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I was wondering exactly what it does in its diffrent positions?

Mostly likely its VARrIes the TONE.
but besides thats, I have no idea.

Google found this

Funny how they mention BB King's envolvement but they fail to mention he rarely uses it (or so I've heard).

I had a Lucille and ended up disconnecting the Varitone on it.

Position 1 was full-on, and ever from there up to 6 removed more and more low-end so that each position sounded more out-of-phase-ish than the last. The guitar overall was very cool (hope to get another one someday) but I had no use for the Varitone.

Interesting concept...

I've never understood exactly what it does but I do know you need two out of phase humbuckers and that it plays those two off of each other for a progressively thinner and more nasal tone. I love BB King but that pinched out of phase tone is not the tone I want for my own playing. I removed the varitone from my own ES-355 and put the two humbuckers in phase so it sounded more like an ES-335.

I once tried to build my own variable-tone by using a six position rotary switch and different value capacitors on each hot lead. Interesting but almost useless.

Snowdog


Originally Posted by LewguitarI've never understood exactly what it does but I do know you need two out of phase humbuckers and that it plays those two off of each other for a progressively thinner and more nasal tone. I love BB King but that pinched out of phase tone is not the tone I want for my own playing. I removed the varitone from my own ES-355 and put the two humbuckers in phase so it sounded more like an ES-335.

If my Lucille was any indication, you don't need out-of-phase pickups for it to work. I was able to switch a bunch of pickups in and out of there from both neck and bridge position without any phasing problems.

I don't think they are out of series as well. May be a sort of myth as some people believed (believe?) the 2 and 4 positions of a strat are out-of-phase.

Besides, does position #1 reverse the phase of the pickups to get the standard 2-pickup twang? And wouldn't that mean you'd get a lot of extra noise from the Varitone because it would reverse the phase of one of the pickups (which came 2-conductor in the Lucille) making the braided shield (and the base plate) the hot lead?

As I recall, the Varitone worked even with only one pickup running.


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunIf my Lucille was any indication, you don't need out-of-phase pickups for it to work. I was able to switch a bunch of pickups in and out of there from both neck and bridge position without any phasing problems.

Hmmm....maybe. It's been 25 years since I had my '60 or '61 ES-355 stolen and I haven't owned one since. Sure did seem like the pickups were out of phase at the time...but maybe you're right. Lew

It's also possible they had a different wiring scheme then -- or that BB wanted his wired a different way.