Anyone expert on Varitone switches?

[FELINEGUITARS]

I saw Tonka play with Waysted ( the night they had Ozzy come onstage with them - supporting Maiden ) and he was really good although I had no doubt that he and Pete Way were trashed.

[Philly Q]

I saw Waysted on their first tour, with Ronnie Kayfield on guitar.  But that album with Chapman on guitar and Danny Vaughn on vocals was really good.... can't remember if I bought the CD or if I only have it on vinyl.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I saw Waysted on their first tour, with Ronnie Kayfield on guitar.  But that album with Chapman on guitar and Danny Vaughn on vocals was really good.... can't remember if I bought the CD or if I only have it on vinyl.

it was Fin singing on that tour but yes - save your Prayers is the one you're thinking of with DannyVaughn - later of Tyketto http://youtu.be/Vywy4Sxa7Ko

[gwEm]

theres these artec ones also: http://www.axesrus.co.uk/On-Board-Effects-s/1883.htm

I'm quite likiing the look of the QDD2 Onboard Distortion - gimmicky, of course, but I'm sure it would be a lot more use than the varitone!

Looks funky that one doesn't it. The treble boost/tube overdrive is a bit less funky definitely, but possible more useful.

[Philly Q]

theres these artec ones also: http://www.axesrus.co.uk/On-Board-Effects-s/1883.htm

I'm quite likiing the look of the QDD2 Onboard Distortion - gimmicky, of course, but I'm sure it would be a lot more use than the varitone!

Looks funky that one doesn't it. The treble boost/tube overdrive is a bit less funky definitely, but possible more useful.

Could be right.  I'm not very interested in all the eqs, mid-boosts etc, because (a) they probably sound artificial and would soon become annoying and (b) to my mind if you're going as far as having onboard electronics they might as well be OTT!

That said, I'm leaning strongly towards the Ghost piezo system.  It would be something genuinely "useful" (in the fantasy world where I actually have a use for a guitar) and it offers something completely separate from the magnetic pickups without messing them up tone-wise.

[PhilKing]

I have an old Gibson from a 345/355, and they had an interesting multitap capacitor and a huge choke that was attached to the jack socket.  I never actually put it on anything, but years back I had a John Birch where the tone controls were 6 way switches with 2 different capacitors and 3 different resistors to give usable tone changes quickly (though it wasn't as simple as that, as you had to know where you were in the first place!).

[Philly Q]

I had a John Birch where the tone controls were 6 way switches with 2 different capacitors and 3 different resistors to give usable tone changes quickly (though it wasn't as simple as that, as you had to know where you were in the first place!).

Sounds a bit like that "Tonestyler" control Fano use on their guitars, although probably achieved in a completely different way.