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

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love amp settings — Vox AC10C1

The Van Halen guitar tone for “Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love”, dialed in for a Vox AC10C1 with a Epiphone Les Paul Studio. Studio version, Van Halen (1978) - intro arpeggio and rhythm riff

Original rig

1968 Marshall Super Lead 100W (Variac set to ~90V), Ibanez Destroyer ('Shark') with bridge humbucker, MXR Flanger (117), 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 — Vox AC10C1

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	5
Treble	5
Reverb	2
Master	7

Don’t have a Vox AC10C1? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01MXR EVH117 Flanger

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for the signature sweeping intro arpeggio.

Manual 6 · Width 4 · Speed 3 · Regen 6

02Marshall Guv'nor / High-Gain MIAB Overdrive

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Delivers the missing Marshall low-mid growl through the Vox.

Gain 7 · Bass 6 · Mid 7 · Treble 5 · Level 6

Why these settings

The Vox AC10C1 is inherently chimier with prominent top-end and lacks the low-mid sag of a variac-cranked Marshall Super Lead. Push the AC10's Gain knob to 8 to achieve maximum natural EL84 saturation while keeping Treble restrained at 5 to avoid harshness on the bright Top Boost circuit. If you add a Marshall-in-a-box pedal later, roll the AC10's Gain back to 3 and let the pedal drive the Brown Sound midrange.

PRO TIPLightly palm-mute the opening arpeggiated riff with the heel of your picking hand resting just over the bridge saddles to get that percussive, chunky bounce heard on the record.

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These settings are for a Vox AC10C1. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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