Volume knob setting for an acoustic guitar preamp

[glo6stringer]

I am using a K&K Pure Western Mini pickup and Pure Preamp with my Martin HD-28. As a general rule, where should the volume knob be set to on my guitar's preamp to give the best sound? Should it be set as loud as possible without any distortion? Or should I just set it "loud enough" and then use more of the amplifier's volume?

[geokie8]

"Should it be set as loud as possible without any distortion? Or should I just set it "loud enough" and then use more of the amplifier's volume?"

The first, not the second.

With the preamp's volume turned up close to max, and playing the loudest you think you're ever going to play, adjust the preamp's internal gain so that it feeds the maximum signal to the board (or amplifier) without clipping (distortion).

[It certainly helps to have some kind of visual aid -- like a light blinking -- to know when you're approaching distortion as it's often hard to discern with the ear. Almost all boards and mixers have this, but amps might not].

On a board, if the soundman can't turn his gain up without distortion, he'll tell you to lower the gain on the preamp (again, not the volume).

Once you've properly set the preamp's gain for your pickup, you can pretty much leave it alone. Your volume control will remain close to maximum. If it's too loud, the soundman will lower it at the board. (You could lower the volume at either the amp or the preamp). A good compressor -- not necessarily expensive -- is nice to have for a smooth sound as well as handling spikes.

General rule: Run the hottest signal you can at each stage in your signal chain -- you may eventually add effects -- and attentuate (lower) at the end (board/amp). The reverse will only add hiss and noise to the signal.

[glo6stringer]

Thank you for your well explained answer geokie8!

[geokie8]

Just a couple of clarifications:

With the preamp's volume turned up close to max, and playing the loudest you think you're ever going to play, adjust the preamp's internal gain so that it feeds the maximum signal to the board (or amplifier) without clipping (distortion).

Properly setting the internal gain is the single most important factor. If your amp doesn't have a clipping light, locate a mixer that does. Preamps have gain controls to accomodate different signals from different pickups. Once you set yours, you can leave it alone.

On a board, if the soundman can't turn his gain up without distortion, he'll tell you to lower the gain on the preamp (again, not the volume).

This assumes you're doing your initial setup with a soundman and board. If you've set it up previously -- and correctly -- this shouldn't happen.

(You could lower the volume at either the amp or the preamp).

This seems to contradict everything that came before, making it sound like your first two choices didn't really matter. And actually, they don't, as long as you play to a small group with no effects. However, if you move to a larger venue (and have to turn the amp up louder), or introduce more pedals/ effects into your chain, it will matter. Better to start off correctly.

Good luck!