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Post subject: master volume vs. non-master volume tube amps
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:44 am
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in my continuing search for a tube amp, I noticed that some amps have master volume controls, and some don't. is there any advantage to having one?

I wonder if it means you can turn up the gain and volume controls to get the sound you want, and use the master to get your sound to a managable level. does that sound about right.

man, I still have so much to learn...... thx-fred


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Post subject: Re: master volume vs. non-master volume tube amps
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:56 am
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phreddybee wrote:
I wonder if it means you can turn up the gain and volume controls to get the sound you want, and use the master to get your sound to a managable level. does that sound about right.


You've nailed it precisely.

Early permutations of this feature (especially on the vintage silverface Fender amps) were only marginally effective but the circuit technology has matured significantly since then. Most guitarists now find them useful to some degree or another.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: master volume vs. non-master volume tube amps
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 2:32 pm
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There was also the beauty of turning up those Fender Vintage amps without the master volume controls. They were loud but they could sing......

I had a Silver Face Pro Reverb and a Silver Face Twin Reverb both with master volume controls as well as the older non master volume control black face Fenders early on. The master volume control amps were as you described them above. Very manageable, but for the purity of over driven power tubes pushing a lot of air the older Fenders were much nicer sounding (for my personal taste, which is of course subjective) Somehow I loved the silver face Pro Reverb which sang like a birdie when using the master volume control almost rivaling my old black face Fenders, However the Twin was just too loud and clean to really make it sing like the Pro.

Nowadays I use a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with JJ tubes and an Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker on the clean channel only, and although some folks decry the reliability of the HRD, mine has worked flawlessly for many years. It is my very favorite amp for a big fat round deep tone, and for overdrives I use a tube distortion stomp and also a digital reverb pedal to effect the clean channel.

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Post subject: Re: master volume vs. non-master volume tube amps
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 11:57 am
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Remember to get the best tone from the power tubes in your amp, you need to run an amp pretty high up.

I have amps with both master volumes and ones with no master volumes. The ones without master volumes I'll drive with a distortion box/overdrive box of some kind.

One could also add an attenuator on the speaker side, this will let you control the volume level, but still let you crank the amp hotter. It's an option.


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Post subject: Re: master volume vs. non-master volume tube amps
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:14 am
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MikeO wrote:
One could also add an attenuator on the speaker side, this will let you control the volume level, but still let you crank the amp hotter. It's an option.


+1

And this option is significantly more effective and realistic-sounding than any master-volume control.

But like the MV feature, there will be little possibility of speaker break-up.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: master volume vs. non-master volume tube amps
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 10:48 pm
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When I think about Fender amps my first thought is about non-master volume amps.

Speaking for myself I also think they shine when and if you can crank them and use the volume control to go from clean to mean.

To be realistic Im talking about some of the smaller combos for the most part. It may be pushing it with a backface or silverface Super.

I would rather use a good OD pedal than a master volume Twin,or Super ect. But im not really a fan of master volume amps if were are talking classic Fender or Marshall. I had a silverface twin with factory JBLs and if I cranked that It could make you ill and probably never breakup.

When it comes to attenuators I dont think they sound good if you cut it down to what people call bedroom levels these days. Thats not really what the were made for in the first place.

For example if you were playing out and could not play as loud as you want for the venue. Or if the sound man dont like you,or recording.

If I want the benefits of power tube,speaker,or both distortion you still have to play at a level that is loud enough to achieve this. So you can only attenuate so much without loosing the benefits of a cranked non-master volume amp.

You can cut it down but at some point your amp could start to sound dark,or muddy,maybe like there is a blanket over it. So at this point I would rather a good OD pedal. I had to do this with my Victoria Bassmans if I would not attenuate enough.

I prefer the sounds of the original tweed Fenders. So getting back to pushing the amp hard and using the volume control. I think I can get away doing this with tweeds more the blackface ect.

What I mean is for example. A cranked silverface or blackface deluxe may sound stiff and in your face as compared to a tweed deluxe. Dont get me wrong Im not calling those amps stiff or in your face that is over the top.

That just my thoughts. I grew up on non master volume amps. Thats what I prefer. Ive been playing a long time and Ive always gone back to non master volume amps.

There is just something special to me as a simple tweed champ or tweed deluxe circuit.

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Post subject: Re: master volume vs. non-master volume tube amps
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2015 9:53 am
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blues plexi wrote:

I would rather use a good OD pedal than a master volume Twin,or Super ect. But im not really a fan of master volume amps if were are talking classic Fender or Marshall. I had a silverface twin with factory JBLs and if I cranked that It could make you ill and probably never breakup.


Amen to that. I use a tube distortion stomp and it gets me what I need at any volume level, although when I get the speaker pushing a lot of air it gets even better.

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