Using a stepped attenuator instead of a pot for master volume.

[edwin]

Has anyone done this? I'm thinking of adding a master volume to my Series II Starfire and the stereo pots that are spec'ed for this are very expensive. It occurs to me that maybe a stepped attenuator might be the way to go, and provide less signal degradation. It won't be as smooth as a pot, but 2db increments should be enough, with fine balance accomplished with the channel volumes. Of course, I'm a big fan of the volume/blend setup, but this seems like it might work really well.
 
Now that I have the 35 year old pickup volume pots replaced
the bass is sounding much cleaner and more transparent, so I don't want to just throw another pot in there and lose all that.
Here's one I was looking at. Cheaper ones can be had but these seem to be the cream of the crop.
 
http://www.goldpt.com/prices.html
 
(Message edited by edwin on December 18, 2014)

[JimmyJ]

Hey Edwin,
 
Stepped attenuators are considered a very hi-fi way to go in many situations.  You usually don't see them in studio gear until you get to mastering devices.  But that's because the settings there need to be repeatable.  
 
But I think this component may not be quite right for our application.  The first problem being, that two-gang Goldpoint (which is physically the smallest I've ever seen) is 1.7 deep.  I don't know how much space you have in your Starfire but it wouldn't fit in an Alembic Series II.  
 
Second, in my opinion you would be losing one of the instruments very basic built in effects, the volume swell.  Of course you may be adding the chunky volume swell which no other instrument has...  Ha!
 
If you wanted to add a couple fixed point volume levels instead of having the sweeping pot in the audio chain ... you could consider physical switches with metal foil resistors of your choice.  Play mode solo mode...  Taking this to the next step, a modified pickup selector switch with 2 additional positions...  
 
Always fun to brainstorm these ideas!
 
Jimmy J

[sonicus]

Hello Edwin . I would tend to concure with Jimmy . Perhaps Mica & Ron could point you in the direction of their proprietary choices for this application . That would be my first choice on your application requirements .I did have a master volume in my old active Starfire .That was wired by George Mundy back in  about 1975 .The Double ganged stereo pot is on the horn second down from the top . I do not recall its specs , as I have not owned that instrument for a few decades .  
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
Recently  I have had good results with Penny& Giles fader products . I recentlly replace 16 ALPS slide faders in an old Soundcraft board to Penny& Giles slide faders .
 
Here is one of their ganged rotary faders . I have not checked on your dimensional needs regarding this link.
http://www.pennyandgiles.com/Products/Audio-Faders-Video-Controllers/Rotary-Fader-RF15.aspx
 
 
 
Their is an AMPEX LIST member that I have consulted regarding with and purchased Penny & Giles products from . I believe he has or had some USA representation of some of their products .
 
Mr. Dale Manquen  who has history with both   3M and Ampex and is highly regarded and knowledgeable .A realy nice Gentleman as well .
http://www.manquen.net/manquendotnet/audio/
 
 
Wolf