The BEST Van Halen Tone Modeller is BACK! | ToneX 80/81 Collection

MORE INFO: https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products... MY VAN HALEN GUITAR COURSE: https://www.guitarclub.io/courses/unl... In this video, I am trying out the Brown Sound 80/81 Signature collection for ToneX by IK Multimedia for the first time. Once again, an undeniable recreation of the brown sound without having to purchase vintage equipment which can weigh a ton and not be the most reliable. Thank you very much @ikmultimedia for sending me the ToneX pedal to try out. Special mention to Jim Gaustad for working with IK Multimedia by supplying all the equipment from the period to capture these amazing tones. INFO FROM IK MULTIMEDIA'S WEBSITE:// The Brown Sound 80/81 is the second installment in our limited TONEX Brown Sound series, capturing the darker swagger and heavier edge that marked a milestone in the guitarist's evolution. Carefully designed to match the recorded tones of two iconic early-'80s albums, this collection features 73 meticulously crafted Tone Models, including several amp-only captures to use with your favorite IRs or running through a real cab live on stage. As with all collections in the series, these Tone Models were crafted using period-correct gear and capture techniques to recreate the middle two albums of that era genuinely. Each Tone Model reproduces the recorded album tone in exquisite detail, offering an ideal foundation for adding time-based effects—either within TONEX or through your favorite pedal. THE 1980 TONE MODELS//: On the 1980 album, the tones are thicker, drier, and more saturated than on the second album, marking a return to a raw, aggressive sound that echoes the ferocity of the debut. It’s more in-your-face with a noticeable midrange punch, tighter low end, and more focused articulation. It reflects a shift toward a more modern, high-gain tone, hinting at the sonic direction that would influence the next generation of rock and metal players. Using his Ibanez Destroyer with a Super 70 pickup, the artist produced a brighter, more biting sound compared to the darker tones of the Super Strat. The Echoplex delay and preamp section remained in use, along with 20-watt Greenback- and 25-watt Blackback-loaded cabs, and a relatively simple signal chain. Captures from this period reflect the stripped-down energy, featuring a punchy, immediate sound with an unrefined swagger that defined this album. 1981 TONE MODELS:// Compared to the raw brightness of 78/79, the 1981 tone is tighter and more controlled, with pronounced low-mids and a more percussive attack. There’s less of the spacious, open-air feel of the earlier records, replaced by a thick, almost claustrophobic intensity that matches the album’s darker vibe. The gain is higher, the reverb is dialed back, and the overall sound feels more focused, brooding, and polished, yet still unmistakable. Key changes included switching to a straight 1960B cabinet with G12-65 speakers, re-biasing the amp, and experimenting with lower Variac voltages (down to 68V) to add sag and harmonic complexity. Sylvania 6CA7 tubes likely contributed to the saturated mids and deeper sustain, while Franky’s hotter pickup gave the sound a moodier, more aggressive edge. The theorized addition of a switching system helped create a cleaner and stronger signal to the amp by removing effects when not in use. These captures focus on capturing that brooding tone—thick, harmonically rich, and emotionally charged. Introduction 0:00 Happy Juliet 1:30 Idiots ''Fools'' 2:30 Uncontrolled ''Loss of Control'' 4:39 Give Me A Slice ''Everybody Wants Some'' 5:14 R is for Romeo ''Romeo Delight'' 6:11 VH ToneX One 7:05 Seedy Ways ''Mean Street'' 7:50 Unbound ''Unchained'' 9:21 Red Lights ''Dirty Movies'' 11:06 Shovelling 11:39 Swing On Sins ''Sinner's Swing'' 13:16 Hear About It Later 13:26 Nuno Bettencourt Sound 14:20 Final Thoughts 15:56 Outro 17:32 #vanhalen #guitarist