
Results 1 to 15 of 17
Thread: Van Halen III tones...
-
11.01.19, 02:04 PM #1
- Join Date
- 09.14.19
- Posts
- 37
- Posts Per Day
- 0.02
- Last Online
06.21.24 @ 11:54 AM - Likes (Given)
- 0
- Likes (Received)
- 1
- Thanks (Given)
- 7
- Thanks (Received)
- 2
Van Halen III tones...
Anyone know for sure what amps Eddie was using on Van Halen III? Some songs, such as Fire In The Hole and From Afar for example, sound like the Peavey 5150. But others, like Without You and One I Want have a much cleaner tone. What amp was that?
-
11.01.19, 02:57 PM #2
- Join Date
- 01.30.04
- Posts
- 5,442
- Posts Per Day
- 0.70
- Last Online
03.19.25 @ 08:35 AM - Likes (Given)
- 340
- Likes (Received)
- 1990
- Thanks (Given)
- 67
- Thanks (Received)
- 2997
Achievements:
I believe he was using the Peavey 5150 II for that album but who knows...
-
11.01.19, 03:20 PM #3
- Join Date
- 12.26.13
- Age
- 28
- Location
- East Virginia
- Posts
- 1,763
- Posts Per Day
- 0.43
- Favorite VH Album
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge - Favorite VH Song
Mine All Mine - Last Online
03.05.25 @ 04:32 PM - Likes (Given)
- 567
- Likes (Received)
- 228
- Thanks (Given)
- 2767
- Thanks (Received)
- 972
Fire in the Hole was probably the lead channel and Without You and One I Want were the crunch and/or clean channels. He also was using a metal pick on the album too, not just live, I believe.
-
Thanks / Likes - 0 LikesGuitardavept thanked for this post.
11.02.19, 02:28 AM
#4

- Join Date
- 09.14.19
- Posts
- 37
- Posts Per Day
- 0.02
- Last Online
06.21.24 @ 11:54 AM - Likes (Given)
- 0
- Likes (Received)
- 1
- Thanks (Given)
- 7
- Thanks (Received)
- 2


Right, yes that makes sense. It’s an interesting tone, the fact that its much lower gain than he usually uses.
11.02.19, 06:45 AM
#5

- Join Date
- 02.13.11
- Location
- Ontari-ari-ari-o!
- Posts
- 21,411
- Posts Per Day
- 4.14
- Favorite VH Album
1984 - Favorite VH Song
Panama - Last Online
03.17.22 @ 03:42 PM - Likes (Given)
- 0
- Likes (Received)
- 7
- Thanks (Given)
- 6592
- Thanks (Received)
- 7455






I remember an old interview where Eddie says he has a custom splitter box with 5 different amps plugged in (various makes and models), yet when it came time for mixing, be primarily used the 5150 tracks...
High and Low inputs can vary, and amp settings & gain can be (and have been) adjusted between takes/songs/overdubs etc.
11.02.19, 08:40 AM
#6


- Join Date
- 01.10.05
- Age
- 54
- Location
- P.F. Chang, South Korea
- Posts
- 74,526
- Posts Per Day
- 10.07
- Favorite VH Album
Alex, Dave, Ed and Mike - Favorite VH Song
The songs with Ed on them - Last Online
Today @ 04:36 AM - Likes (Given)
- 4887
- Likes (Received)
- 19640
- Thanks (Given)
- 5473
- Thanks (Received)
- 26012

Achievements:








I believe Ed was using the "I want this to sound like shit" amp.
How he went from his tone on Balance, Human Beings, and the BOV1 songs to this travesty is one of the great VH mysteries.
If I don't respond to you it means I have you on ignore, which means you are a douchenozzle.
Emperor Brett - "I can't believe you guys are analyzing song-by-song Van Halen III? What next, analyzing the script of Stroker Ace looking for some shred of Citizen Kane?"
David Lee Roth did the impossible. He made Van Halen better. Deal with it!
A man's rights rests in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box
Hurricane Halen - Let's all gingery touch our sword tips!!!
Thanks / Likes - 0 Likes
Dave not David thanked for this post.
11.02.19, 10:43 AM
#7

- Join Date
- 09.14.19
- Posts
- 37
- Posts Per Day
- 0.02
- Last Online
06.21.24 @ 11:54 AM - Likes (Given)
- 0
- Likes (Received)
- 1
- Thanks (Given)
- 7
- Thanks (Received)
- 2


11.02.19, 11:45 AM
#8


- Join Date
- 05.29.03
- Age
- 37
- Posts
- 7,210
- Posts Per Day
- 0.90
- Last Online
Yesterday @ 06:37 PM - Likes (Given)
- 2700
- Likes (Received)
- 3990
- Thanks (Given)
- 3312
- Thanks (Received)
- 3913

Achievements:





That album sounds almost entirely Peavey 5150ii to me. Yaminub nailed it on the different channels being used for "cleaner" tones.
The other contributing factor to a lot of those tones was pickups. Without You and One I Want definitely sound like he used P90 Wolfgangs on them. Dirty Water Dog could be that three single coil Wolf. From Afar, YTTD and Fire in the Hole are probably standard Wolfgangs. I'd have to give the album another spin to try take a guess at the other tunes.
Thanks / Likes - 0 Likes
Guitardavept, Dave not David thanked for this post.
Nah, just making a joke--or at least attempting to. Are you not familiar with Henley's song Dirty Laundry? Thought it was a nice tie-in to the story.
Valerie Bertinelli told Wolfie not...