GuitarDistortedRiff
Cathedral Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Van Halen
Van Halen · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ernie Ball Music Man EVH Signature (prototype) or Kramer 5150 (Frankenstrat) with volume pot mod
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Custom Alnico II humbucker (bridge position, high output)
Amp
Marshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (run through a Variac, voltage lowered)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1982 (Diver Down album). Guitar volume pot was specially modified for smooth swells. Kramer 5150/Frankenstrat is most likely, with high-output humbucker. No evidence of chorus, flanger, or phaser in this section; focus is on delay and volume swells. Delay was achieved with an analog or early digital delay (likely Echoplex EP-3 or MXR rack delay).
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5.5
Gain5
Reverb3
Treble7.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Echoplex EP-3 (or similar analog/digital delay) · delay
Guitar (volume swells) → Echoplex EP-3 (delay) → Marshall Super Lead (Variac) → Cabinet
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Tone Character
- organ-like volume swells
- clean and bell-like attack
- bright and articulate highs
- minimal distortion
- touch-sensitive response
- dynamic, swelling notes
- echoed/repeated notes from delay
- no palm muting
- no modulation effects
- percussive yet smooth
Sources
- Eddie Van Halen's Guitar Gear, Frankenstrat & Pedalboard
- Does anyone know Eddie Van Halen's settings for this Amp?
- The 50 greatest guitar effects moments of all time - Page 3
- Eddie Van Halen Cathedral Delay? : r/guitarpedals
- Does anyone know how EVH was making his sound for ...
- Eddie Van Halen details the years of onstage trials ...