problems with volume when using pedals on guitar?

I

Ideeit

New member
I have a tube amp andI just build a distortion pedal. I use it with the clean setting on my amp so I have my amps clean setting and when I want distortion, I hit the pedal. I dont use the amps distortion. Problem is when I hit the distortion, it increases the volume SOOOOO much. I either have to have the clean volume so low that the amp literally isnt making a sound for the distortion to be a good volume or if I have the clean at a decent volume, the distortion will blow my house up. Will a compressor pedal allow me to use both clean and distortion at the relatively same volumes? What else can I do?
I dont want to adjust the volume on the pedal or the guitar either, each of these I need for the tone I want
 
Well it sounds to me like you're not making the most out of having a tube amp.

Turn your guitar's volume back to about 2 or 3, then turn the amp up as loud as it will go without distorting. Turning up your guitar volume should now result in a fair amount of distortion from the amp with minimal change in overall loudness. Engaging the distortion pedal should do the same.

Amps can only go so loud, and when you try to push a tube amp beyond that point, it distorts. If you're getting a big difference in loudness between your distorted and clean tones, then you're obviously nowhere near that point. Turning down the volume on the pedal shouldn't color the tone any (since you're not getting any distortion from the amp itself). Unless of course you're hitting the preamp tubes really hard and getting some extra distortion there, but I doubt that's the case.

Tubes naturally compress things when they get too loud. Sticking a compressor in the effects loop (which is where you would need to put it) would just be overkill. Crank the amp and make those tubes do their job. You paid extra money for a tube amp, so why are you avoiding all the tonal benefits they offer by keeping the volume down?

If your amp is ridiculously overpowered (anything over 30W is more power than any guitarist in the history of mankind has ever required), then you should invest in an attenuator. That way you can keep the amp cranked, get better tone, and not wreak havoc on your hearing.

E-mail me with more specific information about your setup and some sound samples if that's possible. I suspect that you just don't know how to use a tube amp.
 
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