What level do you run the master volume?

[drpepper]

I regularly notice posts where, while I don't believe it's really the case, the logic of what's being said would seem to suggest people are running their amps full out (concern over nominal/max wattage, concern for cab power handling, practical effects of impedance on loudness, etc.).

My cabinet configurations vary (1 to 3 two driver cabs) and my range while playing/practicing with a group is anywhere from ~35% to 65%.

What's your "actual use" range?

[Exploiter8]

Ballpark figure, 11:00 - 2:00.

X8

[seungkoo]

past 2'o clock because walkabouts 300 watts is not enough for me...

[GnRDuff1]

3:00 because I like having my gk's level knob relatively low unless I want that overdriven sound. Keep the boost at 1:00 also. Seems to keep me from clipping as well

[Warfender]

About 30%, but using higher power amps that is all I need unless I want to drown everyone out. I run a Genz Benz GBE750 on large Casino shows and this or my GB NeoX400 1-12 combo at small club shows with sub PA support, but running at.30-40% range too.

[groooooove]

with my LMII, never much past 2 oclock, if that. on my SD800, rarely higher than 11oclock..

[Muzoid]

11:00 <--> 2:00

pm

[delta7fred]

As dictated by the venue I am playing,

About 11 oclock for a really quiet night, 3 oclock is about the max I ever get to. I always run with the preamp clip light flashing occasionally.

Every amp / cab combination will be different though so my setting are only applicable to me and possibly a few others. (Trace Elliot SM7215 combo - about 180W RMS max into 8 ohms IIRC, Eminence Delta Pro 15A speaker.)

[JimmyM]

depends on where the gain is.

[Randyt]

I usually run my carbine 6 at @ 2 o'clock...and I dial back the bass...need/want all the headroom...

[Deluge Of Sound]

What is this "master volume" you speak of? I've looked and I've looked, but my amp only seems to have one.

[coreyfyfe]

On the big amp, between 8 and 11 o'clock. The mini-ss guy with the gain around 2-3, master is usually 9-11ish with enough speaker area, 12-2 with fewer speakers. On the little tuber I'm usually in the 9-noon range but above that it's all grind...

[BurningSkies]

This line of questioning doesn't give too much real info. Any given amp could have a master volume potentiometer with a variety of types of sweep to them...thus you might be getting almost all the usable power/volume out of your amp at noon, or maybe it's 3 o'clock or maybe all the way cranked...also your amp can certainly put out the limit of its power well before you've dimed the knob.

And has been pointed out, your pre-master stages may be set up in a variety of ways. Back when I played my ol' Hartke 3500, I ran it with the power amp side full-open but ran my preamp at extremely low levels...the amp wasn't getting anywhere near it's 'full volume'.

[JxBass]

It really depends. Like if you're running a 900 watt amp with a 500 watt cab, etc., etc. ...

[NecroticImbecil]

Master tells me where to run.

[lbwdog]

This...

Originally Posted by GnRDuff1

3:00 because I like having my gk's level knob relatively low unless I want that overdriven sound. Keep the boost at 1:00 also. Seems to keep me from clipping as well

If I want a clean sound (which I almost always do), this allows me to keep the pre gain low.

Now on my MarkBass amp, I set the input as recommended, and use the "Master" as my volume control. And that setting would depend on the band I'm playing with, as well as the room characteristics.

[dbase]

My Hartke is always set at 5 out of 10 on the dial.

[cableguy]

Mine goes to 11!

[GeneralElectric]

I mostly use a 55 watt ampeg. There is no gain knob. I do a slight treble boost and have the volume around 12 or 1 o'clock.

[Josh Pelican]

Since I haven't played a show in ages, my amp's just been used for sitting in my basement and a few practices. My Master for the past I don't know how many months has been about 9:00 or less. The Gain is probably 10:00.