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Topic: How to set Vari-Z on Sarno Black Box |
Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 23 Aug 2013 3:10 pm |
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I've had a Sarno Black box for a couple months. It's the first device I've had in a long time that I haven't sent back or otherwise rejected. It sounds great with my Emmons and Session 400.
But how do you set the Vari-Z control? Of course one can simple spin the dial left or right until it sounds best. But surely there is some more logical or objective way to determine the best setting for one's rig.
Do you in some manner try to accommodate for the pick-up output of your guitar, or input impedance of your amp?
Or do you set it all the way to the right (clockwise), and then set the amp to the brightest tone you might use, and then back down the Vari-Z for normal playing.
If playing high up the neck do you turn the control up or down? Or the converse if playing the lower strings?
Perhaps there is no method to be learned; just spin the dial till you like it. I just want to get the most out of my gear. |
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robert kramer
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 23 Aug 2013 3:20 pm
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| Try this: With no Black Box -set your amp where it sounds good. Hook up the BB and set the Z control until that sounds good. I think the BB should enhance the tone - not be a basis for the tone. (If that makes sense). I never leave home without it. |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 23 Aug 2013 3:45 pm
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What you have described is exactly how I've been using it. Generally the knob ends up pointed at the "Z"; sometimes higher and sometimes lower depending on the room, etc. But I've wondered if I was missing out on some goodness by not taking a different approach.
Where do others generally run the Vari-Z knob? |
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Jim Priebe
From:
Queensland, Australia - R.I.P.
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Posted 23 Aug 2013 9:30 pm
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I always do this:
Get the unit turned on asap before using it so that the valve gets to operating temperature. This isn't always something you can do if you have to get on stage quickly and then off again so I -
start with the knob at 50/50 - halfway - the mark at the top.
I then turn it slightly anti-clock wise to start with and this tames the amp until the valve is hot.
The longer the unit is on the more I edge it clockwise but not very much. I imagine the temperature of the unit gets to it's operating temp and stays there. I still have the original valve in there but do carry a suitable spare.
The starting point would vary depending on your gear so set it where it sounds right for you at the start.
I too never play without it - a product that DOES exactly what it says it will do - congrats Brad S.
_________________
Priebs GFI ('09)Short-Uni10. GFI ('96)Short-Uni SD11. ('86)JEM U12
www.steelguitardownunder.com |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2013 8:10 am
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Great input guys.
I really like the emphasis on how the Black Box needs to warm up. I find this with most tube gear, that it'll be up and running within about 12 seconds of powering up, but it takes at least 5 minutes to behave properly and then about 15-20 minutes to truly settle in to its real sound.
Regarding the Vari-Z (aka: variable input impedance control), there seems to be a general range that most are happiest with, and that seems to fall between the 11:00 and 2:00 region.
Some people have tried cranking it all the way up, and to me, that makes the pickup's treble peak TOO strong and edgy, and then the amp's controls get wasted trying to fix that problem.
The magic zone seems to fall in that noon-ish area, and by magic I mean that's where most pickups seem to find that nice balance where you can get the low, wound strings nice and clear and rich and also the higher registers are clear and sparkly but not overly biting and harsh. Then the amp's controls don't have to be overworked to correct anything. When it's all dialed in right, you should find that the lowest stuff and the highest, Hugheyland stuff all balance out perfectly.
Some people are a bit more active with the Vari-Z control during a gig and may want to tweak it depending on the song, dial in more bite and twang, mellow it out a bit. What I like is that once your amp and BB are dialed in, just the Vari-Z knob may be the only knob you touch all night long.
B |
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Roger Francis
From:
kokomo,Indiana, USA
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Posted 24 Aug 2013 9:07 am
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Thats where i start, on high noon and as i play through the first set i may edge it one way or the other after my ears get broke in to whats going on around me, usually dont have to mess with amp
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Rittenberry SD10, 2 nashville 112s with telonics speaker, behringer EPQ450 power amp, 705 pups, Telonics FP-100, live steel strings, mogami cords, wet reverb |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 24 Aug 2013 2:04 pm
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| yep, what they said... |
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