Master Volume Mods for Marshall and Fender Style Tube Amps

In this vid we'll talk about 4 types of Master Volume controls outlined in Ken Fischer's excellent "Trainwreck Pages" and analyze the pros and cons of each type before installing one and testing it with a Gibson Les Paul in a SUPER LOUD, vintage 1971 Marshall Model 1959 Super Lead 100. The mod we choose is a post-phase-inverter-master-volume (PPIMV) control, which will allow the player to get thick crunch and juicy lead tones at bedroom volume levels. This information will also be useful for installing master volume controls in many amps such as Fender, Traynor, Ampeg, and Gibson.
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[jond]

Holy Crap, Brad! My amp sounds fabulous...without peeling the paint off of the walls! Good job, sir! I’m very impressed. I need to come over, pay my bill, and pick that bad baby up! Awesomeness!

[billedwards]

Lots of good info on a topic that’s frequently asked on the online forums. Love it. Thanks for making this

[jahjah]

That thing sounds great. Any rock player would be happy to have that amp in their arsenal. Great job

[xinsertusername]

+points for Stinkfist.
That Tone is unreal.

[vintagetubeamplifiers]

I have learned more from Gerald Weber's books and videos in the last 18 days then I've learned in the last 18 months. In my opinion he is the best amp teacher.

[gary]

I remember speaking with Ken Fisher on the phone back in the day. Tried to get him to build an amp for me but he had Chronic Fatigue at that point and just couldn't do it. Super knowledgable guy and easy to talk to.

[TheGuitologist]

For those asking...amp demo settings:
Presence: 8
Bass: 2
Mid: 7
Treble: 7
Volume 1: 7
Volume 2: 6
Master Volume: 1.5 (ish)

[CRWSHS]

There is an upgraded version of the Type 2 called the Lar Mar PPIMV. Solves the loss of bias if the pot fails.

[nuckinfuts]

I want to thank you for creating and posting this video. I successfully installed this type of into a couple of my amps as well as a couple of amps owned by friends! Cheers!

[crifox]

dream tone right there! seriously one of the best ones i've ever heard. also crazy that it's an amp from 71 and it has all this gain without any boost or overdrive

[johnhuyton]

Did the mod on my 800 2203 and tried in rehearsel last night! Sounds awesome. Cant beleive how simple it was! Cheers brad! First time ive modded something myself. Thanx for the inspiration!

[pwnEdge]

Great sounding, sustain, clarity, and dirt . As I alway say, clean distortion😀

[murphyhowey]

Same amp, same mod here, but I put the pot in front, replacing one of the 2nd chan 1/4" jack. I use an external jumper from the 1st chan to the second as well. Having that knob avail is necessary on stage.

[ralphballinger]

It sounds fantastic through my phone. I cannot imagine how awesome it must of sounded in the room! I’m trying to learn/teach myself how to build/modify pedals/amps these days. I really admire amp builders/hot rodders like Ken and Howard Dumble to name a few.

[mikewallace]

Tone is KILLER. Wow impressed with outcome.

[joelspaulding]

Maybe my favorite of the 20+ vids watched so far.

Tool didn't hurt.

Who is this that is so gifted in the ways of science (and music)?

Proper playing and amazing amp/electrical knowledge.

[garyr]

Playing a little Tool through that amp made my day. Thanks Brad.

[jjsant]

Many say that type of MV can sound bad but I wish I had at least tried that one in the past based on the sound you got here. So much easier than a dual pot with 6 wires (and safety resistors to guarantee bias.) I added the Type 2 to my SFDR and there is no "whoosh" and it sounds great. I often go without pedals for jams. Even with the DC (bias voltage) on the pot there is no path for DC current to flow thru the wiper and no DC current is flowing thru the pot. So no mandatory "whoosh."

[Bsquared]

Very cool. Gerald Weber is the MAN when it comes to tube amps...went to one of his seminars, and he wound me a 1959 spec output transformer for my '57 Bassman!

[philipdonovan]

Thanks Brad, well done video. I lost my mind and sprung for a PEC dual-ganged pot - $37.00. Its for a Type 2 MV in a 6V6 plexi that I"m almost finished building. The schematic calls out for grid leak resistors of 100K although Fender seemed historically happy with 220K in just about all their 6V6 amps. The PEC comes with the hope that the ganges with be better matched, more quiet and less prone to "wiper lift". For 37 bucks it ought to be! I hope my PPIMV type 2 works as well as your type 4 did! Great vids Brad, Thanks again. - Phil