Using Variac China

[bobtec]

Has anyone tried one of those under $150.00 made in China Variacs...I see them as low as $68.00 3 amp and $150.00 for a 5amp..Just for home noodling...I really want it for my 63 Fender Bandmaster to lower the voltage to 110...

[rgorke]

Do you have a specific link? Mine is a 5A Made in China jobber that has worked perfectly for 8 years or more....

[awangotango]

get an original varica or other from the golden age. they work great, are less than $50 and probably last lifetimes

[bobtec]

Do you have a specific link? Mine is a 5A Made in China jobber that has worked perfectly for 8 years or more....

They sell them at sears parts express online the Red one with a meter The one that is 3 amps is $68.00 and the 5amp is $150.00..I see Stanco ones on ebay but you do not know how good it is...I just want to play with it on my 100 watt SLP Plexi and to lower the voltage to my 63 Bandmaster at home

[Star*Guitar]

Spending that much on a Variac is just ridiculous. I have as saved searches for variacs and check it everyday and they go for much less on Fleabay. You shouldn't have to pay more than $70.00 for a 5 amp. Who cares if it is used? I wouldn't settle on a 3 amp. That may not be enough. I routinely see 10 amps go for less than $100.

I just bought a variac and paid $150. It is rated at 15 amps, it is used. The reason I paid that much is it is a rackmount. It is all enclosed, so it is safe, nothing exposed. It will be in a rack with my Alex attenuator.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variac-Voltage- ... 7675.l2557

[rgorke]

That rack mounted one is very cool!!!
Here is what I have...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variable-AC-Tra ... 33897a8034

[bobtec]

That rack mounted one is very cool!!!
Here is what I have...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variable-AC-Tra ... 33897a8034

That is just like the one on saw but Sears online wanted $150.00+$25 to ship But it was Red haha Thanks Thats what I wanted to know If one of these made in China ones would hold up with a 100watt SLP...Some people told me Not to use one.Thanks

[Star*Guitar]

That rack mounted one is very cool!!!
Here is what I have...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variable-AC-Tra ... 33897a8034

They look cool too and the price is perfect. Good deal!!

[awangotango]

here's a cool 5Amper

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-General ... 462d6e2cdc

I've used the old variac brand and staco like these, I'd just get an old one if i were you

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variac-Autotran ... 58b96d3712

http://www.ebay.com/itm/General-Radio-W ... 3399827488



what is it 5 Amps for 100w superleads and 3 amps for 50w?

[Star*Guitar]

here's a cool 5Amper

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-General ... 462d6e2cdc

I've used the old variac brand and staco like these, I'd just get an old one if i were you

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Variac-Autotran ... 58b96d3712

http://www.ebay.com/itm/General-Radio-W ... 3399827488

That first rackmount I considered buying but it looked pretty hard enclosing it for safety. Not much room for angled aluminum and riveting to metal stock for a case. Its weird. That item had a couple bids on it last week. I thought it was sold. The last two I agree are good choices. I had one of those I bought a few years ago. They work perfect. I gave it to a friend not long ago.

[Strat78]

Here is a good one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OHMITE-VT-8-GC- ... 540baf48d1
I like having the switch, so you can just reach over and turn off the power from the wall without having to unplug the amp when tweaking. Like with Star Guitars 68 marshall, you can't drain the caps unless the standby and power switches are engaged so turning off the power at the variac is easy for this. This is another transformer in the circuit so the amp behaves in accordance to how current can be drawn from the variac, so make and brand should matter. I would say the less efficient the better; 4 to 5 amps maybe

[emmjaydubya]

Like with Star Guitars 68 marshall, you can't drain the caps unless the standby and power switches are engaged so turning off the power at the variac is easy for this.

The switch is nice, no juice inside the amp, plus the ground still runs uninterrupted back to the wall so you know that the caps are draining.

I have a few old autotransformers, an Ohmite which I bought for $45 in excellent condition which I use for reforming/building/draining caps and an NOS Superior Electric Co. 5 Amp Variac for $40, new in box from probably the 60's which is for my 12,000. The deals are out there on the 'bay if you have some patience, personally I wouldn't mess with a Chinese one if I could buy an old American made.

[rgorke]

. This is another transformer in the circuit so the amp behaves in accordance to how current can be drawn from the variac, so make and brand should matter. I would say the less efficient the better; 4 to 5 amps maybe

here is something I have been thinking about the last couple of days in looking through ebay at variacs and looking at pictures of Ed's. It appears to be an Ohmite looking at the pictures from VH2 and the tour. What we can't see is the specific model. I have seen 1.75 amp, 3.5 amp, 5 amp, 8 amp Ohmites.

So, what if Ed used one of the lower models 1.75 or 3? What would that do to the tone? Presuming a lower amperage, maybe making the PT work harder and causing more sag? or something else? Not sure if my electrical knowledge is adequate to determine if this would create an effect. What are the down sides of a 1.75 or 3 amp model? Ed most certainly didn't know the difference.

I think there is a post with Friedman saying the type of variac matters. Maybe not brand but specs...

[mr.twistyneck]

if you think that rack mount variac is cool, check out the pics on this auction

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-OF-A-KIND-C ... b#viTabs_0

you can brown your sound and create a death ray at the same time!

[rgorke]

if you think that rack mount variac is cool, check out the pics on this auction

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-OF-A-KIND-C ... b#viTabs_0

you can brown your sound and create a death ray at the same time!

Those are just pictures of variacs, aren't they?