I finally found out what the pot behind van halen VH1 does (it wasn't a master at all)

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Amp_chaser

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Hello guys after many years of research, i've finally solved oneof biggest mysteries of all amp history. if you don't want to read the clip of the volta is the last one at end of the post.

The pot behind Vh1 is something josé called a voltacontrol overdrive. In fact it's a mod that was used by many of our guitar heroes from the 70's and that was kept very secretively inside a niche of elite artists techs and modders. This mod was invented because at the time there weren't any distortion pedals. One supposed user of this mod was eric clapton himself. I found out this mod in a josé from hollywood. In fact i believe there might be under 5 josés on this planet with this mod.

here is the amp i'm modding for this purpose :

amps.jpg


it's a copy of the sl68 according to dave friedman specs. However i added the fat cap. Now it's completely over modded. Here is how it sounds without the overdrive voltacontrol :



now here is the voltacontrol overdrive :

IMG_6033 (1).jpeg

plexi-ed-2-1 (1).png


the picture of the amp where i found its circuit :

mods.jpg


Before testing the voltacontrol on my main amp it tested it on my 20w el84 plexi with almost the same mods (it's not the exact same circuit) here is how it sounds, it still needs some tweaking and i should improve my playing but anyways here is the clip :



No eq, no pedals, some reverb and delay, no freaking sylvanias, no variac, no myths pure circuitry, components and soldering !

here is another record with some added tweaks when i pause i tweak it a bit and it sounds better.



it still needs some tweaking but it sounds very close.

José Arredondo was probably the best guitar amp modder and probably the best amp creator on this planet ever... If he decided to do the same as marshall which was to take the bassman and do his own amp brand i could tell you that he would have destroyed any amp brand on the planet and he would have been richer than any amp manufacturer on this planet... But josé was loyal to eddie...Freaking crazy...
 
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I don't know...first clip WITHOUT this voltacontrol sounds far better to me, is this a joke?:dunno:
it's not the same amp i made some adjustements to the 20w and recorded it again for it to sound like the super lead :




i think that after the pause it sounds quite better i still have to find the right spot where to use that mod.

the issue is that this mod can go in multiple places i have to find the right one and tweak it.
 
At least someone has finally solved the mystery! What are we going to do now? Actually play our guitars?
Can’t believe I’m here to witness this all get put to rest right here on this little forum. Case closed! Well done ol’ chap.
 
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