Eruption amp settings — EVH 5150III 50W

The Van Halen guitar tone for “Eruption”, dialed in for a EVH 5150III 50W with a EVH Wolfgang Standard. Studio version, Van Halen (1978)

Original rig

1968 Marshall Super Lead 100W (Variac set to ~90V), Frankenstrat (Gibson PAF bridge humbucker), MXR Phase 90, Univox EC-80 Tape Echo, Sunset Sound EMT 140 plate reverb

Classic Brown Sound — harmonically saturated, mid-heavy crunch with smooth top-end and slow phase sweep

Amp settings — EVH 5150III 50W

CHANNELBlue (Crunch)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	7
Treble	6
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01MXR Phase 90

Placed in front of the amp; set around 9 o'clock for the slow, sweeping vocal chew on tapping passages

Speed 2

02Dunlop Echoplex

FX loop — set for ~300ms slap/tape echo replicating the Univox EC-80

Sustain 3 · Volume 5 · Delay 4

03Catalinbread Talisman

FX loop — replicates the Sunset Sound EMT 140 plate reverb used on the track

Mix 4 · Time 6 · High Pass 5 · Pre-Delay 3 · Volume 5

Why these settings

The 5150III Blue channel delivers the tight harmonic saturation of Eddie's Variac-cranked Marshall without needing external dirt pedals. Bass is dialed back to 5 to avoid flub on fast tremolo runs, while mids are pushed to 7 to match the vocal midrange punch of the original Super Lead. Highs and presence are kept moderate at 6 to retain clarity without harsh modern fizz. Set the amp's rear Resonance knob to 6 for authentic low-end thump.

PRO TIPPick aggressively close to the bridge using a heavy pick angled slightly downward; for the two-handed tapping climax, use the edge of your right index finger right above the fretwire to maximize percussive snap and overtone bloom.

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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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EVH 5150III 50W settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Eruption on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Van Halen tonesALL SONGS Van Halen on the EVH 5150III 50WSAME ARTIST, SAME AMP EVH Wolfgang Standard tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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