comacoda Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Anybody ever heard/played lap steel with varitone or some other interesting pickup option? I think it would be really cool to take the guts of the snarling dogs vary-tone pedal and put them in a cheap lapsteel. Live long and prosper unless it is a good day to die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 You can buy a pseudo-varitone switch on Ebay. The builder/supplier seems to have great feedback. I don't remember how I found it, by accident, but it may have been on a thread here, last week. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comacoda Posted February 6, 2006 Author Share Posted February 6, 2006 Yes, Ive seen a few of these around.... I've been dying to put a varitone in something, I can't afford anything that comes with one! I considered the ibanez in my pic, but it's better off sold unmollested. I'm sure I can hack (pun intended) installing a varitone type swith in a single pickup instrument. Could be a good wrist workout, playing lap steel. I'm not playing guitar right now and I like musicians friends 79.99 lap steel. Live long and prosper unless it is a good day to die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 I have a Varitone I got as components from Torres in my Frankenstrat. I find it most useful for controlling the intensity of overdrive/distortion. It's really easy to build, the actual components should only cost about $5.00 or so if you bought them at Radio Shack. Also, because of the way it attaches - each pole of the output jack, it'd be easy to get a couple of jack sockets and a small project box, and make an in-line box - hey, you could even put a stomp switch/bypass on it. I've thought about it myself. Geoff "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Coma, I'm confused! isn't the idea of Varitone mixing to be able to mix combinations between two pickups? I have Varitone on my ES355 and that is how it works. When I run two amps the stereo out jacks work off the Varitone. Would using Varitone with only one pickup be even worthwhile? or would it end up being pretty much just a tone switch? http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comacoda Posted February 6, 2006 Author Share Posted February 6, 2006 Yes, you are exactly right, it would be a tone switch. There would be a middy setting, a bassy setting, a setting with highs rolled off.... It would allow for a little more variety, not the coolest aplication of a varitone but probably worthwhile... It would be alot like an eq switch really... I'm thinking about this used with a looper pedal like the boss or akai headrush. It would be neat to layer different voicings. Live long and prosper unless it is a good day to die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Lee, the Varitone I have (and the circuits I have seen) work on the output signal only - they are a variety of resistances terminating in a choke running to earth. Try here and here. Geoff "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesape Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Lee, the Varitone works with individual pickups(on my 355 anyway) as well as both. I've never messed with mine too much, as I love the first position setting for both pickups. Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 Originally posted by Geoff B.: Lee, the Varitone I have (and the circuits I have seen) work on the output signal only - they are a variety of resistances terminating in a choke running to earth. Try here and here. You are correct Geoff and Reif, I guess I didn't have a good understanding of HOW it works but it sure is very effective! Ok so it would be a neat thing to use with the lap steel then!! Geoff http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comacoda Posted February 6, 2006 Author Share Posted February 6, 2006 It's really easy to build, the actual components should only cost about $5.00 or so if you bought them at Radio Shack. Also, because of the way it attaches - each pole of the output jack, it'd be easy to get a couple of jack sockets and a small project box, and make an in-line box - hey, you could even put a stomp switch/bypass on it. I've thought about it myself. Geoff [/QB]I have the soldering iron, no experience but I bought it to use it Probably a good place to start. Guess what! I sold the lap steel idea to my girlfriend as a good way to play and exorcise my hands! So this will be a guilt free girlfriend approved purchase, PRICELESS! heres what I'm looking at: http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/7/4/9/230749.jpg Live long and prosper unless it is a good day to die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 There doesn't look to be a lot of room to install the varitone, unless you get a very slim & upright knob on it - it usually comes with a chickenhead - takes up a lot of room. Personally, I'd build it into a small box & plug the steel into it. Should sound something completely different, though. Geoff "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comacoda Posted February 7, 2006 Author Share Posted February 7, 2006 My lap steel ships today! Varitone will wait, I'll learn to play before spending money. Can't wait to run it through a wah! I bet I'll learn my fretboard really well along the way. Live long and prosper unless it is a good day to die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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