Variac
SLaPCaTT
it?
Bob E
Dr. Anton Phibes
It's funny that you should ask, I just tried it out about a week ago on
my JCM 2000, as well as on a (rented) Plexi 100 W re-issue. In addition
to making the pilot light go out, the amp got a LOT quiter. Other than
that, there wasn't really a huge difference in the sound from either
amp.
I suppose that The main advantage of running your amp off of a variac is
that you can crank your amp without killing yourself from the volume.
Try it out!
Later,
- Dr. Anton Phibes
Tellyman
How does it connect to your amplifier? Do you have plug
your guitar
into the variac, then to the amp, like a stompbox?
Telly
steve...@my-dejanews.com
The variac is designed to 'vary' the operating voltage of the amp, mainly the
power section. It would seem that you would go from the wall outlet into the
variac (for attenuation or boosting) then into the power plug of your amp. You
can think of this link backwards if it helps-amp power cord into variac into
wall electrical outlet.
The variac was widely publicized as being the 'secret' behind EVH's tone when
he hit the scene. It was reported he BOOSTED the voltages to his Marshalls to
achieve max gain. Since then, many techs and manufacturers have said the
opposite is true, use the variac to lower voltages.
In any case and-IMO-be careful. Eddie blew up a lot of amps during his early
years. I believe they always had 2 spare stacks ready to go onstage to the
point of having him simply hit a footswitch if he blew an amp and needed to
reroute to another.
There are lots of stories about variacs, EVH's Marshall tone, frying amps due
to the variac. etc.
Again IMO-I suspect that some of this stuff was made up to get Eddie press, he
was on his way, but needed publicity (still does). So anything is possible
regarding those 'legends'.
Could have been the mods (this was kinda the beginning of hot rodding
Marshalls). His amp tech, who did the first mods for him before he was famous
and continued on with him for many years, said they were always pushing the
Marshall's as hard as they could and it was no surprize when a transformer
fried etc. His comments were the first time I'd heard the phrase, "If done
right, the amp should sound like it's ready to explode (in a good way)." They
did.
Steve
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Dave the Dork
You plug the variac into the wall, then you plug the amp into the variac.
A variac will also jack the ac up so be carefull not to crank it with 135
volts on it or you might void your warrantee.
Dave
--
Don't Knock on death's door.
Ring the bell and run away.
Death really hates that.
Tellyman wrote in message <35FE1B0A...@Bigfoot.com>...
Dr. Anton Phibes
>
> How does it connect to your amplifier? Do you have plug
> your guitar
> into the variac, then to the amp, like a stompbox?
>
> Telly
No. Plug the variac into your wall power outlet, then plug the amp's
power cord into the variac. The large dial on the variac can be used to
adjust the magnitude of the AC voltage that goes into your amp.
Be careful not to crank the voltage up too high, or you might sound like
EVH (just kidding).
Chip of Known Space
>The variac was widely publicized as being the 'secret' behind EVH's tone when
>he hit the scene. It was reported he BOOSTED the voltages to his Marshalls to
>achieve max gain. Since then, many techs and manufacturers have said the
>opposite is true, use the variac to lower voltages.
I think he either doesn't really remember or know, or he's being
duplicitous. I just read in some magazine where he said "I"ve never
owned an over drive pedal" or some such, but I know for a fact he uses
(or used to use) an Boss Super Overdrive (they showed a picture of it
in his rig in a magazine years ago; showed a signal chain detailed by
his tech with it inline).
Wacking out the line voltage on Marshalls makes them sound
"different", but not radically so. I've heard wider variances from
one old Marshall to another.
Chip McDonald
]]] Chip McDonald - ch...@mindspring.com
]]] "Try to be reasonable whenever possible"
]]] http://www.mindspring.com/~chipm/chip.htm
]]] Musician, voracious reader, overly contemplative thinker, punching bag for fate.
]]] "People think I'm in my own world; that's ok, they know me there" - J. Hodgson
ark
>In any case and-IMO-be careful. Eddie blew up a lot of amps during his early
>years. I believe they always had 2 spare stacks ready to go onstage to the
>point of having him simply hit a footswitch if he blew an amp and needed to
>reroute to another.
>
>There are lots of stories about variacs, EVH's Marshall tone, frying amps due
>to the variac. etc.
>
>Again IMO-I suspect that some of this stuff was made up to get Eddie press, he
>was on his way, but needed publicity (still does). So anything is possible
>regarding those 'legends'.
I know that David Lindley was another guy that liked to bring a variac
to the studio with him and would "juice up" his amps with a little
extra.
Al
ste...@my-dejanews.com
slap...@aol.com (SLaPCaTT) wrote:
> Hey has anyone used a Variac on their rig? and what was the advantage of using
> it?
>
> Bob E
Good Variacs run about $100. If you want to try out this effect on your rig,
check with your local repair guy. He may let you "borrow" his variac at the
store to experiment with. Let us know which store near you will let you do
this and how the test goes. -- Cordials Gary Coplin drst...@hotmail.com
SLaPCaTT
Hey How's it goin'.......
I do have one it's an OHMite VT, I did try try it, I ran the voltage
down to about 90 and really did not notice the advantage of using one. I did
notice that it dropped my volume that's about it. If you have any suggestions
let me know.
Thanks,
Bob