Tone library / Van halen / Ain't talking about love

Ain't talking about love amp settings — Laney Hard core max

The Van halen guitar tone for “Ain't talking about love”, dialed in for a Laney Hard core max with a Kramer Striker. Studio version, Van Halen I (1978) — the original 'Brown Sound' recording

Original rig

Modified 1968 Marshall Super Lead 100W (Variac'd to ~90V), Frankenstrat with PAF-style bridge humbucker, MXR Phase 90, Maestro Echoplex EP-3

Warm, aggressive crunch with percussive attack, compressed sag, prominent upper-mids, subtle phase shimmer on arpeggios

Amp settings — Laney Hard core max

CHANNELHigh Gain / Lead channelBRIGHToffBOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	4
Reverb	0
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01MXR Phase 90

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Set slow for subtle swirl on arpeggios, bypass for palm-muted verses. Critical for the shimmering chorus texture.

Speed 3

02Analog Delay (owned)

Set to ~280-300ms slapback. Low mix — the delay should thicken, not echo distinctly. Eddie's Echoplex was always on but subtle.

Time 4 · Feedback/Repeats 3 · Mix/Level 2

Why these settings

The Laney Hardcore Max is voiced tighter and more modern than EVH's saggy Variac'd plexi. Gain at 6 (not higher) preserves note separation for the open-chord arpeggios — EVH's gain was moderate, his volume was extreme. Mid at 7 compensates for the Laney's scooped voicing vs the Marshall's natural midrange bark. Presence at 4 prevents fizz. The Kramer's humbucker output is close to EVH's PAF, so no major gain adjustment needed.

PRO TIPEVH tuned slightly flat on this track — the thirds in the Am arpeggio beat less harshly when the B string is tuned ~10 cents flat. Tune to the record, not a tuner. Also, pick closer to the bridge with a stiff attack for that percussive 'thwack' on the low strings.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Laney Hard core max. 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.