what exactly does the varitone switch do?
- Thread starter fusion101
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Nite_Maresz_25
on Elm Streetologist
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
Mostly likely its VARrIes the TONE.
but besides thats, I have no idea.
Mostly likely its VARrIes the TONE.
but besides thats, I have no idea.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
Google found this
Funny how they mention BB King's envolvement but they fail to mention he rarely uses it (or so I've heard).
Google found this
Funny how they mention BB King's envolvement but they fail to mention he rarely uses it (or so I've heard).
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Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
I had a Lucille and ended up disconnecting the Varitone on it.
Position 1 was full-on, and ever from there up to 6 removed more and more low-end so that each position sounded more out-of-phase-ish than the last. The guitar overall was very cool (hope to get another one someday) but I had no use for the Varitone.
I had a Lucille and ended up disconnecting the Varitone on it.
Position 1 was full-on, and ever from there up to 6 removed more and more low-end so that each position sounded more out-of-phase-ish than the last. The guitar overall was very cool (hope to get another one someday) but I had no use for the Varitone.
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
Interesting concept...
Interesting concept...
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
I've never understood exactly what it does but I do know you need two out of phase humbuckers and that it plays those two off of each other for a progressively thinner and more nasal tone. I love BB King but that pinched out of phase tone is not the tone I want for my own playing. I removed the varitone from my own ES-355 and put the two humbuckers in phase so it sounded more like an ES-335.
I've never understood exactly what it does but I do know you need two out of phase humbuckers and that it plays those two off of each other for a progressively thinner and more nasal tone. I love BB King but that pinched out of phase tone is not the tone I want for my own playing. I removed the varitone from my own ES-355 and put the two humbuckers in phase so it sounded more like an ES-335.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
If my Lucille was any indication, you don't need out-of-phase pickups for it to work. I was able to switch a bunch of pickups in and out of there from both neck and bridge position without any phasing problems.
Lewguitar said:
If my Lucille was any indication, you don't need out-of-phase pickups for it to work. I was able to switch a bunch of pickups in and out of there from both neck and bridge position without any phasing problems.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
I don't think they are out of series as well. May be a sort of myth as some people believed (believe?) the 2 and 4 positions of a strat are out-of-phase.
I don't think they are out of series as well. May be a sort of myth as some people believed (believe?) the 2 and 4 positions of a strat are out-of-phase.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
Besides, does position #1 reverse the phase of the pickups to get the standard 2-pickup twang? And wouldn't that mean you'd get a lot of extra noise from the Varitone because it would reverse the phase of one of the pickups (which came 2-conductor in the Lucille) making the braided shield (and the base plate) the hot lead?
As I recall, the Varitone worked even with only one pickup running.
Besides, does position #1 reverse the phase of the pickups to get the standard 2-pickup twang? And wouldn't that mean you'd get a lot of extra noise from the Varitone because it would reverse the phase of one of the pickups (which came 2-conductor in the Lucille) making the braided shield (and the base plate) the hot lead?
As I recall, the Varitone worked even with only one pickup running.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
Hmmm....maybe. It's been 25 years since I had my '60 or '61 ES-355 stolen and I haven't owned one since. Sure did seem like the pickups were out of phase at the time...but maybe you're right. Lew
Zhangliqun said:
Hmmm....maybe. It's been 25 years since I had my '60 or '61 ES-355 stolen and I haven't owned one since. Sure did seem like the pickups were out of phase at the time...but maybe you're right. Lew
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
It's also possible they had a different wiring scheme then -- or that BB wanted his wired a different way.
It's also possible they had a different wiring scheme then -- or that BB wanted his wired a different way.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
It’s a passive notch filter using an inductor and caps. It cuts different midrange frequencies. I have one in my Parker P-38.
It’s a passive notch filter using an inductor and caps. It cuts different midrange frequencies. I have one in my Parker P-38.
freefrog
Well-known member
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
Woah, David, THAT'S a thread resurrection !
)
Varitones are interesting tools, that said. I like them in the original Gibson recipe, with a big beefy inductor: https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/...e-pots_1_b0272e60f4d0517636ed30fa8f9c053d.jpg
Woah, David, THAT'S a thread resurrection !
)Varitones are interesting tools, that said. I like them in the original Gibson recipe, with a big beefy inductor: https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/...e-pots_1_b0272e60f4d0517636ed30fa8f9c053d.jpg
freefrog
Well-known member
Re: what exactly does the varitone switch do?
The statements about OOP are most likely due to the location of the mid dip in some positions (those scooping the low mids): it makes some pickups sound as if they were out of phase even if actually, it's due to the LC filtering of the Varitone.
The statements about OOP are most likely due to the location of the mid dip in some positions (those scooping the low mids): it makes some pickups sound as if they were out of phase even if actually, it's due to the LC filtering of the Varitone.
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