Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 I always hear alot of dudes say don't use one cuz you'll ruin your amp...blah blah. Never heard any actual occurences of an amp being ruined by one. I do know that it cant be under like 80 volts or some {censored}....Someone please fill me in!!! I want to use one for my 59 bassman ri. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ZachOmega Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Yes, you really can hurt your amp. If you go too high, you can stress tubes, caps, resistors, and transformers. If you go too low, you can stress tubes. -Zach Omega Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by vancleaf I always hear alot of dudes say don't use one cuz you'll ruin your amp...blah blah. Never heard any actual occurences of an amp being ruined by one. I do know that it cant be under like 80 volts or some {censored}....Someone please fill me in!!! I want to use one for my 59 bassman ri. Very hard on the tubes for one thing. And we all know that a bad power tube is capable of doing major damage to an amp in certain instances. Plus it sounds like crap,IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ZachOmega Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 I concur. -Zach Omega Originally posted by tlbonehead Very hard on the tubes for one thing. And we all know that a bad power tube is capable of doing major damage to an amp in certain instances. Plus it sounds like crap,IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheAtomicJeff Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by vancleaf I Never heard any actual occurences of an amp being ruined by one. The most likely reason is because they would be too embarassed to admit they ruined their amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members air guitar Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 I think only amp repairers should use them. And amps sound their best with new biased tubes. That's the secret for great tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybogner Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 V You'd be better off using a hot plate, set to load, and & sending the output to another amp. The Variac set to a lower voltage (like evh used to do) basically reduces the amout of headroom the tubes have so it distorts quicker / more. By diming your bassman into a hotplate used as a load, then using another amp to get the volume you need is "essentially" doing the same thing. Sort of. It IS safer than the variac, though. Cheers, Bro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 If I do get one, I would use it within the reasonable range...I guess like 90 volts or so... what could happen at this level? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by billybogner V You'd be better off using a hot plate, set to load, and & sending the output to another amp. The Variac set to a lower voltage (like evh used to do) basically reduces the amout of headroom the tubes have so it distorts quicker / more. By diming your bassman into a hotplate used as a load, then using another amp to get the volume you need is "essentially" doing the same thing. Sort of. It IS safer than the variac, though. Cheers, Bro. Hey whats up BB?....So your saying output of amp into hotplate, hotplate output to another amp...could I run it into any amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cap'n'crunch Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by vancleaf If I do get one, I would use it within the reasonable range...I guess like 90 volts or so... what could happen at this level? You'd go through tubes faster. Some vintage amp users simply use a variac to get the right volts that the amp was designed for. Back then the standard home outlet was only around 110 volts. Now a lot of homes and clubs have power up to 115 - 120 volts or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blargh Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 If you're trying to get more gain, save yourself the risk and bother, use a boost pedal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Heh! still have'nt heard stories about amp damage. Has anyone heard of damaging an amp when used at "reasonable" levels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by blargh If you're trying to get more gain, save yourself the risk and bother, use a boost pedal... Sacreligous!!! :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by vancleaf Heh! still have'nt heard stories about amp damage. Has anyone heard of damaging an amp when used at "reasonable" levels? Well,change your power tubes about every 8 hours and you'll probably be fine. Sounds like you want to use one. Do so at your own risk. Of course,there is still the crappy tone that goes along with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blargh Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 What exactly are you trying to achieve by using it? It's not the magic key to the Van Halen tone, whatever you may think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by blargh What exactly are you trying to achieve by using it? It's not the magic key to the Van Halen tone, whatever you may think. Exactly. Too many people listen to Eddie's babble instead of the people who were actually behind most of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by tlbonehead Sounds like you want to use one. Do so at your own risk. No way man! I am holding you guys responsible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by blargh What exactly are you trying to achieve by using it? It's not the magic key to the Van Halen tone, whatever you may think. I like my tone...just need it a bit lower...volume can be unreasonably loud to get decent od. Not tryin to cop evh:rolleyes: ...hahaha...just want to lower it a few decibles for decent band volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by vancleaf I like my tone...just need it a bit lower...volume can be unreasonably loud to get decent od. Not tryin to cop evh:rolleyes: ...hahaha...just want to lower it a few decibles for decent band volume. Well,use a soak instead. It won't sound as mushy either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by tlbonehead Exactly. Too many people listen to Eddie's babble instead of the people who were actually behind most of it. Yeah eddie always says "keep it simple" but still had a really whacky complex set up...at least from the pictures I've seen here. I'm just runnin an eq into the amp for xtra od, but is only avail. at higher volumes...I just want to keep my tone, but at lower volumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by tlbonehead Well,use a soak instead. It won't sound as mushy either. what be a soak????...no wise ass remarks people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by vancleaf what be a soak????...no wise ass remarks people! Power soak/attenuator? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by tlbonehead Power soak/attenuator? oh. Thanks for your help man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moronmountain Posted November 28, 2005 Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 I think you should go ahead and use it, and report back as to what it does to your amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vancleaf Posted November 28, 2005 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2005 Originally posted by moronmountain I think you should go ahead and use it, and report back as to what it does to your amp. I just might do that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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