The Better Overall Musician - Neal Schon or Eddie Van Halen?

[timstar78]

First, I want to preface this by saying I respect both Neal Schon and Eddie Van Halen as musicians. Two brilliant guitarists and songwriters, and I am a proud fan of both Journey and Van Halen.

It's no secret that Eddie Van Halen changed the game of rock guitar, and along with Jimi Hendrix he's in elite company in terms of he most influential, revolutionary rock guitarists of the past 50 years. Eddie was also the creative force in terms of Van Halen's songwriting, coming up with the musical ideas that formed their songs. On the other side of the coin is Neal Schon. Neal is surely cited as a monster player in guitar circles, but is not considered the innovator that Eddie is. And a vast majority of the Journey catalog bears Schon's name as a co-writer.

Of course, Eddie had monster skills, with great riffs to boot, his patented tapping, tremolo picking and whammy bar sounds rounding out his arsenal. On the early VH albums especially, his playing is very visceral and improvisatory. Eddie could be very melodic too -- think the outro lines to the "Love Walks In" solo from "5150." Neal too has great chops, and he also has shown an impeccable ear for melody and knack for creative guitar riffs, which is evident throughout the Journey catalog. Moreover, his solo albums such as "Late Nite," "Voice" and "Beyond The Thunder" show another diverse side to his playing. (In contrast, Eddie has not done any solo work.)

So weighing guitar skills, songwriting, ear for melody, and other miscellaneous musical qualities, who would you consider the better overall musician?

[Saint John]

Tough one, man. The better guitarist, for me, is Neal. But the world would say Eddie, so that's easy to see. Overall? Eddie. Monster on the keys.

[Deb]

Coming from somebody who knows squat about guitar playing, can only go on what I like to hear, so I can't really say who is actually better overall. Can only say that since Schon is tied with Gilbert as my fave guitarist.....EVH is GREAT too, but have to say I prefer Neal's playing more.

PS: LOL at your CC Deville choice.

[Don]

Eddie is more rounded as a musician. A slightly better songwriter and at one point had no fear on change as evidenced when he wanted to bring in Patty Smyth right after they had their first #1 album.

Everyone knew and knows who Eddie Van Halen is. One of the few non-singers (Jimmy Page would be another) in the rock world who can have his name in the public conscious with artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, ect.

Not taking anything away from Neal but i would rank Rik Emmett ahead of him also. Rik is very well rounded as a musician; good voice, good songwriter and great guitarist.

[Gideon]

Probably EVH, but Schon's sense of melody blows EVH's away.

[Deb]

Eddie is more rounded as a musician. A slightly better songwriter and at one point had no fear on change as evidenced when he wanted to bring in Patty Smyth right after they had their first #1 album.

Everyone knew and knows who Eddie Van Halen is. One of the few non-singers (Jimmy Page would be another) in the rock world who can have his name in the public conscious with artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, ect.

Not taking anything away from Neal but i would rank Rik Emmett ahead of him also. Rik is very well rounded as a musician; good voice, good songwriter and great guitarist.

Now that I definitely agree with.

[Journey/Survivor]

Schon by a landslide.

Eddie is a one trick pony.

That's not to say that he's not great at that one trick, he is. But Schon is the most versatile Rock guitarist I've ever heard.

[Ehwmatt]

I definitely listen to more Neal/Journey. A lot of Van Halen stuff for me at this point is fun if I'm at the bar, but I'm not gonna throw it on my iPod in the car (but I will listen to Van Hagar wherever). But Eddie probably accomplished a lot more basically on his own than Neal did.

Neal had to team up with Perry and Cain to write memorable tunes (see, e.g., the fusion era Journey, the Neal Schon Band, and Soul Sirkus). Eddie shouldered the lion's share of the songwriting, particularly the music (not sure what the balance was like between Roth and Hagar - someone with more EVH knowledge can tell us maybe).

Eddie also changed guitar, for better or worse. Gotta go with Eddie.

[Enigma869]

If this question weren't posted on a Journey board, the douche, midget wouldn't get a single vote. Eddie wins this one in a landslide anywhere else!

[Andrew]

I'd always say Eddie, but he's pissed the last 15 years away doing fuck all, so Neal gets the vote.

[Pacfanweb]

Has to be Edward. Hasn't done much the last 15 years, but that doesn't mean he can't/couldn't and it doesn't erase what he did prior. Continuing to record occasionally and tour incessantly doesn't mean Neal should pass Eddie just because he mostly has been quiet. Hell, Poison tours all the time...never really stopped. Does that mean they're ahead of Journey and Van Halen, just because they've been active?


For the record, I voted that they were both great.

[AR]

Schon by a landslide.

Eddie is a one trick pony.

That's not to say that he's not great at that one trick, he is. But Schon is the most versatile Rock guitarist I've ever heard.

Well, I've been hearing that same Star Spangled Banner for how long now and a lot of the same solos in different songs.

Not a Schon fan at all. Only Journey fans rate him so highly and that is an honest opinion. He's GOOD. That's all. He has more talent than many guitar players I like more so I'm not delusional about it. He is just there.

[Journey/Survivor]

Schon by a landslide.

Eddie is a one trick pony.

That's not to say that he's not great at that one trick, he is. But Schon is the most versatile Rock guitarist I've ever heard.

Well, I've been hearing that same Star Spangled Banner for how long now and a lot of the same solos in different songs.

Not a Schon fan at all. Only Journey fans rate him so highly and that is an honest opinion. He's GOOD. That's all. He has more talent than many guitar players I like more so I'm not delusional about it. He is just there.

Non-musicians will say that Eddie is better. True musicians will tell you that Neal is better. I've heard the overwhelming majority of the top recording guitarists out there. I've never heard anyone who is better than Schon.

Name me one Rock guitarist that can masterfully play as many styles of music as Neal does. Steve Lukather is the only one who even begins to come close in that respect.

As much as I do love a lot of Eddie's playing, he doesn't even make it into my top 10. He's way too one-dimensional of a player.

For the record. I know guitarists that hate Journey with a passion, that will say that Schon is one of the truly elite guitarists in history.

[Rick]

Schon by a landslide.

Eddie is a one trick pony.

That's not to say that he's not great at that one trick, he is. But Schon is the most versatile Rock guitarist I've ever heard.

Well, I've been hearing that same Star Spangled Banner for how long now and a lot of the same solos in different songs.

Not a Schon fan at all. Only Journey fans rate him so highly and that is an honest opinion. He's GOOD. That's all. He has more talent than many guitar players I like more so I'm not delusional about it. He is just there.

Non-musicians will say that Eddie is better. True musicians will tell you that Neal is better. I've heard the overwhelming majority of the top recording guitarists out there. I've never heard anyone who is better than Schon.

Name me one Rock guitarist that can masterfully play as many styles of music as Neal does. Steve Lukather is the only one who even begins to come close in that respect.

As much as I do love a lot of Eddie's playing, he doesn't even make it into my top 10. He's way too one-dimensional of a player.

For the record. I know guitarists that hate Journey with a passion, that will say that Schon is one of the truly elite guitarists in history.

That's a bold statement!

[Yoda]

I'd have to go with Eddie Van Halen, but Neal Schon is close second in my book.

[Memorex]

Neal has been far more steady. The guy can play the exact same solo he played 40 years ago. This is where Page falls off. Lukather is like Neal.

Both Eddie and Neal changed music in their own way. I'd listen to Neal over Eddie any day when it's just guitar side by side. Neal is a poet on the guitar, Eddie is a monster.

[maverick218]

Overall, I would say Neal- music ranging from rock, to blues, to jazz, and just about everything in between. Better rock guitarist and innovator? EVH; his tone is still awesome.
I loved Neal's tone from the first album until Departure, but then he started tinkering with it too much and it got too processed for my taste.

[Ehwmatt]

Neal has been far more steady. The guy can play the exact same solo he played 40 years ago. This is where Page falls off. Lukather is like Neal.

Both Eddie and Neal changed music in their own way. I'd listen to Neal over Eddie any day when it's just guitar side by side. Neal is a poet on the guitar, Eddie is a monster.

To the contrary, Neal has gotten relatively sloppy in recent years. Up through the mid 2000s, he was still really playing well. He's written some good parts the last couple of albums after Arrival (Anything Is Possible intro, Turn Down The World Tonight solo, Faith in the Heartland assorted solos, Never Walk Away intro). But all in all, especially live, I hear him play some sloppy stuff, the same old "improvised" fast 3-note-per-string runs, crummy pick attack, and the like.

Also, Neal never was and never will be half the rhythm guitarist Eddie is. People look at Eddie and think Eruption, Hot For Teacher, tapping, tremolo picking, and the like. But the reality is the guy was perhaps even better as a rhythm guitarist/riff writer than he ever was as a lead player (and that's not small praise).

And of course, I really doubt Neal can play keys like Eddie can (wouldn't be surprised if Neal plays basic keys, though). Eddie has written some incredibly memorable/instantly recognizable keys parts too - Jump, Right Now, When It's Love, Love Comes Walking In etc. He's also written some lesser known good keys stuff, like the Van Hagar-era ballad Not Enough. He was a virtuoso pianist as a kid before switching to guitar.

Nobody outside this forum would rate Neal the better musician.

[Memorex]

Neal has been far more steady. The guy can play the exact same solo he played 40 years ago. This is where Page falls off. Lukather is like Neal.

Both Eddie and Neal changed music in their own way. I'd listen to Neal over Eddie any day when it's just guitar side by side. Neal is a poet on the guitar, Eddie is a monster.

To the contrary, Neal has gotten relatively sloppy in recent years. Up through the mid 2000s, he was still really playing well. He's written some good parts the last couple of albums after Arrival (Anything Is Possible intro, Turn Down The World Tonight solo, Faith in the Heartland assorted solos, Never Walk Away intro). But all in all, especially live, I hear him play some sloppy stuff, the same old "improvised" fast 3-note-per-string runs, crummy pick attack, and the like.

Also, Neal never was and never will be half the rhythm guitarist Eddie is. People look at Eddie and think Eruption, Hot For Teacher, tapping, tremolo picking, and the like. But the reality is the guy was perhaps even better as a rhythm guitarist/riff writer than he ever was as a lead player (and that's not small praise).

And of course, I really doubt Neal can play keys like Eddie can (wouldn't be surprised if Neal plays basic keys, though). Eddie has written some incredibly memorable/instantly recognizable keys parts too - Jump, Right Now, When It's Love, Love Comes Walking In etc. He's also written some lesser known good keys stuff, like the Van Hagar-era ballad Not Enough. He was a virtuoso pianist as a kid before switching to guitar.

Nobody outside this forum would rate Neal the better musician.

Good points. I wasn't saying Neal wins - It's one of those preference things, in my opinion.

[Don]

Neal's live playing has regressed big time since the '90s. I really do think the guy is going deaf.

[Arkansas]

Better 'overall musician', or just guitarist?
I think I read where Schon played clarinet in school. (Did he ever get his @ss kicked?)
And EVH is said to play decent piano.
What else do these guys play (except women) ?


later~

[Don]

Better 'overall musician', or just guitarist?
I think I read where Schon played clarinet in school. (Did he ever get his @ss kicked?)
And EVH is said to play decent piano.
What else do these guys play (except women) ?


later~

Weren't both of their fathers classical musicians?

[strangegrey]

If this question weren't posted on a Journey board, the douche, midget wouldn't get a single vote. Eddie wins this one in a landslide anywhere else!

This!


Seriously, folks....you fuckers are smoking crack. Neal is as big of a douchebag as he is a guitarist.....but he doesn't fucking hold a candle to Sir Ed.

[Michigan Girl]

I remember back in the day my mom took me to my first Journey show ever ...it featured
Montrose and Van Halen ... I was already in love w/Journey, but these Van Halen boys
were new to me and EVH swept me off my feet. I love Neal's melodic play and nothing
can beat what I witnessed between he and SP over the years ...but EVH, he's one of a
kind ...and soooo much more fun to watch!!

[JohnH]

As far as being a musician, I'd give it to Neal, because he's still writing great stuff and has never taken loads of time off to drink and do drugs and let his skills deteriorate and he still has the fire. Eddie hasn't written anything good (save for the first greatest hits album handful of new songs) since 1991.

[Rick]

If this question weren't posted on a Journey board, the douche, midget wouldn't get a single vote. Eddie wins this one in a landslide anywhere else!

This!


Seriously, folks....you fuckers are smoking crack. Neal is as big of a douchebag as he is a guitarist.....but he doesn't fucking hold a candle to Sir Ed.

In their respective primes, I'd say Eddie, but that's not what I would say now. Eddie's got wet brain and the last thing I saw of him was a Youtube video of him in the 2008 tour, drunk as hell, completely fucking up his guitar part, then turning over an amplifier. I'm sure the crowd loved that though.

[AR]

Other than an the thing with the reality show whore, no one knows or cares who Neal Schon is.

He is a dunce and a mental midget and there are many better guitar players than him. PERIOD.

[Gideon]

Other than an the thing with the reality show whore, no one knows or cares who Neal Schon is.

He is a dunce and a mental midget and there are many better guitar players than him. PERIOD.

I'm beginning to wonder if you're on yours. Harsh much?

[AR]

Other than an the thing with the reality show whore, no one knows or cares who Neal Schon is.

He is a dunce and a mental midget and there are many better guitar players than him. PERIOD.

I'm beginning to wonder if you're on yours. Harsh much?

He's forgotten in the general public except for his reality whore. Decent to good guitar player. (Overrated by Journey fans)

Horrible person. I've been around him. Speaking my mind. Just one of those stupid people who open their mouths and you just cringe.

It's the truth.

And I HOPE he reads this! My most hated person I have ever met in music and I have been around.

[Gideon]

He's forgotten in the general public. Decent to good guitar player.

I think you might be selling Schon short. Just a little.

Horrible person. I've been around him. Speaking my mind. Just one of those stupid people who open their mouths and you just cringe.

You're preaching to the choir, man. You oughta meet my old lady.