Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

[Matt42]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

That would be it.......

Cool, that's what I thought. There's a couple of guys near me who are building a couple of amps with a PPIMV. I've demoed both of them, and I have to say, I like the way their MV doesn't choke off dynamics.

I'll be buying one of their amps this summer, I think. This one, actually. I've played a demo model at two shows and loved it each time.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

Cool, that's what I thought. There's a couple of guys near me who are building a couple of amps with a PPIMV. I've demoed both of them, and I have to say, I like the way their MV doesn't choke off dynamics.

I'll be buying one of their amps this summer, I think. This one, actually. I've played a demo model at two shows and loved it each time.

Looks very nice.
2x 6V6 is my favorite power section (usually).
Real spring verb, with dwell, and a nice looking cab for 1k.....would be hard to beat that anywhere. I would much rather buy one of those, than a modern day 500-900 dollar amp that is a nightmare to work on.
good luck

 

[Matt42]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

I'm a huge fan of the 2x 6v6 Deluxe style platform. This amp has a vibe somewhere between a tweed and a brown deluxe. And it costs the same as a DRRI. It's kind of a no brainer for me.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

Matt42. That 41st amp is pretty. Very much in the deluxe reverb vibe.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

I'm excited about it. The purchase is probably still a few months out, unfortunately. I'll likely be posting an extensive review and some sound clips of it once I have it in hand. The last time I played it at a gig, I opened up the MV all the way and put the gain at about 12:00 and just rode the volume knob all night. I kicked on my Soul Food during a few tunes for some extra push, but otherwise all drive was from the amp. It was easily the best tone I've ever had.

Most of my cables are locally made as well. After this purchase, I'll have to buy a locally made guitar and have an entirely local signal chain. There is a guy who makes lap steels, and after picking up E9 pedal steel, I kinda want an 8 string E9 or E7 lap steel. And there's a guy who makes steel bars. That amp would be great for lap steel... I feel an idea hatching...

Anyway, sorry for the derailment.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

It actually looks like a really similar concept to my favourite amp for jazz gigs...a princeton reverb II:
one input.
Volume and master volume
treb mid bass
reverb
presence
pine cab
12 inch speaker
6v6s.
The main difference looks to be the tube rectifier. If you want to firm it up, then 10 bucks will get you a tube replacement solid state rectifier from the tube depot.
Thats a very versatile and giggable machine.

also my apologies to the OP for following you down the derailment line! lol

 

[Archer250]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

Alright! So I had some fun with the amps a bit today. Tried two offerings: a 50-watter tweaked Plexi (with a master volume! Phew!), and a 50-watter tweaked JCM 800. I must say I'm sold. The 2204 had rather strident, but clear cleans, while the Plexi had a nice, creamy clean tone. Definitely the third most usable clean tones of every amp I've ever tried (the first two where Fender Deluxe Reverb and Fender Supersonic amps). Distorted, the 2204 has a good deal more gain than the original Marshall 2204, and the Plexi sounded nice. Now I couldn't crank them to their full potential, but I found that they were quite usable at gigging *and* bedroom volumes, with the 2204 even moreso at the latter.

What's more is that they use 220V power, so I don't need to buy a transformer, and that they weigh around just 13 kilos. They also use Svetlana tubes, which is quite easy for me to find.

I think I'll probably order one. Expect an NAD in a few months.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

There seems to be A Lot of confusion about what a MV is.....it is just a Volume Pot, usually right at, and mostly right after the phase inverter.

Most MVs are before the PI, not after. That's why the PPIMV isn't just a "master volume".

 

[LLL]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

If I had no choice but to install a Master Volume (which I wouldn't, but as an example), I would definitely choose
the PPIMV (post-phase inverter master volume) over the one that is inserted before the phase inverter. Because
you *want* that PI tube screaming.

The first Marshall Master Volumes (2204, 2203) featured a pre phase inverter master volume.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

Most MVs are before the PI, not after. That's why the PPIMV isn't just a "master volume".

I would think in the last 20 years most have been after the PI.....but that is not what is being discussed. The topic is their transparency. Lots of players have the misconception that the MV will "suck tone" for some reason.
Like I said....it sucks no more tone than any other Volume Pot, whether it is before the first stage, after a CF, or after a PI. Guys have been erroneously told that, for some reason, just the Master Volume Pot is "bad" for tone.....not that the idea of it is bad.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Any drawbacks of non-master-volume amps?

I'll think about the PPIMV. I've given the plexi a try. Cranking the MV halfway would be too loud for most gigs, so having one might be pointless.