What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

VH1 album tone (at least the Frankentstrat side of things) - again, *album* tone,


Ash strat w/maple capped neck, blah blah blah etc etc and so on.....

So the question is, can one distortion pedal do all this? :no1:


ADA MP-1 (set to Plexi Marshally tone)
Alesis Quadraverb (in stereo with the same FX+panning as above list)
Power Amp
2 1X12s

Closer to what I seek. I was really thinking a single pedal though, and the Mad Prof is about ~90% IMO....so yeah, it actually can pretty much....

Fine - I'll take VH1 in two pedals - don't worry about the Phaser.
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

i found the mad professor 1 to be the best...it is a one trick pony, but it's the trick you're trying to pull off. i own a be-od and used the pinnacle a lot, along with almost every hot plexi/brown sound pedal i came across, and the mad professor just did it for me the most. i love that pedal.
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

Gory details aside (or, a 'distilled" run-down), VH1 tone is the following components:

1) Strat w/SD Custom
2) Hot Plexi-type distortion w/slight midrange scoop
3) One quiet (very low in volume) 360ms delay repeat
4) MXR Phase 90 for solos
5) Plate reverb

The plate reverb (which was hard panned R) is a huge part of the guitar tone on the album... and there was a lot of it.

The trick to getting Ed's guitar tone so clear with all of that reverb wash was the creative panning and pre-delay... 100% dry guitar
tone on the L, 100% reverb wash (pre-delayed ~100ms) on the right.

Doing this created the separation between dry and verbed signal, so everything was clear and not lost in reverb wash.

Like so (my guitar, real backing track):

 
Last edited:
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

No doubt a blend wet/dry on the reverb is key. Mad Props seems to do it well. And indeed - plate.

I've always used 320-350 on the delay, if time available. Works for me.
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

LLL has put a lot more thought and know how into this than i ever have, but as far as having fun ripping some evh licks, even through this tiny amp this set up is too much fun.

thumbnail_Screenshot_20200531-011939_Instagram.jpg
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

LLL told us what was actually used. An interesting reference, but didn't answer the question.

What you just showed Pete - hell to the yes! Throw a Phase 90 on there and yee-ha!
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

LLL told us what was actually used. An interesting reference, but didn't answer the question.

On the contrary; I stated the actual gear used on the album... and said that one stomp cannot do all that.

There is no one stompbox solution to get VH1 album tone.

However, the "tonal components" are all listed, so whomever is looking for authentic tone can utilize whatever devices are at their disposal to get as close as possible.

And provided my own live rig as an example.
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

I have the pinnacle and it does the evh sound. I also have a $40 mosky Brown Distortion which is a copy of the pinnacle and it also sounds great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They are both a variation on the BSIAB, as are a lot of the amp-in-a-box pedals out there.
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

You guys really need to work on your English capabilities....

I asked for a VH 1 DIRT box.

I didn't ask for a Flanger, nor Phaser
I didn't ask for your live rig
I didn't ask for archival footage
I didn't even want the reverb...but more prevalent across the album than other other sound at least

I wanted the "best" one. So if that was 50%, so be it. I did not specify that it be within 99.999% tolerances of being indistinguishable from the original. I also even capitulated TWO pedals...just in case someone had a Reverb, or Delay Reverb, or Phase/Flange or what er. So, while that information is interesting, the only "rig" answer that is even close is Pete. Why? Because he used a Mad Professor Pedal, which is a darn tootin' great answer. I had forgot about that.


You can argue why your answer is better, but it is not what I asked, or even wanted, or anything didn't already know.
 
Last edited:
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

I saw a Mosky Brown...Mosky is extremely intriguing these days.

Mostly plus a Plate verb, like my Boss RV3 might be killer....
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

You guys really need to work on your English capabilities....

I asked for a VH 1 DIRT box.

I didn't ask for a Flanger, nor Phaser
I didn't ask for your live rig
I didn't ask for archival footage
I didn't even want the reverb...but more prevalent across the album than other other sound at least

I wanted the "best" one. So if that was 50%, so be it. I did not specify that it be within 99.999% tolerances of being indistinguishable from the original. I also even capitulated TWO pedals...just in case someone had a Reverb, or Delay Reverb, or Phase/Flange or what er. So, while that information is interesting, the only "rig" answer that is even close is Pete. Why? Because he used a Mad Professor Pedal, which is a darn tootin' great answer. I had forgot about that.


You can argue why your answer is better, but it is not what I asked, or even wanted, or anything didn't already know.

I went, as I typically do, miles above and beyond a simplistic answer. Because of my thoroughness, experience, as well as showing as many considerations as possible, to my knowledge. I am an encyclopedia and an archivist.

In layman's terms: I'm serious about tone; I don't **** around.

Don't you have an amp that gets a similar facsimile of VH1 distortion? I posted the actual dry tone coming off of Ed's amp in the studio...
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

My Mesa, using;

The Tube rectifier, the spongy setting, and the Fluid gain (even though distinctly Non-Marshall inherently) is a killer "Brown sound"

However...that's a lot of knob/switch hassle. I'd like to run a Pedal or three straight into my Peavey express and play Runnin' or Eruption, or whatever....

I do not take this particular tone seriously. Ergo - I'll take it in a box, to go...
 
Last edited:
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

You guys really need to work on your English capabilities....

I asked for a VH 1 DIRT box.

I didn't ask for a Flanger, nor Phaser
I didn't ask for your live rig
I didn't ask for archival footage
I didn't even want the reverb...but more prevalent across the album than other other sound at least

I wanted the "best" one. So if that was 50%, so be it. I did not specify that it be within 99.999% tolerances of being indistinguishable from the original. I also even capitulated TWO pedals...just in case someone had a Reverb, or Delay Reverb, or Phase/Flange or what er. So, while that information is interesting, the only "rig" answer that is even close is Pete. Why? Because he used a Mad Professor Pedal, which is a darn tootin' great answer. I had forgot about that.


You can argue why your answer is better, but it is not what I asked, or even wanted, or anything didn't already know.
**** Posts question on public forum then acts shocked & appalled when public responds. Well dude why don't you try Google or youtube/ What makes you think people here are going to know WTYF you want. You're suppose to figure that out on your own.
Van Halen tone is guitar rock 101 and the easiest thing on the planet to achieve. FWIW after a fatty & a few drinks nobody knows what you're playing anyway.
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

What's the best fast food burger?

"I start my burgers with 1lb 100% lean ground Sirloin. Then I add 1/2 lb of of ground round for the fat content. You'll need 1/2 teaspoon of salt. The bun is critical, be sure to get them fresh baked with Sesame Seeds. I only used home-made mayonnaise. It is an essential ingredient. You can't make a great burger or come even close in fast food."

mcdonalds_hbdrest_cs004.jpg
 
Re: What is the "best" VH1 in a box dirt box?

Yeah guys - back on topic!

VH in a box. Because you can! I'm gonna go hunt down the Mosky in vids. Obviously not a Mad Prof clone...
 
Back
Top