Amp Modification Question

Wife Soup · Post by **Wife Soup** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:39 pm

I have some questions about a modification made to Hot Rod Deluxes. I love the amp (except the distortion), but the master volume control is very touchy. I guess this is normal for the amp. Basically, the amp was designed with a linear taper pot instead of an audio taper pot for the master volume. The whole modification can be found here: http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/jvmods.html

Does anybody have any thoughts or feedback about this mod? I want to do it because I want more control of the volume and also because I use the amp as a practice amp in a smaller space. It looks like a simple mod, but I have never attempted any mods of any kind. I want to put an ad on craigslist for someone to do it for me. What would be a fair price for this?

Thanks

RunsWithBuffalo · Post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:43 am

I have never moded an amp but it sounds like a volume pedal would also solve your problem and they are very cheap.

sunglassesatnight · Post by **sunglassesatnight** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:42 am

Replacing the pot shouldn't be hard at all if you're handy with a soldering iron. I haven't done it on an amp, but I've done it on a stereo mic pre that I wanted better gain control on, so close to the same thing. You'll a good small-tip soldering iron (~$25), a multi-tester (~$15), a desolder bulb (couple bucks), and some 60/40 rosin core solder (also cheap). All this should be available at your local electronics retailer, or Radio Shack if you must. (I'm not a huge fan.) I don't know how much those pots will cost.

------Disclaimer--------
It's absolutely crucial to follow those directions to the letter if you're going to do it. You can get all shocked to hell if you get into charged capacitors.

RunsWithBuffalo · Post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:10 pm

SimsUK wrote:Replacing the pot shouldn't be hard at all if you're handy with a soldering iron. I haven't done it on an amp, but I've done it on a stereo mic pre that I wanted better gain control on, so close to the same thing. You'll a good small-tip soldering iron (~$25), a multi-tester (~$15), a desolder bulb (couple bucks), and some 60/40 rosin core solder (also cheap). All this should be available at your local electronics retailer, or Radio Shack if you must. (I'm not a huge fan.) I don't know how much those pots will cost.

------Disclaimer--------
It's absolutely crucial to follow those directions to the letter if you're going to do it. You can get all shocked to hell if you get into charged capacitors.

Word to that, I took apart a disposable camera one time and found the capacitor that powers the little bulb for the flash...

Knocked me on my ASS.

Wife Soup · Post by **Wife Soup** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:27 pm

hahahha, i think i may just bring it to a tech. i have no experience with soldering or electronics at all. they told be it woudl be about $45. dumb question but how does the volume level work. can i just leave it at one level? i thought it was better used for volume swells and such.

RunsWithBuffalo · Post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:33 pm

Its basically a pedal that acts as a volume control so yeah you can just leave it where you want it, or make adjustments as you see fit.