volume pot for an Express

[Randy Magee]

I used an Alpha 1 Meg Audio pot on my Express, but it's almost an on/off switch as it comes on so quickly. Is there a pot with a more gradual taper available?

[fishy]

You can try and use a 500k instead which will probably help a little. Not exactly what you were asking but an option.

The volume is pretty much a switch on these things.....

[roberto]

With 500k you'll have around 1dB less on the entyre range (a bit more on lows, as expected). You can decide to use a 470k fixed resistor in series to a 500k log pot. This way when you crank the pot to the max you'll obtain the same effect as the 1M gain pot on 7, and so on going down.

[Randy Magee]

So basically, just live with it?

[roberto]

We just suggested you two different ways modify this.

[hans-jörg]

With 500k you'll have around 1dB less on the entyre range (a bit more on lows, as expected). You can decide to use a 470k fixed resistor in series to a 500k log pot. This way when you crank the pot to the max you'll obtain the same effect as the 1M gain pot on 7, and so on going down.

Hello,

may I ask how you mean this "in series"?
To ground? Or to the Treble pot?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I have the same on my Liverpool.
If I try to play something at home I dont need my hands to open the window. Yust turn the Vol. from 0 to 1
Ok, but its close to

Best

Hans-Jörg

[roberto]

Treble wiper - 470k - 500k log pot - ground.

[hans-jörg]

Got it,

Thank you

Hans-Jörg

[hitchcaster]

So basically, just live with it?

ha ha... my advice ditch the crappy alphas (keep them for dumbles, where they sound good) and find a RV4 clarostat, maybe on ebay... or PEC's are good too... alpha's suck for trainwrecks IMHO

[geetarpicker]

My old '85 wreck has Clarostats (though they are the very rare wire wrap series) and come on very slowly, the amp really doesn't even break up much until half way up. Taper wise the amp controls are much like most amps with the pots Ken used. I'd say skip the mods and find some decent pots, even if it means sourcing old NOS ones. Audio taper pots are not created equal, and it seems the higher value ones (like 500ks for Gibson guitars, and 1 megs for amps) are even more problematic these days.

[sliberty]

Good pots will help, but it is true that most of the level on many Express amps comes on within the 3-5 range on the volume pot. After that houmainly get more overdrive and compression. It is the nature of the circuit. Things can be done to change this a bit, but then it won't exactly sound like an Expeess anymore.

[Mark]

Hi Glen

What would your volume pot measure when the volume control is set to 12 o'clock?

Earth to wiper or hot to wiper.

I used some CTS pots which also had a late taper.

[Randy Magee]

Would this be a good choice?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Single-Audio-ta ... 19cc368d09