@staalhoofd bringing down the B+ with a variac will actually reduce volume and gain because it reduces the total voltage hitting your power supply's primary. it DOES increase the perceived gain (distortion) though, because it lowers the threshold that the tubes will begin clipping. i noticed this when using a variac on some of my tweed builds, really a cool effect. makes the tubes last longer too!
@six4cal Thanks for the info. When talking dB's, it does make sense. Usually when we talk gain, we really mean to say 'distorortion'. As far as dB's go, this amp is so extremely loud (rediculously loud) that I haven't even been able to dime it without an attenuator so I really didn't notice much of a difference.
@jelledegitaarman The variac has no effect on volume at all. It just brings down the B+ in the amp resulting in a looser feel and a little more gain. To bring down the volume I use a Marshall powerbrake. The amp is insanely loud without the powerbrake.
I would suggest to upgrade those chinese greenbacks. I've had some chinese ones (2006) in my cab, then I upgraded them to made in UK ones (2001). Still the standard greenback, no heritage series or anything like that (they are made in china since 2002, so the 2001 ones are UK-made)
Well, I have to tell you that there was a HUGE difference. The chinese ones were very very harsh and farting (in the bad way, not in the EVH way). The UK-ones are nice and smooth :)
Of course the pre-rola ones are the real deal here. But the pre-chinese era, but still realtively new ones (around 2000) are definately better than chinese ones. And they are about the same price used
@adam10603 Thanks man. You are correct. Many people have told me this. Still have to score some though. Although I did score a 4X12 with 1968 pre-rola G12H30's in mint condition. Got it for free when I bought a 1973 50W Marshall from a guy!! I might post a clip with those.
Hey there. I talked to you on this video just a little while back about how over driven you gotten your SL. You mentioned that its particularly unique to Marshalls from '74,
Im happy to announce I just purchased a marshall Super Lead with the JMP print on front, from '74! Now, What do I need to do from there to get THIS tone you have on here?
One odd thing about it- Someone modded the prescense knob as a master volume. Idk if thats a good or bad thing though. Still AWESOME tone though.
@azombiestool Cool that got a '74. From here you need to mod the amp slightly, or have it modded if you are not familiar with tube amps. Remember, tube amps can kill you! Mod it to the spec that can be found on the forum of Metroamp (Eddie Van Halen section). Search for Racksystems (Dave Friedman's nickname on the forum). The Dave Friedman spec is what I have in my amp. Then get a variac, set it to 90V (USA). Then rebias the amp. Use the right FX, low ouput pickup. That should be it.
@azombiestool Also, remove the master volume and get an attenutator. Put back the original presence. That will sound even better. These amps were not meant to be master volume amps. They should be dimed (everything on 10, except maybe the bass).
@staalhoofd Thanks for the info, just thought you equipped it with some kind of loop. Well, the amp is not so noisy with the effects as it's supposed to.
@ni77y This is what I answered below already: "Thanks man. The pickup is an Eric Johnson signature Dimarzio (EJ Custom/ DP212). It's an extremely low output hubucker (lower than a PAF and even lower than most single coils). But, that adds to the tone."
@staalhoofd Thanks! Good news for me as I have been seeking out the lowest wind humbuckers and I also love VH's earlier sounds. I was pretty much set on the Fralin Unbuckers but now you have me thinking differently. Have you had any experience with the Unbuckers, if you have the time I would love to read your thoughts.
@ni77y No, sorry, no experience with the Unbucker. However, IMHO, low output pickups are the way to go. Much more tone, dynamics and feel. When I popped in the EJ I instantly felt I was closer to the VH tone. It's a keeper.
@AGK972 99% stock means I changed a few caps and resistors out to match the layout of EVH's number 1 amp, the one he used to record VH1. The spec can be found on the forum of Metroamp (Eddie Van Halen section). Just search for Racksystems (Dave Friedman's nickname on the forum). He serviced Eddie's amp last year and shared the spec with us.
Anyone looking to get this tone should by a rocktron Pirahna Preamp.Its tone character Is designed after these early Marshalls.I know" cuz I own one.Its the best Marshall I"ve ever owned! Alot less expensive too"...lol....
I have a '74 1987 marshall. When I crank it up, it doesn't sound like VH, It sounds like shit! (as is with every other non-MV marshall I've tried) What effect does the variac have? Is that the kicker to get a cranked Marshall from sounding quite unimpressive to that luscious VH tone?
@Saventry You will definitely notice it. More gain and spongier. It's hard to explain, but yes, it is a crucial part of the Van Halen tone. However, it did not make the amp sound much better. Even without the Variac the amp sounds pretty good. Maybe there's something wrong with your amp?
@JohanBakker1995 Hallo Johan, ben idd een nederlander ;-) . Het reverb komt deels uit het mengpaneel (gitaar - effecten - amp - mengpaneel - computer) deels uit de reel echo. De reel echo klinkt overigens geweldig. Het is, zoals de naam al zegt, meer een echo dan een reverb, maar desalniettemin een geweldig pedaal, en niet duur. Heel goed voor VH geluid.
@JohanBakker1995 De ep-pre is (min of meer) een replica van het voorversterker gedeelte van een echoplex. De Xotic EP Booster schijnt niet geheel overeen te komen. Ikzelf heb de Xotic nooit getest, maar op het Metroamp forum zijn er jongen die beiden hebben getest en zeggen dat de EP-pre meer in de buurt komt. De combinatie van de EP-pre en de Reel echo is zo dicht in de buurt bij een echoplex als ik kan komen. De ep-pre geeft een lichte boost maar geeft vooral een extra dimensie aan het geluid.
@staalhoofd Die Reel echo is inderdaad niet duur! merk je veel verschil als met die ep-pre? Is die ep-pre te vergelijken met de xotic ep booster denk je? Je hebt trouwens een geweldige sound
@MrSandydillon Eddie used to set his variac at 90V. 90V from 110V is almost 82%. So I took 82% from 220V. That gave me about 180V. But, I also checked the B+. Around 180V the B+ was perfect. Sound and feel were best too at 180V.
@BenEllerGuitars Thanks man. The pickup is an Eric Johnson signature Dimarzio (EJ Custom/ DP212). It's an extremely low output hubucker (lower than a PAF and even lower than most single coils). But, that ads to the tone.
I think when you talk gain, you are referring to clipping and distortion, not overall signal gain from input to output.. Well that is a gain stage thing, and it is very possible that the 50 watt marshall is "designed" to have a particular gain stage with more gain (clipping) than the 100 watt flavor
Look at it this way. The signal from your pickup is a fixed, small signal and it is the SAME regardless of which amp you plug it into..50 or 100 watts. A 100 watt amp produces MORE gain because it has MORE power..pretty simple. I am talking about TOTAL gain factor from signal in to signal out. Not what individual pramp channels of different models are. Of course, the individual gain stages me be more or less, but has nothing to do with the rail voltage....to a point
@azombiestool The amp is completely dimed (everything on 10 except the bass). However I am using a powerbreak to manage the volume. The huge amount of gain seems to be unique with Marshalls from 74. It has a different output and power transformer than the earlier plexi's. I have a '73 50W Marshall which has the same transformers as a plexi. Theoretically a 50W should have more gain than a 100W but it's not even close.
@staalhoofd Sweet man, thats sick. I saw a diagram where Eddie put his effects in between his head and cab, and used a dummie load before the output went into the pedals, then use a power amp before it went into the cabs. Im almost sure thats how he got that crazy loudness out of the Phase 90, cause it gets thrown into the output of the amp instead of having to go through the preamp and eq, so its louder and much more pure.
@markd514 .....obviously you don't know much about tube amps. A 50W Marshall non master volume has a lower B+(appr. 350V - 400V) than a 100W (appr. 450V-550V). A lower B+ (voltage) results in less voltage in the preamp thus more gain. Ask anybody, a 50W has more gain and sounds looser, a 100W is stiffer and has more balls.
Wow, obviously, you must be a genius to know that. I just love these youtube comments-shows you how angry people are. BTW, I have built many tube amps and solid state amplifiers from scratch and my own design. I do not build guitar amps. The high voltage rail really has nothing to do with the gain factor. You can bias an amp stage wherever you want it. I was not born to argue.
@Rhythmicsolo Hi, yes, there will be a fairly big difference if the output transformer is not the same. If I recall correctly, the OT from a '74 model is a relatively rare model (Dagnall C2373). A 76 model could have a C2373, but could also have a C2668. If it has the C2373, then it sould sound more or less the same and have the same amount of gain.
pretty damn close man. I wish i was there and could here it cranked.
jktarheel 12 hours ago
Really nice job. You've got a nice touch.
tatsandteles 5 days ago
Close. I like it.
jhs5150 1 week ago
@staalhoofd bringing down the B+ with a variac will actually reduce volume and gain because it reduces the total voltage hitting your power supply's primary. it DOES increase the perceived gain (distortion) though, because it lowers the threshold that the tubes will begin clipping. i noticed this when using a variac on some of my tweed builds, really a cool effect. makes the tubes last longer too!
great tone!
six4cal 1 week ago
@six4cal Thanks for the info. When talking dB's, it does make sense. Usually when we talk gain, we really mean to say 'distorortion'. As far as dB's go, this amp is so extremely loud (rediculously loud) that I haven't even been able to dime it without an attenuator so I really didn't notice much of a difference.
staalhoofd 1 week ago
how loud is it when using the variac?
jelledegitaarman 3 weeks ago
@jelledegitaarman The variac has no effect on volume at all. It just brings down the B+ in the amp resulting in a looser feel and a little more gain. To bring down the volume I use a Marshall powerbrake. The amp is insanely loud without the powerbrake.
staalhoofd 3 weeks ago
I would suggest to upgrade those chinese greenbacks. I've had some chinese ones (2006) in my cab, then I upgraded them to made in UK ones (2001). Still the standard greenback, no heritage series or anything like that (they are made in china since 2002, so the 2001 ones are UK-made)
Well, I have to tell you that there was a HUGE difference. The chinese ones were very very harsh and farting (in the bad way, not in the EVH way). The UK-ones are nice and smooth :)
adam10603 1 month ago
@adam10603
Of course the pre-rola ones are the real deal here. But the pre-chinese era, but still realtively new ones (around 2000) are definately better than chinese ones. And they are about the same price used
adam10603 1 month ago
@adam10603 Thanks man. You are correct. Many people have told me this. Still have to score some though. Although I did score a 4X12 with 1968 pre-rola G12H30's in mint condition. Got it for free when I bought a 1973 50W Marshall from a guy!! I might post a clip with those.
staalhoofd 1 month ago
is your head sitting slightly off the side of the cab?, that would worry the shit out of me
mynamesnotwill 1 month ago
@mynamesnotwill The weight is mostly on the other side of the head. No way it would ever fall off the cabinet.
staalhoofd 1 month ago
killer
adamp2 1 month ago
Did you have your amp modded by anyone? Your tone is very nice.
flashy5150 1 month ago
@flashy5150 Hi thanks. No, I modded the amp myself. Check the remarks below. It tells how to get to this mod.
staalhoofd 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
Really cool man. Did you jump the channels? I can't tell from the video. Good tone.
UncleTito72 2 months ago
@UncleTito72 No, the channels are not jumped. It's just the lead channel. I have tried jumping them. It sounds very good, just less VH.
staalhoofd 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
This has been flagged as spam show
Hey there. I talked to you on this video just a little while back about how over driven you gotten your SL. You mentioned that its particularly unique to Marshalls from '74,
Im happy to announce I just purchased a marshall Super Lead with the JMP print on front, from '74! Now, What do I need to do from there to get THIS tone you have on here?
One odd thing about it- Someone modded the prescense knob as a master volume. Idk if thats a good or bad thing though. Still AWESOME tone though.
azombiestool 2 months ago
@azombiestool Cool that got a '74. From here you need to mod the amp slightly, or have it modded if you are not familiar with tube amps. Remember, tube amps can kill you! Mod it to the spec that can be found on the forum of Metroamp (Eddie Van Halen section). Search for Racksystems (Dave Friedman's nickname on the forum). The Dave Friedman spec is what I have in my amp. Then get a variac, set it to 90V (USA). Then rebias the amp. Use the right FX, low ouput pickup. That should be it.
staalhoofd 2 months ago
@azombiestool Also, remove the master volume and get an attenutator. Put back the original presence. That will sound even better. These amps were not meant to be master volume amps. They should be dimed (everything on 10, except maybe the bass).
staalhoofd 2 months ago
Comment removed
azombiestool 2 months ago
is the flanger in front of the amp or in fx loop?
matig304 2 months ago
@matig304 Flanger is in front of the amp, as are all of the effects. A '74 Marshall SL doesn't have an FX loop.
staalhoofd 2 months ago
@staalhoofd Thanks for the info, just thought you equipped it with some kind of loop. Well, the amp is not so noisy with the effects as it's supposed to.
matig304 2 months ago
Hi, Great sound! Please tell me what pickup are you using here?
ni77y 4 months ago
@ni77y This is what I answered below already: "Thanks man. The pickup is an Eric Johnson signature Dimarzio (EJ Custom/ DP212). It's an extremely low output hubucker (lower than a PAF and even lower than most single coils). But, that adds to the tone."
staalhoofd 4 months ago
@staalhoofd Thanks! Good news for me as I have been seeking out the lowest wind humbuckers and I also love VH's earlier sounds. I was pretty much set on the Fralin Unbuckers but now you have me thinking differently. Have you had any experience with the Unbuckers, if you have the time I would love to read your thoughts.
ni77y 4 months ago
@ni77y No, sorry, no experience with the Unbucker. However, IMHO, low output pickups are the way to go. Much more tone, dynamics and feel. When I popped in the EJ I instantly felt I was closer to the VH tone. It's a keeper.
staalhoofd 4 months ago
Ah, so you just made the amp closer to a '68 Plexi with the Friedman specs? Cool!
AGK972 4 months ago
nice
byronh77 4 months ago
The G chord for aint talkin 'bout love is OPEN STRING you hippie chord mofo!
I just wanna cut your fuckling fingers off right now!!
bornburied 4 months ago
Killer tone! Would make Pete Thorn proud!
When you say 99% stock, what isn't stock about it??
AGK972 4 months ago
@AGK972 99% stock means I changed a few caps and resistors out to match the layout of EVH's number 1 amp, the one he used to record VH1. The spec can be found on the forum of Metroamp (Eddie Van Halen section). Just search for Racksystems (Dave Friedman's nickname on the forum). He serviced Eddie's amp last year and shared the spec with us.
staalhoofd 4 months ago
NIce tone. Sounds good.
2cool4u24 4 months ago
damn good tone
akaboo69 4 months ago
Anyone looking to get this tone should by a rocktron Pirahna Preamp.Its tone character Is designed after these early Marshalls.I know" cuz I own one.Its the best Marshall I"ve ever owned! Alot less expensive too"...lol....
dewycatt2112 4 months ago
I have a '74 1987 marshall. When I crank it up, it doesn't sound like VH, It sounds like shit! (as is with every other non-MV marshall I've tried) What effect does the variac have? Is that the kicker to get a cranked Marshall from sounding quite unimpressive to that luscious VH tone?
Saventry 4 months ago
@Saventry You will definitely notice it. More gain and spongier. It's hard to explain, but yes, it is a crucial part of the Van Halen tone. However, it did not make the amp sound much better. Even without the Variac the amp sounds pretty good. Maybe there's something wrong with your amp?
staalhoofd 4 months ago
how do you record the guitar?
JohanBakker1995 4 months ago
@JohanBakker1995 I ran the microphone into a mixer, then into the pc and recorded with the Webcam software.
staalhoofd 4 months ago
@staalhoofd ik neem trouwens aan dat je nederlands bent haha, maar komt het reverb effect uit de danelectro reel echo?
JohanBakker1995 4 months ago
@JohanBakker1995 Hallo Johan, ben idd een nederlander ;-) . Het reverb komt deels uit het mengpaneel (gitaar - effecten - amp - mengpaneel - computer) deels uit de reel echo. De reel echo klinkt overigens geweldig. Het is, zoals de naam al zegt, meer een echo dan een reverb, maar desalniettemin een geweldig pedaal, en niet duur. Heel goed voor VH geluid.
staalhoofd 4 months ago
@staalhoofd okee ja hij is inderdaad best goedkoop! merk je veel verschil met die ep-pre? Is die te vergelijken met een xotic ep booster?
JohanBakker1995 4 months ago
@JohanBakker1995 De ep-pre is (min of meer) een replica van het voorversterker gedeelte van een echoplex. De Xotic EP Booster schijnt niet geheel overeen te komen. Ikzelf heb de Xotic nooit getest, maar op het Metroamp forum zijn er jongen die beiden hebben getest en zeggen dat de EP-pre meer in de buurt komt. De combinatie van de EP-pre en de Reel echo is zo dicht in de buurt bij een echoplex als ik kan komen. De ep-pre geeft een lichte boost maar geeft vooral een extra dimensie aan het geluid.
staalhoofd 4 months ago
@staalhoofd Die Reel echo is inderdaad niet duur! merk je veel verschil als met die ep-pre? Is die ep-pre te vergelijken met de xotic ep booster denk je? Je hebt trouwens een geweldige sound
JohanBakker1995 4 months ago
sounds great! what brand are the transformers?
jhinson411 5 months ago
@jhinson411 Hi, they are the original Dagnall transformers.
staalhoofd 4 months ago
what do you have the variac at?
MrSandydillon 5 months ago
@MrSandydillon Eddie used to set his variac at 90V. 90V from 110V is almost 82%. So I took 82% from 220V. That gave me about 180V. But, I also checked the B+. Around 180V the B+ was perfect. Sound and feel were best too at 180V.
staalhoofd 5 months ago
Oh man, EPIC tone! What pickup are you using in the guitar?
BenEllerGuitars 5 months ago
@BenEllerGuitars Thanks man. The pickup is an Eric Johnson signature Dimarzio (EJ Custom/ DP212). It's an extremely low output hubucker (lower than a PAF and even lower than most single coils). But, that ads to the tone.
staalhoofd 5 months ago
@staalhoofd awesome, i always wondered how those pickups sound. thanks!
BenEllerGuitars 5 months ago
I think when you talk gain, you are referring to clipping and distortion, not overall signal gain from input to output.. Well that is a gain stage thing, and it is very possible that the 50 watt marshall is "designed" to have a particular gain stage with more gain (clipping) than the 100 watt flavor
markd514 5 months ago
Look at it this way. The signal from your pickup is a fixed, small signal and it is the SAME regardless of which amp you plug it into..50 or 100 watts. A 100 watt amp produces MORE gain because it has MORE power..pretty simple. I am talking about TOTAL gain factor from signal in to signal out. Not what individual pramp channels of different models are. Of course, the individual gain stages me be more or less, but has nothing to do with the rail voltage....to a point
markd514 5 months ago
peel your cabinet?
dmohr7 6 months ago
GREAT !
VERY GOOD !
5 STARS
Stratocaster145 6 months ago
Wow, that's a LOT of gain from a stock Superlead! Awesome.
odgeUK 8 months ago
\m/ Fuck yeahh! sick tone. Hpw exactly do you get it so overdriven? Up the volume, link channels 1 and 2?
azombiestool 9 months ago
@azombiestool NVM. Variac. Sweetness. Just like eddie did.
azombiestool 9 months ago
@azombiestool The amp is completely dimed (everything on 10 except the bass). However I am using a powerbreak to manage the volume. The huge amount of gain seems to be unique with Marshalls from 74. It has a different output and power transformer than the earlier plexi's. I have a '73 50W Marshall which has the same transformers as a plexi. Theoretically a 50W should have more gain than a 100W but it's not even close.
staalhoofd 9 months ago
@staalhoofd Sweet man, thats sick. I saw a diagram where Eddie put his effects in between his head and cab, and used a dummie load before the output went into the pedals, then use a power amp before it went into the cabs. Im almost sure thats how he got that crazy loudness out of the Phase 90, cause it gets thrown into the output of the amp instead of having to go through the preamp and eq, so its louder and much more pure.
azombiestool 9 months ago
@staalhoofd I need to get me a '74 then!! My '73 doesn't have this much gain!
odgeUK 6 months ago
@staalhoofd
A 100 watt amp has more gain than a 50 watt amp
markd514 6 months ago
@markd514 .....obviously you don't know much about tube amps. A 50W Marshall non master volume has a lower B+(appr. 350V - 400V) than a 100W (appr. 450V-550V). A lower B+ (voltage) results in less voltage in the preamp thus more gain. Ask anybody, a 50W has more gain and sounds looser, a 100W is stiffer and has more balls.
staalhoofd 5 months ago
@staalhoofd
Wow, obviously, you must be a genius to know that. I just love these youtube comments-shows you how angry people are. BTW, I have built many tube amps and solid state amplifiers from scratch and my own design. I do not build guitar amps. The high voltage rail really has nothing to do with the gain factor. You can bias an amp stage wherever you want it. I was not born to argue.
markd514 5 months ago
Is there much difference between the 76 and the 74 models? I'm looking at buying one very soon and having it moded. cheers
Rhythmicsolo 5 months ago
@Rhythmicsolo Hi, yes, there will be a fairly big difference if the output transformer is not the same. If I recall correctly, the OT from a '74 model is a relatively rare model (Dagnall C2373). A 76 model could have a C2373, but could also have a C2668. If it has the C2373, then it sould sound more or less the same and have the same amount of gain.
staalhoofd 5 months ago
what are your settings on that flanger? it sounds insane!
xspidermanplayax 9 months ago
@xspidermanplayax
Thanks man. It's actually just the EVH preferred preset you can choose on the EVH flanger. You just hit the button and the tone is there.
staalhoofd 9 months ago
Everything in front of the amp. The amp doesn't have a loop.
staalhoofd 9 months ago
Are your effects in the loop or in front of the amp?
indeedido 9 months ago
this sounds amazing... as do all of ur videos. wish I had a #34 modded plexi... :(
Acidrain1993 10 months ago
badass !
jerrydyer 10 months ago