Volume box and a Hot Rod Deluxe?

[Clouseau]

Can it be played on apartment volume levels with the volume box?And does it
sound good on that level with it?
Tnx.

[Jim Anable]

Post by Clouseau
Can it be played on apartment volume levels with the volume box?And does it
sound good on that level with it?
Tnx.

I assume you are talking about the passive box that is sold to be inserted in
the effects loop. The only advantage to this type of control is that you can
sometimes turn your preamp up enough to get additional distortion. If you
already have a master volume, it's worthless, AFAIK.

[Guncho]

The "volume box" is a scam.

If you put another volume knob between the pre and the power amp you
will essentially have two master volume knobs which is useless and
pointless.

What you are talking about is an attenuator/power soak. This goes
between the power amp and the speaker allowing you to CRANK your amp
and then turn down the actual volume. You cannot buy one of these for
a few dollars on Ebay.

Chris

[Frank Hudson]

Those that like them I believe are getting the benefit of a different
audio taper from the one that is provided on the amp. I haven't used
one, but some do report they find them worthwhile.

I own a Hot Rod Deluxe. I don't use it in an apartment however. Frankly
some apartments are tough for just about any amp. I can recall
apartments where I knew what everyone was watching on TV for example.
Trying to put the two together (my apartment memories and the Hot Rod
Deluxe) I'd say that you COULD just turn it down and play. The amp has a
great clean sound at lower volumes, and though that isn't the only sound
it can make, it is a good one in it's arsenal.

If you want crunch, grind, big-time overdrive at apartment levels I
think I'd go with a POD or similar myself. You aren't going to be
pushing air and getting volume interaction with your pickups and such at
apartment levels with anything. As one person has recommended if you
want to tame a high power amp to give some kinds of overdrive at lower
volumes a power soak or attenuator is a bit better than just a master
volume amp like the Hot Rod Deluxe. But at TV volumes and lower I'm not
sure if you'll find even the best of these satisfactory.

-Frank Hudson
remove the "x" when replying
Web page with sound samples and the "So You Want to Buy A Guitar FAQ":
http://www.visi.com/~fhudson

[Guncho]

The HRD does have a master volume you know?

Chris

[Sparky]

Post by Clouseau
Can it be played on apartment volume levels with the volume box?And does it
sound good on that level with it?
Tnx.

The benefit of another volume control in the effects loop is for
BETTER master volume control. It's not an attenuator, and I don't
think anyone's claiming it is. It's not a scam as long as you
understand what it can be used for. I use a Morley volume pedal in my
effects loop on my HR Deluxe, just to give more precise volume
control. The volume control built into the amp is not very helpful.
If you're in the 1 to 3 range, you just barely tap it a microscopic
amount and you get a huge change in volume. Another volume control in
the effects loop corrects that problem. You would think that Fender
would pick up on this and start installing more useful volume
controls, but they haven't yet.

The clean sound is still very nice at those low levels, but the
overdrive is not that impressive or usable at those levels. I
wouldn't recommend it for apartment use. I use it in a house right
now, but I'm about to move into an apartment and I anticipate having
to get some kind of POD or other modeler. I'm not crazy about it, but
it's going to be necessary.

[Chris]

They are doing what a lot of amp companies are doing now. The volume
increase from 0-4 is on a log scale and is the biggest jump. In a guitar
store it sounds like you are getting a very loud, powerful amp, but the
increase in volume from 4-12 on the HRD is not the same increase from 0-4.
The volume box helps this a little as you use it as a master volume that is
more linear. See this website (which is incredible) for this and a
multitude of other things related to the HRD.

http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/jvmods.html#master

Chris

Post by Sparky

Post by Clouseau
Can it be played on apartment volume levels with the volume box?And does it
sound good on that level with it?
Tnx.

The benefit of another volume control in the effects loop is for
BETTER master volume control. It's not an attenuator, and I don't
think anyone's claiming it is. It's not a scam as long as you
understand what it can be used for. I use a Morley volume pedal in my
effects loop on my HR Deluxe, just to give more precise volume
control. The volume control built into the amp is not very helpful.
If you're in the 1 to 3 range, you just barely tap it a microscopic
amount and you get a huge change in volume. Another volume control in
the effects loop corrects that problem. You would think that Fender
would pick up on this and start installing more useful volume
controls, but they haven't yet.
The clean sound is still very nice at those low levels, but the
overdrive is not that impressive or usable at those levels. I
wouldn't recommend it for apartment use. I use it in a house right
now, but I'm about to move into an apartment and I anticipate having
to get some kind of POD or other modeler. I'm not crazy about it, but
it's going to be necessary.