Variac question
Moderators: VelvetGeorge, BUG
- Capt Vemo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:22 am
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Brighton, Michigan
Variac question
I have whats probably gonna sound like a dumb question to most of you. So get your jabs in LOL but I was curious if I have one of the Lar/Mar MVs installed in my plexi replica. Im running the volume on the front of the amp on 10 and the MV around 3 for a nice comfotable bedroom volume. If I was to use a variac turned down to 90 volts like EVH did would it still give me more gain at that volume setting? Or would I need to really crank it to get abit more sustain and gain out of it?
A wise man once said:
"There is no right piece of gear, only the next piece of gear."
He eventually went broke, but his tone was incredible
"There is no right piece of gear, only the next piece of gear."
He eventually went broke, but his tone was incredible
- YMI5150?
- Senior Member
- Posts: 982
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 3:38 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Los Gatos, CA
- Contact:
Re: Variac question
gain is similar, less harsh, but volume drops a bit.
be careful if you're using George's PT. from my experience, the heater voltage drops below 2.7VAC once I get below 100 VAC input on the variac. I've been instructed to stay above 2.7 so have not explored variac settings below 100 VAC.
be careful if you're using George's PT. from my experience, the heater voltage drops below 2.7VAC once I get below 100 VAC input on the variac. I've been instructed to stay above 2.7 so have not explored variac settings below 100 VAC.
- Capt Vemo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:22 am
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Brighton, Michigan
Re: Variac question
Ive been steared away from dropping the volage on one down to say 90volts like EVH did. But I have another question about using them. I honestly think my voltage in some of the outlets in my house vary abit. And is actually going up and down while Im playing. Would this be something I could use to keep the voltage at a steady 110 voltage for my amp ?
A wise man once said:
"There is no right piece of gear, only the next piece of gear."
He eventually went broke, but his tone was incredible
"There is no right piece of gear, only the next piece of gear."
He eventually went broke, but his tone was incredible
- Tone Slinger
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6520
- Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:31 am
- AustinTx
- Senior Member
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:20 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Contact:
Re: Variac question
No....you need a voltage regulator to keep you AC steady.
Variac will just give you a percentage of the wall voltage,
if the wall voltage varies...the output of the variac will vary also
Dropping voltage with a variac will drop the volume a bit but..
2.95v is as low as you wanna go on a heater, according to the gurus...
Variac will just give you a percentage of the wall voltage,
if the wall voltage varies...the output of the variac will vary also
Dropping voltage with a variac will drop the volume a bit but..
2.95v is as low as you wanna go on a heater, according to the gurus...
Austin Texas
http://www.doug-morrison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.doug-morrison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- 908ssp
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2954
- Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 12:56 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Michigan
- Contact:
Re: Variac question
According to experts I respect heater voltage issues are way over stated. Nobody has ever posted loss of a tube due to too low heater voltage. And the spec everybody quotes is developed for extreme high power broadcast tubes not tubes is guitar amps. I personally don't go lower than 100 volts as I think the quality of the tone changes in a way I don't care for. I am not worried about wearing out a tube in any case.
- AustinTx
- Senior Member
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:20 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Contact:
Re: Variac question
True True...in my post I said "according to the gurus"908ssp wrote:According to experts I respect heater voltage issues are way over stated. Nobody has ever posted loss of a tube due to too low heater voltage. And the spec everybody quotes is developed for extreme high power broadcast tubes not tubes is guitar amps. I personally don't go lower than 100 volts as I think the quality of the tone changes in a way I don't care for. I am not worried about wearing out a tube in any case.
I have been running with low heater voltage since 85..without any problems
Austin Texas
http://www.doug-morrison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.doug-morrison.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;