eruption amp settings — M-Vave Blackbox
The van halen guitar tone for “eruption”, dialed in for a M-Vave Blackbox with a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster. Studio version, Van Halen (1978) — full instrumental solo
1968 Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi (Variac down to ~90V, dimed) + Frankenstrat (PAF humbucker straight to volume pot) + MXR Phase 90 + Maestro Echoplex EP-3 + Univox EC-80A tape delay + Sunset Sound plate reverb
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 8 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 8 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 5 |
| Master | 8 |
01Phase 90 Block (Modulation Block)
Place before amp block for the authentic EVH phase sweep
02Overdrive / Boost Block
Used as a clean boost to push the Plexi model into saturated brown sound compression
03Tape Delay Block (EP-3 style)
Post-amp / FX chain for the subtle slapback echo and ambience
04Plate Reverb Block
Replicates the Sunset Sound studio chamber
Because the American Pro II Strat has single-coil pickups compared to Eddie's PAF humbucker, amp gain and mids are pushed higher to compensate for lower output and lack of body. Treble is dialed to 7 rather than dimed to prevent single-coil harshness while retaining the pick attack bite. The Phase 90 block is kept at a low speed (around 9 o'clock) in front of the Plexi amp model to achieve the iconic sweeping chew on the tapping sections.
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