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View Full Version : Rolling off the volume knob

lilkuku
10-22-2011, 02:30 PM
When rolling off the volume knob to clean up the OD a bit, where in the chain would you say has the most influence? Is it the amp, pups, pots, caps etc. Keep in mind that I'm sure all of the above play some roll, but if you were looking for a starting point, what would you change first?

I ask because with my current set up I'm not getting the "clean-up" Im looking for.

Thanks
walterw
10-22-2011, 06:23 PM
what kind of guitar, and what's the first source of overdrive it hits, pedal or amp?
lilkuku
10-22-2011, 07:15 PM
what kind of guitar, and what's the first source of overdrive it hits, pedal or amp?

It's a Gibson LP Classic (92'). I changed out the pots with RS vintage kit. I toyed around with the modern vs 50's wiring a bit as well as the cap values.

I use a pedal right now, but if I can figure out how to clean it up more I'd use just the amp. I use a Mesa .22 + and or a Fender Blues Deluxe.

I went through this with a Heritage LP I had. It wasn't until I bought some over the counter push/pull pots that I got the clean tone I was looking for when rolling back the volume. I figured I'd ask here before buying over the counter pots again. I think they were All Parts, but not sure.
walterw
10-22-2011, 07:42 PM
what pedal? in general, crunchy pedals won't clean up as well as crunchy tube amplifier preamps, which themselves won't clean up as well as crunchy tube power sections.

the RS pots would be 500k audio, which will clean up better than the stock gibby 300k linear. (i forget what heritage uses, but those guys used to be good at putting terrible wiring/pickups/hardware on nice instruments.)
Tone_Terrific
10-22-2011, 09:26 PM
what pedal? in general, crunchy pedals won't clean up as well as crunchy tube amplifier preamps, which themselves won't clean up as well as crunchy tube power sections.

Getting the whole chain operating in a nicely complementary fashion is the way to go but then you have to play in the sweet spot and that does not allow quiet distortion nor loud cleans, from the same rig settings. Switching works better for extremes changes.