Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

D

David Luscombe

Sophomore
Mar 24, 2011
117
0
16
Hi All

Not sure where to post this but thought this might be ok. I am having problems with my guitar rig in that I am not sure how to deal with the volume differences between my guitars.

The guitars I am currently using are as follows, Fender Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Charvel Superstrat of some kind (one of them pointy guitars), Yamaha SA2000S, Gibson SG II and a Yamaha SA-50.

The Yamaha SA2000S is by far the loudest guitar down to the strat which is the softest and by a considerable margin. The problem is made worse by the fact that we all use In-ears so it is even more obvious.

I am currently using a compressor on the chanels and this is helping but it means that I loose a fair bit of the dynamics on some guitars.

Amps I am using are a Epiphone Valve Junior and a Laney Cub I think, all small wattage valve amps anyways, with a bunch of pedals as well.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers Dave
 
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

Mark your gain settings on your preamp and change them when you change guitars. Otherwise use a pedal controllable preamp and have a setting for each guitar. You could also set up each guitar output volume to be in the range you want to play at. You are going to have to match gain at some point in the chain if you want the volumes to be close. Am I missing something?
 
Last edited:
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

Mark "unity" on the guitar volume knob if you can. I find this easier than fiddling with a pre-amp, as your hand is already there and it also gives you a reference when you're playing as well. Take some time and do this between practices if you can. Colored gaff or spike take work wonders.
 
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

so would a volume pedal after all the effects work??? I really dont like using the volume on the guitars as I like the sound of the guitar volume wide open..

but in saying that i will go home and try all the suggestions given.

keep em coming!!!
 
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

So could I maybe put a pad on the output of the guitars to match them?? Could this work, has anyone done this. Thought maybe it would be easier than using the volume knob which I will inevitable hit and change what's going on!!
 
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

Another possibility would be to add a "clean boost" pedal to your pedalboard, and use it for the lowest-output guitars, bringing them up to the level of the hottest one.
 
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

David Luscombe said:
So could I maybe put a pad on the output of the guitars to match them?? Could this work, has anyone done this. Thought maybe it would be easier than using the volume knob which I will inevitable hit and change what's going on!!
Click to expand...

If you're going to inevitably hit the volume knob on your guitar, it really doesn't matter what volume it's at.
 
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

David Luscombe said:
So could I maybe put a pad on the output of the guitars to match them??
Click to expand...
Yes, you could, but it would have the same tonal effect as turning down the volume slightly. Rather than pads, I'd suggest making a simple passive mixer with one "wide open" jack for the Strat, and five pots for the other guitars.

That would assume all guitars use their own cords, and you only turn up the volume on the one you choose to play, but makes for a simple "grab and go".
An old Shure mic mixer works well for that purpose, as would any number of cheap modern mixers, set and forget, other than which guitar goes in what channel.

Art
 
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

Ok, so over the weekend, a mate and I have come up with an idea for a pedal that goes after my pedal board and has a attenuator that goes from 1 - 10db of pad available for each guitar that can be switched in and out. Not sure that anything like that exists on the market, but if it does let us know. I will start a diy thread when we start building!!!!
 
Re: Dealing with volume differences of different guitars.

Hi Tim

That is exactly what I want to maintain, is the differences each guitar has with the pedals hence why I though about after. I made a simple volume pot to go after my pedal board and it worked ok but was perhaps not accurate enough to replicate each time i swapped guitars. I am hopeing to now make a stepped attenuator that would step down in 1 db increments and see if I can match all the levels like that. We will see how that goes.
 
Top Bottom