EQD Monarch VERY sensitive

[Fender05]

Sorry in advance for the long read-I've tried to be as detailed as possible.

I've only recently (~8 months or so) gotten into using pedals and a pedalboard. I have an EQD Monarch which sounds absolutely KILLER. However...the Level knob is super touchy. As in, if off is 6:30 (all the way left), maybe 6:45 or 7 would match levels with the pedal bypassed, and 7:15 is crazy loud, way louder than bypassed.

My chain is:
Dingwall Combustion>polytune 3>mxr bass comp>EHX micro pog> MONARCH> SansAmp>TC Electronic Sentry>amp.

The comp, sansamp, and sentry are on all the time, the pog only occasionally, and never with the monarch. I've played around with the order, and this is where it sounds the best to my ears, but nothing has made any difference with the sensitivity of the level knob.

So i guess my question is, is it normal for the monarch to be that touchy, or is something weird going on?

 

[Fender05]

I forgot, it's all running with a CS-12 power supply. Not sure how that would matter, but still.

 

[P-oddz]

I have the Monarch (and granted, I haven't used it in a while), but that does sound abnormal. Without being able to sit down with it right now and experiment to replicate any issues you are having... are you cranking the gain? Running it at 9 or 18 volts?

 

[BasementWarrior]

I have the monarch on my board. You are correct, volume knob is super sensitive. Mine is unity right around 7 o’clock (running 18volt). At 9 volt it’s unity close to 9 o’clock. EarthQuaker states that unity should be around 9.

 

[Fender05]

I have the Monarch (and granted, I haven't used it in a while), but that does sound abnormal. Without being able to sit down with it right now and experiment to replicate any issues you are having... are you cranking the gain? Running it at 9 or 18 volts?

Nope, gain is maybe between 10 and 12 o clock. I use it for distortion, but it definitely not cranked. The gain doesn't seem to affect the level too much on this pedal, just the dirt (which is weird, but I dig it that way).

 

[Fender05]

I have the monarch on my board. You are correct, volume knob is super sensitive. Mine is unity right around 7 o’clock (running 18volt). At 9 volt it’s unity close to 9 o’clock. EarthQuaker states that unity should be around 9.

So mine's a little more sensitive than normal, but not terrible. Thanks for the notice man

 

[BasementWarrior]

So mine's a little more sensitive than normal, but not terrible. Thanks for the notice man

No problem, I’ve also found that I prefer mine running before compression rather than after.

 

[BasementWarrior]

Nope, gain is maybe between 10 and 12 o clock. I use it for distortion, but it definitely not cranked. The gain doesn't seem to affect the level too much on this pedal, just the dirt (which is weird, but I dig it that way).

The E.Q. has a lot to do with what the gain control does. They are frequency booster in the preamp so they really control the character of the gain. What settings are you using? Mine are treble off, bass max, gain 10, volume 10. When I want more grind I just turn up the treble to taste.

 

[cnltb]

Is the Monarch the one they also sell a DIY set for?

 

[BasementWarrior]

Is the Monarch the one they also sell a DIY set for?

Yep. I believe so.

 

[Fender05]

The E.Q. has a lot to do with what the gain control does. They are frequency booster in the preamp so they really control the character of the gain. What settings are you using? Mine are treble off, bass max, gain 10, volume 10. When I want more grind I just turn up the treble to taste.

Treble 1230
Bass 1-2 o clock
Gain 1030-11
Volume 7-730

I use it for some extra aggression during heavier songs, and sometimes when the guitar is soloing.

 

[cnltb]

Yep. I believe so.

Thanks!
Any good?

 

[Rambazamba]

Here's a trick: pull off the knob and put one of these rubber washers from a Grolsch bottle over the shaft. Dial in your settings, put the knob back on and it will stay fixed for as long as you want.

 

[BasementWarrior]

Thanks!
Any good?

I love mine. Versatile, anything from light tubey breake-up to major grindy distortion.