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

Ain't talking bout love amp settings — Marshall Plexi 1959

The Van halen guitar tone for “Ain't talking bout love”, dialed in for a Marshall Plexi 1959 with a Jackson JS12 Dinky. Studio version, Van Halen (1978) — main muted arpeggio riff and solo

Original rig

1968 Marshall Plexi Super Lead (variac'd to ~90V), Frankenstrat with Gibson PAF humbucker, MXR Phase 90 (script logo), Echoplex EP-3

Crunchy, singing midrange with harmonic sustain and subtle phaser sweep—the 'brown sound'

Amp settings — Marshall Plexi 1959

CHANNELLead 1 (Jumped to Normal)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	10
Bass	4
Mid	8
Treble	6
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	10

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Flanger

Used here with subtle width and slow sweep to emulate the studio Phase 90 movement

Manual 6 · Width 4 · Speed 3 · Regen 2

02MXR Phase 90

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; key to the authentic studio sweep

Speed 3

Why these settings

Your Marshall 1959 Plexi is the exact platform for this tone: diming both volume channels (or jumping channel 1 to 2) delivers the raw power-tube saturation that defines the 'brown sound'. The JS12 Dinky's ceramic bridge humbucker is hotter than Eddie's vintage PAF, so bass is held at 4 to keep the palm-muted arpeggio tight and prevent low-end flub. Set your flanger to a slow, shallow sweep to mimic the Phase 90's subtle mid-shift.

PRO TIPKeep your pick hand locked tightly across the bridge saddles for a dry, heavy palm mute on the A and D string arpeggios, hitting the open strings with an aggressive, downward attack to trigger Eddie's characteristic mid-range 'chirp'.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall Plexi 1959. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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