I would say that he is a pioneer. Who else has used a drill on their guitar? Who else has really abandoned the standards for playing that were set before them? Honestly, there are not as many out there as we would like to think. Sure, tapping was not completely original nor was hammer-on or pull-off. I think that the use of it was more accepted once it was introduced into mainstream though. For this, he was a pioneer in the realm of modern playing. The whole drill thing was unthinkable until EVH did it. I also think that the thought of no other control but volume on a single pickup guitar was something that not too many others would have even wanted. It kind of puts you in a put up or shut up stance. There is nothing that helps you make your tone really any different other than your hands. Sure there are others that have that style of guitar now but he was one of the first to go that way. I am not a fan of the thin tone that he often plays with but for what he is playing it suits the bill. I am also not a fan of the cram a million notes into a phrase mentality either. In certain applications I can appreciate it but personally I would much rather have the tone and the feel of the Clapton school of thought for lead playing. As far as EVH being a fake is concerned I wouldn't make statements that are so pejorative. He may have borrowed technique but he would be the innovator as far as guitar technique is concerned. As inventor maybe technically not, but as the innovator it is a definite yes.
In my opinion, the 5150 is/was a decent amp to make a certain sound much as any other amp makes a niche sound. There are design flaws in many amps. To say that the amp sucks would be a matter of opinion. To be honest you can look at some older designs that became legendary that were flawed as well but still managed to become legendary. As far as tone is concerned I do not like the voicing of the 5150 but I can see its purpose.
The new 5150 from Fender will I am sure present its limitations and possible flaws. It is just a matter of time until these will appear. Without mistakes and room for improvement there would be nothing by which to judge anything by and thus no real progress.
As far as Peavey is concerned, I believe that their practice amps are great for what they are. Where else can you spend little money on something that is capable of making decent sounds at reasonably low volume practice levels that you don't really mind if it gets kicked around or whatever? The bandits can get loud too for use as an absolute emergency backup (your backup amp gets toast too while you are having your primary amp serviced and there are no rental services where you need to play and no one is willing to let you use their gear for your set). I wouldn't consider their SS stuff as a primary amp. If my tastes were elsewhere I might consider a 5150 (5150 II), 6505 (6505+), JSX or XXX as a primary amp though.
Has anyone played the Penta, Windsor or ValveKing?
) and I think that it keeps still rocking, if he get for harder drugs maybe he will be like evh now
