Panama amp settings — EVH 5150III 50W

The Van Halen guitar tone for “Panama”, dialed in for a EVH 5150III 50W with a Harley Benton SC-Custom II. Studio version, 1984 album (1983-1984 recording sessions)

Original rig

Kramer/Frankenstrat with single DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker (bridge) → Marshall Super Lead 1959 100W run through Variac (~90V) → MXR Phase 90 → MXR Flanger → Echoplex EP-3 tape delay

Saturated 'brown sound' with tight percussive attack, singing sustain, mid-forward bark, slight flanger swirl, and slapback delay on the solo

Amp settings — EVH 5150III 50W

CHANNELGreen (Channel 1) or Blue (Channel 2)BRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Donner Yellow Fall Delay

Slapback delay for solo sections only — bypass during rhythm. Short 80-120ms delay, single repeat feel

Echo 3 · F.Back 2 · Time 3

Why these settings

Your 5150III is the direct descendant of Eddie's sound — you're already 90% there. Use Green (clean crunch) or Blue (medium gain) channel, NOT Red — Eddie's brown sound was less saturated than modern metal. Gain at 6 gives the singing sustain without mud. Your SC-Custom II humbuckers are hotter than Eddie's 70s-wound DiMarzio, so we pull gain back 1-2 from what the Variac'd Marshall needed. Mid at 7 keeps the bark; presence at 6 avoids fizz.

PRO TIPEddie's attack came from picking right over the bridge pickup pole pieces with a relaxed grip — dig in on accents but let the amp do the sustain work. For the dive bombs, you'll need a tremolo-equipped guitar; without one, bend the G string behind the nut for a similar pitch-drop effect.

Get this tone on your amp

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 Panama on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Van Halen tonesALL SONGS Van Halen on the EVH 5150III 50WSAME ARTIST, SAME AMP Harley Benton SC-Custom II tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.