[sdiy] Amps and neons - here's a good one!

[Gordon JC Pearce]

I have an old HH VS120 combo, yes, the ones with the green glowy 
electroluminescent control panel (mine's worn out, sadly).

The mains on/off switch is one of those rocker switches with a neon in 
it.  Now when the amp is on, the neon no longer lights - but it will 
come on in time with peaks in the music!

Why is it doing this?  I notice that it does it more with bassy sounds - 
could it be that vibrations are being coupled into the lamp, making the 
electrodes wibble about, and lowering the striking voltage?  Seems 
unlikely...

-- 
Gordonjcp MM0YEQ