Variac a Super Lead instead of attenuating

[dirtycooter]

In the old interviews Ed stated its not about bein loud just to me loud. Maybe this was what he meant-crank it but it is not really that loud?
I know the club days they talk of his volume being insane-lots of reports of this.
Live being loud? Who was in front of Eds cabs? Was it slaved and loud but controlled or was it miked through the big stadium size PA's and loud there? The amount of cabs increase volume at least 4dB per unison cab running. 4dB we know is quite noticeable. These volume reports could easily be so skewed and worked out and around. So I don't think I would use these legendary volume level myths with too much into them. There is all the other anomolies factual possibilities.

Some of this is starting to make some sense. Jacked bias though? will destroy tubes at what normal wall voltage gurus will tell you and is a fact (we know that even around 90v) but at really low voltage not so. It needed it UP for a reason here. I think this is one of the most exciting rides yet here.
Its like he lets leak hints here and there and allowing Dave to offer up some input. Jacked bias being a really sleeper hint.
I have to wonder what he really thinks when he reads all this stuff here. Bet he will really spill it when we crack this totally-nothing to lose at that point.

"Ahhhh grasshopper.... you are ready when you can take the coin from my hand"

[johnnybgoood]

The old Ohmite variac can handle 7.5 amps. That means, it can easily power two 100 watt amps. Eddie could have plugged in two amp heads into a variac (i.e. main amp and daisy-chained amp) with a multi-tap outlet adapter and extension cord.

If not, the daisy chained amps were plugged into a standard US voltage wall outlet and the main volume knob on the secondary amp was turned down to accommodate for the venue being played. Maybe that's what Leiren was referring to in his article. http://wwwc.dcns.ne.jp/~epi/rudy1985.jpg "In the past, multiple Marshall heads performed the job."

It's definitely a challenge trying to separate fact from fiction in all these old interviews.

[dirtycooter]

Cool read. Thanks for posting.

But yeah it conflicts-it begins to support the Shaffer wireless theory thread I started then it slams that down at the end saying in the studio he didn't use it. We do see it in those VH2 studio pics so if he didn't use it why was it there in the studio pic???? But he was running excess cable to trim it for tone live
Also the transformer rodeo doesn't quite line up to the suhr accounts really. Seems there woulda been a more tell tale mess and witness marks inside if it had that many trannies flying in and out of it.
And pretty much all 4x12's are very directional-they shoot straight out unlike a combo amps with open backs that fill up the whole room from a single 12 spitting front and rear cone tones.

[dukeamps]

Here is some info i have found,

http://www.amptone.com/eddievanhalenrig.htm

[dirtycooter]

Ha!
Victor Mason at plexi palace is in a link there -reportedly something to do with variacing down to 55v. Gee who does that!?

Click the "Tenma Variac" link and read away-its way at the bottom of the original link he just gave above

[jape88]

But yeah it conflicts-it begins to support the Shaffer wireless theory thread I started then it slams that down at the end saying in the studio he didn't use it. We do see it in those VH2 studio pics so if he didn't use it why was it there in the studio pic????

The vh2 pic imo has been set up by the roadies to their usual gig spec, right down to picks etc. as to what Donn used as a feed and the chain involved is a complete guess


Great work Rob and Twisty, I'm liking what I hear and read

[dirtycooter]

My variac came about an hour or so ago.
Just got off the peacemaker.
I am stupified
70volts, (double checked on my furman power conditiiner meter too) pilot light was completely OUT. Not even a glimmer. Tubes barely glowin ever so softly.
All knobs on 10. Except for the bass volume as my channels are tied tigether on 2 inputs. 4 tubes in, 8ohm tap to cab direct at 16ohms.
Bedroom volume all damn day. Sag to die for. No funky hiss or noise unless you get to close to the variac itself it will hum like single coils and flourescents.
If I could describe the thing in one sentence or phrase?

GAME THE F OVER!



Everyone NEEDS A VARIAC AND FORGET 90VOLTS!

And next week when I get my mealey ass mxr 6band griffin modified there will be the rest of the story fo sho!

[mr.twistyneck]

yes indeed! I've been playing along to the first album at lunch time every day this week. Most fun I've had in years. 60 volts, reamped the old school way.

isn't this just great?

[dirtycooter]

All I have to say is this
the only thing you need an attenuator for is loading and slaving possibly and thats about it.
I feel sorry for the attenuator world as VH fan plexi players certainly aren't gonna need them.
I have every bit of the volume control I need-better than my 5153 with a master!
The bottom changed and tightened up, the sag came in, the overdrive turned into pure velvet! Even hiss noise kinda that normal plexis make-left town and got the fuck out of dodge!
I can see where a less output pickup than the dsd can actually benefit me as its still a little too much gain for even VH2 right now. I am thinkin bareknuckles or wolfgang evh or custom is gonna fit just fine.
Maybe tune off even more flub by runnin a low E .40 instead of. 42 guage will bring it closer as well as 6ca7's and a 6 band for shape and maybe some gain if the other pickups lack a smidge.
The peacemaker is not like a stock plexi on the input stages though but still sounds authentic as hell so far.
Maybe some real mild value tweaks later but its so damn good right now I am totally freaked out about it.
I actually need to raise the voltage to get the volume I want-thats crazy!!!!

[dirtycooter]

Rob said he went with a stiff tight plexi to arrive at his awesome clip. I always felt this amp was stiff and couped up-resistive to your hands. That kinda went away too though I think I will have the pre filtering dumped back down to 32/32 as vic raised it by the time I got mine to remedy complaints of "ghost notes" from people that bought the peacemaker.
Its just awesome to know I don't need tone wrecking altering attenuators or MV's.

One more thing
The HEAT is sooooo much less when dimed. Bigger than shit cool as can be.

[jnew]

Why do you say forget 90VAC? All my clips are at 90VAC.
I know you don't mean to punk the 90VAC myth thing but dropping to 90VAC brings enough of that "starved voltage hair" effect in for the tone. From there, the head is loaded and then re-amp'd to desired volume. Pretty simple. Going lower will give you the volume control (if needed) but I like knowing that the tubes are biased more consistently with a steady 90VAC.

[dirtycooter]

I mean forget 90 as some tribal rule. Nothing bad happens below 90 that I can see and I think its fear factor rumor induced. Kinda like when my uncle used to tell us kids-don't turn the cable past this channel or the t.v. will blow up. Really it was just the playboy channel past there lmao! Hell I can see myself turning UP to 90 as 70 is too quiet really for playing out.

[Krinkle]

My Metro 12000 is just blistering loud at 60VAC. I gotta measure my B+ and check my bias. B+ is about 485 at full 120VAC so it should track the same as you guys as I lower the variac. I'm measuring my AC at the variac and it's at 60VC. If I dime my LarMar it's f'in LOUD! I have a 4x12 with 6402 greenback's in it. Either you guys are doing something different or you're all deaf

I tell you what though. When I lower the LarMar, I get monster chewy goodness, I've been wailing VH1 and FW all this week.

[dirtycooter]

not tryin to be smart ass but is the variac switched on?? I dunno how you can have blistering loud at 60v. I got down to 70 and wanted to turn it up some but didn't. Just because its the first time I could play that low and it was sheer novelty

[Krinkle]

I don't have an ON/OFF switch, and I'm measuring 60VAC right at the plug! The volume is a lot lower than at 120VAC of course, but to me, it's still too loud. I'm running 4 output tubes and 16 Ohms on the selector to a 16 Ohm cab.