5150 III 50W Clean Volume Issue

[IndyWS6]

Greetings
Let's talk about the volume issue with the clean channel on the 5150III 50W head. I just bought one and the volume drop is worse than I anticipated. I was hoping that the posts that said it was a non-issue when playing at stage volume was accurate, but that doesn't seem to be the case. If I set the blue channel where I need it, when I switch to the green channel, there is a substantial volume drop. I plan on putting a delay in the loop to give the clean channel some depth and I could set the level to partially compensate, but that means I can't use it on the blue channel without effectively boosting it. Short of using a multi-FX unit and going MIDI with presets that accommodate the volume drop, what options are there? I was hoping I could use that head, along with a delay pedal and a cabinet for gigs where I didn't want to lug the rack rig. As is, that won't work...

Thanks in advance...

 

[Bishop5150]

EQ pedal in the fx loop to boost the signal? I'm using my fx rack to compensate for the issue.

 

[nevusofota]

Where is the gain?

The volume jump is a bit better with the gain past noon.

That being said, I use the eq pedal in the loop.

 

[carlygtr]

I was gonna say the same thing. Crank the Clean ch. Gain

 

[Lord Toneking]

Gotta have the gain beyond 1:00....unfortunately that's the only way without rack FX and midi

 

[philb]

I was gonna say the same thing. Crank the Clean ch. Gain

That's how I do it as well + lower the guitar volume and it becomes quite clean.

 

[Mizati20]

Just stating what is already posted... I ran mine with the gain at 1 oclock... seemed to be the perfect place to get a really good heavy rhythm out of the blue channel, and with light picking, or a slight volume roll-off... a great clean tone with zero dirt...

Also this may be obvious but pickup height and output is going to have a lot to do when dealing with "Edge of breakup" clean tones... maybe experiment with that a bit?

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks for the input...

I typically have the gain between 12:00 and 1:00 to get what I want on the blue channel, so I'm in the ballpark with the suggestions. Some of the songs we cover require me to switch from clean to crunch frequently within the same song. Stomping on the footswitch to change channels, an EQ to level the volumes and rolling the volume knob on the guitar would be a pain in the ass.

I love the amp, with the exception of the volume drop when switching to clean. I wonder if there is a simple circuit mod that would fix this?

 

[RockNRun]

Glad you're loving the tones regardless of the volume issue!! Congrats on the amp! There is a MIDI solution I've seen posted several times but it does run folks a few dollars more if they don't already have a midi effects unit handy. I haven't bothered with those details though because I don't play out...no need.

Speaking about the clean channel, I've been stuck there for several days now because it sounds great. Not to mention hitting it with a drive pedal giving you another flavor of crunch if need be. I've been finding some killer VH type type tones that way!

 

[Buckeyedog]

My clean channel crapped out on me. Howard has been very good in providing support. Took it to a local tech yesterday. Appears maybe it's a bad relay according to Howard. So I'd welcome the volume drop......would mean my clean channel is working!!!

 

[splatter]

I know this is an old thread but have there been any mods posted on fixing the clean channel volume drop ?

 

[jinch0]

I run the gain channel at 2 o'clock and lower the volume on the green channel. That way channel sounds like issuppose to

 

[splatter]

I run the gain channel at 2 o'clock and lower the volume on the green channel. That way channel sounds like issuppose to

I don't pay attention to the colors but the green channel is channel 2 right ? So that is the same volume as the 1st channel .
I run the gain at 2 o'clock also on Channel 2 and 3 . I use channel 2 for most everything . When I try to use channel 1 the volume drop is so big channel 1 is useless .
I'm about to the point that I'm ready to open it up and try to fix it myself . I was just hoping someone else had already figured this out

 

[jinch0]

Well at 2 o'clock you get more of rock clean on the green channel (1) when I back off the volume a bit. My guitar has a mod on the volume pot (i think a capacitor,i really not shure) that allows me clean up the tone and get more dinamics. Even i do it on the red channel. Opens a lot of posibilities.

 

[Charvel1975]

I know this is an old thread but have there been any mods posted on fixing the clean channel volume drop ?

 

[splatter]

I know this is an old thread but have there been any mods posted on fixing the clean channel volume drop ?

thanks , i wii give it a try and let you know how it works

 

[kennedy515011]

I just purchased an Exotic EP booster and it works great. I tried using it in front after OD pedals but seemed to distort a little. Tried it in the effects loop after delay pedal and presto what a difference. I set the dip switches to bright and no boost inside pedal. I even tried using it before reverb and delay and that works also when in loop. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Kruegmeister]

Using an Xotic EP Booster works pretty good because it boosts the volume on the clean, and makes the Blue Channel just compress more.

 

[splatter]

I changed the resistor on the voltage divider from 10k to 47 k . Now the clean channel isn't as clean but it's clean enough for me and no volume drop

 

[bonedish]

I changed the resistor on the voltage divider from 10k to 47 k . Now the clean channel isn't as clean but it's clean enough for me and no volume drop

Very cool - how much of a pain in the ass was it to do? I often think of doing this on mine from time to time, but kinda don't want to ruin the warranty. I've done solder work on guitars (pickups, pots, etc) but never on an amp.

I'm of the mindset now that I'd rather have increased gain on the clean/green channel and use my volume knob for clean cleans. This is what I'm doing now on channel 2/blue, but it'd be nice to have a less compressed/bluesy gain on clean/green channel.