Chains amp settings — Marshall Code 50

The Van halen guitar tone for “Chains”, dialed in for a Marshall Code 50 with a ESP LTD JH-600 James Hetfield. Studio version, Fair Warning (1981) - 'Unchained' (main riff)

Original rig

1968 Marshall Super Lead 100W (variac at ~90V, dummy load setup) into 4x12 Celestion cab, Franky guitar with Gibson PAF humbucker, MXR EVH Flanger, MXR 6-band EQ

Aggressive, chewy British high-gain crunch with flanged sweeps and tight bottom end

Amp settings — Marshall Code 50

CHANNEL1959HW (Plexi) or JCM800 model with 1960V 4x12 cabBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Onboard Flanger Block (Marshall Code)

Engage for the signature sweep on the open-string riffs

Speed 2 · Depth 8 · Regen 7 · Level 7

Why these settings

The active EMG pickups on your JH-600 have substantially higher output than Eddie's PAF, so the amp gain on the Code's Plexi/JCM model is dialed back to 7 to prevent fizzy oversaturation. Pushing the midrange to 7 compensates for the natural scoop of high-output active humbuckers and captures the throatiness of the 1981 brown sound. The Marshall Code 50 faceplate does not feature a dedicated presence knob, so top-end bite is shaped via treble and cab simulation.

PRO TIPDrop the low E string to D (Drop D tuning) and use aggressive, percussive downstrokes near the bridge to get the authentic growling palm-mute attack on the main riff.

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Marshall Code 50 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Van halen tonesALL SONGS Van halen on the Marshall Code 50SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP ESP LTD JH-600 James Hetfield 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.