Tone library / Van Halen / Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love amp settings — Fender Frontman 10g

The Van Halen guitar tone for “Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love”, dialed in for a Fender Frontman 10g with a Tokai Love Rock. Studio version, Van Halen (1978) - intro riff & rhythm parts

Original rig

1968 Marshall Super Lead 100W (variac lowered to ~90V), Ibanez Destroyer (Korina body / PAF pickup), MXR Flanger, MXR Phase 90, Maestro Echoplex EP-3

Punchy 'Brown Sound' crunch with chewy upper-mid bite, tight palm-muted lows, and dynamic flanger/slapback ambiance

Amp settings — Fender Frontman 10g

CHANNELOD (Overdrive Select In)BOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	4
Treble	7
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01MXR Flanger / EVH117 Flanger

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; essential for the signature intro sweep

Manual 6 · Width 2 · Speed 3 · Regen 6

Why these settings

The Frontman 10G relies on its built-in Overdrive switch to simulate Eddie's pushed Marshall Super Lead, but its small 6-inch speaker will naturally sound boxier and brighter than a 4x12 cab. Bass is kept at 4 to prevent low-end flub on the palm-muted arpeggios while treble is pushed to 7 for the necessary pick attack. An external flanger pedal is strongly recommended to capture the signature modulating sweep of the main riff.

PRO TIPEddie used heavy palm muting near the bridge saddles combined with very aggressive downpicking to give the arpeggiated intro riff its tight, percussive chunk.

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These settings are for a Fender Frontman 10g. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.