plexi
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Post by plexi on Jul 2, 2006 16:37:49 GMT -5
Any of you amp techs had any experience with Variac's? These are the voltage regulators used by Van Halen over the years. He plays his amps wide open (where they sound best) but regulates the voltage with the Variac (plug the amp in to the Variac, plug the Variac in to the wall, regulate voltage with a "dimmer" on the Variac) thereby reducing the overall volume, but still pushing the amp hard. This is one of the keys to his beloved "brown sound".
I'm thinking of trying this on my Crate 50 watt/2x12 VFX5212 as I really love the sound of this amp...but to drive it hard enough it needs to be arena loud. My question, do I risk damaging the amp, especially the built in digital effects if I lower the voltage with the Variac?
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Post by sumgai on Jul 2, 2006 20:38:20 GMT -5
plexi, Hi, and  to the forums! Getting the (in)famous 'brown sound' has been debated until the cows not only came home, they showered and went to bed.  But regardless of how EVH got his sound (with or without a Variac), it is always a good idea to stay within the operating parameters as defined by the amp's maker. In your case (as in most others), you should feed your amp 110 volts AC, plus or minus 10%. That's from 99 vac up to 121 vac. The warranty will be good so long as you stay within that range. Now, all that said, you can safely go down to about 95 vac, or possibly a bit less, under most circumstances. The only question will be, does this have the desired effect..... will your amp start sounding "brown" at a lower volume? The answer to that is very hard to tell without actually rolling up your sleeves and just plunging ahead and doing it. Just be aware that there is such a thing as "you can have too little voltage". What should you watch out for? Well, there shouldn't be any environmental concerns. (No smoke or obnoxious oders.  ) You will likely hear less tube noise (hiss) as you crank up the volume, but I've seen the opposite. That's because not enough voltage was present to keep things operating within the circutry parameters, and all sorts of weird behavior cropped up. Going too low may sound bad, not good. If you hear oscillations like sqealing or motorboating, raise the voltage back up. If the volume control suddenly seems to act like an on/off switch, that's a sure sign that you're not treating the amp right - raise the voltage back up. If the lamps are so dim that you can't see them, raise the... aw, you know the drill by now.  Also, while I can't be sure of this one, I'd guess that the channel select relay may not operate correctly if the voltage falls below a certain level. I don't recall if it's on the regulated leg of the power supply, or otherwise. Which brings up the DSP unit. That definitely is on the regulated side of things, so it should be OK, but I'd play it safe, and leave it off until you're satisfied that all else is hunky-dory (yet another technical term!). Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, I'm sure you'll enjoy the play! ;D HTH sumgai |
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plexi
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Post by plexi on Jul 2, 2006 21:08:56 GMT -5
LOL, That's a ton to consider, thanks for the reply! You answered a lot of questions though, I definately won't be able to drop the amp down to half voltage so I'll probably have to go with a lower wattage amp...or get better ear plugs ;D
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Post by sumgai on Jul 3, 2006 7:08:26 GMT -5
plexi,
Ear plugs...... GOOOOOOD!
;D
sumgai
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Post by pollyshero on Jul 3, 2006 23:12:49 GMT -5
I'll have to dig around in the ol' GP's and find the picture of EVH's beloved 50 watt Marshall that caught fire while he was using a variac...
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plexi
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Post by plexi on Jul 5, 2006 9:25:13 GMT -5
LOL, well many a Marshall has caught fire in years past without the Variac too...I remember Jeff Lynn blowing one up big time at the Montreal Forum on ELO's 2nd encore ;D
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Post by UnklMickey on Jul 5, 2006 9:46:18 GMT -5
brown sound AND pyrotechnics.
what more could you want?
unk
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Post by sumgai on Jul 5, 2006 15:20:14 GMT -5
unk,
Ummm, how about Valerie Bertinelli? ;D
sumgai
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Post by UnklMickey on Jul 5, 2006 15:30:50 GMT -5
after a while, she'll might be available.
last i heard, she and Eddie were headed for splitsville.
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Post by sumgai on Jul 5, 2006 16:13:57 GMT -5
unk, Already there, since October 2001, according to several sites. Wonder if she's still into guys with beards? sumgai |
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Post by UnklMickey on Jul 5, 2006 18:27:09 GMT -5
....Wonder if she's still into guys with beards? ... if so, i'm ready. can't compete with Billy Gibbons, but i've got about 5~6" going right now. (just how far off-topic can possibly we get here?)unk |
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Post by pollyshero on Jul 6, 2006 20:27:34 GMT -5
Let's take stock...
Variacs, Marshalls, fire
Eddie & Valerie
Billy & his beard
Hmmm.. Valerie... I believe I'd eat her underwear & wash 'em down with her bathwater!
*** What were we talking about? ***
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plexi
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Post by plexi on Jul 6, 2006 21:07:27 GMT -5
Variawhat? ;D
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Post by sumgai on Jul 7, 2006 2:23:47 GMT -5
Who cares if this has gotten  ? It was for the right reasons, no? ;D sumgai |
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plexi
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Post by plexi on Jul 7, 2006 9:58:13 GMT -5
No complaints here ;D
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Post by UnklMickey on Jul 7, 2006 12:49:17 GMT -5
Let's take stock...
Variacs, Marshalls, fire
Eddie & Valerie
Billy & his beard
Hmmm.. Valerie... I believe I'd eat her underwear & wash 'em down with her bathwater!
*** What were we talking about? *** put another way, Eddie's Experiments Billy's Beard Valerie's ......................... hmmmm......what can i use that starts with V ? |
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Post by sumgai on Jul 7, 2006 13:12:26 GMT -5
unk, Let's take stock...
Variacs, Marshalls, fire
Eddie & Valerie
Billy & his beard
Hmmm.. Valerie... I believe I'd eat her underwear & wash 'em down with her bathwater!
*** What were we talking about? ***
put another way,
Eddie's Experiments
Billy's Beard
Valerie's .........................
hmmmm......what can i use that starts with V ?
That would be "Vulva", right?  Now the list should read "Variacs, Marshalls, Fire, Eddie, Billy, Valerie, and Biology". ;D sumgai |
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Post by UnklMickey on Jul 7, 2006 13:15:49 GMT -5
Swedish automobiles ............what?
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Post by sumgai on Jul 8, 2006 2:16:56 GMT -5
unk, Well, I thought I was hitting it lucky with the seventh topic, but then you had to bring in a ringer!  Looks like today just ain't my day, is it? I wonder how tomorrow's looking...... sumgai |
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Post by UnklMickey on Jul 8, 2006 9:16:00 GMT -5
luck?.............ringer?.............how did we end up on horseshoes?
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Post by sumgai on Jul 8, 2006 18:06:48 GMT -5
unk,
That tweren't no luck, that were skill! ;D
sumgai
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Post by Ripper on Jul 9, 2006 17:09:45 GMT -5
Talent does what it can...genius does what it must!
I have to write that down.
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Post by sumgai on Jul 16, 2006 21:28:24 GMT -5
deep, Well, d@mn, that explains why someone once referred to me as " just an irritant in the slime of time".  ;D sumgai |
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guitarmole
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Post by guitarmole on Sept 28, 2006 21:55:12 GMT -5
The Variac is the dimmer unit. "Variac" is just a brand name of a variable autotransformer made by Staco. Variable autotransformers are made by many different companies like Superior, Ohmite, etc. I have several for non-guitar related stuff...some even motor controlled. You can probably get one for cheaper if you use different terms as I am sure all the guitar-related vendors have promoted the brand Variac to no end now and driven up prices (especially on ebay, over $100-200ea!).
They can be had for cheap at hamfests usually and available for under $50 (at least you used to)
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But regardless of how EVH got his sound (with or without a Variac), it is always a good idea to stay within the operating parameters as defined by the amp's maker. In your case (as in most others), you should feed your amp 110 volts AC, plus or minus 10%. That's from 99 vac up to 121 vac. The warranty will be good so long as you stay within that range.
) You will likely hear less tube noise (hiss) as you crank up the volume, but I've seen the opposite. That's because not enough voltage was present to keep things operating within the circutry parameters, and all sorts of weird behavior cropped up.
Looks like today just ain't my day, is it? I wonder how tomorrow's looking...... 
