MARK III master volume issue

[pegagos]

I have a mark III blue stripe combo. The amp sounds amazing but I have to play it with the master volume above 2. I don't get any sound if the volume is below 2. At first I thought it was a dirty pot because I could hear scratching whenever I turned the volume up and down (above 2). I cleaned the pot and still had the same problem. I called mesa and ordered a replacement pot and switched it myself and still have the same issue. All the tubes (mesa power and mesa pre-amp) in the amp are brand new.

Do you guys have any ideas?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[MrMarkIII]

It's normal.
I bought two blue stripes brand new (many moons ago), and the Masters acted a bit different on each one. One sounded a bit scratchy, but they both seem to "dial" in quickly. You're not going to get much between Zero and One, but the volume will seem to "jump" suddenly above One.
Try turning up to about 2 or so, then try to back down. That seems to work for me. If the volume is still too loud, use the tone controls and/or the Graphic if available to back off some volume level. The EQ in a room all by yourself is totally different than a band situation.
Especially be aware of how the EQ affects your ears. After playing for a while with the Graphic in a particular setting, your ears will get "used" to that sound. When you then switch out the EQ, the amp will sound completely different, and not always in a good way.

 

[pegagos]

MrMarkIII,

Thanks for your response.

When the volume is under 2, I do not get any sound at all. When I increase the volume and it gets to exactly 2, I hear a scratchy sound. If I leave at 2, the amp sounds like crap and choppy like a loose connection. Once I pass that point, the amp sound just fine but the volume is louder than I want it by the time I get sound. It's definitely something wrong with the amp because it wasn't like that before. When I first got it about 6 months ago, I could play between with the master volume being between 1 and 2. It is a problem because I want to be able to play at lower volumes than 2 when I practice in my apartment.

I know what you mean about the EQ. I love that I have it and it does make the amp more versatile. I usually have it on and scoop just a bit on the mids. I do like to take the EQ off in some situations.

I know how to work around this volume problem through the effects loop and a volume pedal, but I am trying to find if there is a fix for this issue.

Any suggestions?

 

[MrMarkIII]

Like I said previously, it's normal. It sounds like you have a fix for the problem, the volume pedal in the effects loop. Be sure to use a low impedance pedal, like a Morley L'il Alligator.