Cheap Master Volume Control DIY

How to DIY a cheap Master Volume Control for your amp - Simply run the device through your amp’s effects loop and control the amount of signal (from an outer preamp or a multi-effect board) you send to the power amp section. Made with a 100k 2W potentiometer + knob; two jacks female; one plastic box. It is the same kind of device as the JHS LBAB (Little Black Amp Box) (pot. 100k) https://www.jhspedals.info/little-bla... or as the EWS SVC (Subtle Volume Control) (pot. 25k 2W) http://ews-us.com/item_volumeCtrl.php... Please visit the websites above to understand fully how to use it.

What you need : I tried to gather below some links where you can find almost the same items as the ones I used for this Master Volume Control. Though prices have increased since 2017 when I first published this video, it’s still well worth doing it yourself.

1 Potentiometer 100k 2W - I used a Chinese WTH118 100k-2W (6mm shaft)
EBAY : https://ebay.us/VYaTrH
AMAZON US : https://amzn.to/3l4BmP3
AMAZON UK : https://amzn.to/3oSQJLx
AMAZON FR : https://amzn.to/3DNoaph
AMAZON DE : https://amzn.to/3oX7fdp
AMAZON IT : https://amzn.to/3r2rSrr
AMAZON ES : https://amzn.to/3l2bgMI

1 Knob D23/24mm (you may need a larger or smaller one) for 6mm shaft, with set screw
EBAY : https://ebay.us/QGLuzg
AMAZON US : https://amzn.to/3CPbdd8
AMAZON UK : https://amzn.to/3FBvhBq
AMAZON FR : https://amzn.to/3l0swBO
AMAZON DE : https://amzn.to/3oTudlZ
AMAZON IT : https://amzn.to/3r9cUjD

2 female jack sockets 6,35mm (1/4”)
EBAY : https://ebay.us/FhNVqh
THOMANN : https://www.thomann.de/fr/kluson_klin...
AMAZON US : https://amzn.to/3nKgyOP
AMAZON UK : https://amzn.to/3CF1A0J
AMAZON FR : https://amzn.to/3l1rOV7
AMAZON DE : https://amzn.to/3FG0a86
AMAZON IT : https://amzn.to/3pcri8b
AMAZON ES : https://amzn.to/3r4cMlo


- 1 nice plastic box 100x60x25mm
EBAY : https://ebay.us/WvjX1N
AMAZON US : https://amzn.to/3HKxzQF
AMAZON UK : https://amzn.to/3HKoLKL
AMAZON FR : https://amzn.to/3oXqfZx
AMAZON DE : https://amzn.to/3r2GlDD
AMAZON IT : https://amzn.to/3FHKQry
AMAZON ES : https://amzn.to/3oQBiDP



Gear:
Tube preamp : Rocktron Piranha (Tungsol + Sovtec tubes)
Carl Martin compressor limiter
- MXR 10 bands EQ Between preamp and controller
Reverb Wet Neunaber
Delay Vox Time Machine
Poweramp (Return) : Marshall DSL40C
Guitar : Gibson Les Paul Standard 2012


Summary of some commentaries from the previous incarnation of this video ☺ :

Some people used this Master Volume Control for their Marshall DSL40C, DSL5CR, DSL50, 1987XL.


- Question : why did you use a 100k 2W pot?
- Answer: I just simply looked for pictures on Google showing what was inside the EWS and JHS. JHS use a 100k (unknown power), and EWS a 25K2W. I "mixed" the two and chose 100k2W because I found a Chinese cheap one on Ebay. That's the only reason... I am not enough skilled in electronics to answer you questions precisely. I do not remember any other components in the pictures I found. It works well like this :). In an old post someone asked if it could work with a 250k pot. I did not really know, but another person (who used a 220k) answered that it would only change the sensitivity. Thus you can try a 25K2W and report here if it works.
I can only answer regarding the items I used.