Amp vs Guitar Volume Controls

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Sun May 12, 2002 1:01 pm

I just read an archived post regarding 360's and playing them at full volume and adjusting volume only on the amp. I have always done this with my Rick because the volume controls are not very sensitive at all, so I just keep all of my knobs pegged at "10". I mostly just play through a Cambrige 15 or Roland JC. Given that there are few or no tubes involved, am I selling myself short on available sounds and tones from my Rick 335? I'm guessing that the guitar volume knobs would have more of an effect with a tube amp.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon May 13, 2002 9:36 am

AS I do not own a Rick six string ... I can only tell you what I do with my other brand six strings.

I turn my guitar controls to maximum , I use an Ernie Ball volume pedal to conteract the guy mixing the 'house' levels (sometimes they forget to goose it/turn it up a hair ) for solos.
To get a crunchy tone , I do this ... then to 'clean up the sound a tad , I back off my guitar volume just a tab.This is the geezer method .This was done on pre master volume control amps ...as you had to crank up the amp to get them to 'go' .

Sounds like a lot to make it sound great , but I have done it this way since the 1970's.I learned from going to concerts, then working on the concert stage for great recording acts , then playing my own stuff in bands.

With my Line 6 ... I have the added fun of a BOOST button .I can really wreck havoc with the sound guys .

Why does this work ?
Capacitance and resistance ...I am sure a Electronics tech can give the actual answer in those terms .... but that is my version.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon May 13, 2002 9:41 am

With bass and guitar, I have always left the output alone on my amp....if you play through a sound system your sound engineer may give you dagger looks and call you names if you turn up, once levels are set...Of course if you're not in a band, it may not matter.....

I would recommend some sort of signal boost in the form of signal processing, i.e. an effects unit of some sort, rack mounted or on the floor. Even simpler would be a compressor limiter or a Boss EQ pedal....IMHO setting your amp volume and leaving it alone is probably a good habit to get into, once you get into a situation of playing with others in a group..........

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon May 13, 2002 12:06 pm

I want to add that when playing live ... I have to consider -
1- at what volume does the amp get the 'tone ' that I want .

2- at what volume do the other players ask me to turn it down .

3- at what point do I need to turn it down as it is over the top and I can not control what it does .

At that point I back off .I can always go up , but if you get into a volume war .... you always lose.

There needs to be a consenses of how loud the stage volume is .Drummers have sort of a fixed volume level ...That is the starting point.Control that , and you can keep everyone else in line .

If all else fails ,,,Get an AMP capo.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Tue May 14, 2002 6:50 am

Gee Mark,

First it was "bakelite trees" ... now an "amp capo"??

What's next?

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Tue May 14, 2002 1:34 pm

To get more snarl out of your amp try tieing the cord in a series of knots.

dannyboy · Post by **dannyboy** » Tue May 14, 2002 2:38 pm

The square knots work the best... I tried the bowline but wasn't able to reach the inlet!!!

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Tue May 14, 2002 10:38 pm

Humph!! This former Eagle Scout will tell you Only
half hitches or sheet bends are going to deliver the goods.On the other hand, a square knot, IF, and Only If, it's a Left Handed square knot.....

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed May 15, 2002 2:13 am

Gotta love anything that's left-handed!!!

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Wed May 15, 2002 10:21 am

I tried a sheep-shank knot... It sounded very baaaaaad! (...almost as bad as this joke!)