2 Variac's clip

[jnew]

So here's a quick sample clip. Didn't have time to play with mic placement or try and mix/EQ, etc. I'm trying the amp here at 70VAC. Volume was low. Hardly even loud even at a bedroom level. Amp feels anemic and harder to play but there's something pretty wicked about the tone. Will try a little thump with the MXR 6 band or Micro Amp in front when I have more time. 2nd Variac (between head and cab) set at 90. Just a touch of verb in post.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=13186163

[rgorke]

Me likey!!! It has that vowel wooly sound to it yet crispy on top. Seems like it may be similar to having the signal go through one of the transformer based attenuators w/o any attenuation added. If that makes sense.

Does the volume decrease with the second variac in there?

[JimiJames]

yeayea, something going on there ! Even harmonic's are harmonious. Let's keep track of this.
Are you on 8Ω or 16Ω tap ?

[Strat78]

I knew this would be sick! I can hear the slight stiffness from the starved amp, but the tone is to die for! Listen to the musicality of that pull off at 2:14! Just a slight pump in the front with a higher output bucker or 6-band? Or just rent a hall and crank the variac to 85v without attenuation and have a couple of beers to kill inhibitions. Nice work on this James!

[jnew]

Hey guys, thanks.
Roger, the volume is pretty close to unity with the 2nd variac set at 90. Might be just a tad lower in volume but really close. I tried it down to 70 and it does get quieter but just starts to get a little flat and/or sterile sounding. Like a step in the direction of the old Tom Scholz type attenuators. They get warm and smooth but starts to flatten out shimmer and dynamics. 90 seems to be home plate. That being said, I guess there could be variation on what 90 actually is. What I did was measure the wall voltage first. It was right at 120VAC. Then I plugged this variac to the wall and dialed it till I got 90VAC. That's the 90 I use for it. If I plugged this in at your house and you had a wall voltage of 110VAC, then it would be at 90 anymore. So I guess maybe it's a percentage thing but of course it has a big ass dial to roll around to your liking.

Jimmie, I'm glad you asked because now you have me wondering what my NFB is actually seeing. For all intent and purposes, the amp is on 16 ohms into the variac, and then a 16 ohm cab BUT, because this OPT Trans a 6.6K primary, it's that same as if it was a 3.3K primary, 50 watt OPT Trans with the amp set to 8 ohms, into a 16 ohm cab. So it's a one step mis match (which I've always like the sound of, Especially with 100 watters). But now I'm curious if this affects what the NFB is actually seeing. Either way, this is the amp with 330uF on V2 and a 100K NFB resistor. Also has .047 on the PI input but I think I'm going to put that back stock .022. This little small box rebuild has always been a go to amp for me. Everything dimed except VOL I. That's only on 4 maybe 5.

Phil, thanks for the words. That's big coming from you. I made that clip at 70VAC just to post a clip. And yeah, it cleans up and gets sticky but this particular amp spanks to life at about 80 and I usually run it at 85 or 90 at which time there is a little more gain and little less fight. I'd say it's probably a healthy gig volume. I'm 2X lucky in that my neighbors never bothered me at my last house, or this one. I think I'm going to run it at about 80VAC because that little bit of fight makes you work harder and probably makes a better player in the long run. And I'm really digging the tone.

[dirtycooter]

Wow I think this is really awesome! Really seems to have that woody sheen and chime here. Sounds like it's oozing with touch sensitivity. Really digging this.

[Tone Slinger]

James, I really dig the clip man
I hear that detail in the tone that no ppimv has and I hear the open dynamics that no v1 cascade has. This amp of yours sounds great. It's the 50 watter with the tube rectifier ?

[jnew]

Good memory Andy. I do have a tube rectifier in it from when it was a JTM-45. I forgot to mention that. Just love this little thing. Jeremy still wants to buy it from me.

DC, that's sort of the magic about this. Brings clear wood knocking punch out on low notes while the mids/highs get that musical and harmonic jangle about it. RGalpin could put this into words better but I think we all hear what's going on. For my own experience, this is the biggest AH HA moment I've had since I got into tinkering with amps back in 2007. I think I'm more excited about this, than I was when we were into the EP-3 pre-amp thing years back. That had me just tickled. Still in the chain BTW.

[rgorke]

I hear that detail in the tone that no ppimv has and I hear the open dynamics that no v1 cascade has.

That's the beauty of the NMV Super lead. I don't care what type of PPIMV or MV one has, there is something always dialed out with the master.

[jnew]

Yep. Two stage, NMV's is it. Perfectly happy to re-amp if volume is ar real issue but lately, loud has been cool.

[chrisom]

[tsma]

Wow.

That sounds astonishing.

Apparently the Ohmite I own needs a sibling...


-bryan

[jnew]

Yeah, or a twin would be really cool.

[Michael R/T]

Have to try this out sometime, sounds really good.

[jnew]

Thanks man. You'll know it two chords when you do.