Variac a Super Lead instead of attenuating

[Goonies]

today i tried 60volts.

The volume drops about 12db or something.... but...

The sound sucks. I don´t know if my amp has some problems.

SuperLead RI 100W 485voltage plate, 36mV bias com 127 wall voltage. Then drop to 60volts on variac. The sound became super compress, fuzz, unmusical. The tubes take a wile to heat.

May be my amp has some problems..

For me, I don´t see this is better then attenuators on -8db.

[dirtycooter]

Works awesome for me.... forget about attenuators in my book. I really believe this is the way Ed did it.

Check out this vid-no one running for cover from sheer volume-Ed standing out front of his cab-and TV shows were big on keeping things sane volume wise. Every one looks happy with Eds volume here-nothing crazy no one cringing

and also note-NO PILOT LIGHT IS ON ON ED'S AMP-which happens down there in the brown out low lands of voltage starvation

[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYLmngZjEqE [/youtube]

I mean frick-Johny Carson is sitting there like its elevator music

And.... note Eds very angled mic position-THAT AMP IS RUNNING OR WHY WOULD THEY MIC IT?

Balls out in plain view this may be the only footage of #12301 IN ACTION
BS? Or Fact?

[Goonies]

dirtycooter,

I don´t know whats happen w my amp.

i´m building a 12xxx series, and hope to work with 60volts.

My stock superlead, sucks on low voltage.

[rgorke]

dirtycooter,

I don´t know whats happen w my amp.

i´m building a 12xxx series, and hope to work with 60volts.

My stock superlead, sucks on low voltage.

One thing is that it does take a while to warm up...10-15 mins on standby. I don't think that there is anything magical with 60 volts other than Ed saying he went that low on occasion. He said for recording 80-90 volts (or 89 volts...he kinda mumbled).

Do you have an eq or something to push the front end? This is where the MXR blue 6 band and/or the Boss GE10 come in.

Try different voltages and see where you get something you like.

FInally, post your 12xxx build in last section of the forum (the basement) we are dying for new builds....

[Goonies]

rgorke,

yes, i tried some pedal xotic SL clean boost. The sound was very bad, i´m considering a wireless RF interference on the sound, I dont know.

I will post the metro 12xxx build on forum. I´m waiting for the tranformers (marstran) about a month yet. Waiting for sozos .68 capacitores, i think this week will be avaliable.

I will need a lot help. i´m reading a lot stuff here to learn the steps.

[Star*Guitar]

Works awesome for me.... forget about attenuators in my book. I really believe this is the way Ed did it.

Check out this vid-no one running for cover from sheer volume-Ed standing out front of his cab-and TV shows were big on keeping things sane volume wise. Every one looks happy with Eds volume here-nothing crazy no one cringing

and also note-NO PILOT LIGHT IS ON ON ED'S AMP-which happens down there in the brown out low lands of voltage starvation

[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYLmngZjEqE [/youtube]

I mean frick-Johny Carson is sitting there like its elevator music

And.... note Eds very angled mic position-THAT AMP IS RUNNING OR WHY WOULD THEY MIC IT

Balls out in plain view this may be the only footage of #12301 IN ACTION
BS? Or Fact?

That amp sounds awesome there too!!

[Star*Guitar]

Works awesome for me.... forget about attenuators in my book. I really believe this is the way Ed did it.

Check out this vid-no one running for cover from sheer volume-Ed standing out front of his cab-and TV shows were big on keeping things sane volume wise. Every one looks happy with Eds volume here-nothing crazy no one cringing

and also note-NO PILOT LIGHT IS ON ON ED'S AMP-which happens down there in the brown out low lands of voltage starvation

[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYLmngZjEqE [/youtube]

I mean frick-Johny Carson is sitting there like its elevator music

And.... note Eds very angled mic position-THAT AMP IS RUNNING OR WHY WOULD THEY MIC IT?

That amp sounds freakin awesome there too!!!!!!!!!!

Balls out in plain view this may be the only footage of #12301 IN ACTION
BS? Or Fact?

[Jeremy1283]

Works awesome for me.... forget about attenuators in my book. I really believe this is the way Ed did it.

Check out this vid-no one running for cover from sheer volume-Ed standing out front of his cab-and TV shows were big on keeping things sane volume wise. Every one looks happy with Eds volume here-nothing crazy no one cringing

and also note-NO PILOT LIGHT IS ON ON ED'S AMP-which happens down there in the brown out low lands of voltage starvation

[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYLmngZjEqE [/youtube]

I mean frick-Johny Carson is sitting there like its elevator music

And.... note Eds very angled mic position-THAT AMP IS RUNNING OR WHY WOULD THEY MIC IT?

That amp sounds freakin awesome there too!!!!!!!!!!

Balls out in plain view this may be the only footage of #12301 IN ACTION
BS? Or Fact?

this amp sounds kickass. Yup def. not to loud hear...hmm
might be a 60 volt situation.

[dirtycooter]

I have combed over this vid so many times-it appears the volume is totally under control completely.

Ed's guitar cord is running some length here-nothing in sight though really. But it is not goin goin straight in quite-it detours someplace hidden here.
I bet the guitar player from Letterman remembers Ed's setup though. Who wouldn't remember something like that being a guitar player.

[Velva]

This is a super interesting read...

Maybe some of the extra volume drop and saturation is coming from the difference of 8ohms (or 4 ohms not sure here) from the head out to a 20 ohm load box before it is sent back to the cab? This 8 ohm to 20 ohm load box differential would, I believe, take the tonal changes you guys were discussing even further in the right direction. No sure on the affect on the OT though...

If he was running that combination and a variac much lower than 90v, it may be useable on such a small stage like the one on letterman's interview...

[mr.twistyneck]

60v with a boost or a 6band EQ is quite nice. Re-amping a line out of such a setup can get you that 60v tone at a higher volume. 60v does have sort of a flab to it - until you kick in a 6band EQ. As you start raising the voltage, it's a matter of taste as to how much hair/gain you want - you may wish to remove some/all front end boosting. The difference in overall volume between 65v and 79v is substantial. All of my experimentation so far has been running the 60v head at 16ohms, matched to a 16ohm 4x12. My favorite overall tone - although not necessarily VH1 tone - has been 60v head, with only a 6band EQ in front, reamped through the front end of another Marshall 100 watt. That was pretty awesome.

So, there may be some more fun to be had fiddling with different ohmages!

Anybody else going to post clips of low voltage setups?

[Tone Slinger]

This is a super interesting read...

Maybe some of the extra volume drop and saturation is coming from the difference of 8ohms (or 4 ohms not sure here) from the head out to a 20 ohm load box before it is sent back to the cab? This 8 ohm to 20 ohm load box differential would, I believe, take the tonal changes you guys were discussing even further in the right direction. No sure on the affect on the OT though...

If he was running that combination and a variac much lower than 90v, it may be useable on such a small stage like the one on letterman's interview...

I agree with this. That '85 Letterman show tone was quite a bit tighter and refined (almost like a 'modern' hi gain type amp to some extent) as compared to the 60v clips going on here. There was something else going on. I think it was load differential.

At the same time though, the '85 Letterman tone IS NOT representative of Ed's '77 club (or '78 arena) tone. The Letterman tone is almost at that 'modded '80's' type tone.....good, but not as much bloom and sag and almost too tight/compressed. Ed ALWAYS kept a TIGHTNESS in his sound, no matter what though......... VERY ELUSIVE right there . I think Ed indeed took the voltage down to 60v at times. He had a 50 watter and at least 2 100 watters (in working condition ) to choose from depending on the gig size ('77). I think many here on this thread are getting very close to cracking/ replicating the code.

[jnew]

I think just setting the variac at 90VAC and re-amping a stock 12K series plexi is all anyone needs (assuming PU, cab/speakers, echo pled are part of it too) From there, just dime everything and set VOL I to the sweet spot. I've done two amps and working on a 3rd now and it just works. An old MXR 6 band that you can loop in and out in front of the echo pled pre will get you to some of the more aggressive VH I stuff.

Oh, and a delay IN FRONT of the amp, after the echo pled pre amp too, if you use a delay. Easy as that.

[Star*Guitar]

I think just setting the variac at 90VAC and re-amping a stock 12K series plexi is all anyone needs (assuming PU, cab/speakers, echo pled are part of it too) From there, just dime everything and set VOL I to the sweet spot. I've done two amps and working on a 3rd now and it just works. An old MXR 6 band that you can loop in and out in front of the echo pled pre will get you to some of the more aggressive VH I stuff.

Oh, and a delay IN FRONT of the amp, after the echo pled pre amp too, if you use a delay. Easy as that.

This is right idea as Eddie said 89 volts is the sweet spot. The only thing I would change is time based effects and reverb sound more natural with decay etc. after the preamp. So they need it be fed fo the power amp you are using for reamping after the Marshall that is seeing the load. Eddie used the Palmer Speaker Simulator for just this reason. To tap the signal to effects to wet cabs. Yeah for the Eventide too. But im not a big fan of that sound. I'm betting that Fryette would work perfect for that reason, for the effects loop to the reamping power amp.

[matttornado]

Ed's guitar cord is running some length here-nothing in sight though really. But it is not goin goin straight in quite-it detours someplace hidden here.

Ed did say back in the day that he won't go anywhere without his echoplex. I think it was the interview about the Star Fleet Project he did w/ Brian May.

I bet that's what he has between his guitar & amp.