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Can an OD pedal be a MV?

Cliff Gress

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 26, 2004
Messages
3,301
Can an OD pedal act as a MV for a NMV Marshall? I was gifted a Way Huge Green Rhino and am considering Studio Vintage combo purchase.

If so, how would I set it up along with the amp volume?

Any tips would be appreciated
 

PaulD

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Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
Not as such, a master volume is typically a volume control that is in between the preamp and power amp stages of the amplifier, this enables you to turn up the gain on the preamp so that it distorts and then reduce the level of that distorted signal before it goes into the power amp stage. You get distortion from cranking the preamp valves while still being able to control the overall volume with the master volume. An overdrive pedal would certainly be able to give you distortion at lower volume levels but the distortion will be from the pedal, not the amplifier.
 

sonar

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Joined
Jan 10, 2003
Messages
3,589
Sure, but will it sound good?

As PaulD mentioned, the character of the pedal will dominate the tone when you're playing at lower volume levels. You can play around with different pedals and eventually land on a useable tone, but (imo) it'll never truly replicate a non-master volume amp with some meat behind it.

I play a "small" non-master amp, but when volume restraints dictate low volume I'll use an EP Booster for added grit while turning down the volume of my amp. The tone is fine for those few situations, but it's not something I'd enjoy for everyday use.
 

Cliff Gress

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Aug 26, 2004
Messages
3,301
Thanks for the detailed answers Paul and Sonar. I'm going to pass on the 20W Studio Vintage even though you can play it at 5W. My 1W JTM was doing a fine job at home last night. Loud enough.
 

goldtop0

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Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Sure, but will it sound good?

As PaulD mentioned, the character of the pedal will dominate the tone when you're playing at lower volume levels. You can play around with different pedals and eventually land on a useable tone, but (imo) it'll never truly replicate a non-master volume amp with some meat behind it.

I play a "small" non-master amp, but when volume restraints dictate low volume I'll use an EP Booster for added grit while turning down the volume of my amp. The tone is fine for those few situations, but it's not something I'd enjoy for everyday use.


Yes with my PR and 1974X the EP Booster(which I like the most of all the volume boosters I've had or tried over the years) adds a bit of bottom end.........which is not perfect, not a true reflection of the amp tone that I've dialled in.......... and that's using single coils or humbuckers needless to say.
 

mdubya

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Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
I used to use the volume on my Maestro MFZ-1 Fuzz to turn the volume down on my Champ and my 2204. It works. It is not the best solution to low volume playing, but it works, pedal and amp dependant.

"Unity" on the MFZ-1 is at about 5.5 or 6. I would roll it down to 2 or 3.

This did not work with my germanium Fuzz Face, though. Not is a good sounding way.

You could try a volume pedal, too. I never have, but some say it works. :hmm
 
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