Amp tone and volume

I try to find the volume I'm going to play at, both guitar and amp first. Make sure no pedals are on. Then I try to find the spot on each tone knob where there is a noticeable change from not doing much, to "on." and make note of it. I repeat for each tone knob, then leave them set there. It needs little to no change after that point. Then I dial in my pedals.
 
SG John said:
I try to find the volume I'm going to play at, both guitar and amp first. Make sure no pedals are on. Then I try to find the spot on each tone knob where there is a noticeable change from not doing much, to "on." and make note of it. I repeat for each tone knob, then leave them set there. It needs little to no change after that point. Then I dial in my pedals.
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I saw that in a video once and followed it for a while. I only stopped out of laziness. I will start again.
 
RVA said:
Can anyone explain why I find it so much harder to dial in a good tone on an amp at higher volumes? It does not matter what amp, or which guitar I match it with. I am not talking about breakup, but balance. It seems that I am all over the EQ after I pass 4-5.

Thanks in advance for any insight.
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For me, it's just the opposite!!!!! However, I'm using a 40 watt amp with a 75watt speaker with a 100db sensitivity rating. I know that on paper a difference of 2db (98db vs 100db) doesn't sound like much, but to put it in perspective, the difference in volume between a 50 watt head & a 100 watt head is only 3db....so I have a TON of clean headroom and even at full volume, there is zero break up. My EQ settings never change.

Electro-Harmonix 12VR75W SPECS:

  • Power Rating 75 watts RMS
  • 12” Paper cone
  • Treated paper edge
  • 1.75 inch voice coil
  • 51 oz Ceramic magnet with vent
  • Frequency range 70 - 5000 Hz
  • Sensitivity 1W/1M (SPL) : 100 dB
  • Nominal Impedance: 16 ohm
  • Mesh dust cap
  • Resonance frequency, Fs 75 Hz
 
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SG John said:
I try to find the volume I'm going to play at, both guitar and amp first. Make sure no pedals are on. Then I try to find the spot on each tone knob where there is a noticeable change from not doing much, to "on." and make note of it. I repeat for each tone knob, then leave them set there. It needs little to no change after that point. Then I dial in my pedals.
Click to expand...

We watch the meter on the kick drum strike, and I set my guitar to that level...
 
RVA said:
Can anyone explain why I find it so much harder to dial in a good tone on an amp at higher volumes? It does not matter what amp, or which guitar I match it with. I am not talking about breakup, but balance. It seems that I am all over the EQ after I pass 4-5.

Thanks in advance for any insight.
Click to expand...

I would suggest a low impedance volume pedal - like the Boss FV30L - in your amp's FX loop. This works like and attentuator and keeps the tone very consistent even when rolling the volume back...
 
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