TonesMatch
Humans Being — Van Halen1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence

Humans Being Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Van Halen

Van Halen · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Ernie Ball Music Man Edward Van Halen Signature (EVH) with Floyd Rose tremolo
Pickups
Custom DiMarzio humbuckers (bridge position, high output)
Amp
Peavey 5150 head with matching 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1995-1996. This was the first era of the Peavey 5150 amp, and Eddie used his signature Ernie Ball Music Man guitar for the Balance album and soundtrack sessions. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for this recording.

Amp Settings

Mids
6
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7
Presence
6.5

Effects Chain

  • MXR Phase 90 · phaser
  • MXR Flanger (likely EVH117 or original MXR Flanger) · flanger

Guitar → MXR Phase 90 → MXR Flanger → Peavey 5150 head → 4x12 cabinet (amp spring reverb at low level)

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, saturated rhythm crunch
  • aggressive palm-muted chugs
  • percussive attack
  • articulate pick definition
  • thick, harmonically rich distortion
  • fast note decay
  • focused midrange punch
  • slightly scooped but not hollow
  • modern hard rock clarity
  • minimal ambience

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings for 'Humans Being' studio session found; settings estimated based on typical Peavey 5150 usage by Eddie Van Halen in mid-1990s and genre conventions.
  • ⚠️Pedal/effects info is based on both source mentions and critical listening; no studio documentation of exact pedal models/settings for this song.
  • ⚠️Some sources discuss live rigs or earlier albums; only gear confirmed for the Balance/‘Humans Being’ era is included.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Eddie Van Halen's tone on 'Humans Being' is a saturated, aggressive high-gain sound with tight lows, forward mids, and a bright but not harsh top end, typical of his 90s Peavey 5150 era. The reverb is minimal, as the production is dry and punchy, and the amp settings reflect his preference for clarity and articulation in a hard rock context.

Sources