Master Volume & Gain Controls On Your Guitar Amp – What Do They Do? [Cranked Amps, Drive & Headroom]

Amp gain, level, volume & master controls – if you’re confused, we’re here to help…

Welcome to the show. We had a question in our comments section from ChristopherKang5707 regarding getting the sound of traditional, non-master volume cranked amps. In short, if a newer amp has master volume and gain knobs, do you have to crank both, or just one?
It’s a big topic with no simple answer so we decided to explore it a little bit and, of course, add some pedals to continue the discussion.
Enjoy the show!

A note on the MkIII Boogie’s master volume, Mick here. I often refer to the master volume being ‘high’, when it rarely gets beyond three. It’s the nature of these things. In certain modes, even on three, it’s open and insanely loud - much beyond that it doesn’t go hugely louder. And if it does, our ears don’t want it! 110dB gets a bit hurty in here. In any case, on three, that master is pretty open. I know – madness.
And BIG thanks to Simon and Sadie for the loan of the MkIII.

Pedals & Stuff used in this show
• TheGigRig Three2One
• Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200
• Xotic Ep Boost
• Nobels ODR-1 Natural Overdrive
• Boss DD-8 Digital Delay
• TheGigRig AB Baby

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Interesting bits and go to sections…
0:00 Hello & welcome
1:35 Gain, volume, master - what do we mean?
3:35 Circuit flow and stages in a typical amp
5:10 Everything affects everything else
7:55 Gain & Master in the AC15
10:18 Post phase inverter master volume
13:20 The sound of a cranked amp?
14:50 Size & power of amp is everything
15:40 Gain & Master in the Mesa MkIII
18:50 Master up, preamp down and vice versa
22:00 Adding more preamp gain in the amp
25:00 What about a separate channel volume?
28:50 It all comes back to headroom… pedals?
30:00 Solo boost from a cranked amp?
33:00 Solo boost in a cleaner amp
35:10 A pedal is just a contributor to the tone
36:00 Delay signal position vis a vis overdriving amps
43:13 Thank you for the Boogie!
43:45 Summing up… and Dan plays both amps!

Guitars in today’s show
• Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster - Dan’s video here:    • That Pedal Show – Our Guitars & Gear: Dani...  

Amps in today’s show
• Vox AC15 C1 with Celestion G12M Greenback
• Mesa/Boogie MkIII combo (purple stripe, non Simul-Class 100/60 ) with EVM12L speaker

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