Guitar Gear Forum

Hello everyone. I looked through the forum, but found nothing. Let me please ask here.

I use an external preamp AMT SS-20 as a source of my sound. It has hight level output (+10db). When i plug it into return of Fender Hot Road Delux, for example, the AMT's level knob is bearly at 8-9 o'clock and the sound is already super loud.

I tried a BlackStar 100w amp, the sound was super loud as well, until i switched the Blackstar to 10w mode. There was a power control button, so I finnally was able to raise the AMT's knob to 1 o'clock. And the sound was good for me.

The thing is, i need to describe it for the manager, what kind of amp i need at venues... Should I now ask for 10w amps and a 4x12 cabinet? Or i should be specific about Blackstar's amps only, since i had positive experience with one, what kind of info is the most important to provide in such case... could you please help me figure out?

Thanks.

Easiest solution would be to get a level switcher like this:

https://www.altomusic.com/products/ebte ... l-box-lls2

That will bring your preamp down to instrument level and make it easier to use it with any amp.

Oh, that's interesting. Thanks.

The +10db output is designed to push a standalone tube power amp. Many of the rack-mounted tube power amps from Marshall, Mesa, ADA, Carvin, VHT, Soldano, etc. need to see that +10db output level to push the power tubes. Most effects loop returns in modern combos and heads are at instrument level to play well with pedals

What Billy shared with you will take care of your needs, but another solution may be to go out of the effects loop send on the AMT SS-20 as that loop is instrument level to my remembrance.

Is there a master volume control on the Hot Rod Deluxe that you have? I see they've made several versions of this, it seems, as the most recent version appears to be the Hot Rod Deluxe IV. If it has a master volume, that may need to be adjusted on the amp.

Spaced Out Ace wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:12 pm Is there a master volume control on the Hot Rod Deluxe that you have? I see they've made several versions of this, it seems, as the most recent version appears to be the Hot Rod Deluxe IV. If it has a master volume, that may need to be adjusted on the amp.

The master volume on the HR is before the loop. If he's plugging into the fx return the master volume won't do anything.

heath wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 5:23 pm The +10db output is designed to push a standalone tube power amp. Many of the rack-mounted tube power amps from Marshall, Mesa, ADA, Carvin, VHT, Soldano, etc. need to see that +10db output level to push the power tubes. Most effects loop returns in modern combos and heads are at instrument level to play well with pedals

What Billy shared with you will take care of your needs, but another solution may be to go out of the effects loop send on the AMT SS-20 as that loop is instrument level to my remembrance.

Hm, never thought about that...but i have a delay pedal in the loop of AMT... so you think i just can plug the delay pedal into send of AMT and go out of the delay directly to "return" of a head/combo? Interesting, i will try, thanks. Also it is now clear, why the preamp is so loud.

Spaced Out Ace wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:12 pm Is there a master volume control on the Hot Rod Deluxe that you have? I see they've made several versions of this, it seems, as the most recent version appears to be the Hot Rod Deluxe IV. If it has a master volume, that may need to be adjusted on the amp.

There is a Delux III at the rehearsal studio, i didn't find any knob to control the level. All the tone knobs of the amp are off, when something is in "return" of the amp.

Guitarbilly wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:39 pm The master volume on the HR is before the loop. If he's plugging into the fx return the master volume won't do anything.

Yikes, what an awful design.

SnakeSkin wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:48 pm Hm, never thought about that...but i have a delay pedal in the loop of AMT... so you think i just can plug the delay pedal into send of AMT and go out of the delay directly to "return" of a head/combo? Interesting, i will try, thanks. Also it is now clear, why the preamp is so loud.

Yes, you should be able to go directly out of the delay directly into the return of the amp head or combo which will allow you to further use the spectrum of the SS-20's volume control. From what I remember on the AMT SS-20 when I played one was that it sounded best with the volume up above 10 o'clock.

heath wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 8:55 pm

SnakeSkin wrote: ↑Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:48 pm Hm, never thought about that...but i have a delay pedal in the loop of AMT... so you think i just can plug the delay pedal into send of AMT and go out of the delay directly to "return" of a head/combo? Interesting, i will try, thanks. Also it is now clear, why the preamp is so loud.

Yes, you should be able to go directly out of the delay directly into the return of the amp head or combo which will allow you to further use the spectrum of the SS-20's volume control. From what I remember on the AMT SS-20 when I played one was that it sounded best with the volume up above 10 o'clock.

Ok, i will try during the next rehearsal. Thanks a lot.
And yeah, at the low volume my SS-20 doesn't really sound good. I think it is because of the tube.
I will come back here later and tell what i get with send output.

Thank you all.