Questions for those who have played internationally(ie nikininja for one, and maybe others,)

1)have any of you who have travelled to play used an amp designed for 220v power mains in a country with 110v or 120? or vice versa?

2)and if so did you notice any kind of impact on sound/performance/output when using a voltage converter? Either step up, or step down?

i may have a chance to buy an old British amp, that was made for use in the UK, and am wondering if it will still sound the same here, after i use a voltage converter.

edit: i know this is an amp question, but i think niki would be among the best bets to answer this, and i know he will see this here.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Truth be told I only took my amp to the continent once. Its just too expensive to lug em around with you.

I didnt notice any major difference on the step down to 110v, but its a Marshall. They are geared up for it. I've heard the rumour that Marshall especialy dont sound right on 110v. I couldnt hear it at all. The other times I went overseas without a amp, it was either a marshall or a randall I used supplied by the support band.

I dont think you'll incurr a problem stepping up in voltage via a transformer. I got to try a few old fender twins out late last year. I didnt hear anything wrong with them for having a stepdown transformer in the power line. I didnt hear anything going amiss with my amp that one time. I've consigned the idea to the area of my brain marked 'forget'.

So spill the beans, what are you getting?

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No no and no

it's not a slam dunk, as i haven't seen or heard it yet, but I have an opportunity at an old laney. I have to see it, the guy i know who has it inherited it, he ays it's late 60's-early 70's, but his dad was the guitar player, not him. (When his dad found out a few of his sons friends played he always used to accuse him of "ruining a perfectly good band by being born" when we were around) i have never seen this amp, my buddy's dad never had it out, maybe it will be one of them with the treble booster.

not the prize an old marshall or vox might be, but, as an old sabbath fan i have always like Tony Iommi's sound, and that was laney.

frankly i was kind of worried there might be an impact on output, and how the tubes might breakup, like if it affected the 'headroom' and it might make it harder to overdrive it.

The one piece of gear his dad had that i would really be interested in that i actually did see was an old Burns of London guitar. i have no idea the model name, but I remember pickup switch was a rotary knob, and it had a setting called rabid dogs, or something like that.When i go see the amp, i'll have to figure out how to discretely bring that topic up. i kind of feel a bit guilty, that i am on a shopping trip after my friends dad passed away 9granted it's been 2 years, so its not like i am haggling over the casket or anything like that.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Hi Twelvebar: how was the previous owner of the amp running it? Maybe he already had the innards converted?

If not, howsabout something like this:

http://www.voltage-converter-transforme ... ormer.html

First thing I came across - I expect there's something better out there. Anyway, not expensive or bothersome by the look of it. Well worth the trouble if it's a nice amp. You'll be showing us pics...?

Oh, and on the issue of interference with the sound - I notice that Joe Bonamassa mostly seems to travel in my part of the world with his own rig which seems to run through converters. If it's good enough for him, well...

Cheers - C

PS On that other thread, you understood I wasn't taking issue in the slightest at anything you were saying? Just didn't want the gentleman to feel people were lining up against him - he's a stand-up kinda guy who's the very type we need to start making a difficult part of the world into a better place...

Here in Australia we come across quite a lot of vintage gear that needs a voltage converter (I guess the situation is the same in the UK, but fewer amps built for export from the US would have made it to the antipodes back in the '60s and '70s); it never poses a problem. It just seems a little... inelegant... if that can be said of 100W of screaming tubes in a case. Just make sure you get a device that's rated suitably for the amplifier, though I don't think overkill harms anything in this situation.

European manufacturers in the '60s had a variable voltage selector on the back... I really don't know why this isn't a more common feature; it seems eminently sensible. I have a Dynacord tape echo that allows me to switch between four different mains voltages... possibly it's due to the fact that Dynacord have always produced PA amplification as well as instrument amps, and needed to make gear that internationally touring bands could use.

Step down transformers are commonly used for things like outboard reverb units here, as export units are ridiculously expensive if you can even find them. Don't let it come between Twelvebar and a tasty amp! It'll be less than fifty bucks...

well, it was my friend's father, he passed away a couple years ago, my friend doesn't play. i don't know how he had it running, I never met him until he was in his 60's and was no longer playing out, just noodling around the house. My friend thinks ot's stock though, i won't know for sure until i see it.

I understand, but i also didn't want CC to think I held any animosity either, he seems a good egg. this is one of the few forums where people have had disagreements, but remained civil, so i wanted it clear that i wasn't taking any umbrage, just disagreeing with that one opinion. i know one of my failings is heavy handed use of sarcasm, and with only printed word its easy to offend when only trying to use a little humour to make a point.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

...Er - huh?

I have absolutely never noticed such a thing in you, or at least not in any way I could conceive of as inappropriate or offensive. Good grief - I presume everyone is like me in thinking Mr Twelvebar one of the most mannerly and easy going folks round here.

Or maybe it's just been going over my head all this time!

BTW: I realised I hadn't addressed the sound quality issue in your first post and added to my last to do so - though not from my own experience - sadly...

Cheers - C

A 110v 70's Laney. Hmmm an intresting one that mate probably the LA100BL the same as Iommi's. I would think that would make for a killer amp. I dont think you'll push it to drive easily, I'm pretty sure their not master volume jobs.


If you want a treble booster for it, a mate of mine makes Dallas Arbiter rangemaster clones. Handmade very tasty and very very cheap. You wont catch me paying over £60 for any pedal, boutique schmooteek.

The Burns sounds like a splitsonic to me.



info
HERE

Get ready for a bit of a game with that if it hasnt had regular attention. My experience of em was that they can go wonky at the drop of a hat. Nice sound though. More info -
http://www.burnsguitarmuseum.com/

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No no and no

Real life issue Ceri, something I had to work on, and change in my demeanor. so i think i am always a little worried i may let that little habit back out of hand. sort of like being a smoker and having a puff, or an alcoholic and just one drink!

Niki that looks like what i remember. I hope it's still around, and that i can pick it up. I like different guitars, and those were really uncommon here.

The picture of Tony is exactly what i am hoping this amp is!

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Their about the only 100watt amp laney produced up till around 76 if I remember right. There were bass and PA heads of around the same wattage. Only the LA100 guitar head though.




By the way Mr Twelvebar, I find your surly use of sarcasm utterly offensive. Call me a bloody apple polisher will you?

If you believe that you'll believe anything.

I've always found you to be a complete witt, never a half a one.

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No no and no

I forgot about that one

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

So a bit of an update here:
Sadly i don't know if I'll get to even see the thing. i'm not sure of the specifics, but this stuff with other things has been in storage, in a spare room, I guess.
now his mother is moving to a senior's complex, so she wanted to get rid of stuff. So that's when my friend asked me if i was interested. Well, we went over there and it was all gone. He is now in a full on squabble with his brother and sister who apparently descended on the house and are battling over anything of value. (when we were there there was a very heated argument of silverware!) They are all claiming ownership of anything worth selling.

i told him if he ends up with either item after the dust settles to give me a call. I wouldn't want to get dragged into the middle of that, his sister has always been one crazy bird!

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

If they ever sort it out get it professionally converted if it hasn't been and can be done at a reasonable rate. Older amps its a good idea to check them out anyway as you don't know how dangerous they could be.

The two things you have to consider when buying a step down transformer is the wattage rating (you need it 10% or higher above the max power consumption of the amp at the wall) and one with superior components and designed for low noise is going to end up a safer bet in the long run. Just as it does with amps.

There is the 50/60hz power difference this can affect the amp as well.
Though it depends entirely on the model as many will work fine.

All my fender US imports run on step-down transformers. Trouble is I couldn't tell you if they sound any worse as I can't try them on 110V. What I do know is that they sound just fine to me! I do however, run them all through a Furman power conditioner just to be safe and sure.

Good advice, I have a couple vintage pieces of gear. i am pretty confident i could check it out and make sure its safe, i would get someone to convert it though if it needs it. Amps can kill ya, so i wouldn't want to monkey in there.

Sounds cool, thanks for the input.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.