Eruption amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

The Van halen guitar tone for “Eruption”, dialed in for a Marshall MG30CFX with a Harley Benton Cst-24t. Studio version, Van Halen (1978) - iconic instrumental solo

Original rig

1968 Marshall 1959 Super Lead (Variac'd to ~90V, cranked) + Frankenstrat (Gibson PAF humbucker) + MXR Phase 90 + Maestro Echoplex EP-3 + Sunset Sound plate/chamber reverb

Saturated, harmonic-rich Brown Sound with intense midrange bark, high-end bite, subtle phaser sweep, and plate ambience

Amp settings — Marshall MG30CFX

CHANNELOD-2

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

Don’t have a Marshall MG30CFX? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01MXR Phase 90 (or Script Phase)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; place in front of amp before gain stages

Speed 2

02Tape Delay / Echo (Echoplex style)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; set for ~300ms slapback/echo

Time 3 · Repeats 3 · Mix 3

Why these settings

The MG30CFX's OD-2 channel supplies the saturated Plexi-style preamp gain needed for Eddie's harmonics since no external dirt pedals are owned. We push the mids to 7 to replicate the cranked Marshall upper-mid bark while keeping treble at 6 to prevent the 10-inch solid-state speaker from getting harsh. Use the onboard Studio Reverb on the MG30CFX at 4 to simulate the Sunset Sound plate reverb chamber.

PRO TIPFor the two-handed tapping climax, use the side of your picking hand index finger (or pick edge) right against the fret wire for clean, un-muted articulation while lightly resting your fret-hand palm on lower strings to prevent sympathetic ringing.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Marshall MG30CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Marshall MG30CFX settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Eruption on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Van halen tonesALL SONGS Van halen on the Marshall MG30CFXSAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Harley Benton Cst-24t tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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