Volume and pre gain

No, you have it right. Could be where it’s placed in the room along with adjusting the eq on the amp.

 

Do you mean pre-gain at 2 o'clock or 2 on a scale from 1 to 10? Typically you want the pre-gain set high to maximize the signal to noise ratio in the preamp.

One thing about Ashdown amps (and Trace Elliot before them): those "shape" buttons usually engage a signature eq curve that boosts boost some bass (around 40Hz), cuts some low-mids (around 400Hz) and boosts some high-mids (3.5 to 5kHz). That can make things sound boomy at low volumes. Try disengaging the shape and see if it sounds more balanced.

Also, as others have pointed out, the room you play in can have a major impact as well. One thing you can do to help is to get the amp up off the floor. Put it on a chair or a milk crate so it is decoupled from the floor and listen to the difference.

 

Oh, I assumed he Meant the actual #’s, not the positions. We must know that. Good catch.