How to get better tone from your vintage amp 

Just got my Brown Box based on this video, and I am very happy with it. It makes more difference than I was expecting

Cannot stress enough how good the Brown Box is. I live down the street from the guy who designed them, in Nashville they are a MUST HAVE because in the winter NEW surges power up to 127V - my outlets read 128V right now. As soon as I plugged into one, my amps have never gone anywhere without one.

This is a great product for vintage amps. Those old amps were designed to work to perform w/the voltages available when they were made. typically 110-120v AC. Todays grids provide voltages much higher & w/fluctuations. I understand it's fairly pricey & unlike a pedal, it has a subtle effect. Protection against voltage spikes or brown outs is critical to tube amp longevity. Also, likely good to use w/newer amps too, if for nothing else, consistency. Good video!

I love it when Baxter’s sons carry the show by themselves ❤

The "normal" wall voltage in the US has changed over the years. It was 110V, then 115V, then 120 volts. Of course, that will vary with the weather. Leo Fender designed amps when the wall plug delivered a different voltage than we have today. I've also heard stories that the voltage in a club can change from the time of rehearsal or sound check, to the time of a full house.

These have been on my radar for years, glad the new owners have taken over. I am looking to get one soon to use with my 1963 Fender Bassman head.

I agree, it’s very hard to overcome the distraction of sounding bad while performing. One thing that helps me is knowing that it usually sounds better in the audience than on the stage. When I’m not as prepared as I like to be I tend to fall hard on listening, rather than just playing my part, so if something sounds bad I tend to focus on it too much. A band that has bad sound that is killing it otherwise will usually sound better than a band with a killer sound that can’t get through the song without falling apart

There are a couple options but I use them for all my vintage amps. Older amps weren’t designed to run on the modern 120-125v grids in modern homes. It protects those older transformers that are worth their weight in gold. The consistent tone is the other major benefit. For those that hate hate the prices of them, think of them as insurance that your old amps are being protected.

It's great for saving the wear and tear alone on my vintage amps

Two things: 1) this is just a fancy Variac, admittedly in a convenient package. 2) US wall voltage during the "golden age" was 110. That would be a good starting point for vintage amps.

At least your guest is working on his Baxteresque hairdo. 😂😂

Heck yes, great product, I need this for the Z! I gotta save up!

Got one too! It does soften the feel especially if you have a load box and in-ears. The boldness of 123 volts coming from the wall on an already "bold" amp (JP2c) can get very stiff feeling. Dial back the volts and it's a nice feel. Probably could hear a very small difference, maybe some sluggishness if that's a tone word, with back to back comparisons between the highest and lowest voltage, but not something you would notice as much as you notice the feel.

Have one, love it...

I discovered these at Sonic Circus a few years ago. Works very well. Oh yeah, there is a European version called EuroVolt as well (it's blue... so you can only play blues with it).

It's a floor wax and a dessert topping! Ok, so it's a line conditioner and a Variax in a plain brown wrapper. The Variax is what, according to legend and Mike Soldano, let Eddie VH get his "brown sound" around 80-ish volts. Just the line conditioner alone would help kill the mystery hum single coils are making lately. Saving tubes is awesome since tubes are getting more scarce and more expensive. Very VERY cool indeed!

I have the original one with the percentages and I never had any issues with it. I think the new one is less confusing to folks but even if you have the older one its not difficult to get it set where you like it. My Tone King Imperial sounds best if I have it set at 117. It does change how the amp compresses your guitar signal some and helps excess noise with single coil pickups in my opinion. I run my pedal board through it as well everything is super quiet.

What I love about the brown box is it’s size.

I wanted to add, as I can't say I've ever seen it mentioned before... I run my pedal board's power thru my brownbox as well as my amp - it has two plugs on the back. This keeps the voltage to the board consistent also, so I'm not feeling compelled to tweak on my pedal knobs from day to day. I've had my BB for atleast five years. While yes, it does change the feel (in a good way), I find the other subtle thing it does as you near your amp's sweet spot is it makes the notes more musical, less strident or even harsh. Chords gel more musically I find. I've also had the experience that the farther away your amp's design voltage is (110? 112? 115? 117vac?) from your wall voltage (120vac? 122? 125? 128? 130?!) that getting the amp throttled down to it's design voltage makes it easier to hear changes in your amp's tone stack controls when dialing in the amp. Lastly, I've found even modern versions of old amp circuits can benefit from some voltage management. I bought a new Vox AC15 a couple years ago. Amp is marked 120vac, but since it's based on an older circuit, I found the amp likes 114-116vac. Sidenote: My house is generally 122-124vac.

Thanks Jonathan and Sean. That is a genuine "safety first" piece of gear. Thanks for this episode. I gotta tell you though, with that hair, my head keeps repeating; "Look, its Baxter Fanboy Sean!!"

I'm old enough to remember when old TV sets used tubes and every one needed current stabilizer to enable tube TV to work properly

My Masa Lone Star Amp has a voltage setting for "Brown". It is a "voltage reducer" to be more like older power/voltage supply systems where power voltage at the wall outlet was less then 120, or 110, or even less. as low as in the 90 volts range. It does make a deference in the "TUBE" amp sound, to me. In short is simulates the "old days" power supply drop. you know, like when the lights fade out to a "Brown" low light. The term "Brown Out" is still very mush in use to day in areas have a low voltage due to heavy power demand.

I fried my 68 Twin, at a gig, when there was a brown out followed by a big surge! The power strip didn't stop it, it just smoked. After that I bought the most expensive Furman power conditioner I could find, put it in a rack w/a patch bay. Everything, including the PA went through that!! My Deluxe likes 115. 8) --gary

My wall voltage is 126. I use one on my vintage amps from the 50s and 60s to knock it down to around 114 to 117. From my understanding it’s most important on amps from the 50s when the wall voltage was the lowest at protecting the components that were designed around that voltage

Evh used to get VHI sound at 89-90 V - makes the feel gooey

Nice!

I wonder if you’d get a similar effect using one of those battery powered computer backup units - pretty sure they provide consistent power on their output, although not with changeable voltage

The better tone comes from running your amp at the voltages that it was "designed" for. The schematics show that amps from the 50s and 60s were designed for 110-117 volts, not 120-125. I have a Brown Box and my '66 Super Reverb sounds the best at 115 volts, and it's loud.... Oh lawdy it's loud!

Many had no reverb, some have damaged or beat Speaker/speakers, and the changing 2 prong Electric plus for a 3 prong with ground, otherwise if a Tube amp replacing dead or under performing tubes and Recapping amp are all things to Consider when Choosing Vintage Over New. There are usually some limitations and maintenance . Including Care & Storage

Large venue bands use power conditioning rack mounted that cost way more than most of us can afford. If I remember correctly The Rolling Stones amps are 220 so their tech has large units to bring the voltage up from whatever the venue. Thanks for the review.

EVH used something similar to get his "brown sound". I think Rick Biato did a video to get "the" EVH sound. My memory is foggy on the details, but I think the had it set at like 108v or something. They definitely work.

I have one also. Kept blowing fuses and discovered my wall voltage can go up to 128 volts. Need to protect my 61 Bassman, 71 Bandmaster and 81 Marshall. I no longer blow fuses.

It’s a good safeguard for your tube amp, I played a show once and blew a fuse in my amp, I’m assuming the power there was very hot

This is designed for tube amps but you can use it on anything that needs more control over the power input. I use the old version on my vintage tube amp but also on some of my vintage solid state electronics. Voltages in the U.S. have been steadily increasing and some of the vintage gear just isn't meant for 120+ volts.

Will this help for multiple tube amps in one room? Such as plug it into my Marshall and would I get better noise reduction out of my Bugera? Would it have a chain reaction effect? Thanks guys for an informative video! 😊

That's genius!

My two favorite guys!!! The good looks and the heart of Casino Guitars! It’s way better without Baxster!

I'm running a 67 Twin Reverb at low volume. Would volume make a difference on where to set the brown box? Like lower voltage for lower volume or nah.....

I use them through out my studio. Years ago had a 1950's amp fry and saw 130vac on the meter. found the brownie and brown box. it also helps isolates from the wall power noise. consistency is the biggest thing, using same voltage helps a great deal.

I bet it would help me dial in a perfect slice of toast!

I’m very disappointed. Not nearly as much “wandering” in this edition of CTV. Too much straight ahead, useful information. I feel like I actually learned something. I have a headache now. 😉😁👍🏽

Cool..yes different power feed is a thing..interesting for sure..thanks eh!

⚓️ Thanks Sean Jon 😎 !!! Owners of vintage tube amps should have knowledge that power requirements are a thing 🤯 a significant thing. Such that a V/Ohm meter should be part of the gear…

As a last resort effort with on-going amp issues I picked one up last year, and surprised to say no amp issues since then. I'll agree 100% that it changes the feel, and it can be very noticeable. The downside is when you have large fluctuations in wall voltages, the Brown Box rises and falls with the current. So if you start out a session at 115 volts you could be at 119 before you're done tracking. So the "feel" changes. That's less of a selling point to me, the reliability of my amps is what makes it worth the price. I guess if I wanted stable voltage only I'd run a variac......

So I'm guessing there is a difference, obviously these look really cool, but inside is it just a regular 20amp variac transformer? I know Robben Ford uses one for his Dumble, I think you can buy the exact same one he uses for like $50 and the new versions have a digital read out.

you should try a psu for your playing in the house they are like a power protection battery that lives in-between the wall power and whatever you want to plug into it fixes bad or inconsistent power

You do have a twin, who also plays guitar. He plays for Normans Rare Guitar in Los Angeles.

Sounds like a line conditioner with a adjustment for max volts. Sorta like Furman I’d say. It has a place imho.

Can it run under voltage like 100 Ala early EVH?

Do you need a Brownbox for each amp, if you are doint wet dry or stereo setup?

0:33this explains SOOOOO much lol!!!

So is this basically a variac?

A brown bear 🐻 🥰

When you absorb your twin it’s called Chimera.

I'm not sure this can be called a 'Variac'. I have the same one used by EVH. It is a real adjustable transformer. Because of the much smaller size, I wonder if the output AC sine wave on this unit is still accurate.

It's a Variac with a screen...Variacs have been made since AC power was conceived. Eddie VanHalen supposedly used a Variac to get that Brown Sound by running very low voltage to the amp.

Best investment for anyone with vintage amps that run at 117 volts.

I think it is the hair on junior Baxter.

Sounds like the Variac, the Van Halen "secret sauce".

So it's a line conditioner?

the voltage affects the tube bias. it feels different.

Wait is short sleeve over long sleeve TShirt back?!

It's the remote control for Your Wife's Side of the Craftmatic Bed you Share. Things just work better when Your Wife is Comfy too.

Sooooooooo......Heaters in tubes are 6.3V or 5V. They DO NOT like to vary far from that. How does this device take that into account?

Johnny you forgot WHY ITS CALLED THE BROWNBOX! Legitimately, the "Brown Sound" came from EVH running his Marshalls around 112V, because it doesn't compress nearly as much as the "proper" voltage. Then you gain the amps up, they compress naturally but it's not overcompressed at all because of the voltage stepdown. Try it out, I didn't believe it until I ran my Bogner Shiva at 113, VERY noticable. Also it's not dangerous to your amp at all to flip through settings as you play. Go from 120 down to something extreme like 110 and you will hear a difference.

its a nice tool. its pricey, BUT your power tubes will last longer, and you wont knock the crap out of your vintage or new amps power supply...if you play in bars, you can get a more consistent sound and feel from gig to gig....Worth it, especially for working musicians...

It’s a rheostat, EVH used them to lower voltage so he could run his amp settings wide open. The only way to improve amp tone is changing the speakers.

For all the world, this sounds like a Variac with a limited range based around 120 volts. Am I corn-fused?

What is this rare beauty

Didn’t Eddie Van Halen do this in the early days with a home brew contraption?

Why buy this for $300 more than a Variac? Is there a difference?

If you love your vintage transformer… Buy this gizmo!!! You’ll both be happy.

Atenuator? I think EVH discovered the theory with a 240v amp plugged into 110v.

A lot of the older houses and venues fuse/ breaker boxes are running at 110 VAC. More modern panels are rated at 120 VAC. An additional feature seems to be the power conditioning of a 1:1 transformer that helps reduce noise and voltage spikes. Good stuff, y'all!

Can it make your electricty into vintage 1950's electricity?

Best tone out of my amp came when a pro played it

Now talk about proper cleaning and maintenance products for gear please (body, Fret). And for which type of guitar and which products to avoid like petroleum based etc and what they are (brands). Just tell me which one to get for electric gloss, electric satin. Then put them up on your website.

Practice Practice Practice

Ask Zak did an episode on the Brown Box - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-36FyHfQNzUg.html

just get a Black Box (M-Audio product) and use your Tube Amp as clean as possible - or slave a modeling Amp ahead of your Tube amp...... It's really that simple

Variac

It’s like a Sleep Number for your amp…..

My amp sounds best when the refrigerator is running. When the a/c comes on I sound like Jack White.

So it’s a voltage regulator.

Jonathon - stop using ungrounded power!!! At a minimum put some surge protection inline Ftlog! Furman smoothers/conditioners can accomplish similar things.

Baxter isn't there, but his hair is.

220, 221 whatever it takes....

I'd be reluctant to plug anything into a two-pin power socket -- and certainly not a guitar amplifier.

Johnathan has his own channel where he cheats on you

Hmm- why wouldn't you just buy a Variac for about 50-100 bucks? I guess this is more convenient, more stylish, but it does the same thing. A Variac ranges from 0V to usually around 140V- you just set it where you want it, and there you go. In fact, if you read the print on the Variac one of the intended uses is protecting vintage radios or amps. They can be a bit chunky but- if this thing is as expensive as everyone is making out it is- I think I could put up with less convenience to save some money. Most players rarely move their amp anyway. I hear guys all the time complaining about weight and so forth and then you find out they play in the bedroom and never move their stuff- it may as well weigh a ton. In fact, I think EVH used a Variac to get his tone- the brown sound. That's why it's called "the brown sound" because it's achieved by running at brown-out power levels. I guess that would be another bonus of having one- you get different tones at different power levels. Once you found out the lowest and highest levels you could operate at safely, without damaging the amp- you could experiment. You talked me into it- I'm buying a Variac.

It's a voltage regulator. Since input voltage affects the bias of the tubes too, after you set the voltage to your amp specs you'll have to check the tube bias, or the whole thing is pointless.

Off Topic. What are you talking about?

No Baxter ... but the hairstyle is still around

Better without Baxter ? That's ridiculous

Soon as you started talking, I was going to reply SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!! That said, you should look into carrying this product. You might not carry a million of them, but you will sell them.

So. Pines Banjo boys looking to get their brown boxs packed, squeal like a pig