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Recently i got a mac and one of the reasons i did so is for garage band. but anyways i recorded one song, did all the parts. it came out great. But now I'm working on a new song. what I'm trying to do is plug my 1960's fender amp into my mac so i can get the same distorted sound that the amp produces. the amp has a plugin the back for EXT. Speaker ive tried plugging that into the line in on my mac, doesnt register at all. thats all i usually do is plug my guitar or bass in with and instrument cable to head phone jack adapter to the line in, that works for me fine. but is there any way i can get this to work. 60's fender amps sound so great when the break up.

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AudioGeezer Sat, 11/29/2008 - 12:58

Micing the amp is the only way to capture what your Fender really does.

Some direct boxes have a resistor circuit that allows you to take the speaker out back to a line in. I'm not really a fan of that method. Other techie types could explain how you could rig up a loading resistor on the speaker out and take that to a line in. Some could even explain how you can simulate the reactive load the speaker has on the amp out.

I'd put a mic on it.

Kapt.Krunch Sun, 11/30/2008 - 00:16

MTPAPA121 wrote: what if i tried going through a stereo then using the stereo phone 1/4" jack to goto line in?

The fact that you don't seem to understand signal levels very well means it's a good thing you are asking. Don't plug a speaker out jack into ANYTHING except a speaker or a possibly a properly made "power soak" type of contraption.

You'll gain nothing by running a guitar through a stereo. And, it won't turn a mono guitar fed through only one channel into stereo....so WHY do you need a "stereo plug"?

plug my 1960's fender amp into my mac so i can get the same distorted sound that the amp produces.

The sound comes from more than just the electronics. The speaker has a LOT to do with it. Unless you just like fizzy distortion. Then, just get a fuzz pedal.

I imagine you may do as you have been doing and will ask more questions about how to connect things improperly....while ignoring good advice. That's OK. You'll soon learn that if you actually take some advice, instead of bullheadedly trudging against the current, that you'll learn some valuable things.

Stick a mic in front of it. Get a POD or similiar unit. Plug guitar straight into computer (through direct box") then apply guitar amp emulation software, or run it back out to "reamp".

Quit trying to connect stuff up that'll burn down your house, or at least melt down gear. Learn about signal levels...mic, line, guitar, speaker...etc...and see why we are telling you this. Just because something has an output, and something else has an input...it doesn't mean you can connect them. LEARN THIS STUFF, before you blow up all your gear.

Kapt.Krunch

Davedog Sun, 11/30/2008 - 02:21

Since you have a computer....or maybe NOT at this time.....go online and look up any number of primers on recording equipment, musical equipment etc.

Or go ahead and toast all your gear. Since its the holidays, I'm sure any number of retailers will welcome you in to sell you a WHOLE NEW SET OF GEAR since the last set will be a slag heap sitting in your room.

anonymous Sun, 11/30/2008 - 02:43

Kapt.Krunch wrote: [quote=MTPAPA121]what if i tried going through a stereo then using the stereo phone 1/4" jack to goto line in?

The fact that you don't seem to understand signal levels very well means it's a good thing you are asking. Don't plug a speaker out jack into ANYTHING except a speaker or a possibly a properly made "power soak" type of contraption.

You'll gain nothing by running a guitar through a stereo. And, it won't turn a mono guitar fed through only one channel into stereo....so WHY do you need a "stereo plug"?

plug my 1960's fender amp into my mac so i can get the same distorted sound that the amp produces.

The sound comes from more than just the electronics. The speaker has a LOT to do with it. Unless you just like fizzy distortion. Then, just get a fuzz pedal.

I imagine you may do as you have been doing and will ask more questions about how to connect things improperly....while ignoring good advice. That's OK. You'll soon learn that if you actually take some advice, instead of bullheadedly trudging against the current, that you'll learn some valuable things.

Stick a mic in front of it. Get a POD or similiar unit. Plug guitar straight into computer (through direct box") then apply guitar amp emulation software, or run it back out to "reamp".

Quit trying to connect stuff up that'll burn down your house, or at least melt down gear. Learn about signal levels...mic, line, guitar, speaker...etc...and see why we are telling you this. Just because something has an output, and something else has an input...it doesn't mean you can connect them. LEARN THIS STUFF, before you blow up all your gear.

Kapt.Krunch

You guys are brutal. A few things about your post....... you said my guitar was mono? well its not its an ES 345 thats stereo. and thats not what im trying to accomplish. I never said run the guitar through my stereo i said the AMP. the whole purpose of this post was to capture the sound of the amp's distortion, reverb and equalizer levels. And No im not gannna just get a Fuzz petal, they all sound like trash. the sound im looking for is in this amp. So guys thanks foe giving me a 90% chance of never returning to this forum.

Davedog Sun, 11/30/2008 - 05:19

MTPAPA121 wrote: [quote=Kapt.Krunch][quote=MTPAPA121]what if i tried going through a stereo then using the stereo phone 1/4" jack to goto line in?

The fact that you don't seem to understand signal levels very well means it's a good thing you are asking. Don't plug a speaker out jack into ANYTHING except a speaker or a possibly a properly made "power soak" type of contraption.

You'll gain nothing by running a guitar through a stereo. And, it won't turn a mono guitar fed through only one channel into stereo....so WHY do you need a "stereo plug"?

plug my 1960's fender amp into my mac so i can get the same distorted sound that the amp produces.

The sound comes from more than just the electronics. The speaker has a LOT to do with it. Unless you just like fizzy distortion. Then, just get a fuzz pedal.

I imagine you may do as you have been doing and will ask more questions about how to connect things improperly....while ignoring good advice. That's OK. You'll soon learn that if you actually take some advice, instead of bullheadedly trudging against the current, that you'll learn some valuable things.

Stick a mic in front of it. Get a POD or similiar unit. Plug guitar straight into computer (through direct box") then apply guitar amp emulation software, or run it back out to "reamp".

Quit trying to connect stuff up that'll burn down your house, or at least melt down gear. Learn about signal levels...mic, line, guitar, speaker...etc...and see why we are telling you this. Just because something has an output, and something else has an input...it doesn't mean you can connect them. LEARN THIS STUFF, before you blow up all your gear.

Kapt.Krunch

You guys are brutal. A few things about your post....... you said my guitar was mono? well its not its an ES 345 thats stereo. and thats not what im trying to accomplish. I never said run the guitar through my stereo i said the AMP. the whole purpose of this post was to capture the sound of the amp's distortion, reverb and equalizer levels. And No im not gannna just get a Fuzz petal, they all sound like trash. the sound im looking for is in this amp. So guys thanks foe giving me a 90% chance of never returning to this forum.

The brutality comes from all of us being agast at you hooking up something will only take a nanosecond to fry your computer . You're EXTREMELY lucky it didnt toast your soundcard when you hooked it up the first time. My guess is you didnt plug it in properly in the first place or you had something disabled or it SHOULD have taken out anything in its path .

The voltage OUT of a speaker output is quite a bit even with a low-wattage amp such as a Deluxe or a Princeton. It is certainly MUCH more than the millivolts a guitar or a bass pickup puts out and in the case of a TUBE AMP is an unregulated and variable voltage based on how hard the string is plucked, what the tone controls are set on and how loud the volume pot is set.

These are all things you should spend the time to learn about before doing things like this.

So you got a little wrist slap. If you dont like it, use the other 10% and dont come back.

But be sure you know what you're doing in the future. It will save you lots of money, time, and posible physical harm.

Good luck getting any DIFFERENT advice elsewhere.

djmukilteo Sun, 11/30/2008 - 05:45

MTPAPA121 wrote: Recently i got a mac and one of the reasons i did so is for garage band. but anyways i recorded one song, did all the parts. it came out great. But now im working on a new song. what im trying to do is plug my 1960's fender amp into my mac so i can get the same distorted sound that the amp produces. the amp has a plug in the back for EXT. Speaker ive tried plugging that into the line in on my mac, doesnt register at all. thats all i usually do is plug my guitar or bass in with and instrument cable to head phone jack adapter to the line in, that works for me fine. but is there any way i can get this to work. 60's fender amps sound so great when the break up.

If I understand your question correctly...I think maybe you want to use a mic in front of your amp in order to capture what your hearing from the amp that you like...I think you should actually do both!
Hookup a mic in front of the amp and set the level for that and then take a direct feed from your guitar and set the level for that and record both on separate tracks....from there you could mix a little or a lot of either together and maybe come up with the sound your looking for...

Kapt.Krunch Sun, 11/30/2008 - 06:13

You guys are brutal. A few things about your post....... you said my guitar was mono? well its not its an ES 345 thats stereo. and thats not what im trying to accomplish. I never said run the guitar through my stereo i said the AMP. the whole purpose of this post was to capture the sound of the amp's distortion, reverb and equalizer levels. And No im not gannna just get a Fuzz petal, they all sound like trash. the sound im looking for is in this amp. So guys thanks foe giving me a 90% chance of never returning to this forum.

Actually, you DID ask about running through a stereo. It's your 4th post, and that's why I answered. And, we weren't being brutal...we were trying to get your attention before you fried something, or yourself.

So, you've got a "stereo" ES345....which is not REALLY stereo...it's two different outputs from two pickups that sound different because of their positions...but we'll not nitpick about that. They did market them as stereo. Even that could be useful by running each into a computer, because it will give you two tones of the same performance to mess with.

Even at that, your reasoning is off, because your first statement was running it out of a 60's Fender amp's speaker output...which is NOT stereo. So, why should we not have assumed it was a mono signal?

Basically, you are being defensive without considering any of the possible remedies, and ignoring the suggestions to learn about this stuff. There are things out there that will allow you record direct, things that will tap the speaker out to run direct, emulators, and the best way...to mic it up. Some amps have line outs that you might be able to use...but even running a properly built speaker-tapped device will not sound the same as it does through a speaker.

...whole purpose of this post was to capture the sound of the amp's distortion, reverb and equalizer levels.

If you've never successfully recorded the amp in a manner that you describe, you can't have any idea how it will sound, so you don't even really know what sound you will capture. It won't sound like it does through the speaker.

So...instead of saying "Thanks, I'll consider some of the things you guys advised, and do some research so I have a better understanding of what I might be able to do", you avoided acknowledging that anything sunk in, and only wanted to either run the guitar through the stereo, or worse...run the amp through the stereo.

Sometimes, it pays to heed advice, to do some recommended research, and to acknowledge that you were helped. It also helps to have a bit of a thick skin, and be able to take a jab or two. Sometimes it's best to get someone's attention by waking them up rudely, instead of just letting them drive off the road.

Kapt.Krunch

AudioGeezer Mon, 12/01/2008 - 00:25

MTPAPA121 wrote: ....So, how can i properly mic this amp?

The closer the mic is to the center of the speaker the brighter (more high frequency content) the sound will have. The farther out to the edge the warmer (less high frequency content) the sound will have. I usually start somewhere in between the center and outer edge about an inch or two from the speaker. Move to taste. Small movements will cause fairly drastic changes. Have fun moving the mic around and listen to the differences. The further away from the speaker you place the mic, the less differences you'll hear in the scenario described.

It can also be fun to add a second mic in the room. You might start with the second mic where your head is. If you like the way it sounds where your head is you might like the way a mic sounds there. Try plugging one finger in your ear, the mic can't rationalize directional cues like you can with 2 ears.

Have fun. Come back and tell us what you think

Kapt.Krunch Mon, 12/01/2008 - 02:28

NOW, we're having fun! 8-)

And to continue, there ARE more safe(r) ways that you can take an amp speaker out, and take a recorded signal and run it back into an amp. Here's a few:

http://www.radialeng.com/re-jdx.htm

http://www.radialeng.com/di-xamp.htm

http://www.thdelectronics.com/product_page_hotplate.html

I've used a Hotplate on some smaller amps, and it's kind of cool. (I would NOT let my buddy connect my vintage Marshall to one!)

Use at your own risk, though they ARE designed for that...(I just don't trust them THAT much).

Kapt.Krunch

anonymous Mon, 12/01/2008 - 06:17

AudioGeezer wrote: [quote=MTPAPA121]....So, how can i properly mic this amp?

The closer the mic is to the center of the speaker the brighter (more high frequency content) the sound will have. The farther out to the edge the warmer (less high frequency content) the sound will have. I usually start somewhere in between the center and outer edge about an inch or two from the speaker. Move to taste. Small movements will cause fairly drastic changes. Have fun moving the mic around and listen to the differences. The further away from the speaker you place the mic, the less differences you'll hear in the scenario described.

It can also be fun to add a second mic in the room. You might start with the second mic where your head is. If you like the way it sounds where your head is you might like the way a mic sounds there. Try plugging one finger in your ear, the mic can't rationalize directional cues like you can with 2 ears.

Have fun. Come back and tell us what you think
Ok my dad had 4 mics laying around and i just tried one micing one of my stereo speakers to see what kind of sound i would get. but the only think im having trouble with is do i position the mic on its side with the body of the mic running parallel with the front of the speaker cabinet or straight out so its kinda coming out of the cone of the speaker?

Kapt.Krunch Mon, 12/01/2008 - 08:33

MTPAPA121 wrote:
Ok my dad had 4 mics laying around and i just tried one micing one of my stereo speakers to see what kind of sound i would get. but the only think im having trouble with is do i position the mic on its side with the body of the mic running parallel with the front of the speaker cabinet or straight out so its kinda coming out of the cone of the speaker?

A couple more links for you:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug07/articles/guitaramprecording.htm
(This guy's actually not far off, and can answer a couple of your questions):
http://mrj-studios.com/HowToMicAnAmp.htm

Doubtful you'd run it sideways. There is "direct" at it mostly, even though you might angle it a bit sideways. Remember that the more you angle a directional mic away (off-axis), the more chance there is for other sounds to come into it from the side, but it may be what you need. Anywhere in front of the cone is plausible...again depends on what you are after. The middle of the speaker is generally brighter.

What mics do you have? And, just wondering...what do you mean about mic'ing a stereo speaker? Experimenting? That's OK. Stick one mic in front of the amp. Record it. Move the mic a bit. Record again. Experiment. Move it close...move it farther back an inch, angle it a bit, move it to the edge, the center and anywhere else.

Try a different mic. Try all the mics. Try two at once. Only you will know when you hear what you would like to hear.

The main thing is...does it sound good, and does it fit into the rest of the music?

Have fun,

Kapt.Krunch

anonymous Mon, 12/01/2008 - 10:18

MTPAPA121 wrote: [quote=Greener]What kind of sound are you after?

I have an Edirol US-25 and a Sure SM57 and I use this to DI and re-amp. The quality is on par with the talent. :)

im not sure if im answering you correctly but i want the distorted sound of the amp

I'll explain. I'm probably not on topic but that's nothing new.

Connect the guitar to the Edirol UA-25 (My mistake, it's not the US-25) record the clean signal from the guitar. Then play this back through the output connected to an amp, whilst having a mic connected and recording the amp. It's called re-amping.
You can also just use a DI box for recording the guitar. The Edirol is a DI box with instrument level inputs. However, it sounds like ass. :)

I wouldn't connect an oldschool tube amp to a resistor. A speaker is a dynamic load, like looking at a spring.

anonymous Mon, 12/01/2008 - 11:09

I'm imagining again. My multimeter isn't so good as to be able to tell.

But, let me imagine more broadly.
Let's say a speaker is at maximum excursion, now the rubber ring around the outside of the cone will have some form of elastic nature. This would cause a slight inductance, yes?
Also, I would venture to imagine that as a voice coil moves in and out, the distance betwixt it and the magnet would chance. Air gaps and reluctance. Dynamic? Yes.

Springs are dynamic too, as opposed to static.

Also I find the solitary "?" slightly annoying.

!

A speaker is not like the hot plate on your stove. It changes as you change it thus it acts like a spring. Aswel as looking like one.

Please, seeing as I'm imagine things, am non-professional and uneducated. Can someone tell me I'm wrong and specifically why?

anonymous Mon, 12/01/2008 - 11:15

Kapt.Krunch wrote: [quote=MTPAPA121]
Ok my dad had 4 mics laying around and i just tried one micing one of my stereo speakers to see what kind of sound i would get. but the only think im having trouble with is do i position the mic on its side with the body of the mic running parallel with the front of the speaker cabinet or straight out so its kinda coming out of the cone of the speaker?

A couple more links for you:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug07/articles/guitaramprecording.htm
(This guy's actually not far off, and can answer a couple of your questions):
http://mrj-studios.com/HowToMicAnAmp.htm

Doubtful you'd run it sideways. There is "direct" at it mostly, even though you might angle it a bit sideways. Remember that the more you angle a directional mic away (off-axis), the more chance there is for other sounds to come into it from the side, but it may be what you need. Anywhere in front of the cone is plausible...again depends on what you are after. The middle of the speaker is generally brighter.

What mics do you have? And, just wondering...what do you mean about mic'ing a stereo speaker? Experimenting? That's OK. Stick one mic in front of the amp. Record it. Move the mic a bit. Record again. Experiment. Move it close...move it farther back an inch, angle it a bit, move it to the edge, the center and anywhere else.

Try a different mic. Try all the mics. Try two at once. Only you will know when you hear what you would like to hear.

The main thing is...does it sound good, and does it fit into the rest of the music?

Have fun,

Kapt.Krunch
Well by micing my stereo speaker i was just experimenting before i tried it on an amp. cause i wanted to test the mic to see if it would even work. so i just pressed the record button on garageband and played Close to The Edge by Yes through my stereo and moved it around in different positions and stuff. But for mics i have.....
1. Optimus 500(omega symbol i think ohms maybe?) 33-3023 Dynamic
1. Realistic Highball 33-984C
2. Audio-Technica Omnidirectional Dynamic AT802
and the only one ive really tried is one of the audio technica's But its not the safest one to use cause it was making the grill cloth of the vibrolux spark and i got shocked cause i was holding the stings on my guitar while i moved it..........so im ganna try not to do thoes things again.

AudioGeezer Mon, 12/01/2008 - 12:43

Greener wrote:
Also I find the solitary "?" slightly annoying.

Sorry. It just means I don't understand. Thanks to GeckoMusic I now know that "Magnetic reluctance or "magnetic resistance", is analogous to resistance in an electrical circuit (although it does not dissipate magnetic energy)"

Didn't know that. Never to old to learn. Now if I can just remember what I know.............

Kapt.Krunch Mon, 12/01/2008 - 23:06

WARNING!!!

WARNING!!!

MTPAPA121 wrote:
...and the only one ive really tried is one of the audio technica's But its not the safest one to use cause it was making the grill cloth of the vibrolux spark and i got shocked cause i was holding the stings on my guitar while i moved it..........so im ganna try not to do thoes things again.

THAT is odd! That shouldn't happen! I am going to assume that it only shocked while holding the guitar, and you touched the mic to the grillcloth? Actually, I don't quite understand how that can happen, and not just touching the mic when holding the guitar that's plugged into the amp wouldn't shock you, but... There should be nothing on that grillcloth that can carry current...except that if it's an older 60's Vibrolux, it MAY have some metallic-type grillcloth threads. Even at that, the only way for it to pass is if the grillcloth is touching a chassis that is hot, or leaking.

Something you NEED to do RIGHT NOW, for your safety, and the safety of all your equipment.

If that's a 60's Vibrolux, there's a chance that it doesn't have a grounded, 3-prong AC cord. Does it? Or, does it have a 2-prong cord? If not a grounded cord, get down to a qualified amp tech, and have one installed...immediately. This will involve changing the existing cord, and removing the "death cap" that's attached to the polarity switch.

If it's not a grounded cord, and you don't switch the polarity to the right position, you can fry yourself or things. If that cap fails, even in the right position, (relative to your other equipment), that could cause the entire chassis of that amp to become very high voltage...and kill you.

You SHOULDN'T be shocking yourself, and I wonder if this is happening. Doing that modification will not reduce the value of a vintage amp. Just have them give you back the old parts, and they can be sold along with the amp, in case someone wants to revert it back to dangerous. They shouldn't charge much to do it, and they may even spot any other issues that they can warn you about. These things need maintenance to work well, and SAFELY.

I've buzzed myself a number a times on old Fender amps, and am probably lucky that I ain't dead. Any old amp I buy immediately gets a grounded cord.

CHECK THIS OUT, before you try anything else. I can think of no other reason why you are getting buzzed, although there may be. This is just the most obvious with the info we have.

This could be a serious issue. Just trying to help.

Kapt.Krunch

anonymous Tue, 12/02/2008 - 04:53

Re: WARNING!!!

Kapt.Krunch wrote: WARNING!!!

[quote=MTPAPA121]
...and the only one ive really tried is one of the audio technica's But its not the safest one to use cause it was making the grill cloth of the vibrolux spark and i got shocked cause i was holding the stings on my guitar while i moved it..........so im ganna try not to do thoes things again.

THAT is odd! That shouldn't happen! I am going to assume that it only shocked while holding the guitar, and you touched the mic to the grillcloth? Actually, I don't quite understand how that can happen, and not just touching the mic when holding the guitar that's plugged into the amp wouldn't shock you, but... There should be nothing on that grillcloth that can carry current...except that if it's an older 60's Vibrolux, it MAY have some metallic-type grillcloth threads. Even at that, the only way for it to pass is if the grillcloth is touching a chassis that is hot, or leaking.

Something you NEED to do RIGHT NOW, for your safety, and the safety of all your equipment.

If that's a 60's Vibrolux, there's a chance that it doesn't have a grounded, 3-prong AC cord. Does it? Or, does it have a 2-prong cord? If not a grounded cord, get down to a qualified amp tech, and have one installed...immediately. This will involve changing the existing cord, and removing the "death cap" that's attached to the polarity switch.

If it's not a grounded cord, and you don't switch the polarity to the right position, you can fry yourself or things. If that cap fails, even in the right position, (relative to your other equipment), that could cause the entire chassis of that amp to become very high voltage...and kill you.

You SHOULDN'T be shocking yourself, and I wonder if this is happening. Doing that modification will not reduce the value of a vintage amp. Just have them give you back the old parts, and they can be sold along with the amp, in case someone wants to revert it back to dangerous. They shouldn't charge much to do it, and they may even spot any other issues that they can warn you about. These things need maintenance to work well, and SAFELY.

I've buzzed myself a number a times on old Fender amps, and am probably lucky that I ain't dead. Any old amp I buy immediately gets a grounded cord.

CHECK THIS OUT, before you try anything else. I can think of no other reason why you are getting buzzed, although there may be. This is just the most obvious with the info we have.

This could be a serious issue. Just trying to help.

Kapt.Krunch
It is a 2 Prong Plug. And i know why i got that shock. Its because i was touching the strings of the guitar and the mic all at the same time while they were plugged in. Ive done this before, i touched my guitar while touching another guitar at the same time. Im not sure the exact science behind why it happens but it does. On old penny arcade games "Electricity Is Life" They had games that would shock you and say that it would cure all you ills. The important thing now is that i know what i have to do so i dont get shocked, and i think i picked the right mic (The optimus one i said before). So right now im going to mess around with some different recordings with the mic placed differently and all that.

Kapt.Krunch Tue, 12/02/2008 - 05:12

OK, but please be careful. And, you really should get that amp converted. This is a standard safety modification, and it's done for a very good reason. That's why all amps less than 30-35 years old have grounded plugs, and anyone who has an older amp converts them. People have died from this kind of thing.

If you had a voltmeter, or even one of those 120V test lights, you should test anything between that amp and any other device to be sure it's not out of phase. If it is, that amp should have a polarity switch on the back. Flip it the other way, and test again. If it's still reading hot...get that amp looked at pronto, and don't mess with it until it's fixed. Amps that old DO have capacitors that get leaky over time, and can leak current to the chassis.

This still is not safe, as there may be other things that you touch that can fry you. If everything is properly grounded, then any faults should go to ground...instead of down one of your arms...through your heart...and out the other arm. An electric shock not only starts a heart beating (like on TV)...it can stop one.

THIS IS DANGEROUS! I'm not trying to be a butthead....but you need to understand that those amps can have hundreds of volts and high currents running through them, and can kill you if you are at a different potential.

Please get a "properly" grounded cord put on that? I'm doing that very thing to an old Vox Berkeley Super Reverb tube amp right now.

Another benefit of doing the modification can be less hum and other noise in the amp. It doesn't make sense NOT to do it.

Anyone care to back me up on this?

Kapt.Krunch

anonymous Tue, 12/02/2008 - 08:51

Kapt.Krunch wrote: OK, but please be careful. And, you really should get that amp converted. This is a standard safety modification, and it's done for a very good reason. That's why all amps less than 30-35 years old have grounded plugs, and anyone who has an older amp converts them. People have died from this kind of thing.

If you had a voltmeter, or even one of those 120V test lights, you should test anything between that amp and any other device to be sure it's not out of phase. If it is, that amp should have a polarity switch on the back. Flip it the other way, and test again. If it's still reading hot...get that amp looked at pronto, and don't mess with it until it's fixed. Amps that old DO have capacitors that get leaky over time, and can leak current to the chassis.

This still is not safe, as there may be other things that you touch that can fry you. If everything is properly grounded, then any faults should go to ground...instead of down one of your arms...through your heart...and out the other arm. An electric shock not only starts a heart beating (like on TV)...it can stop one.

THIS IS DANGEROUS! I'm not trying to be a butthead....but you need to understand that those amps can have hundreds of volts and high currents running through them, and can kill you if you are at a different potential.

Please get a "properly" grounded cord put on that? I'm doing that very thing to an old Vox Berkeley Super Reverb tube amp right now.

Another benefit of doing the modification can be less hum and other noise in the amp. It doesn't make sense NOT to do it.

Anyone care to back me up on this?

Kapt.Krunch

Ya that amp does hum like a banshe. But my dad knows how to do it cause these are all his amps and i think ive seen him do it before.

anonymous Tue, 12/02/2008 - 13:33

Re: WARNING!!!

MTPAPA121 wrote: Im not sure the exact science behind why it happens but it does.

Here's _why_ it happens...
Because people don't maintain and upgrade unsafe, old electrical equipment.

The _how_ it happens is rather special and involves the relatively free electrons that come with ionised salts. Electricity can't really do much to you in a short impact, I mean the burning and nerve damage is only going to cause never ending discomfort. However, the muscle around your heart, the special stuff that works to control your heartbeat. Well, shocking this stuff at the right frequency and with enough power causes cardiac arrest. NOW! Burning skin, flesh and nerve ends is one thing, one painful experience. But the feeling of your heart stopping is amazing (judging from the looks on the faces of people in cardiac arrest) and short lived.

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