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Noob Question: Gain and Volume on an SS amp

C

ckitz

Jun 7, 2010
115
2
Right Behind You
#1
Can anybody tell me what the difference is between the gain and the master volume is on a Solid State Amp?

I know that on a tube amp, the gain ups the volume to the preamp, so that you can get more of that tubey goodness, but is that necessary on a Solid State? Or do I just not know what I'm talking about? :help:
 
#3
My GK 1001RB has a volume and master. I'm still playing with it. Someone said for a cleaner sound set the volume at a lower level than the master...that's for the GK though.
I'm new to this pre-amp post-amp stuff. My first amps just had volume. That was back in '74 though...:D. And to tell the truth I'm not sure what controls were on them back then. I just started playing again about 3 years ago so I'm still trying to learn this "amp" stuff.
 
#4
On most amps, the knob labeled "gain" is generally pre gain, that is, a gain stage between the input and the EQ stage.

The volume knob is generally post gain, a gain stage/attenuator directly before the power amp stage.

On a SS amp, the gain is simply to allow one to feed the preamp the hottest signal available without clipping.
 
#8
teemuk said:
The gain ups the volume to the preamp, so that you can get more of that solid-statey goodness.
Click to expand...

Just what is "solid-statey goodness.?" I'm serious. I love my ss amps, but I'd like to know what's what about their sound. I know what "tubey goodness" would mean, but not "solid-state goodness." I think my wondering is partly due to what I hear folks say about ss amps as opposed to tube amps. Most think ss is sterile. I want to know what is the GOOD stuff about solid state sound.

Not to start another ss vs. tubes debate here, though, ok?
 
#9
The deal is that ALL circuits alter the waves that pass through them; and every different circuit makes different alterations of the waves. With the good ol' driven-tubes sound this is obvious, but with ss amps (and non-overdriven tubes) the wave shaping can be much less obvious, and certainly MUCH harder to describe in words. We are reduced to using expressions like "haunting mids", or "less glossy highs", or even just "I don't know what it is but I like it".
 
#11
I'd imagine the Gain on a gain/volume control system has an effect on a DI from the amp.
If I have a very slight signal (I have volume maxed and use gain to control overall volume) coming through the preamp at low volume (see in brackets:p). I'd expect a noisier DI signal due to the gain-staging.
I'm no expert, but that's my understanding.
 
#12
I have a tiny little Peavey Decade SS amp, that has the pre/post preamp gain thing. It reacts very similarly to a tube amp... the overdrive I get from pushing the input gain a little is amazing... so great that sometimes I use it as a preamp in front of another amp or power amp.

Ideally I'd like to take the thing apart and put the preamp circuit into a stompbox or something.
 

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