Poundcake amp settings — Fender Champion 40

The Van Halen guitar tone for “Poundcake”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 40 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

Original rig

Ernie Ball Music Man EVH Signature + Peavey 5150 prototype / Soldano SLO-100 + Eventide H3000 pitch detune / Roland SDE-3000 delay

High-gain, aggressive British-voiced crunch with harmonized stereo detune width and articulate pick attack

Amp settings — Fender Champion 40

CHANNELChannel 2 (Voice: Metal 2000s or 90s British)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	6
Treble	6
Reverb	0
Master	4

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Klone Centaur

Used as clean boost to tighten low end and slam front end

Gain 2 · Treble 6 · Output 8

02Boss DS-1 Distortion

Primary high-gain drive source into clean amp voice

Tone 5 · Level 6 · Dist 8

03Boss CH-1 Super Chorus

Simulates Eddie's Eventide micro-pitch detune widening

Effect Level 5 · EQ 6 · Rate 3 · Depth 4

04Boss DD-8 Digital Delay

Warm slap/short echo setting

E.Level 3 · Feedback 3 · Time 4 · Mode 1

Why these settings

The Champion 40 lacks a dedicated physical midrange control and presence knob, so mids are pushed naturally by running the Klone boost with high output into the DS-1. Because distortion pedals are engaged, the Champion 40 must sit on its cleanest setting with amp gain lowered to prevent muddy dual-gain stacking. The CH-1 emulates the wide Eventide H3000 pitch-shift detune essential to the 1991 F.U.C.K. album rhythm sound.

PRO TIPDig in hard near the bridge with a heavy pick and incorporate subtle thumb pinch harmonics on the riff chugs to recreate Eddie's signature percussive attack.

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These settings are for a Fender Champion 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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