Tonechaser - Understanding Edward Book

5:51 a.m. on the first Monday morning of June. Al Romano was close friends with Leslie West and Felix Pappalardi and was also a major collector of rare guitars. He found the time to take some photos with his astonishing collection.

Check out these amazing photos. Here is Al's own description of the guitars, amps, et al in the panorama shot (left to right):

2009 Black Gibson Grabber bass owned by Mike Starr of Alice in Chains - given to Mike by Gibson and used on the sober House concert when he jammed with Ace.

In front of that, a 1965 Red Guild Starfire bass used by Harley Flanagan bassist of Cro-Mags.

Next to that is a 1968 Gibson Violin bass like Felix used. it’s exactly like the Felix one that Gene Simmons just got last Christmas.

Next to that is a 1927 Larson Brothers acoustic guitar that Eric Clapton left over at Felix‘s apartment in 1968. Jimi Hendrix had given the guitar to Eric and Felix ended up using it on Mountain Climbing on the song "The Laird."That’s the one that Clapton tried to get from me but he didn’t want to pay money for it.

In front of that is a candy apple 1972 Stratocaster.

Next to that is a white 1972 left-handed Fender Stratocaster with rosewood and a 1972 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster with maple neck.

Behind that is Felix’s 1964 Thunderbird bass that he used on the entire Nantucket Sleighride album up to his death.

Next to that is a black 1957 Les Paul Custom that was owned by Leslie West. Leslie used the guitar on New Year’s Eve at the Felt Forum in 1974-75 for "Auld Lang Syne."

Behind that is a 1968 SG Standard.

In front of that is a 1969 Dan Armstrong Plexi glass clear guitar like Leslie used to use.

Infront of that is a white 1981 Gibson Moderne with 1950s PAF pick ups. The same type pickups that Edward used on Van Halen‘s first album.

Next to that is a 1978 to***co Sunburst Les Paul custom.

Behind that is a 1965 SG Special.

In front of that is a Dan Electro copper guitar from the 1950s similar to the neck that Edward had on one of his guitars.

Next to that is a white 1957 Les Paul Junior exactly like the one that Leslie used on the West Bruce and Laing album Why Dontcha cover and the Best of Mountain cover with the ABR Bridge set up.

Next to that is Leslie‘s 1969 Gibson flying V that he used in Mountain in 1973 and '74 for the Avalanche tour. It’s one of the two Gibson Fying Vs that Leslie used in Mountain. Leslie had one with one pick up that he called the Ashtray and this one with two pick ups. Those were purchased at Manny’s in 1969 by Felix Pappalardi.

Next to that is a 1957 Ls Paul Sunburst Junior like Leslie used to use back in the day.

Next to that is a Gibson Moderne that was made in 2025.

Next to that is a Guild 12 string from the early 70s like Leslie used to use.

Behind that is a Sunn 2000 S amplifier that was owned by Jimi Hendrix and given to Mountain. Felix used it on Twin Peaks and he also used it earlier on as a slave amp. It is signed by Noel Redding.

Behind me are 3 Marshall 50 W amps from 1970, 1971 and 1972 and behind that is another Sunn 2000 S. Also in front of that are three Marshall cabinets: two from 1968 and one from 1969.

I’m holding Ace Frehley’s ‘s 1959 Les Paul that he used on his first solo album. It was his favorite guitar he ever had in his lifetime that he told me he wanted to be buried with. Ace used it on every song off his first solo album and he told me the guitar would not go out of tune and that it was magical.

I’ve turned down $3.5m dollars for it. I paid $13,000 for it in 1986.

Here is some background from Al on how he started collecting:
In the mid-1980s vintage guitars were fairly priced and t’s not like it is today. I have been collecting since the early '80s and back than I was buying 1959 Bursts for $5000; 1958 Flying Vs for $15,000 and
pre-CBS Strats in colors for $2500.

I had the best and rarest guitars in the world including the rarest Stratocaster that I bought from Norman: desert sand 1957 with all rosewood neck.

When Felix got killed, I purchased his whole collection from his father: 13 instruments for $13,000. One of them was an acoustic guitar that he used on Mountain Climbing on the song "The Laird." it was an acoustic guitar that Eric Clapton left over at Felix‘s house. Jimi Hendrix had given Eric the guitar.

I approached Clapton in 1989 about the guitar and he tried to get it back from me. Eric’s tech, Lee Dickson, got nasty with me over the phone and he expected me to give Eric the guitar for free when I paid $4500 for it.

I like Eric but I thought with all his money why should I have to give him a guitar for free that I paid 4500 for? Was it my fault that Eric left the guitar over at Felix‘s house and then he never saw him again? I'm just the guy that purchased it from Felix’s dad. Eric should’ve given me what I wanted. I offered to give it to him for $4500 and I also offered to give it to him for just a new Clapton Strat signed by him and Lee Dickson refused.

Than after that, Eric had Russ Titleman contact Corky Laing to have Corky contact me try to get the guitar from me but again Eric wanted it for free.

Al also bought and sold many of Edward's guitars.

Sick collection, right?
Hope you dug looking at those wonderful instruments.
I sure as hell did ...

Eddie Van Halen
Van Halen Exclusive Access - W.D.F.A.⚔
Van Halen
Edward Van Halen Forever
Van Halen Fans & Fanatics
Van Halen Frankenstrat guitar replica official group
VAN HALEN FANS FOREVER
Eddie Van Halen
Leslie West Mountain
Ace Frehley
KISS
Guitar Collectors
Gibson
Jimi Hendrix
Marshall Amplification
Fender
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton Fan's
Stratocaster Fans

6:14 a.m. on this Memorial Day Monday morning. Nate Peck is the singer for the very cool band Firehouse. He first gained notoriety when he appeared on Season 32 of American Idol and made it to the finals. He joined Firehouse in 2024 and a year later co-wrote the single "Mighty Fine Lady," which he wrote with original Firehouse guitarist Bill Leverty. He gained national attention as a golden ticket recipient on season 21 of American Idol in 2023 and later became FireHouse's official lead singer following the death of original frontman C. J. Snare in 2024.[1] In 2025, the band released the single "Mighty Fine Lady", written by Peck and guitarist Bill Leverty.

FireHouse
Bill Leverty
American Idol