How to Get Van Halen’s Tone at Bedroom Volume

Dial in the legendary “brown sound” with pedals and a clean amp.

In this video, Voodoo Lab’s James Santiago shows you how to get classic EVH tone without disturbing the neighbors.Using a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive MOD, discover how running your modulation and delay before your overdrive gives you the same effect as Van Halen’s tried-and-true tone recipe.

The Bedroom Volume “Brown Sound” Toolkit:

Signal Chain: MXR Phase 90 → Way Huge Supa-Puss Analog Delay → Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive MOD → TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb

The Phase: MXR Phase 90 reissue is the first thing your guitar sees. Set it low and slow for that “soft wave” distorted swirl.

The Echo: Way Huge Supa-Puss Analog Delay, set for a single repeat like EVH’s vintage Echoplex. Make sure to set the pedal’s mix setting lower so the slap is a touch more subtle.

The Drive: Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive MOD set to “MOD 3.” Crank the Gain, start with the Tone halfway up, then season to taste. Clean should be all the way down and set the Volume wherever you’re comfortable.

The “Wet” Finish: TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb placed at the end of the signal chain, starting with the Delay, Tone, and FX Level all about halfway up.

BONUS: Learn how to easily dial in early ’80s EVH chorus tones using an MXR Analog Chorus and adjusting the Supa-Puss delay to a shorter slapback — instant “Little Guitars!”

—Darrin Fox