Erruption amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

The Van halen guitar tone for “Erruption”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 with a PRS SE Custom 24. Studio version, Van Halen (1978)

Original rig

1968 Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W (Variac set to ~90V, cranked) + Frankenstein Strat (PAF humbucker) + MXR Phase 90 + Echoplex EP-3 + Univox EC-80 tape echo

Iconic 'Brown Sound' with warm compressed mids, aggressive pick attack, and dynamic harmonic saturation

Amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

CHANNELOD 1 (Voice selector set to OD1; ISF set fully clockwise to 10 for British Marshall voicing)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Reverb	2
Master	7

Don’t have a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3? Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Onboard Modulation (Phaser)

Select Phaser mode on the Modulation bank; set speed low to emulate the script MXR Phase 90 on the solo passages

Type 2 · Level 5

02Onboard Delay (Tape Delay)

Select Tape/Analogue delay on the Delay bank with short slapback/echo repeats to emulate the EP-3

Type 3 · Level 4

Why these settings

The Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 does not have individual 3-band EQ or presence knobs on its faceplate, so tone shaping relies on the ISF control turned fully British (10) paired with the OD 1 voice. Your PRS SE Custom 24 bridge humbucker matches Eddie's PAF output well, so keeping gain around 8 delivers the tight power-tube saturation without turning fizzy on the 5-inch speakers. Use the onboard modulation and tape delay blocks to recreate the Phase 90 and Echoplex textures without external pedals.

PRO TIPFor the rapid tapped arpeggios at the climax, turn the onboard Phaser to a very slow sweep and use the side of your pick hand's index finger (or edge of the pick) right over the frets for clear, un-muffled note articulation.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3. 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 Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

DespacitoLuis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee YürekDuman Mouth for WarPantera The Dark Eternal NightDream Theater November RainGuns n' Roses CreepRadiohead

Find your amp

Browse

Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Van halen tonesALL SONGS Van halen on the Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3SAME ARTIST, SAME AMP PRS SE Custom 24 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.