Eruption amp settings — Boss GT-1000
The Van Halen guitar tone for “Eruption”, dialed in for a Boss GT-1000 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio version, Van Halen (1978) — full instrumental solo
1968 Marshall Super Lead 100W (Variac lowered to ~90V), Frankenstrat (Gibson PAF bridge humbucker), MXR Phase 90 (script), Univox EC-80 tape echo, Sunset Sound EMT 140 plate reverb
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 8 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 8 |
01Compressor block (Boss GT-1000)
Placed first in chain to add sustain for tapped passages
02Phaser block (SCRIPT 90 model, Boss GT-1000)
In front of amp model to replicate Eddie running Phase 90 before the Marshall
03Overdrive block (T-SCREAM model, Boss GT-1000)
Clean boost into the BRIT STACK to simulate Variac saturation and push your Squier Strat single-coil
04Delay block (TAPE ECHO model, Boss GT-1000)
Set to approx 310ms with 2-3 audible repeats
05Reverb block (PLATE model, Boss GT-1000)
Replicates the Sunset Sound studio EMT 140 plate reverb
Because a Squier Affinity Strat has lower-output, brighter single-coil pickups compared to Eddie's PAF humbucker, the amp treble is dialed back to 6 and the internal T-Scream block is engaged with high level to fatten the mids and drive the BRIT STACK model properly. The Phase 90 block is placed before the preamp model rather than after it, ensuring the modulation gets compressed and driven into the tone just like the original recording. Master volume on the model is pushed high to replicate the sponge and sag of a Variac-fed Marshall power section.
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