Riff Tone
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Van Halen
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarFrankenstrat (homemade Strat-style guitar, 1978 configuration)
AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (run through a Variac, studio, 1978)
PickupsSeymour Duncan Custom PAF-style humbucker (bridge position, direct mounted)
Amp Settings
gain4
bass4.5
mid6.5
treble5.5
reverb0.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1978 debut album. Frankenstrat with single bridge humbucker, Marshall Super Lead 100 cranked with Variac. Clean sections achieved by rolling down guitar volume. No evidence of other guitars or amps for clean riff. No chorus or flanger on clean part.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatechimey and glassy highstight and percussive attackclean with slight edge-of-breakupdynamic response to pickingsingle-coil-like clarity from humbuckerno audible effects or modulationclear note separationpunchy low endminimal sustain
Difficulty
The clean riff requires tight palm muting, accurate arpeggiation, and dynamic control using the guitar's volume knob to maintain clarity and avoid breakup. While not technically advanced, it demands good right-hand technique and touch sensitivity.
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarFrankenstrat (homemade Strat-style guitar, 1978 configuration)
AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100-watt (run through a Variac, studio, 1978)
PickupsSeymour Duncan Custom PAF-style humbucker (bridge position, direct mounted)
Amp Settings
gain4
bass4.5
mid6.5
treble5.5
reverb0.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1978 debut album. Frankenstrat with single bridge humbucker, Marshall Super Lead 100 cranked with Variac. Clean sections achieved by rolling down guitar volume. No evidence of other guitars or amps for clean riff. No chorus or flanger on clean part.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatechimey and glassy highstight and percussive attackclean with slight edge-of-breakupdynamic response to pickingsingle-coil-like clarity from humbuckerno audible effects or modulationclear note separationpunchy low endminimal sustain
Difficulty
The clean riff requires tight palm muting, accurate arpeggiation, and dynamic control using the guitar's volume knob to maintain clarity and avoid breakup. While not technically advanced, it demands good right-hand technique and touch sensitivity.
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love on Fender Mustang LT25
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love on Boss Katana
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love on Fender Champion 20
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love on Fender Frontman 15G
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love on Fender Frontman 10G
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love on Fender Mustang LT50
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love on Positive Grid Spark
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love on Fender Frontman 20G
More Van Halen tones
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love · riff
- Panama · riff
- Unchained · riff
- Eruption · solo
- Eruption · riff
- You Really Got Me · riff
- Runnin' with the Devil · riff
- Hot for Teacher · riff
- "5150" · riff
- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love · solo