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

Ain't talking about love amp settings — Yamaha THR10II

The Van halen guitar tone for “Ain't talking about love”, dialed in for a Yamaha THR10II with a Yamaha Pacifica 112V. Studio version, Van Halen I (1978)

Original rig

Marshall Super Lead 1959 (variac mod at ~90V), Frankenstrat with PAF-style humbucker in bridge, MXR Phase 90, Echoplex EP-3 for slapback delay

Warm, aggressive crunch with percussive attack, subtle phaser swirl, and slapback ambience — the 'Brown Sound'

Amp settings — Yamaha THR10II

CHANNELBRIT HI — Marshall-voiced high-gain model

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	6
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	5
Reverb	2
Master	7

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01THR10II Onboard Phaser (via THR Remote app)

Set slow rate for subtle swirl — engage during arpeggios and solo sections, bypass during tight rhythm chunks

Speed 2 · Depth 4

02THR10II Onboard Delay (via THR Remote app)

Slapback delay ~280-320ms, single repeat, low in mix — replicates Echoplex thickening

Time 4 · Feedback 2 · Mix 3

Why these settings

The THR10II's BRIT HI model approximates a cranked Marshall. Eddie's variac-sagged tone had less harsh treble and more midrange warmth than a stock plexi, so I pushed mids to 7 and kept treble conservative at 6. Your Pacifica's Alnico V humbucker is hotter and brighter than Eddie's PAF-wound pickup, so rolling the guitar's tone knob to 7 tames the ice-pick highs and gets closer to that thick 'brown' character.

PRO TIPEddie's signature arpeggio tone on this track comes from aggressive downstroke picking right over the bridge pickup pole pieces — not near the neck. Dig in hard with the pick angled slightly, and let the notes ring into each other. The compression from the amp does the rest.

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These settings are for a Yamaha THR10II. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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