musical avatar or alter ego. Architect/partner/company owner by day, I find myself playing guitar and writing these tracks in afterhours, at nights, evenings, when in need of a dose of guitar sounds. You will find a wide range of guitar oriented music, ranging from Jazz to Blues, Flamenco to Classical, Rock to Fusion. And many collaborations with some great musicians.

I have been playing guitar since I was 11 years old, largely self-taught and have tried different styles and instruments: Renaissance lute, flamenco guitar, classical guitar, steel string guitar and electric guitar with which I have been playing in styles ranging from rock and metal in my early years to classical music, some American Folk music, jazz rock, prog rock, flamenco nuevo and fusion.

It’s been a splendid time here so far, in collaborating with a lot of brilliant musicians on SoundCloud and sharing ideas and the passion for music. 
My collaborations are with musicians that I have a deep respect for and have a mutual appreciation for real instruments, and musical styles that focus on letting the instruments “shine”. 

Here is some technical data:
Currently I am using Amplitube and Auria on an iPad as DAW with Final Touch for mastering. For acoustic recording I use an Apogee microphone.

Guitars are:
Fender AMERICAN ELITE STRATOCASTER® HSS SHAWBUCKER, 2016
Fender Stratocaster Squire (first edition: JV-series)
Ibanez JS100, Joe Satriani model
Paulino Bernabe, Taller de Guitarras, Model-50, 2001, classical concert guitar
Marín, Modelo Estudio /9 Calidad, 1997, Malaga, Spain, flamenco guitar
Joan Cashimira, modelo 145, spruce top w/ cocobolo sides and back, Gata de Gorgos (Alicante), 2015

I hope you will enjoy my music.

Daniël van den Berg
DanArchX

Knocking 'em back.  Making a scene.  Fighting for freedom!

New tracks tagged #frankenstrat