Varitone? Even worthwhile in a tele?

nasonm · June 9th, 2003, 03:12 PM

I've always been interested in the Varitone style switches in Gibsons.

Would a vari-tone in a tele make any sense? I only ask because in gibsons, the switch is used with humbuckers (more output that a SC pup). would a regular, stock MIM STD tele sound differently with a varitone?

Torres engineering has a Vari-tone kit for $15 that I've often thought about trying out.

Now that I think about it, would a varitone fit in a control cavity of a tele?

huh, what do you think?

Geo · June 9th, 2003, 03:38 PM

You may do better with the 4 way switch with the extra position
for both pickups in series/in phase. Otherwise a 5 way switch could
allow maybe both in series/out of phase in addition.
Would the Torres one replace your tone knob?

nasonm · June 9th, 2003, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geo

Would the Torres one replace your tone knob?

Yeah it would.

Deaf Eddie · June 9th, 2003, 04:08 PM

... yes, do NOT get the Torres kit.

I got one three or four years ago, it was very cheezy, the parts numbers on the caps did NOT match those on the slim instructions. I put it all together in an old stomp-box, so I could try it on different guitars... I found it too subtle to be usable.

Today, I AM the proud owner of a Gibson BB King Signature Model Lucille with a Varitone in it. Guess what? The authentic Gibson Varitone is NOT too subtle in that axe - in fact, I even modified it make it a little less effective! Made them hummers TOOOO thin...

So, basically the Varitone (proper) cuts low-end and midrange - tell me, do you REALLY want to cut some of the bottom out of a Tele?

IMHO, you would get MUCH more tonal benefit from a 5-way SuperSwitch, wired like this:

http://deaf-eddie.net/guitars/5-tone.jpg

My three cents..

Rob DiStefano · June 9th, 2003, 04:11 PM

A passive tone-monger, all this gizmo does is afford a selection of varying tone cap values. IMO, passive non-active EQ/tone does nothing more than shunt off treble and really can change the overall pickup(s) tone by varying degrees of mud. To build one, a simple rotary switch (Radio Shack) and a handful of varying cap values (say, .05uf thru .001uf) is all that's needed. Best used with a pot, you can also just replace your tone pot with the rotary switch - oh, make sure to leave one switch position cap-less! YMMV.

BTW - a Gibson Varitone uses the following uf cap values ... .001, .003, .01, .03, .22 ... in series with 10meg resisters and connected to a 1.5h choke. The Varitone output goes directly to the output jack.

Ringo · June 9th, 2003, 06:35 PM

You can pick up a S.D. Veri Tone pedal, basically a Varitone in an effects pedal, also has a boost feature, I just saw one used the other day for $35.
I'd do that rather than try to squeeze a real Varitone into a Tele, I've seen the real vintage ones, the inductor is huge!

Deaf Eddie · June 9th, 2003, 08:21 PM

Quote:

I'd do that rather than try to squeeze a real Varitone into a Tele, I've seen the real vintage ones, the inductor is huge!

True that! You should see the ones in Lucille!

BB · June 10th, 2003, 01:12 AM

Don't do it! I had one in a tele and a deluxe vari-tone in a strat about 10 years ago. I tried and tried to convince myself to like it, but after a few weeks, ( two weeks to many! ) I yanked em out. Very un-usable tones. I take that back, a few were kind cool, but the volume drop and thin ugly tones on the other settings did not make up for the bad, bad tone!

June 9th, 2003, 03:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
nasonm Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bangor, Maine Age: 31 Posts: 1,588 16 Photos	Varitone? Even worthwhile in a tele? I've always been interested in the Varitone style switches in Gibsons. Would a vari-tone in a tele make any sense? I only ask because in gibsons, the switch is used with humbuckers (more output that a SC pup). would a regular, stock MIM STD tele sound differently with a varitone? Torres engineering has a Vari-tone kit for $15 that I've often thought about trying out. Now that I think about it, would a varitone fit in a control cavity of a tele? huh, what do you think?

June 9th, 2003, 04:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deaf Eddie Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sunny San Diego, CA Posts: 1,199 14 Photos	My advice: DON'T... ... yes, do NOT get the Torres kit. I got one three or four years ago, it was very cheezy, the parts numbers on the caps did NOT match those on the slim instructions. I put it all together in an old stomp-box, so I could try it on different guitars... I found it too subtle to be usable. Today, I AM the proud owner of a Gibson BB King Signature Model Lucille with a Varitone in it. Guess what? The authentic Gibson Varitone is NOT too subtle in that axe - in fact, I even modified it make it a little less effective! Made them hummers TOOOO thin... So, basically the Varitone (proper) cuts low-end and midrange - tell me, do you REALLY want to cut some of the bottom out of a Tele? IMHO, you would get MUCH more tonal benefit from a 5-way SuperSwitch, wired like this: http://deaf-eddie.net/guitars/5-tone.jpg My three cents..

June 9th, 2003, 06:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,909	Snarling Dogs Veri Tone pedal You can pick up a S.D. Veri Tone pedal, basically a Varitone in an effects pedal, also has a boost feature, I just saw one used the other day for $35. I'd do that rather than try to squeeze a real Varitone into a Tele, I've seen the real vintage ones, the inductor is huge!

June 10th, 2003, 01:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
BB Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific NW Age: 53 Posts: 3,106	Vari-Tone Don't do it! I had one in a tele and a deluxe vari-tone in a strat about 10 years ago. I tried and tried to convince myself to like it, but after a few weeks, ( two weeks to many! ) I yanked em out. Very un-usable tones. I take that back, a few were kind cool, but the volume drop and thin ugly tones on the other settings did not make up for the bad, bad tone!

June 9th, 2003, 03:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Geo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hendersonville, TN Age: 59 Posts: 2,443 15 Photos	You may do better with the 4 way switch with the extra position for both pickups in series/in phase. Otherwise a 5 way switch could allow maybe both in series/out of phase in addition. Would the Torres one replace your tone knob?

June 9th, 2003, 04:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,659	A passive tone-monger, all this gizmo does is afford a selection of varying tone cap values. IMO, passive non-active EQ/tone does nothing more than shunt off treble and really can change the overall pickup(s) tone by varying degrees of mud. To build one, a simple rotary switch (Radio Shack) and a handful of varying cap values (say, .05uf thru .001uf) is all that's needed. Best used with a pot, you can also just replace your tone pot with the rotary switch - oh, make sure to leave one switch position cap-less! YMMV. BTW - a Gibson Varitone uses the following uf cap values ... .001, .003, .01, .03, .22 ... in series with 10meg resisters and connected to a 1.5h choke. The Varitone output goes directly to the output jack.