PROFILE
BROWNBOX Bruce Adolph
I was interviewing the legendary guitarist Phil
me with some great guitar players for us to
regional line wall voltage, in bypass mode. All
Keaggy about his new electric guitar /vocal
interview in the future). I was curious about
other selections are reduction levels that you
album (burning guitar solos) and he told me
his background so I asked him, “I’ve been
determine which sound best for your amp.
that the BrownBox literally gave his old 1960’s
an avid player /amp builder for many years.
Vox amp new life. In fact, he uses it on all of his
And having an electronics/electro-mechanical
Remember tube purist out there… no pedal or
amps now. I said, “What is a Brown Box?” You
background with U.S. Navy aircraft missiles,
attenuator can replicate that response of dry,
may be asking the same question. Let’s find out
it wasn’t to difficult for me to take up amp
purely saturated tubes. Pedals and attenuators
together right from the horse’s mouth.
building as a hobby”. That led to the obvious
have their place of course, but keep in mind
follow up question of how did that lead you
that they color your tone… they do not
Pat Geraghty is the inventor and says, “The
to the BrownBox? “That took a while actually,
create it.
BrownBox was created to provide a safe range
because I (like many others) got caught up
The BrownBox sports an easy to read, back
of voltage reduction levels for vintage tube
in the MOD obsession before coming to the
lit L.C.D. display enabling real-time voltage and
amplifier designs. The same, era-correct voltage
realization… and the underlying fact, that all of
amperage monitoring which is also useful for
levels that the amps were designed around.
these amp circuits were designed to operate
diagnostics. The big benefit here is that earlier
The dynamics of a vintage amp supplied with
and were voiced by the engineers with specific
tube saturation equals earlier break-up at lower
the proper line voltage are optimized and will
voltages. So, if you don’t regulate your line
usable volume levels.
sound and respond as originally intended,
voltage coming in, the MODs are pretty much
revealing the circuits true harmonic content.
an act of futility. Because you’re voicing mods
Other players, you may be fans of, using the
This is the starting point, the basis of the signal
will change with the variable voltage levels. I
BrownBox (in one or more of it’s configurations)
chain, and where serious musicians begin
found through research that so many of todays
are Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Joe Walsh, Brad
creating a signature tone”.
(and yesterdays) guitar heroes were all using a
Paisley, Kenny Vaughn and Buddy Miller.
test bench device called a Variac. I also used
The gist of it seems to be that most vintage
those throughout my career and knew right then
Pat offers several models – Brown Box,
tube amps respond more harmonically and
that there needed to be a safe and professional
Brownie and Backline. BrownBox is completely
touch sensitive with optimized voltage. Placing
grade alternative that anyone could use.
proprietary in design and function and comes
these circuits back into balance reveals the
with a lifetime warranty with normal use.
authentic tone fundamental of the amp… tone
The BrownBox is not a Variac. Unlike a
that can truly blossom.
Variac, BrownBox cannot accidentally harm
Prices range from $219 to $2,100.
or destroy your amplifier. The maximum input
www.BrownBox1.com
䘀爀漀洀 猀琀甀搀椀漀 琀漀 猀琀愀最攀Ⰰ 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀
⌀ 瀀漀眀攀爀 猀漀氀甀琀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 礀漀甀⸀
I found Pat to be super friendly (even connecting
䈀爀漀眀渀䈀漀砀
16
voltage available using BrownBox is your
䈀爀漀眀渀椀攀
䔀砀瀀漀爀琀 ⠀䨀愀瀀愀渀⤀
May June 2016
CollectibleGuitar.com