Solo Tone
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Van Halen
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
Guitar1979 Charvel Strat-style (custom black-and-white striped, maple neck, single humbucker, Floyd Rose prototype)
AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100W (Plexi, late '60s, variac set to ~90V, no master volume)
PickupsSeymour Duncan Custom PAF-style humbucker (rewound by EVH, wax-potted, direct-mounted)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb2.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1977-1978, Van Halen debut album sessions. Clean section achieved by rolling down guitar volume and picking softly. No evidence of channel switching or separate clean amp. Effects added via pedals and possibly studio plate reverb.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatechimey highsglassy cleanslight plate reverb ambiancepercussive attackdynamic responsesingle-coil-like clarity from humbuckerno audible breakuptight, focused lowsstudio-polished shimmer
Difficulty
The clean section is not technically demanding in terms of speed or advanced techniques, but requires careful control of guitar volume, clean picking, and dynamic sensitivity to achieve the signature chimey tone.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
Guitar1979 Charvel Strat-style (custom black-and-white striped, maple neck, single humbucker, Floyd Rose prototype)
AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100W (Plexi, late '60s, variac set to ~90V, no master volume)
PickupsSeymour Duncan Custom PAF-style humbucker (rewound by EVH, wax-potted, direct-mounted)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb2.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1977-1978, Van Halen debut album sessions. Clean section achieved by rolling down guitar volume and picking softly. No evidence of channel switching or separate clean amp. Effects added via pedals and possibly studio plate reverb.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatechimey highsglassy cleanslight plate reverb ambiancepercussive attackdynamic responsesingle-coil-like clarity from humbuckerno audible breakuptight, focused lowsstudio-polished shimmer
Difficulty
The clean section is not technically demanding in terms of speed or advanced techniques, but requires careful control of guitar volume, clean picking, and dynamic sensitivity to achieve the signature chimey tone.
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