If you're going for VH, then buy what he used/uses. I have the MXR modded to VH specs (what ever that means) and it kills for that sound.
I'm sure the other pedal makers make a great sounding pedal, perhaps even better sounding in a general use. But I think it's amusing when they do comparisons, trying to get VH's sound with something that isn't what he used. It's like, "here we have Eddie's actual pedal and here we have pedal X. I really feel that pedal X has more of the VH mojo, the swirl is just warm enough and subtle, but with some bite. I just don't hear that with Eddie's pedal." "Yes, but this is literally Eddie's pedal, off of his pedal board!". "Yeah, but it's missing something, magic, or mojo, that pedal X has" "yeah, but it is literally HIS PEDAL?!"
I know that is an exaggeration, but I feel like any time VH is discussed it always turns into the aforementioned, whether its pickups, amps, guitars, pedals, etc...
...and to be sure, every suggestion so far is just fine, particularly for EVH. But there's just this thick, chewy texture the Whirlwind has going on.
