varitone acting like a boost!

[cigarboxboy]

Have just put together my first varitone switch with an inducter. When I access the 5 cap positions I get a 100% boost in volume (not distorted). The 1st position is normal, off circuit.

Is this down to the size of the transformer I'm using (we are limited as to suppliers in the UK so I am using mini trans)?

I am happy with the result but just want to know if this is normal. I have wired the caps together and they go to ground and the inducter is wired to the pole and then onto hot jack.

Thanks for any info...

[billyz]

The Varitone circuit does NOT have a Transformer. It uses a Choke ( inductor) as a low pass filter. If you used a transformer then you could certainly boost the output, as in a step up transformer. I am not sure of the choke value, I have read it is possible 1.5 henrys or 3.0 henrys. 1.5h seems to be the consensus though.

[cigarboxboy]

Hi Billy...am using one half of a mini trans as an 'inducter', was goig to use a toroid but found it a little large.

I have trouble working out the various other ways of reading 'henrys' and I am limited to 2 mini trans (one more powerful than the other).I am using an audio transformer as recommended by David Schwab (or something similar).

This is the UK and we are not served as well as you here for just about anything that you can't get in any highstreet.

[billyz]

Someone smarter than me would have to figure out how an inductor would boost your output by 100%. It should actually decrease the output by a tiny amount. On the other hand, if you wired the pickups in series you would get a large increase in output .

[jrfrond]

You cannot get a boost out of a passive circuit, at least not on Planet Earth.

[David Schwab]

You cannot get a boost out of a passive circuit, at least not on Planet Earth.

Villex pickups makes a passive tone boost system. It's a very small amount of boost, but it does work. They likely use a transformer to help that along.

cigarboxboy, check your wiring. Gibson Varitones have a 100K series resistor that's in the circuit during the midrange notch settings. Check to see if it's not in the circuit during the clean setting. That would reduce your level on the bypass position.

The Anderton version uses a 47K resistor that always in the circuit

[cigarboxboy]

Thanks for the advice...I quite like the boost and may have this circuit as passive effect in a box. Now to make a new switch with the 47k resistor, doh!

[David Schwab]

Thanks for the advice...I quite like the boost and may have this circuit as passive effect in a box. Now to make a new switch with the 47k resistor, doh!

I don't think it's a boost. it's the normal level, while the unfiltered setting has a reduction.

Check your wiring. It shouldn't be working that way.

[cigarboxboy]

Thanks for all the advice ...I had the rotary wired up wrong...should have started at position 2 instead of 1, ho hum ! I found it works fine without the resistor, what does it do in this circuit?

I told you I was a klutz but it is working, I should say they, very well.

What are the benefits of keeping the tone control in place with the varitone?

[David Schwab]

Thanks for all the advice ...I had the rotary wired up wrong...should have started at position 2 instead of 1, ho hum ! I found it works fine without the resistor, what does it do in this circuit?

I'm not sure what it does. I used to leave it out.

What are the benefits of keeping the tone control in place with the varitone?

The tone control rolls off the highs, and the varitone cuts the mids.