Eddie's main amp used on all the records is a Marshall 100-watt Super Lead (right) It's either a '68 or a '69 and Eds had it since he was 14. It runs on standard Sylvania 6CA7 EL34 valves (tubes) and hasn't , contrary to popular belief, undergone any weird modifications just replacement of parts due to general wear and tear.
For the recording of For Unlawful... album Ed mainly used a 1989 Soldano SLO-100 head but also started using prototype Peavey amps which have become his signature Peavey 5150 amps (below). This 2 channel amp (clean and distortion) has recently been upgraded to the 3 channel (clean, crunch, lead) 5150 II.
SETTINGS
The guitar goes into the 5150's high gain input.
Rhythm channel is used for rhythm, with bright and crunch switches both activated.
Lead channel is used for lead.
All power is supplied by Furman power conditioners.
Rhythm (pre gain) = 7
Lead (pre gain) = 5 - 6
Bass = 6
Middle = 2
High = 5
Resonance = 3
Presence = 7
EFFECTS
ORIGINAL SETUP
MXR Phase 90
MXR Flanger
Six-Band Graphic Eq
Maestro Echoplex
Univox EC-80 Echo
Roland DC30 chorus
90's SETUP
Evantide H3000 Intelligent Harmoniser
2x Roland SDE 3000 Stereo Delays
Lexicon PCM 70 Stereo Reverb
MXR Phase 90
BOSS SD1 Super Overdrive
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah-Wah
Boss OC2 Octave Divider
t.c. Electronics 2290 delay
AMS reverbs
LIVE SETUP SIGNAL CHAIN
Guitar (Ernie Ball MusicMan/Peavey Wolfgang) to Sony wireless system with 2 outputs
Output one goes to a Peavey 5150 amp (8 ohms) into two 2x12" cabinets, as dry monitoring for Alex (Van Halen - drummer)
Output 2 feeds a Bob Bradshaw switching system comprising one Peavey 5150 amp (16 ohms), into a Palmer mono speaker simulator (input load is 8 ohms, thus making amp work hard!)
the simulator's output one (line level) goes to the Bradshaw input, where effects are added and the signal comes out in stereo to an HH V800 power amp. This feeds two 4x12" cabinets (wet signal). A line output from the V800 is sent to a further V800, powering two 4x12" cabs for Eddie
The simulator's output two (speaker level) goes to a single 4x12" cabinet (dry signal). All cabinets are loaded with 75w speakers, but the 'wet cabs' contain higher efficiency coil form for a cleaner sound.