lowering the level between a preamp, and poweramp

[GuitarGuyLP]

I have a slightly technical question for you guys. I am looking for a way to drop the level between my Mak4 preamp, and my power amp so that I can run both volumes at a decent level, but still have it quiet enough to play when the wife is home. I am thinking about splicing a pot into the cable betweent he pre, and power amps. I am looking for a sugestion of what value of pot I should use for this. Here is the basic idea of what I am doing. Then I would just replace this cable with a normal one when I want to crank it up. I do know that if the pot is too big, or small a value it will change the tone a lot.

Preamp_____________
. . . . . . . . . |________________
____________|________________Power amp

 

[jerrydyer]

so, fill in some blanks for me so I can help, the lead channel is too loud or visa versa??

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Once I get the level on any of the three dirty channels up to where it starts to sound clear I have to have the power amp volume level just barely open, and that makes it a bit dark. So I am just looking to lower the overall output of the preamp so that I can have the output levels, and volume of the power amp past the point where the internal capacitance of the pot is rolling off highs without shaking the walls.

I have also been thinking about using one side of the power amp when just playing at home, and installing this...
http://www.londonpower.com/catalog/prod ... ucts_id=77
I have the kit, and had it installed in another amp before, and it worked great!!!

 

[Sixtonoize]

This will do what you're looking for:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUCK-KNOB-MARSH ... 0825724427

 

[srommes]

Are you running an fx processor at all? You could run one in series between the preamp and poweramp and control the overall volume with the output of the fx processor. I run a Rocktron Intellifex LTD between my Mak4 and VHT 2150 and love the combo.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

I was looking at that, but I would prefer to just get the pot, and solder it inline in a cable to keep it simple. I am just trying to find out what value of pot works best for this.

I don't use any FX unit. I tried using an MXR EQ, but I found it sounds moch better without it.

 

[threadkiller]

How high are your level controls on each channel? Mine are all at about 10 o'clock except the clean channel which is up around 1 o'clock to be about the same level. I don't have any problem with too much signal in terms of clipping or overloading the input to the power amp. It is loud though. The effects unit in between does work though. I have an old quadraverb in the chain and when I set it up I just turned the input signal down until it stopped clipping on the LED and that tammed the signal enough that I can turn the power amp up without leveling the walls.

 

[steve_k]

I predict a trainwreck here. Invest in a smaller wattage power amp, like a 20 watt Mesa. A volume pot is a variable resistor, not a limiter. Also, the last tube in the preamplifier will be your output tube. Pull the 12ax7 and try an 12at7. This will knock it on its ass.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Why do you predict a trainwreck?? I am essentially wanting to add a second master volume in between the pre, and power amps.

I have actually been on the lookout for a Mesa 20/20, but it is hard to find one for reasonable in Canada. I have also been thinking about just building a single 18 watt power section from an 18 watt Marshall schematic like the one from weber's 6M18 head, and use that for home use.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

It is done. I just decided to try with a 100k ohm audio taper pot that I had laying around. It works perfect!! The short cable on the right goes to the input, and the output is from the wiper, the grounds are soldered together, and to the casing of the pot. When I turn it down below 1/2 I can play quiet enough that there is no way I would wake my wife up, and it doesn't sound like ass!!

Before to play quiet I had to have all the channels on the mak4 except clean at about 9:00, now they are at about 10:00, I had to just slightly nudge the volume on the peavy to just barely above off, and sounding like a turd to play quiet, now I can put that to about 10:00 as well, and still be very quiet!!