GuitarDistortedRiff
Good Enough Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Van Halen
Van Halen · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ernie Ball Music Man EVH Signature (likely 1985-86 model, as used on 5150/5150-era recordings)
Pickups
DiMarzio custom-wound humbuckers (Music Man stock, high output, ceramic magnet)
Amp
Peavey 5150 head (early prototype, studio version, 1985-86)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1985-86, for the album '5150'. Eddie Van Halen used his signature Ernie Ball Music Man guitar and the then-new Peavey 5150 amp. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight palm-muted chugs
- aggressive and saturated
- bright and articulate
- punchy low end
- cutting upper mids
- percussive attack
- clear note separation
- harmonic overtones
- saturated crunch
- classic '5150' era Van Halen rhythm tone