more OD/gain from the level control

[briane]

Hello all,

I have been playing around tweaking the od in one of my builds, thought I might ask if anyone had any suggestions or experience in pushing the od a tad further towards my goal.

I would like to get a bit more gain out of the level control. I often find the drive (od input) is near zero (just enough to pass signal), and the level (od return) is cranked to max to get a nice mellow lucious overdrive thats not overly grinding. problem is mainly in wanting the level control to go to 11 or 12, not a whole lot more is needed, but some is.

This is on a non-hrm build, basically built off the ODS101 nHRM schematics, 100k drive pot, 100k level pot, .01/150k out v2a, .005/180k out v2b, and 180k/120k plates on v2, 220k/150k plates on v1. the OD input is through a 220k into a 100k trimmer set about halfway or so. Snubbers are 250p. Pretty standard stuff. The guitar is a nice strat.

any suggestions appreciated.

thought I might try:
1) 250k level control (or larger)
2) drop 180k out v2b to 100k or lower, maybe use small bypass cap
3) monkey with plate values. would 220k/150k plates on the od get me closer to my goal?
4) 100k plate on v1a. How would this affect the sound?

currently has .01 on mid cap tone stack.

So if you have tried any of these it would really help to know if they are a step in the right direction. I've cruised through old posts, but this does not seem like something thats been discussed in any detail, or at least not beaten to death yet.

thanks in advance,
brian