Power conditioners and brown box

Elhorch · Jul 15, 2017

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a recommendation for a power conditioner, I've had a couple of amp failures and would like to have some kind of protection for my amps. I've been looking at something like this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/furman-pl-8c-power-conditioner?rNtt=furman power&index=4
but would like to get some input.

Also, I've been looking at the Brown Box to use with my vintage amps (tweed deluxe, deluxe reverb, blackface bassman)
http://www.amprx.net/
I would love to hear from anyone here who has some experience with this.

Thanks for your help!
Jorge

tonar8353 · Jul 16, 2017

I have the AmpRx Brown Box and I highly recommend it!! If you watch YouTube videos of one in use you can not clearly hear the difference it makes to an amp but it does. It really makes a huge difference with tweed amps that are rated at 110. My other amps are rated at 117 and my house runs 119 so the impact is not as dramatic. I keep the one I own at the church I play at since they read 124 at the wall and the Super Reverb is rated at 117. It runs way cooler so I'm sure my tubes will last much longer and it sounds better.

I like it so much I'm thinking about buying a second one for home.

Xpensive Wino · Jul 16, 2017

Can confirm. I won't run a tweed Fender without a "brown box" type device.

corpse · Jul 16, 2017

I have a Tone Preserver. My 60's Fender amps all appreciate it. Audible improvement.

Professortwang · Jul 16, 2017

http://www.apc.com/shop/us/en/products/Line-R-1200VA-Automatic-Voltage-Regulator/P-LE1200

Bought one of these that I keep in my gig box in response to all the differences in line voltages around the city. It's fifty bucks and works very well. Not as pretty as the brown box.

It also protects against surges which is usually what takes out amps. I have to admit I was annoyed with the lack of technical information on the brown box site. Visit both the apc site and brown sound for a study in marketing hype.

efk · Jul 18, 2017

For the vintage amps, all you really need is a 5V to 6V bucking transformer, 3A rating is fine for 50W or less or maybe 5A for 100W jobs. Heck, you can wire it into a simple 3$ electrical box from Lowes. I made one up with two boxes, complete with a switch and a quad electrical output for probably only @ $60 max. All the adjustment is really unnecessary; you just need to knock off @ 5 or 6V on average to keep things happy.

Google 'vintage voltage adapter' by RG Keen - it will tell you everything you need to know, can do it with simple wire nuts if you can't solder.

Power conditioners and brown box

Elhorch

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tonar8353

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Xpensive Wino

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corpse

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Professortwang

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efk

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