Master Volume in a Fender 5e3 Deluxe??

[Jade]

Pretty interesting subject matter here guys. Variable Voltage Regulation, or PowerScaling, or VVR, or Vari-Watt... They're all pretty much the same thing. So just how many different names are we gonna be able to come up with for this type of feature?

I mean, When Randall Smith, or whoever it was put the first Master Volume on an amp, It was a new thing for amps... but not really any new groundbreaking technology as far as electronics in general are concerned.

So most people use the Term "Master Volume", or "Fat Switch", or "Bright Switch", or "Pre Volume", or "Post Volume" The circuitry behind all these features are not really all that unique, same thing for the PowerScaling.

So in the case of the "Master Volume"... what else are you gonna call it? Can Randall Smith lay claim to that term? Can you immagine what would happen if every car manufacturer over the last 100 years had to come up with a unique name for the Carburetor?, or Anti Lock Brakes?

It would be stupid confusing for the consumer.

I guess my point is, that at some point, one or two of the above mentioned names for lowering the B+ voltage in an amp is going to become the standard. There's just no way around it.

BTW... I THINK that I'm the first person to use the term Vari-Watt in relation to guitar amplification, and if anyone wants to use that term... it's fine by me.

Jade

[Jade]

Oh yeah.... Skip... you big Theif you!!

[UR12]

Ok, I've been flamed a few times for using the product name VVRX.

Is "VVR" an acronym that you coined? I don't doubt it, I simply don't know.
If so, then congratulations. "VVR" has become something of a generic term, like PI , OT, or MV. Mention "VVR" on most amp building sites and the immediate reference is to powerscaling or the like. That was my reason for naming it as I did.

I'm a reasonable person, so since this seems to be an issue, I'll change the name of my product. Personally I don't care if I call it "SOaS". One of my OEM customers has been kind enough to allow me to use the term that he uses to describe it as the product name.

I would suggest that if you wish to protect the acronym "VVR" you trademark or copyright the term.

Skip

Thank you. I am happy to hear we can settle this like gentlemen. Best of luck to you in your new venture!

[UR12]

Pretty interesting subject matter here guys.
Jade

Jade, I feel honored that out of all of the interesting posts on this forum in regards to some of the most expensive amps on the planet, you picked this hijacked thread to post your first two posts on this forum. After 19 Months, Welcome aboard

[Jade]

Jade, I feel honored that out of all of the interesting posts on this forum in regards to some of the most expensive amps on the planet, you picked this hijacked thread to post your first two posts on this forum.

As well you should

After 19 Months, Welcome aboard

Thanks!

Actually I completely forgot that I ever created an account here, until stopping by to see what kind of trouble my buddy Skip was causing.

Cheers,
Jade[/code][/quote]

[Diablo1]

Has anyone tried VVR or Vari-watt or Power-scaling...

on an Express clone?
How does it work out...tone-wise?

[M Fowler]

There are other ways to achieve the end result without resorting to master volume and VVR, vari-watt, or power scaling.

This must be the old flame war from 18watt.com I remember reading a long time ago.

Mark

[Diablo1]

There are other ways to achieve the end result without resorting to master volume and VVR, vari-watt, or power scaling.

Mark

Like what? Earplugs?

I'm allergic to attenuators.

[benoit]

There are other ways to achieve the end result without resorting to master volume and VVR, vari-watt, or power scaling.

Mark

Like what? Earplugs?

I'm allergic to attenuators.

There's always beerplugs, then you don't even NEED the amp to sound good for it to sound good!

[bcmatt]

I mean, When Randall Smith, or whoever it was put the first Master Volume on an amp, It was a new thing for amps... but not really any new groundbreaking technology as far as electronics in general are concerned.

I'm totally going off on a tangent here, but wasn't it Pete Traynor who invented the first amp with a Master Volume?
I'm pretty sure I read that on the back of a Traynor catalog as well as at my Long & McQuade training/indoctrination. He brought us several firsts apparently.

[ChopSauce]

Managing to sort out every single issue while rebuilding my Tweedle Dee Deluxe + VVR, I'm glad I found these pics

I used a 1M Linear pot with a built in SPST switch in place of the stock Power switch. The PCB mounts directly to the pot and the Mosfet. Click "On" then adjust power as needed...

vvr-sample-TC15023.jpg

vvr-sample-TC15024.jpg

vvr-sample-TC15026.jpg

...

For I also intended to have the amp switched through the VVR pot but got the impressions that it was a bit noisy. Maybe that was just me doing several moves at once in my attempt to reduce the bulk noise, or having being told that it ought to be...

I'll proceed with some testings of it, anyway but: Deric, if you ever see this message, could-you please comment on?

[ChopSauce]

I also intended to have the amp switched through the VVR pot but got the impressions that it was a bit noisy. Maybe that was just me doing several moves at once in my attempt to reduce the bulk noise...

Most likely! I rewired it that way and I did not noticed much difference with a separate switch.

However, the drawback is I'm loosing the "fuzz" at bedroom volume - with a R2 resistor (see schematic below) between the pot and ground, due to the pot wiper already adds around 100k when switched on.

So I have thought about suppressing the R2 resistor and have the pot grounded but when switching off the resistance between pot wiper and ground almost falls to zero before the power is switched off, so I'm unsure this is safe for the MOSFET...

VVR.jpg

EDIT: removing the R2 (above schematic) seems to work Ok - so far. Now the amp whispers at bedroom volume, if ever needed.

The linear pot does not provide a smooth increase in amp volume, though. I'm thinking about using a log one, instead - yet I could read that the log pots are rated for 250V - not 400 as the linear ones...

And, sorry - I forgot: thousand thanks Dana!