Guitar Gear Forum

It definitely effects. 1 volt won’t. But most modern amps or amps that are still in use are designed around the 115 or 120v. 125v is a pretty big difference and it is audible to my ears from testing this out.

I don't doubt that! But now I am curious...what's the threshold? What's optimal? I see people saying 115, 117, 120. Can you hear a difference only above a certain point or below a certain point? Lot's of questions lolol

Yeah the Brown Box is a must have with tube amps, particularly with the Marshalls I use, but with any tube amp really.
I've had mine for years but never talked about it because it's not the most exciting piece of gear. But it's extremely important. I think I also bought mine after Friedman recommended it.

just read an article yesterday about how Joe Bonamassa uses some Japanese voltage regulator (got the idea from Angus Young) that is really intended for medical devices in hospitals like MRI machines. $$$$, though ....

https://www.musicradar.com/artists/guit ... ngus-young

ninjaraf wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 7:15 pm I don't doubt that! But now I am curious...what's the threshold? What's optimal? I see people saying 115, 117, 120. Can you hear a difference only above a certain point or below a certain point? Lot's of questions lolol

Thru my non scientific testing. Anything above 123 is audible on the 5153. In fact that’s really the amp I hear it most. The xxx and 6505 don’t get too nasty where it stops me in my tracks. Lol. The 5153 and maybe it’s simply the el34 version really becomes noticeable in the mids. So yeah 123, is MY threshold.

Also the dude who owns the shop has some old Marshall’s. That I’m gonna take this in and try running it with low voltage like EVH did. Just for fun and curiosity.

Endtime wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 12:48 pm Also the dude who owns the shop has some old Marshall’s. That I’m gonna take this in and try running it with low voltage like EVH did. Just for fun and curiosity.

Yeah man that's cool. You need to bias them for the Variac though to sound like EVH. Usually the bias pot all the way up on a Plexi put it right at the right spot for 90v.

Yeah that’ll be a cool experiment!!

Ok interesting!! I’ll test a few times throughout the days and see if it fluctuates.