Riff Tone

Outta Love Again

Van Halen

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarFrankenstrat (homemade Strat-style, maple neck, single humbucker, Floyd Rose prototype or vintage tremolo)

AmpMarshall 1959 Super Lead (1967/68, EL34 tubes, run through Variac at 89V, no master volume, 4x12 cab with Celestion G12M 'Greenbacks')

PickupsSeymour Duncan Custom Shop or rewound PAF-style humbucker (bridge position, wax-potted, high output, direct to volume pot)

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb0.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

flangerMXR MXR 117 Flanger

phaserMXR MXR Phase 90

eqMXR MXR 6 Band EQ

delayMaestro Maestro Echoplex EP-3

Notes

Studio recording, 1979 (Van Halen II sessions). Amp run through Variac for 'brown sound'. Effects chain confirmed for studio use. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitar/amp for this song's riff.

Tone Character(10)

brown soundsaturated yet articulatetight, percussive attackmodulation swirl (flanger)aggressive bridge pickupdynamic pick attackminimal ambienceclassic British crunchhigh output humbucker claritydry, in-your-face studio tone

Difficulty

The riff is technically demanding due to its speed, rhythmic complexity, and the need for precise muting and articulation, as well as integrating modulation effects in time with the riff.

Sources

The Gear Used By Eddie Van Halen on ‘Van Halen I’ | Guitar.com Eddie Van Halen's Guitar Gear, Frankenstrat & Pedalboard | Equipboard Eddie Van Halen's guitar gear: get the tone of the hard-rock icon | Guitar World Van Halen - Aint talking bout love Effect Question - The Gear Page Van Halen 1 and 2 gear and racks in HD | Rig-Talk

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