Solo Tone

Panama

Van Halen

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarKramer 5150 (custom-built, red with striped finish, maple neck, Floyd Rose tremolo)

AmpMarshall Super Lead 1959 100W (run through a Variac, voltage lowered to ~90V)

PickupsSeymour Duncan SH-5 Custom humbucker (bridge position, direct-mounted)

Amp Settings

gain8.5

bass5.5

mid7

treble7

reverb2.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

phaserMXR MXR Phase 90

flangerMXR MXR M-117 Flanger

delayMaestro Echoplex EP-3

Notes

Studio recording for 'Panama' solo, 1983-1984. Guitar is the Kramer 5150 with a single bridge humbucker. Amp is a Marshall Super Lead 1959, run through a Variac for the 'brown sound'. Effects include MXR Phase 90, MXR Flanger, and tape echo (Echoplex EP-3). No chorus or wah in this solo. Pickup selector is fixed to bridge humbucker. No evidence of live rig or other guitars for this solo.

Tone Character(10)

high-gain British crunchsaturated and harmonically richtight, percussive attacksinging sustainbright and articulate top endmodulation swirl (flanger/phase) in soloclassic 'brown sound' warmthdynamic pick responseslight tape echo ambienceaggressive bridge pickup bite

Difficulty

The solo features advanced techniques like two-handed tapping, rapid alternate picking, and expressive whammy bar use, demanding high technical proficiency and control.

Sources

Eddie Van Halen's guitar gear: get the tone of the hard-rock icon | Guitar World Does anyone know Eddie Van Halen's settings for this Amp? - Reddit Eddie Van Halen's Guitar Gear, Frankenstrat & Pedalboard | Equipboard

This tone has been researched 6 times by the community

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