balance between clean/od

[mat]

On my recent build I have to crank the clean channel to be near of the volume of the od channel. I have tried both two masters and single master (now) but both wirings seem to lack volume on clean channel.

The sound is very good but I suspect there is something wrong. The clean channel has to be at 12:00 o'clock while od being at 9:00 gives same volume on both wiring (1 or 2 masters).

I've swapped the V1 tube and resoldered every joint, checked resistor values etc..

Any hints where to look next ?

[greiswig]

What you're describing doesn't sound that unusual from my very limited experience. On my build, I keep the clean volume at around 2:00, drive and level both about noon. Master controls the overall volume. So noon on the clean volume (V1) doesn't seem "cranked" to me. Even when I really do turn the clean channel all the way up, the breakup is pretty subtle.

I suspect if I had my OD set where you do, I'd want to pull the clean volume down a fair amount to equal the volume. 9:00 in that case doesn't seem unreasonable.

[Structo]

Yep, for playing at home I usually have my preamp volume at noon.
Master between 10 o'clock and 12 o'clock.

The ratio of the preamp volume to Master volume is where you adjust for breakup on the clean channel.
If I want more breakup in the clean, I crank the preamp volume then bring up the Master for the overall volume.

If I want little breakup then I turn the Master up louder then use the preamp volume control for overall volume of the clean channel.

Then to balance the OD to clean I adjust the drive for the amount of grind I want, then adjust the Level control for OD volume.
So I use the Level control to balance the OD with the clean.

I usually have the OD set to be a bit louder than the clean.

Heheheh, I hope that is not too confusing.
I am easily able to adjust the volume balance of the clean and OD this way.

[mat]

Sorry guys, what I meant was I always put the preamp volume at 11:00 or 12:00 but the difference is (when wired as two masters) between the clean master and od master. And when wired as only one master the difference between the od level and master will be huge. When adjusting for balance between clean and od sound, I will have to put the master (or clean master) at 12:00 and od level (or od master) at 9:00 and still the od is much louder.

It feels to me when in clean mode and pre volume at 12:00 and master at 12:00 the amp should be much louder. Would there be a way to troubleshoot this ?

[odourboy]

Have you got a 'scope and a signal generator? With a steady signal, check the level coming out of the OD/CL relay and compare it to the signal coming out of the clean master in clean mode versus the OD master in OD mode. Speculating that the OD/CL relay has a flakey contact causing signal loss off the clean master?

Just a hypothesis!

[ChrisM]

Are you using the same type of audio pots for the two controls?

[odourboy]

Are you using the same type of audio pots for the two controls?

Good point - a linear taper rather than audio taper pot on the OD would give you that type of behaviour.

[mat]

Have you got a 'scope and a signal generator? With a steady signal, check the level coming out of the OD/CL relay and compare it to the signal coming out of the clean master in clean mode versus the OD master in OD mode. Speculating that the OD/CL relay has a flakey contact causing signal loss off the clean master?

Just a hypothesis!

I don't have a scope. I have unsoldered the clean/od relay and putted a socket in and tried the connections with jumper wires. Its not the relay.

[mat]

Are you using the same type of audio pots for the two controls?

Think I have but I'll check out. Thanks for the tip !

Ok, I have it wired as one master (normal nonHRM) which is A1M and the od level pot now is 250KB. I removed the two pots and turned them back and forward couple times and now the amp seems lots louder I think it was something inside either pot that got removed ??

[ChrisM]

That linear taper OD level pot is bunching up a lot of the pot's function/change at the beginning of the sweep. I'd change it to linear. I found this issue quite quickly as well after building my #124 clone.

[mat]

That linear taper OD level pot is bunching up a lot of the pot's function/change at the beginning of the sweep. I'd change it to linear. I found this issue quite quickly as well after building my #124 clone.

Sorry Crish, I don't understand what You are suggesting ? The pot is linear 250K.

I got new problem.. well actually the same. I connested my footswitch and changed the channels few times and the clean channel has again too little volume ?? I'll check the relay supply voltages..

[Structo]

The problem with some of these amps is they have different names for the same controls.
Like ratio, level, drive, etc.

For what it's worth, I have a 1M master, 100K linear for drive and level and it balances out easily.

[dogears]

Either use a 100K linear or a 250K audio. Your issue is the pot.....

That linear taper OD level pot is bunching up a lot of the pot's function/change at the beginning of the sweep. I'd change it to linear. I found this issue quite quickly as well after building my #124 clone.

Sorry Crish, I don't understand what You are suggesting ? The pot is linear 250K.

I got new problem.. well actually the same. I connested my footswitch and changed the channels few times and the clean channel has again too little volume ?? I'll check the relay supply voltages..

[ChrisM]

^Indeed.

What ever pot is controlling the volume of the OD channel isnt right.

[mat]

Either use a 100K linear or a 250K audio. Your issue is the pot.....

But the problem is the clean channel that has too little volume..