on a 3-single coil guitar like a strat (which I’m using in the clip), just select the bridge pickup and we can deal with the tonal differences later in the EQ, Compressor and FX sections.Īlways start with everything off – I can’t stress this enough! Find the OFF button for everything in the signal chain so all you can hear is your dry guitar sound coming through. If you don’t happen to own a guitar with a humbucker in the bridge position just go for the closest approximation on your guitar. The original guitar is now considered to be ‘priceless’. The guitar is so significant that a replica is in the National Museum of American History. Legend has it Eddie bought the ash body and maple neck for a grand total of $130.

The resulting guitar was named ‘Frankenstein’ and has one humbucker in the bridge position. In an earlier blog article, I spoke about the best way to approach a tone is to consider the 4 Elements of Guitar Tone and using those principles, we have:Įddie said “I wanted the electronics (humbucking pickups) of one manufacturers guitar, while I preferred the body, neck and tailpiece of another manufacturers guitar.” * Since I used the BOSS ME-80 on my Classic Patches Medley video, I’m going to go through how I approached the ‘Panama’ tone on it, but essentially the process would be same on any of the BOSS multi effects units.Ĭontributed by Josh Munday – Tone Designer You can even do the whammy bar dive bombs effects if you have a fixed bridge! The reverb and room mic effects mixed in also have an influence on this recording. Panama was the third single from Van Halen’s 1984 album and is one of their most recognizable songs ever. This tone is pretty simple, Eddie Van Halen used his legendary Marshall Plexi amplifier famously cranked to the hilt with every knob turned up to 10 (or 11!) and his iconic Frankenstein guitar with the single humbucker in the bridge.

Personally, I love Eddie’s tone on almost every Van Halen song. Of course, this has as much to do with his playing style as it has with the gear. As soon as you hear a Van Halen song, you know it is Eddie. He has one of rock guitars most recognizable (and awesome) guitar tones. Eddie Van Halen is a self-confessed ‘tone chaser’ and over the years has used many different guitar, pickup, amp and effect combinations.

Van halen 1984 full album download