That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

J

joegore

Tone Fiend in Residence
Anyone interested in the kooky Vari-Tone circuit that appears on some vintage Gibson models, notably the ES-345?

Over at tonefiend.com, I've been experimenting with it in various Strat-type objects. Additionally, some readers have tried building it into a stompbox.

Here's the latest incarnation, a versatile beast with a 12-position tone-selector switch.

Any of you guys ever played with this?
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

Only tried the stock varitone, which I found to be just about useless, as has every other player I've talked to that's had one. I think there's potential in the concept, but the version Gibson came up with didn't pan out.
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

Gibson Varitones changed so many times over the years that it's hard to keep up with them...

I played a 1960 ES-345 once, loved the Varitone...even the bypass was nice and strong...played an early 70's ES-355 with a Varitone once...terrible waste of space and wire...
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

blueman335 said:
Only tried the stock varitone, which I found to be just about useless, as has every other player I've talked to that's had one. I think there's potential in the concept, but the version Gibson came up with didn't pan out.
Click to expand...

My results were . . . different. Not for everyone, but I definitely managed a few sounds that a) I couldn't get before, and b) I would totally use in some session contexts. Though maybe you'd hate most of those tweezy, filtered tones. Check out the video and see what you think. :)
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

I had a 1968 ES-345 and loved the Varitone. It was a very effective tone circuit back then. How is it different today?
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

I have a PCB version in my Seymourised Epiphone Lucille. With both HBs wide open, one of the positions produces a good impersonation of the Michael Schenker cocked wah pedal honk. Experimenting with other selections and relative pickup volume levels produces some unexpected but "interesting" results.

Generally, I find that the VT produces useful muted tones suitable for rhythm guitar parts that don't get in the way of lead parts.
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

That video is pretty mindblowing- no guitar should have THAT many sounds! i would love to mount that in a hollowbody or Danelectro to squeeze out other sub-optimum yet usable tones with a lot of character.

Keep up the unrivaled great work!
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

Funkfingers said:
I have a PCB version in my Seymourised Epiphone Lucille. With both HBs wide open, one of the positions produces a good impersonation of the Michael Schenker cocked wah pedal honk. Experimenting with other selections and relative pickup volume levels produces some unexpected but "interesting" results.

Generally, I find that the VT produces useful muted tones suitable for rhythm guitar parts that don't get in the way of lead parts.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think that's a pretty accurate description. But I find the circuit really comes to life when combined with an ultra-dynamic distortion/overdrive, the kind that you can take from clean to crud just via the guitar's volume knob. Because all those nasal, filtered sound that seem a bit too choked off really come to life when driving downstream distortion. (It's that Schenker thing you mention.) But I find that it works best when you have the volume/distortion control right under your fingertips on the guitar.
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

I had a 345 for awhile in 1966. Think it was a 65 model. Long time ago but I seem to remember only two settings that I liked. Just used the switch and V/T controls for the most part.
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

Is this what was on the rotary switch on the L6-S I used to have? I pulled that **** out quick, too clumsy.
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

I remember in the early 90's I played a BC Rich neckthrough/I'llpokeyoureyeandbrakeyourribs guitar that had some kind of varitone on it and the range of resonance peaks and dips was nothing short of amazing and inspiring.Whenever I played a Lucille-both Gibson and Epi-on the other hand(which is a lot,since I had been selling them for about 2 years),I must say I didn't find many sounds that seemed of interest to me.Some of the sounds in the video sound extremely usable.
 
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Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

I've got one on my ES 137. I messed with it for about 10 minutes and lost interest. Basically a switch driven tone knob that filters out different frequencies. I really hate what tone controls do to my sound so I haven't used it since.

LP141.jpg
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

BEACHBUM said:
I've got one on my ES 137. I messed with it for about 10 minutes and lost interest. Basically a switch driven tone knob that filters out different frequencies. I really hate what tone controls do to my sound so I haven't used it since.

LP141.jpg
Click to expand...

nice axe.
Whats that switch up the top for?
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

Great playing.

I really liked the clean tones you got with the inductor. A very laid back, exotic tone.
 
Re: That Mysterious Vari-Tone Circuit . . .

A lot of that 60's Freddie and BB stuff that people try to cop is Varitone...
 
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