Do you back off the volume control on your archtop?

[feet]

Now that's interesting... I have often thought about doing something similar to my Gretsch... it's a Hot Rod, so it doesn't have a tone control, and I don't really want to install one either, but... I was thinking of replacing the vol pot with a push-pull, and experimenting with tone cap values so when I pull it it gives me that high end roll-off type tone... not Wes Montgomery, more Charlie Christian.

it could just be me, but all three volume knobs on my gretsch 6118 are defacto tone knobs- they roll off highs before and during rolling back volume. so much so that i've considered a treble bleed on the master volume just to negate the effect some. the individual volumes-as-tones are actually pretty handy, regardless of whether or not i'm using the tone switch, too.

or maybe you could sneak a thumbwheel tone pot under the pickguard?

[ruger9]

or maybe you could sneak a thumbwheel tone pot under the pickguard?

What pickguard?

What I don't like about lowering the volume is the GAIN loss.... I'm trying to get darker, but not cleaner.

[vinlander]

To get the sound I wanted, the first thing I did was get rid of humbucking pickups. I don't own a guitar with humbuckers and I get the clarity that I want whether the volume control is full on or something less.

Interesting, since my VV HCC is on its way, can't wait to hear if I get more clarity with the 6th and 5th strings on my Archtop while retaining the fatness.

[Scotto]

Yes, I also turn down a bit on my volume and play a bit with the tone until I get the sound I like. I find I get a better tone than when I open everything up on the guitar.