Tone library / Van halen / Aint talkin bout love

Aint talkin bout love amp settings — Peavey 6505

The Van halen guitar tone for “Aint talkin bout love”, dialed in for a Peavey 6505 with a Jackson Pro Series Rhoads. Studio version, Van Halen (1978) — main opening riff and rhythm parts

Original rig

1968 Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W (Variac set to ~90V) into Celestion-loaded 4x12, Frankenstrat (PAF bridge humbucker), MXR Phase 90, MXR Flanger, Echoplex EP-3

Saturated, saggy British crunch with mid-forward bite, tape echo space, and subtle phase modulation

Amp settings — Peavey 6505

CHANNELRhythm channel (Crunch switch engaged, Bright switch on)BRIGHTonBOOSToff

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

Don’t have a Peavey 6505? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01MXR Phase 90

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; place in front of amp for the iconic subtle swirl on the main arpeggio riff

Speed 3

02Tape Delay / Echo (Echoplex EP-3 style)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; run in FX loop set for a single slapback/short repeat

Time 4 · Repeats 3 · Mix 3

Why these settings

The 6505 Lead channel is too modern and scooped for Eddie's early Plexi sound, so the Rhythm channel with Crunch button engaged delivers the tighter, organic Marshall-style breakup. We boost the midrange to 7 to replicate the cranked Super Lead bark, while keeping Pre-Gain around 6 to prevent modern fizz and maintain string separation on arpeggios. Set Resonance on the amp panel to 5 to preserve low-end punch without flubbing out the palm mutes.

PRO TIPLightly palm-mute the open low strings and hit the arpeggiated chords with an aggressive, downward pick attack using the edge of a heavy pick to trigger the natural harmonic chirp heard on the album track.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Peavey 6505. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Peavey 6505

Fade to blackMetallica Tan SoloLos Piojos Welcome to ParadiseGreen Day Sounds Like the RadioZach Top Master of puppetsMetallica Far from Any RoadThe Handsome Family

Find your amp

Browse

Peavey 6505 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Aint talkin bout love on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Van halen tonesALL SONGS Jackson Pro Series Rhoads tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.