Why do amps have a volume and master volume?

A master volume are basically allows the user to turn up the pre-amp section while controlling the signal going to the power amp thus controlling the overall volume of the amp. The volume on a non-master volume amp is the same control as the gain, drive or pre level control on an amp with a master volume.

What is the difference between volume and master volume on a guitar amp?

Channel volume controls the preamp of the amp. The channel volume, along with the gain control will give you preamp distortion. Master volume controls the power section of the amp. When the master volume is pushed hard, you get power amp distortion.

Does Master volume affect tone?

Part of the reason it’s so confusing is because neither volume or master volume can increase the gain, which is way different than a tube amp. The point is really though that master volume has no effect on tone, only the overall volume.

Is Master volume an attenuator?

One common misconception is that a master volume control will achieve the same effect as an attenuator. However, because a master volume knob is still a part of the amplifier’s preamp section, it has an entirely different effect on the circuit — and therefore, the overall tone.

What does Master on amp do?

This refers to a feature sound on many modern tube amplifiers (and some solid-state and modeled amps, as well). Essentially, it allows guitarists to turn the volume control up to overdrive the preamps, producing a sweet compressed sustain, but without the high output normally required on stage.

What does the gain knob do on a guitar amp?

Your gain setting determines how hard you’re driving the preamp section of your amp. Setting the gain control sets the level of distortion in your tone, regardless of how loud the final volume is set.

Should power amps be turned all the way up?

The level controls of the power amps should be set so you maintain consistent gain staging throughout your system, while allowing ample headroom. If you need to turn them up all the way to achieve that (as is often the case) then you certainly should.

What is the difference between master volume and volume?

Sometimes GAIN is labeled as VOLUME and the MASTER VOLUME is labeled as MASTER. A common phrasing on Fender amps and can be found on the Blues Jr. When an amp has two volume knobs like this, the first VOLUME is most often used to dial in preamp stage distortion while the MASTER is used to control overall volume.

Are amp attenuators safe?

In an ideal world, attenuators would allow you to use any amp at any volume level without any adverse effect on sound quality or reliability. In practice, the use of attenuation does change tone, but blaming the attenuator isn’t always justified.

How do you Intenuate a guitar amp?

To use an attenuator, connect a speaker cable from one of your amp’s speaker outputs to the attenuator’s input, and then connect another speaker cable from the attenuator’s output or through jack to the speaker cabinet’s input jack.

What is master volume for?