SV INSTRUCTIONS
Im going to do my best to explain how I like to set up the Scaling on my personal amps. You may find a method that works better for you, and that is OK, as there is no right or wrong way. Nothing you do as far as setup will harm the amp in any way, so feel free to experiment.
First my disclaimer.... Contrary to what some would have you believe, there is no "perfect" form of volume reduction. EVERYTHING is a compromise. Scaling has its own compromises as well. All tubes have a voltage level that makes them "happy". This is a fact of tubes that cant be avoided. When you get far enough outside of the designed level, it will start to not be "happy". This is the compromise,and where each builder must decide how he wants best to compromise.
Having said that, IMO Scaling is one of the best ways to retain teh "stock" feel of an amp for longer down the reduction curve.
1) Set the Scale control to 10, which is full volume. This will in effect remove the scaling from the amp for set up. I like to try to remove as may variables as possible during set up, and during the learning curve. The amp will now opperate like a standard Master Volume type amp. Gain is the gain control, and drive being considered the master.
2) I will then set the amp with the gains and drive controls on about 7 or 8. Ignore the fact that the amp is now pretty loud, we will address that momentarily. Play the amp and see if you like its tone and crunch. If it has a bit more distortion than you want, lower the Gain control. If it seems like its too much overall drive, lower the drive control slightly.
3) change channels, and again set this channel up as far as the tone you want, and the level of distortion.
4) If the amp is now louder than you want, this is the time to adjust the scale control. Start to reduce the Scale control to achieve the volume that you want. If you scale the amp down a long way, it may become necessary to "tweak" the Gain, Drive, and tone controls on the amp. Y ou may find that you like the basic tone of the amp with the Gain on 9, and the drive on 4, and that this volume suits you. That is fine, do not worry about it. Again, there is no right or wrong. This is why I like to set the amp up initially with the Scale all the way up, and out of the picture. IMO the less you NEED to dial the scaling back to get YOUR tone, the better.
It takes a few seconds for the scaling to drop the volume. This is normal. I prefer to use the "old" way of scaling as IMO its easier on parts. I also apply the scaling differently from some others and its not as feasable to divide up the amp with other methods.
PLEASE feel free to call or email me any time with any questions. I am more than happy to answer any questions at all you may have on how to best use your new toy. Id rather spend an hour on the phone with you in place of you having an amp you just dont dig, or understand.
Thank you very much for your purchase of one of my amps, I consider myself lucky to do this, and to have you as a customer.
Bob
This page will be the instruction page. As I get new details, I will publish them here.
