Tone library / Van halen / Erupiton

Erupiton amp settings — EVH 5150III 50W

The Van halen guitar tone for “Erupiton”, dialed in for a EVH 5150III 50W with a EVH Striped Series. Studio version, Van Halen (1978)

Original rig

1968 Marshall Super Lead 100W (Plexi, Variac at ~90V), Frankenstein Strat (Gibson PAF humbucker), MXR Phase 90 (Script), Echoplex EP-3, Sunset Sound plate reverb

Classic brown sound with aggressive upper-mid bite, power-tube sag, and tape echo/plate ambience
Amp settings — EVH 5150III 50W
CHANNELChannel 2 (Blue / Crunch)
GAIN 6 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 6 MASTER 4
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass5
Mid7
Treble6
Presence6
Master4
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01MXR Phase 90 (Script)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (engage for mid-solo divebombs/arpeggios)

Speed 2

02Tape Delay (Echoplex EP-3 style)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (run direct or in FX loop, set around 310ms for slapback depth)

Time 3 · Repeats 3 · Mix 4
Why these settings

Using Channel 2 (Blue) replicates the cranked late-60s Plexi 'Brown Sound' far better than Channel 3, which is too compressed and modern. Keep the amp's rear Resonance around 5 to maintain tight low-end punch without flubbing during high-speed tremolo picking. If you acquire a Phase 90, run it directly into the front input before the amp's preamp saturation just like Eddie did.

PRO TIPPick close to the bridge with a heavy pick angled slightly downward to get that iconic percussive harmonic chirp on the opening triplets and ascending tapping sequence.

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These settings are for a EVH 5150III 50W. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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