Bad horsie amp settings — EVH 5150III 50W

The Steve vai guitar tone for “Bad horsie”, dialed in for a EVH 5150III 50W with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Alien Love Secrets (1995)

Original rig

Ibanez JEM7V with DiMarzio Evolution pickups (bridge), Bogner Ecstasy 101B / Carvin Legacy VL100, Morley Bad Horsie Wah locked in cocked position

Nasal, mid-heavy attack with high gain sustain — the cocked wah creates a fixed band-pass filter giving the tone its signature 'horse whinny' vocal quality

Amp settings — EVH 5150III 50W

CHANNELGreen (crunch)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	5
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The EVH 5150III has more inherent gain and mid-scoop than the Bogner Ecstasy. Using the Green channel at moderate gain (6) matches the Bogner's smoother saturation better than the Blue channel's aggression. Pushed mids to 7 to compensate for the 5150's natural scoop and approximate the cocked-wah mid-peak of the original. Presence pulled back to 5 to avoid the 5150's tendency toward fizz at higher settings.

PRO TIPThe iconic 'Bad Horsie' tone is impossible to fully nail without a wah pedal locked at the toe-down (cocked) position — this creates the fixed mid-frequency peak that gives the track its nasal, vocal character. A Morley Bad Horsie or any wah locked around 70-80% down would transform this setting from 'close' to 'there'. Your GIO's Infinity pickups are lower output than Vai's Evolutions, so the Green channel's touch-sensitivity will reward you — dig in harder for the aggressive passages.

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These settings are for a EVH 5150III 50W. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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