Tone library / Van halen / Runnin' with the devil

Runnin' with the devil amp settings — Peavey 6505

The Van halen guitar tone for “Runnin' with the devil”, dialed in for a Peavey 6505 with a Squier Classic Vibe 50s Stratocaster. Studio version, Van Halen (1978) — main rhythm riff

Original rig

Frankenstrat (Gibson PAF humbucker) -> MXR Phase 90 -> 1968 Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi (Variac lowered to ~89V) -> Celestion Greenbacks

Warm, saggy 'Brown Sound' power-amp crunch with aggressive 2kHz mid-bite and smooth top-end roll-off

Amp settings — Peavey 6505

CHANNELRhythm Channel (Crunch switch ON)BRIGHTon

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01MXR Phase 90

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (run into front input for subtle swirl on intro and fills)

Speed 2

Why these settings

The 6505 Rhythm channel with Crunch engaged mimics the pushed Marshall Plexi without the hyper-aggressive modern fizz of the Lead channel. Because your Strat single-coil has lower output and a thinner, brighter top end compared to Eddie's PAF humbucker, keep the tone knob around 8 to shave glassiness, push mids to 7 for body, and set amp Resonance to 6 for low-end thump.

PRO TIPUse the edge of a heavy pick positioned right near the bridge to dig into the muted power chords; Eddie's aggressive pick attack and pinch harmonic scrapes provide half the characteristic 'spit' of this rhythm track.

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