The knob adjustments on a Pritchard amplifier are somewhat different that for other amplifiers for two reasons. First, Pritchard amps use an Input Gain control to marry the player and his guitar to he amplifier. Second, Pritchard amps use Gain Boost instead of multiple volume or gain controls. Consequently, there is some interaction and interrelationships that require explanation.

The clean volume is affected by the Input Gain, Volume, Boost/Crunch, and Watts. Obviously, separating these interacting knobs is important.

1. The Input Gain is supposed to match the guitar and the player's playing stregth to the amplifier, particularly to the maximum signal level of the input stage. So with the other knobs turned down and Boost turned off, the Input Gain is turned up so that playing hard picking clean tone is on the verge of distortion or has a suitable amount of fullness. This step corresponds to cherry-picking the right tube for the first stage of tube amps and provides the same great tonal benefits for taking the time to make the adjustment. Unfortunately, many overlook this step because it is new and not available on other amplifiers.

2. The dirty volume is affected only by the Watts Knob™. So, with the other knobs turned up and/or the Boost turned on and up, the dirty volume needs to be set with the Watts Knob™.

3. Then with the Boost turned off, the Volume sets the clean volume. This is made somewhat more difficult with the fixed boosts found in the Crunch in Dagger, the Fixed Boost in the second channel of Sword, and both channels of Margaux. The fixed gain boost demands some tradeoff between clean transient distortion and the amount of crunch.

4. Then with the Boost turn on, the Boost knob adjusts the amount of distortion.

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Voice Knob™

The Voice Knob™ has been designed to be switched from one selection to another without requiring substantial changes in the other controls. While their attenuations vary, the louder ones tend to be distorted and the ones with more attenuation tend to be clean tones. See also Tone Versatility

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Tone Controls

The Tone Controls in Dagger and Sword were derived from vintage amplifier tone circuits, although the values have been adjusted somewhat. The greatest change is that the bass control actually does something, although there is less bass. Margaux counters this character by including a Deep Bass control as well.

Margaux also includes a parametric filter that can be used in either channel as determined by a push button switch. The Freq control sets the frequency of the band to be cut or boosted. The C/B control sets the cut or boost. Turning the knob down below mid-position creates a cut and above mid-position is a boost.

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Reverb Level

The Reverb level can be set under any condition with confidence because the unique Pritchard Amps reverb circuit can not be significantly over driven beyond the output stage distortion. Consequently, the reverb does not become greater in distorted modes.