Ceriatone Forum

Conclusive proof this evening that only a couple of volts drift affect the amp tone.

We started our rehearsal with 242.5 volts (UK) and it sounded great, then after a while between numbers I was just playing about, clean, and thought it had lost its edge checked my guitar to see if I had nudged the tone pot, but no, checked the plug in voltmeter and lo the voltage had dropped to 240.2

Then later it was down to 238.7, what a difference!!!  lifeless and dull. Now I need to see how the bias drifts over than range. So I will take my DMM with me as well next time. Or maybe theres more to it than that?

If you have access to variac,.... that's best way to check things and confirm your assumption.
 ;)

It definetly makes a difference. At peak consumption time around here, my incoming voltage drops to around 118-119 Amp sounds kinda dull. When it's back up to 120-121, the amp sounds much more lively.

I think is has more to do with the preamp than the output side. That's why I think if one wants to put VVR in of these, it should be output side only.

Gregg

That’s why all my amps have a 230v power transformers which gives me little bit more volts (in UK) and better tone. Believe me some extra volts won’t blow a trany,  especially when they are fan cooled.

Yes, it’s a good idea to get a power conditioner/regulator as well.

Cheers

Would this mean that using an OTS with a 240v PT in a 220v contry isn't ideal? As in it would have a tendency to sound dull or lifeless?

Nik once emailed me about this concern. He said it doesn't matter and my country also peaks at 240v+ anyway.

Thanks for these new findings, definitely worth investigating. I did notice some amp "moods"

Nick

My OTS has both 220 and 240v taps so you could swap. No 230v though.

Regulator is out for the reason of expense. I am considering building a Variac into a rack box with digital input and output voltage readouts. Does anyone know what sort of rating variac I would need? I reckon 3A should be enough surely?

more than enough