Equipment use documented
Custom Strat-style guitar · single humbucker
- VolumeSuggested start
- 10 / 10
The values above are playing suggestions. Actual artist knob positions remain unknown.
Check the era, documented model and limits
ARTIST / 09VAN HALEN — HARD ROCK / SHRED
Eddie Van Halen
A driven amp and a slow phaser, with expressive dynamics that remain under the fingers.
RECREATION STUDY
Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love
An early brown-sound riff study
Suggested pickupBridge humbucker
TuningE♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭
Suggested values are starting points for recreation.
MATCH THE HARDWARE FIRST
Start with the instrument’s own controls
Use the documented single-humbucker custom guitar and Phase 90 as the reference. Do not add an imaginary tone control to a volume-only layout. The 1978 amp statement is retained as a historical account, not a starting output setting for current equipment.
Equipment basis and value provenance are separate. Suggested values for matching hardware are still not verified artist settings.
1978 artist interview and 2014 recollection of MXR use
Equipment use documented
MXR Phase 90
Original knob values: unknown. Numerical suggestions await further version and control references for this item.
Check the era, documented model and limitsExact model unresolved
Marshall Super Lead / Plexi
Original knob values: unknown. Numerical suggestions await further version and control references for this item.
Check the era, documented model and limitsDocumented setting descriptions
- Marshall controls · 1978 accountDocumented description
- All controls fully up
In the 1978 interview he describes turning the amp controls fully up.
His account is preserved without conversion into guide values.
Read the original account ↗Using different equipment?
The substitute path provides a full simplified chain and suggested values for alternative gear.
DOCUMENTED USE
What does the evidence establish?
1978 artist interview and 2014 recollection of MXR use
Confirmation applies only to the stated era and claim. It does not validate a complete recording rig or our modeler presets.
Confirmed in sourceEQUIPMENT
Custom Strat-style guitar · single humbucker
In 1978 he describes a custom guitar with one humbucker and one volume control.
Distinguish current replicas and later specifications.
Steven Rosen / Louder — Eddie Van Halen: the 1978 interviewEvidence location: Answers about building his guitar and its controls
Confirmed in sourceEQUIPMENT
MXR Phase 90
The official 2014 interview excerpt explicitly identifies Phase 90 use.
The EVH90 reference photo is not his early unit.
EVH — Eddie Van Halen Talks Pedals in Guitar WorldEvidence location: Paragraph introducing the Q&A, Phase 90 and Flanger
Not establishedEQUIPMENT
Marshall Super Lead / Plexi
He describes rebuilt Marshalls without an exact model number.
Plexi remains a recreation choice; exact circuits and modifications remain unresolved.
Steven Rosen / Louder — Eddie Van Halen: the 1978 interviewEvidence location: Answers about his rig and studio setup
Confirmed in sourceSETTING
Marshall controls · 1978 account
In the 1978 interview he describes turning the amp controls fully up.
All controls fully upArtist’s description · original notation
His account is preserved without conversion into guide values.
Steven Rosen / Louder — Eddie Van Halen: the 1978 interviewEvidence location: Answer to Do you use any special settings…
Not establishedSETTING
Recreation guide · knob values
These sources do not establish our complete numerical guide as the artist’s actual settings.
Suggested values are starting points, not verified original recording settings.
Sources and review record
How we review evidence ↗Steven Rosen / Louder — Eddie Van Halen: the 1978 interview
Artist interviewAccount / record by: Eddie Van Halen
Period / original record: 1978 · Published: 2020-10-06 · Source reviewed: 2026-09-13
EVH — Eddie Van Halen Talks Pedals in Guitar World
Artist interviewAccount / record by: Eddie Van Halen interview · official EVH excerpt
Period / original record: 2014-11 · Published: 2014-10-29 · Source reviewed: 2026-09-13
Reference photos are separate from evidence of actual use. See photo credits for the original images and reuse terms.
Start with the connections. Guitar → modeler INPUT → headphones or FRFR. Use both amp and cabinet simulation. For a physical guitar speaker, disable cabinet simulation and adjust the output mode.
The proposal fits within HX Stomp’s eight-block count. Actual DSP use still needs testing; omit optional modulation if necessary.
- 01 MODULATIONScript Mod Phase
- 02 AMPBrit Plexi Brt
- 03 CAB4x12 Greenback 25
- 04 DELAYTransistor Tape
- 05 REVERBRoom
Tone and gain values are normalized 0–10 starting points. If the device uses a different range, begin at a similar proportion; this is not an acoustic equivalence. Time, frequency and mix retain their shown units. Leave unlisted parameters at defaults.
01
MODULATION
Script Mod Phase
- Rate
- 0.3 Hz
- Mix
- 50 %
Place before the amp with a four-stage / Script character. Start QC in 90 mode. Bypass if the riff loses definition.
02
AMP
Brit Plexi Brt
- Drive / Gain
- 8
- Bass
- 3
- Mid
- 6
- Treble
- 6.5
- Presence
- 4
A Plexi-based early brown-sound proposal. It does not reproduce the physical amp modifications or power conditions.
03
CAB
4x12 Greenback 25
- Low Cut
- 80 Hz
- High Cut
- 6.5 kHz
For headphones / FRFR. Cabinet choices are tonal alternatives, not necessarily the original touring speakers. If QC lacks the cut filters here, use a separate Low-High Cut block.
04
DELAY
Transistor Tape
- Time
- 290 ms
- Feedback
- 16 %
- Mix
- 13 %
An editorial placement for clear repeats. This does not establish that the artist used this delay time on a recording or tour.
05
REVERB
Room
- Decay / Time
- 1.5 s
- Mix
- 12 %
An editorial ambience suggestion, not evidence of use on a recording or tour.
Model names based on Helix 3.80
Official model / parameter documentation
Make the final adjustments by ear
- Start at a low output level and check for input clipping.
- Bypass pedals and establish the amp’s basic tone.
- Match engaged and bypassed volume as you enable effects.
- Adjust bass for loose lows and treble or high cut for sharp highs.