guitarguy101
New member
I have a 45w Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tube amp, and I noticed that going from 1-4 increases your volume more than going from 4-12. Is there any mod I can do that will solve this issue and give me even volume across the board?
It's a linear pot now...replacing it with an audio is the fix.This problem is as old as Fender, but there are workarounds. It's the taper of the potentiometer, so trying different pot resistance values, or trying a linear instead of a log taper, or a different brand, or whatever it takes to make you as happy as possible is the only answer. Right now the pot is 250K audio taper. If you talk nicely to your Fender service center repair guy, you can buy whatever pot you need for about $6 up here in Canada, so it can't be that expensive no matter where you live. My service guy also does Marshall, or Peavey, so there are other brands of pots to try. Try 100K, try 500K, try linear taper, try a Peavey pot. The 'best' solution is a reverse audio taper pot, but finding one in a value you like, and that will mount to the Fender circuit board, is kinda like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree. Do the best you can with what you have to work with.
All tubes amps have linear volume pots??Every tube amp I've ever owned has had this same characteristic. I just leave it alone and use it. I don't see why it's a problem.
Also, I understand audio vs linear pot. So if the solution is that simple and there's no drawback, why don't amps come with audio pots in the volume to begin with? they cost the same amount and they are the exact same thing to instal? I figure why mess with 60 years of tube amp tradition.
All tubes amps have linear volume pots??
I don't think so....are you sure about that?
The reason they put the linear pot in there is to make the volume spike when you barely turn the knob...it gives the prospective buyer the illusion that the amp is 3 times more powerful than it actually is. Then when the prosective buyer tries the next amp out and the volume is much lower at the same position they think it lacks the power of the HRD.
At least thats a theory and opinion.
The fix IS that simple....I know because I have already fixed a couple of them.
As far as all tube amps having this characteristic....you need to try out a deville amp because it's in a league of it's own in terms of the volume pot problem.
Belueve me, I would NEVER have gone through the total pain in the ass of dissasembling, desoldering a pot from a circut board, and putting it all back together over volume control being the same as every other tube amp out there
It's cool....no problem.I'm not doubting you. I was actually genuinly curious if there was a legit reason.
I have a few amps (twin, HRD (1x12), Dr. Z, Orange) and they all spike in the first few degrees of turn, so I just assumed they all have a linear pot. I don't use the HRD very often anymore, so maybe it's worse than the others at this...I'll have to check.
Sorry, I wasn't trying to cause a problem. So most tube amps have an audio pot?