Balanced volume across the channels

[James_E]

Hi everyone. I recently got the impression that my channel 1 suddenly got way quieter than 2 & 3. One night.. I had what I thought were 3 balanced volumes across the channels. The next morning it seemed CH1 got way quieter.

Took it to the shop and we replaced pre-amp tubes, nothing changed. Loop in/loop out.. whatever.. CH1 seemed too quiet.

They sent it to the mesa authorized repair tech who said everything is fine, tests out fine on the bench and operates just like the other one he had in the shop.

So... if you have settings that have a balanced volume on all 3 channels and could share them so I can test when I get the amp back Thursday, I'd really appreciate seeing them. (I'll send you virtual cookies )

Mine is a combo btw. I normally use CH1 on FAT, CH2 on Crunch and CH3 on extreme.

 

[wfc1]

If your channel 1 setting is fairly clean, but ch 2 and 3 are high gain, then a reduction in guitar volume would lower ch 1 level without changing ch 2 and 3 level.

So, could your guitar volume have dropped for any reason? Anything from guitar volume set to a lower level, to a pickup pushed back away from the strings, to a stomp box between the guitar and amp that is broken or has a low battery? Or is it possible that you normally play with your guitar volume on say 5, but when you balanced the channel volumes, you accidentally had the guitar volume on 10?

Just a couple of ideas. Good luck!

 

[James_E]

Thanks for the information. I believe those things were eliminated by me at home and also when I tried it at the store with an amp sales guy.

Having others post settings that they find balanced would help. I'll check the settings thread I guess.

 

[wfc1]

Having others post settings that they find balanced would help.

In case this is of any help to you, my current balanced settings are:
ch 1 FAT 90W gain 12o'clock master max
ch 2 Mk I 45W gain 11o'clock master 1o'clock
ch 3 Mk IIC+ 45W gain max master 12o'clock
This is for a guitar with reasonably hot humbuckers. For another guitar I have with more vintage humbuckers, this ch 1 level would be too low. I'm not using the graphic EQ at all. The tone knobs I change quite a bit based upon guitar and intended tone, but generally all stay within 11 to 2o'clock range, except for bass on ch 2, which is lower.

Hope it helps...

 

[Tucker44]

Here are my current with the band settings: all 90 watts
ch1 fat- gain 11:30 vol 12:00
ch2 crunch- gain 12 vol 9:00
ch3 miv- gain 2:00 vol 9:00

master vol 10 to 12 (12 is loud)

these settings are approximate.

channel 1 modes clean and fat do seem to be the quietest of the 3 but there is plenty of headroom for a blackface clean. For the most clean power, I use the tweed mode and re eq. Then I bring down the volume on channel 1 to about 9:00.

Hope this helps.

 

[jb's 52]

I never keep 'em balanced volume-wise because I like to get a punch going from ch1 to ch2/ch3. But, I know if I want the volume somewhat balanced across all channels, ch1's volume pot is usually 2-4 hours greater than those on ch2 and ch3.

 

[James_E]

Thanks!

I should get the amp back Thursday night. Will give the settings a try.

 

[James_E]

Amp is back.

All is good. Like the tech said.. no issues. I can balance channels easily. I have no idea why I perceived it differently that caused me to have them have a look. All would have been solved if the store had one on the floor to compare to but unfortunately they didn't.

ANyways... I'm happy.