Variac a Super Lead instead of attenuating

[Tone Slinger]

I'm just going by clips I've heard. All of the Granger amps (CTone trannys) are mushy when ran flat out. Also, you can hear a less firm response in their own ' OT Comparison clip'. The Heyboer dominated that one imo. If your amp holds togather well when dimed thats great, I believe you. I dont think a PT of one brand or another is as big of a deal as the OT. Less turns is cheaper, but has an impact for sure.

[jnew]

This all ties back to stuff I've mentioned in the past about every amp being a little different. My 100 watt has the ****** 1.5" Opt Trannie and it's sweet spot is 6-7 on Vol I. My JTM-45, re-built to 68, 50 watt plexi spec, uses that MM's 045-RS L which is a tiny little Opt Trans and it's ideal spot is 5-6 with lots of gain. (All other controls on 10 of course, LOL ) My next 100 watt, 68 spec build is going to have ******'s 2"Opt. This might be a little sturdier so maybe 8-9 on Vol I. Or even 10.

[wjamflan]

He said ONLY LIVE though

I'm with Roger on this one. Ed never said that. Leadguy said that.

[Tone Slinger]

I got that from the $25k Franky 'Guitar World' issue where Chip Ellis was interviewed. There was an overview of sorts of lots of interviews where everything from 6ca7 tubes, variac, to eq boxes where discussed. I took it all with a grain of salt, but in that mag it said Ed only used the eq live to boost long cable runs or if the hall and/or his rig was just not sounding right.

I certainly believe that Ed was using the 6 band live (its ALWAYS THERE in pics),AND,he also must have used it in the studio as well, 'cause like mentioned,the Civic thru to the Whisky New Years/Eve gigs sound VERY nearly IDENTICAL to the album.

[Tone Slinger]

This all ties back to stuff I've mentioned in the past about every amp being a little different. My 100 watt has the ****** 1.5" Opt Trannie and it's sweet spot is 6-7 on Vol I. My JTM-45, re-built to 68, 50 watt plexi spec, uses that MM's 045-RS L which is a tiny little Opt Trans and it's ideal spot is 5-6 with lots of gain. (All other controls on 10 of course, LOL ) My next 100 watt, 68 spec build is going to have ******'s 2"Opt. This might be a little sturdier so maybe 8-9 on Vol I. Or even 10.

EXACTLY my point. Ed's particular 12xxx top was obviously an ex. of a top that sounded 'Tight & Right' ran at very low (60v) voltages as well as closer to normal voltages (90v). Lots and Lots of vintage and clone 1959/1987 circuit amps simply DO NOT sound like Ed's, when being ran the EXACT SAME WAY as Ed ran his. In this example, you see where messing around with set up is key. James (Jnew ) has a superb way to get around this with his load/re-amp configuration. He has gotten VERY GOOD early Ed-tone out of his 45/50 Plexi, Jeremys 12xxx clone, as well as his own 12xxx clone. Like mentioned, different iron and component brands used on these amps, YET, a VERY similar tone (BROWN ) was rendered from them all.

But then you see, its not EXACTLY as Ed set his up, 'cause here again, Ed didnt reamp (Im 'fairly' certain ) until '85/'86 or so. Because of this you are ALWAYS gonna get people dis-regarding ANY set-up OTHER than a half stack and a variac (+ a few pedals), etc.

[wjamflan]

I got that from the $25k Franky 'Guitar World' issue where Chip Ellis was interviewed.

I see the statement you're talking about Andy. The funny thing is that when the pedal discussion came up in that article (March 2007), Ed only provided two quotes: one about the basic chain, and another about his pedals not being modded by Jose. Chris Gill says Ed only used EQs onstage. No quote.

Since we can clearly see a 6 band plugged in in the VHII studio pics and Ed left the 2nd Echoplex out of his chain quote to Chris Gill, not to mention Ed's fragile state of mind in early 2007, I never put any stock into that assertion.

The best (and most honest) quote from Ed about what he used came from the Young Guitar article in Japan, June 1978:

EVH: I use two Maestro Echoplex, two Univox Echo EC-80, MXR Phase 90, MXR Flanger, and MXR 6-band EQ.

For what it's worth, Ed was quoted by Chris Gill in the article that Andy's referring to as specifically lowering his variac to 89 volts.

Sorry for the sidetrack.

[EJSLPlexi]

I hope not to come across as a dick but I'm just gonna tell it straight. That does not do a good job of representing early VH. To me it is very stiff, sterile and has an almost ghost like high end. I have heard those amps in the past actually sound pretty good so I was hoping the variac trick would be cool. Sorry if it's offensive man. Not trying dis on you.

Edit: this post is referring to the clip of the Peacemaker. I just realized there have been several post's since I had listened to it's clip.

I totally agree, i was never a fan of those things for a VH tone.
never really liked that amp period.
it always has that harsh,brittle, abrasive quality to it.

[jnew]

This all ties back to stuff I've mentioned in the past about every amp being a little different. My 100 watt has the ****** 1.5" Opt Trannie and it's sweet spot is 6-7 on Vol I. My JTM-45, re-built to 68, 50 watt plexi spec, uses that MM's 045-RS L which is a tiny little Opt Trans and it's ideal spot is 5-6 with lots of gain. (All other controls on 10 of course, LOL ) My next 100 watt, 68 spec build is going to have ******'s 2"Opt. This might be a little sturdier so maybe 8-9 on Vol I. Or even 10.

EXACTLY my point. Ed's particular 12xxx top was obviously an ex. of a top that sounded 'Tight & Right' ran at very low (60v) voltages as well as closer to normal voltages (90v). Lots and Lots of vintage and clone 1959/1987 circuit amps simply DO NOT sound like Ed's, when being ran the EXACT SAME WAY as Ed ran his. In this example, you see where messing around with set up is key. James (Jnew ) has a superb way to get around this with his load/re-amp configuration. He has gotten VERY GOOD early Ed-tone out of his 45/50 Plexi, Jeremys 12xxx clone, as well as his own 12xxx clone. Like mentioned, different iron and component brands used on these amps, YET, a VERY similar tone (BROWN ) was rendered from them all.

But then you see, its not EXACTLY as Ed set his up, 'cause here again, Ed didnt reamp (Im 'fairly' certain ) until '85/'86 or so. Because of this you are ALWAYS gonna get people dis-regarding ANY set-up OTHER than a half stack and a variac (+ a few pedals), etc.

Hmm, I can't nail down dates but I believe Ed was re-amping well before the mid 80's. Before power amps and I would think with other Marshall's but the same principle would apply. Don't know for certain exactly when and how but lots of compelling photo's to this theory.

[rgalpin]

rgalpin

First, the tone is SPOT-ON and sounds killer...CONGRATULATIONS!

I have a few questions...soo this is just a stock Superlead with 2-tubes pulled. Since the idea load is halved, you'd plug a 16 ohm cab into the 8 ohm output. What impedence is your cab and what did you set the amp to?

Since you dropped the output of the variac at 60VAC on a 120V input tap...can you let us know what the voltage was to the PI and also heater voltage??

Your info suggests you had a 6-band EQ on it. Was this is series or in a loop? I also hear a delay or room reverb going on, but you don't mention using this unless I missed something.

no loops in this simple setup. 6band is just in the chain GTR --> 6band -->Amp-->Cab Verb added in post.

[jnew]

rgalpin

First, the tone is SPOT-ON and sounds killer...CONGRATULATIONS!

I have a few questions...soo this is just a stock Superlead with 2-tubes pulled. Since the idea load is halved, you'd plug a 16 ohm cab into the 8 ohm output. What impedence is your cab and what did you set the amp to?

Since you dropped the output of the variac at 60VAC on a 120V input tap...can you let us know what the voltage was to the PI and also heater voltage??

Your info suggests you had a 6-band EQ on it. Was this is series or in a loop? I also hear a delay or room reverb going on, but you don't mention using this unless I missed something.

no loops in this simple setup. 6band is just in the chain GTR --> 6band -->Amp-->Cab Verb added in post.

Way to do it Brutha.

[rgalpin]

Used my SL @ about 65V last night through a 1x12. Still with 2 tubes pulled. The amp was dimed, or as they say, 6 knobs on 10. I didn't use the 6band because i didn't trust the battery that was in it to last all night. Without the 6 band boost things were a bit thin and the volume was way down - because as you boost with the 6band i think you get volume increase as well as a more full and happening tone. But the tone without the 6band was still good enough that I totally enjoyed it. Just wasn't as good as I knew it could have been.

After going through that, I thought that maybe next time I might just boost with the GE10 because it doesn't require a battery and it will do the job of pumping some wind back into the voltage depleted amp but without the certain mojo that the mxr 6band adds - but it's not like I'm trying to nail VH tone when I'm playing live - I just want a good plexi tone at low volume and skip the attenuator thing.

So, next time I'll try the GE10 for the fact that i don't have to mess with battery issues. Makes me wonder if that scenario ever came up for Ed. It's pretty cool to just plug in and go without worrying about a stinking battery.

[jnew]

I set up my old 6 to use a 9vdc input. Easy shmeazy.

[ValveStorm]

Yep, and you can even do it without de-valuing the pedal:
Get one of these 9v supply to battery clip adapter cords
AND
Use a sharp edge file to cut a groove in a throwaway bottom

[rgorke]

Yep, and you can even do it without de-valuing the pedal:
Get one of these 9v supply to battery clip adapter cords
AND
Use a sharp edge file to cut a groove in a throwaway bottom

That's how I did it until I installed a switch, LED, and power supply.

[mr.twistyneck]

Had another band practice. For the majority of stuff we're doing, I'm just leaving the amp around 70 to 74v and the 6 band off. I'll kick it in if I want some crunchy crunch, but the phase 90 will also get things to cut through. If anything, I was getting a little trebly, so i actually tried the CH2 input (all knobs dimed), and that was rather nice. That's like, the first time i've ever purposefully plugged into CH2 when going for a lead sound.

the room sure makes a big difference.