Valvecaster's scratchy gain control

[earthtonesaudio]

Has anyone implemented a different type of gain control on their Valvecaster which eliminates the crackle, but still sounds good an has a wide range of adjustment?

I feel like every time I use a cathode bypass cap scheme, the tone and maximum gain suffer, but I'm also not crazy about using a voltage divider between stages (simply because I try to avoid large-value pots if possible).  Ideas?

[esdiezy28]

Hi there! I've built a Valvecaster myself and I know exactly what you mean with the scratchy gain control pot. I think this has to do with changing the gain of that triode stage by varying resistance on the cathode. Try grounding the cathode for max gain, and after the coupling capacitor to the next stage replace the 470k resistor with a 1M audio pot, and then a 10k to ground from lug 3, and lug 2 direct to Grid of the next triode stage. I've not tried this yet myself, but the night is early and my Valve's crying for more mods.... 

ToNy

[ultran8]

so ya did that work . got a vero? got all the same problem.

[earthtonesaudio]

It works fine.