GuitarDistortedRiff
Best of Both Worlds Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Van Halen
Van Halen · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ernie Ball Music Man EVH Signature (1986-1991, used on 5150 and OU812 albums)
Pickups
DiMarzio custom-wound humbuckers (bridge and neck, direct-mounted, high output)
Amp
Peavey 5150 head (studio recording, 1986/1987 era for 5150/OU812 sessions)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1986 (OU812 sessions, released 1988). Eddie used his signature Ernie Ball Music Man guitar with custom DiMarzio humbuckers and the Peavey 5150 amp for the main riff. No pedal overdrive/distortion, just amp gain. Effects are minimal in the riff section; flanger and phaser are not present in the riff, only in solos or select songs. No chorus or delay on the riff. Pickup selector set to bridge. Settings are for studio, not live.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain8.5
Reverb2.5
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight palm-muted chugs
- aggressive bridge pickup attack
- British-voiced crunch
- high-output humbucker clarity
- saturated but articulate
- percussive rhythm
- chunky low end
- cutting upper mids
- minimal ambience
- focused, punchy riff tone