Van Halen & Variac I had to share this .....The reali

[billyoung]

The piece offers a fascinating glimpse at life in the Van Halen camp these days, written by unapologetic fan David Curcurito, who — like countless other rock-and-roll-loving American kids — worshiped at the altar of Ed in the ’70s and ’80s, hoping to learn the secrets of how to make those sounds come out of guitar. And as Van Halen recalls at one point, it wasn’t just fans who wanted to learn — he remembers a meeting with Ted Nugent after sound check:

He’s going, “Let me play your guitar!” I go, “Okay, here you go.” He starts playing my guitar and it sounds like Ted. He yells,”You just removed your little black box, didn’t you? Where is it? What did you do?” I go, “I didn’t do anything!” … He says, “Here, play my guitar!” I play his big old guitar and it sounds just like me. He’s going, “You little s—!”

[beasleybodyshop]

As big a fan as I am of EVH and his tone, i take everything he says with a grain of salt....

Granted, what he said in that Esquire interview might be true, but he did a lot more than just tell people he cranked it up to 140V. If I recall, he said a lot of misinformation to drive business for a few of the California marshall guys, like Jose Arredondo and the like.

It doesn't help that he is constantly in and out of rehab, constantly strung out on drugs. If it's one thing ive learned, trusting a junkie was never a good idea.

Hate to sound so down on the guy, he is a big influence in my playing, but that's just the way I see it.

[billyoung]

I once put two 6v6's and two el 84s in a 100 to see how it would sound. I used alot of exteral stuff like bench supplies etc.
lowwered b+ rebiased each pair. I liked it alot too nice mix. Was my amp so
wasnt messing with someone elses property. Was Still dammmmm loud tho.
was a jcm 800 with large iron. I was going to sell it, 100s very loud, was too loud. even with the 6v6 el84 combo still loud

[beasleybodyshop]

Yes I've tried my plexi at around 90vAC and that does appear to be the sweet spot.

If I had a 4 tuber plexi amp I would give the AFD amp a go. That looks like an awesome circuit.