Exo-metal
Well-known member
You have two variacs and read all the stories but do you have any of your own? Let's hear about it. Try to refrain from anything except your direct experience.
7704A
Well-known member
Almost sounds like the prompt for a text-adventure game.
> Walk left
> Grab variac
> Walk left
> Grab variac
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harddriver
Well-known member
Are you asking about the Chris Merren theory of using two variacs with a Marshall plexi/SL?
One variac used to variac the power supply of the amp and then variac two used between the head and the 4x12 speaker cabinet as a type of attenuator.
One variac used to variac the power supply of the amp and then variac two used between the head and the 4x12 speaker cabinet as a type of attenuator.
thegame
Well-known member
Two variacs, 1 cup holder. The true secret to Billy Blades tone aka the brown and green sound
Exo-metal
Well-known member
Just asking for direct experience using two with a plexi. That is all. I have heard of that and seen a clip and know it works and I have heard about a direct coupling to the OT. I just want direct experience for the discussion.
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harddriver
Well-known member
I have done the two Ohmite Variacs exactly the way Chris Merren described it and laid it out. Interesting enough the second attenuator variac is set at 90VAC and it does provide some volume reduction and the amp does react and sound different with some different aggressive artifacts to the tone and how the amp feeds back. The amp tends to feedback in a more immediate interesting way compared to not having the variac in the signal chain. I found it to be cool and different enough when I used it. You may find it interesting you may not, I don't think it's anything uber magical but it is different. I guess I would describe the tone a bit more sizzlely in the attack and how the amp crunched and would easlily break into really great feedback on held notes.
Essentially the attenuator variac sounded best with the variac set to 90 VAC which was what Merren concluded as well, basically you have two electrical cords one male and one female with 1/4" male plugs on the ends. Plug the 1/4" male into the speaker jack of the amp with the female three prong plug connected to the main power plug of the Ohmite Variac(always must be turned on) then the output signal goes through the variac's rheostat windings set to around 90VAC(not to be confused with the variac set to 90VAC on the mains power supply) then you plug in the second electrical cord with the male end in the output outlet of the variac and then plug the 1/4" male plug into your 4x12 speaker cabinet. I dug out my setup and took a quick pic
There was another method that sounds like what you may be describing and that was called the Cerrem mod which had various resistors wired directly to the output transformer and the speaker jacks but don't quote me on that setup, I never tired that one. I find that one the more dangerous method but Mr Twistyneck tried it.
Here is the Cerrem Mod illustrated by Mr. twistyneck.
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harddriver
Well-known member
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harddriver
Well-known member
It's been quite a while since I ran this setup so I am quoting from the best of my memory on how it was set up.
thegame
Well-known member
2 posts 1 clip coming your wayPlease don't post any pics of two variacs and one CUP.....I besiege you..............
Exo-metal
Well-known member
This was the original clip 10yrs ago who ran it after the head into the cab. I can't find his clip explaining it, there was one. Again, this isn't about tone chasing but theoretical discussion much like the two methods of how to wire a 412. This ties into the NFG and plays a huge part in your final tones without question.
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