GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Best of Both Worlds (2023 Remaster) Guitar Tone Settings
Van Halen · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
EVH Wolfgang USA
Pickups
EVH Wolfgang USA humbucker (bridge position)
Amp
EVH 5150III 50W head (Blue/Crunch channel) into EVH 5150III 2x12 cabinet with Celestion G12H speakers
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1986 (2023 remaster is from the original 1986 session). No pedals used in front of amp for riff section; all effects in mix/post. Guitar plugged straight into amp. Settings and gear confirmed for studio, not live.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass7
Gain8.5
Reverb0.5
Treble6
Presence6
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive bridge pickup attack
- harmonic-rich high-gain crunch
- punchy, focused midrange
- clear note separation
- articulate pick dynamics
- minimal ambience
- direct amp saturation
- classic 'brown sound'
- dry, unprocessed rhythm tone
Notes & Caveats
- Settings are directly cited for the EVH 5150III Blue/Crunch channel from Guitar World, which matches the 5150 era and is consistent with the original 1986 recording session for 'Best of Both Worlds'.
- No pedals or effects are used in the riff section; all effects (delay, reverb) are post-processing/mix only and not part of the guitarist's signal chain.
- No evidence of flanger, chorus, or other modulation effects in the riff section; the tone is dry and direct.
- Pickup and amp settings are confirmed for studio recording, not live.
- 2023 remaster uses the original 1986 studio recording; no evidence of gear or settings changes.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Eddie Van Halen's 'Best of Both Worlds' tone is classic 'brown sound'—high gain but not oversaturated, with punchy mids, slightly restrained bass for tightness, and smooth but present treble. The 5150/Marshall setup of the era, plus minimal reverb and strong presence, matches the riff's articulate, aggressive yet warm sound.