Segeborn demos a variac

[Kelly]

I found this interesting, as I don't recall anyone else doing a vid like this. He didn't adjust the amp bias, but it is what it is...

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I like this guy. He's whacky.

 

[Rick Lee]

None of my NMV Marshalls get close to the crunch he had even before lowering the voltage. I ran my 1959SLP RI through a Variac at 70v and dimed every knob. It didn't sound like VH I to me at all. I could see where there was a resemblance. But I think Ed had to be using something else to boost that gain.

 

[sg guy]

None of my NMV Marshalls get close to the crunch he had even before lowering the voltage. I ran my 1959SLP RI through a Variac at 70v and dimed every knob. It didn't sound like VH I to me at all. I could see where there was a resemblance. But I think Ed had to be using something else to boost that gain.

-can't promise you----ED--------(old-BIG IRON = BIG TONE)- but try 85-90v, bias it as hot as the amp will let you, hit the front with an old analog delay, chorus, phaser & a good EQ-(all with a -level knob- independent of effect on or by passed- and a -DIMARZIO- -(SUPER DISTORTION)-----------(yeah,.... I guess one of the DIMARZIO SD rip off's will do,.. I guess)-

 

[SavageRiffer]

I like the guy's videos too and have seen several of them.

 

[Rick Lee]

None of my NMV Marshalls get close to the crunch he had even before lowering the voltage. I ran my 1959SLP RI through a Variac at 70v and dimed every knob. It didn't sound like VH I to me at all. I could see where there was a resemblance. But I think Ed had to be using something else to boost that gain.

-can't promise you----ED--------(old-BIG IRON = BIG TONE)- but try 85-90v, bias it as hot as the amp will let you, hit the front with an old analog delay, chorus, phaser & a good EQ-(all with a -level knob- independent of effect on or by passed- and a -DIMARZIO- -(SUPER DISTORTION)-----------(yeah,.... I guess one of the DIMARZIO SD rip off's will do,.. I guess)-

Oh, I can totally get the old Brown Sound with my rig, but not at all the way Ed and others say with a Variac. I ran lots of different voltages through my 1959SLP RI. It just didn't do it. It wasn't a lack of bigness due to newer transformers. It just didn't have the grunt and sustain. My two 100w Plexi clone builds with a Freaking Sick 30v pedal absolutely nail it. One has Merrens and the other has ClassicTones (because I Chris Merren went radio silent when I wanted to place another order). Both those amps have next to no gain or breakup, even when dimed. But man, do they have a gigantic sound about them, and the 30v pedal is like old VH in a box.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

He has great videos and a fantastic mic technique and room. Most of his vids end of sounding the same though so he can coax that tone out of even the shittiest cheapest amp. I was surprised that the gain didn't seem to jump that much for him when he lowered the voltage. Even at that, I did not hear VH1 levels of gain there BUT we also have to take into account a very likely hot ass pup and some magic at the console board to drive the sound a little more. That said, i know it opens a can of worms but I also feel there was very likely an EQ box, a good strong pup and some variac driving that sound. Doesn't matter, the music that was written matters more.

 

[Rick Lee]

I think the pup in the original Frankenstrat around the time VH I was recorded came from an ES-335, which is not exactly Super Distortion territory. Furthermore, Ed used the Shark guitar on all the songs without a whammy bar and, IMHO, the tone is the same on all those songs, so he either had the same pups in both guitars, or things were doctored at the board. Even if doctored at the board, which would have been later, what he would have heard in his headphones would have sounded totally different. I'm leaning toward 1) He had one or more pedals or 2) His '68 Rosemary just happens to have an extra bit of mojo that other Plexis don't have. Marshall, as great as they can be, are notoriously inconsistent in components and build quality. I also think the European voltage has something to do with it, since Ed's was not a US-export version. Though, Segeborn is in Europe too, so I assume his amps are non-US-export versions, and I just don't hear the Brown Sound in his videos.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I think the pup in the original Frankenstrat around the time VH I was recorded came from an ES-335, which is not exactly Super Distortion territory. Furthermore, Ed used the Shark guitar on all the songs without a whammy bar and, IMHO, the tone is the same on all those songs, so he either had the same pups in both guitars, or things were doctored at the board. Even if doctored at the board, which would have been later, what he would have heard in his headphones would have sounded totally different. I'm leaning toward 1) He had one or more pedals or 2) His '68 Rosemary just happens to have an extra bit of mojo that other Plexis don't have. Marshall, as great as they can be, are notoriously inconsistent in components and build quality. I also think the European voltage has something to do with it, since Ed's was not a US-export version. Though, Segeborn is in Europe too, so I assume his amps are non-US-export versions, and I just don't hear the Brown Sound in his videos.

Agreed. I just hear a very good crunchy bitey Plexi. Every now and again a clip comes along of someone with a stock plexi ripping some VH which does sound close to the gain on VH1 but i would still put cash on an EQ. This one is supposed to be essentially stock:

 

[Rick Lee]

That ain't stock. Hell to the no, it ain't stock. Sounds good and does a close Brown Sound, though.