How to: The Volga Preamp
This is a preamp, not an overdrive. Any breakup you hear is from pushing the first stage FETs (channel I or II knob) or pushing your amp into breakup with loud volume (master volume). There are a lot of ways you can use a FET-based preamp, but the Volga has mainly been voiced to run at the front end of a tube amp.
By running the Volga in front of your amp as an added preamp in your signal chain — you can use her in a couple of ways. Sometimes, I find it helpful to think of her more as a tool than an effect.
AS AN ‘ALWAYS ON’ Sculpt your amp’s inherent sound by using the EQ to tighten up low end or add sparkle and rich harmonics to a dark amp. The FET stages make for a responsive, tube-like feel and dynamic compression that reacts to how you play. Use channel knobs, l and ll, to dial in where you want the breakup point, if any at all.
AS AN ‘UNDERDRIVE’ (After your overdrive or distortion pedals) Stacking Gain: The Volga will push and shape that distorted signal even further, adding its own depth for an even bigger, more complex overdrive. Bringing more body, warmth, or definition to an already overdriven sound. The Volga’s unique voicing can really fine-tune and beef up your overall gain structure, giving your drive or distortion more punch and clarity. Use her tastefully though, I wouldn't go past noon on the channels in this application.
AS A ‘BOOST’ Keep the channels low and dial in your output using the master volume. Keep the EQ flat, add subtle warmth, or use the treble or presence knob to cut through while keeping that natural, amp-like feel.
AS A ‘LAVA LAMP’ Heat things up …Max out the channels for a rough breakup sound with hardly any sustain. It sort of reminds me of older Led Zeppelin tracks – like an ‘all amp no drive’ sound.
The Presence control adjusts your higher frequency range (high mids and treble) – making them seem more present. Increasing it adds "presence" and perceived volume since you’re boosting those frequencies. When you crank them, it can sometimes make your low mids seem a little less prominent, shifting your overall tone.
The ‘input bleed’ is how the channels interact with each other, just like on the original amp. They share a cathode so we mimicked that with the FETs. This means even though you only have one channel selected, the other channel will affect the tone in unique ways. So keep that in mind.