..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

[Del Rei]

Hey, guys.

Just recorded this video some days ago.
I heard a lot of things about VH's Brown Sound being achieved by lower voltage settings. So, I tried it and compared the 120 to 90 volts (using a Variac).

I noticed that the volume goes down in 90V, so I kept the original tracks to compare and then adjusted the 90V tracks to the same volume as 120V tracks (by Reaper) to get a fair comparison.

There must be a lot of others things to consider when talking about brown sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRYnwjzRUGM&t

 

[some_dude]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Were the clips recorded with the amp master volume running wide open?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

At work and cant access youtube, so if it shows on the video, please forgive me for asking.. What amp and what type of variac you using??

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

For the equalized volume, I can't say I noticed a significant difference, perhaps the loss of a(or some) higher frequency. But, it was so minimal as to may be imagined :dunno:.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Moral of the story. You may not cop EVH even if you buy a variac ...

 

[LLL]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

This thread gets 10 thumbs up.

 

[LLL]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Moral of the story. You may not cop EVH even if you buy a variac ...

That statement is incorrect; all done w/variac'd Marshall (90v):

 

[dave74]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Mesa amps can do it in their sleep,,,or awake, your choice lol,,,,,,,although it's not quite so low,,,, more like a mid-90s voltage. (like a 17-18% drop iirc)

 

[Darg1911]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

That statement is incorrect; all done w/variac'd Marshall (90v):

No, it's only "incorrect" when you miss the point.

I did not write that one can not cop his tone, I wrote that they may not cop his tone.
Can not meaning it cant be done.
May not meaning that one may not be able to do so.

Big difference.

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Another ingredient is the way they recorded the amp. It was cranked, with no pedals in the chain, and the effects added after the mic'd amp. On the songs with effects (like the Phase 90), this makes a difference.
Al

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Sounds good.
I like the weightier, bassier tone that you get with the lester too.

 

[Hurricane]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Slick man - - I had a variac and loved playing with low voltages
on my Marshall 60 watt tube ( circa mid 70's ) and my Carvin 60 tube ( same era )

EZ :

HR

 

[Demanic]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Remind me, lowering the voltage does what to the signal?
Anyone ever tried raising it a bit?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[dystrust]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Remind me, lowering the voltage does what to the signal?
Anyone ever tried raising it a bit?

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

Lowering the voltages causes the power tubes to brown out, hence the "brown sound". In terms of what it actually means; less headroom and volume, less brightness, less bass, and a spongier feel. Turning the voltage up will do close to the opposite. Probably more headroom, definitely more volume, brighter, tighter, and possibly a bit more bass. This is all pretty general, the effects can vary a bit from amp to amp.

 

[Demanic]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Ok, thanks.
I would probably prefer more voltage. Like European levels. That and a good top boost.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[dystrust]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Ok, thanks.
I would probably prefer more voltage. Like European levels. That and a good top boost.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

If your amp has a power transformer with a 220V tap, feel free to try it as it will sound slightly different. You probably won't be able to turn a variac up that high; I've heard that 140V is about as high as you can go without components starting to fail.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

Filaments

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

I think Eddie was just messing with our minds about the Variac.

:haha:

Bill

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

He was messing with the fact that he turned the voltage UP, which caused many people to start blowing their transformers.

Your video certainly doesn't show much of a difference but there are many others on YouTube that show quite the opposite.

 

[dystrust]

Re: ..::VIDEO::.. Brown Sound = Low Voltage? 120 vs 90 Volts!

He was messing with the fact that he turned the voltage UP, which caused many people to start blowing their transformers.

Your video certainly doesn't show much of a difference but there are many others on YouTube that show quite the opposite.

+1

Not to mention that if you've ever heard a NMV Marshall up-volted via variac, it sounds absolutely nothing like EVH. Honestly I thought it sounded pretty bad; even louder than usual in additional to being painfully bright and harsh.