Marlen Volume Control?
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
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Mike Ritchie
- Posts: 185
- Joined: 11 Jul 2020 12:46 pm
- Location: Florida, USA
Marlen Volume Control?
Trying to figure out if this control is for the volume or something else? It currently seems to have no effect on the sound, so not sure what it's purpose is.
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Mike Ritchie
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- Location: Florida, USA
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Jim Pitman
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- Location: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Mike Ritchie
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- Location: Florida, USA
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Ned McIntosh
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It won't do anything as the other terminal (on the pot) isn't connected to anything. All you have is a variable resistor on one end of a capacitor, the other end of which is connected to the output plug. It is an open-circuit.
Until the other end of the resistor (third terminal of the pot) is connected to somewhere in the signal-path, absolutely nothing will happen.
When it was properly connected, it was mosty likely an improvised tone-control of some description.
Until the other end of the resistor (third terminal of the pot) is connected to somewhere in the signal-path, absolutely nothing will happen.
When it was properly connected, it was mosty likely an improvised tone-control of some description.
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being.
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Mike Ritchie
- Posts: 185
- Joined: 11 Jul 2020 12:46 pm
- Location: Florida, USA
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Ned McIntosh
- Posts: 802
- Joined: 4 Oct 2008 7:09 am
- Location: New South Wales, Australia
Mike, that depends on which side of the output jack the capacitor is connected to.
If it is connected to the ground of the jack, connect the unused terminal on the pot to the active side of the jack. If the capacitor is to the active side of the jack, then the unused terminal on the pot goes to the ground side of the jack.
A little intuitive thinking suggests the person who installed this tried it, found it didn't work at all, and disconnected one end to remove it from the circuit - or it didn't do what he wanted it to do (vis a vis tone) so he disconnected it.
There is one school of thinking which holds that the best tone control on a pedal-steel is the player's hands. John Hughey said as much, and his results were outstanding.
If it is connected to the ground of the jack, connect the unused terminal on the pot to the active side of the jack. If the capacitor is to the active side of the jack, then the unused terminal on the pot goes to the ground side of the jack.
A little intuitive thinking suggests the person who installed this tried it, found it didn't work at all, and disconnected one end to remove it from the circuit - or it didn't do what he wanted it to do (vis a vis tone) so he disconnected it.
There is one school of thinking which holds that the best tone control on a pedal-steel is the player's hands. John Hughey said as much, and his results were outstanding.
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being.
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Mike Ritchie
- Posts: 185
- Joined: 11 Jul 2020 12:46 pm
- Location: Florida, USA
Thanks Ned. This Marlen sat for about 25 years unplaid before I bought it about a month ago and I am just trying to put it back to the way it once was. As far as tone and hands, I am just starting out at 59 years old so I can use all the help I can get for now! Not much magic in these hands (yet). Thanks again, I will hook it back up and see how it sounds. Getting this old Marlen playing to it's potential again is as exciting to me as playing it!