EP 1: Marshall Guv'nor Mk.2 mod to Mk.1 

For those who want quick instructions and a parts list: C12: replace with 22nF R12: replace with 10KΩ R25: replace with jumper R26: remove (leave open) R5: replace with 220KΩ C22: replace with 47 pF R19: replace with 10KΩ R21: replace with 150KΩ R9: replace with 220KΩ C23: replace with 47pF D1: add 2 1N4007 in series Part list: 1 x 22nF capacitor 2 x 10KΩ resistor 2 x 220KΩ resistor 2 x 47pF capacitor 1 x 150KΩ resistor 2 x 1N4007 diode

Joe, I did the mod yesterday, and I couldn't be happier about it. Thanks a lot for putting the effort into making this video. This is one of the most useful things I have ever found on youtube. Keep up the great work, cheers!

I will probably never alter my 2001, Indian-made GV-2, as I like the tone I get from it. But this video is awesome, as you go into so much detail about the characteristics of both the GV-1 and GV-2 pedals. You really explain a lot more than others on the 'net seem to do.

Great video!

Just finished this mod, I love it! Thanks for the detailed instructions, and all the work you've put into this!

Just found this video as I was preparing to sell my ca. 2000 GV-2 (marked GV-1 on the board). Sadly, it spent the vast majority of it’s life in the box and not on my pedalboard, despite the C22 mod. After watching this, I had to try making the changes to mine, and WOW! What a difference. I have a few MIAB pedals here, and I’ve spent the day determining that the modded GV-2 ‘stomps’ them all. Thanks so much!

I got a second GV-2 and did the mods to one. Comparing my two pedals was much the same as the GV- 2 vs black Guv'nor videos, so it seems to work, thanks for your video. The GV-2 still has a unique quality, so both have a place. Thanks again!

Joe was kind enough to find one of these and mod it for me. It sounds nothing short of amazing. Thank you, Joe!

Hi Joe, thank you very much. Got a brand new old stock Mkii and did the mod... LOOOOVVIT!! Thank u for the work you out in and shared. Keep well and ROCKIT!!

I just finished this mod yesterday and the pedal sounds amazing. With the Deep control, I feel like I have an improved version of an original “The Guv’nor’. Thanks again for the schematic with changes. The hardest part was removing the old parts without lifting the circuit board pads. Thanks again Joe, Harley

Absolutely phenomenal overview. Thank you. I love expert overviews like this that clearly explain the physics and mechanisms under the cover. Beautifully done!

Great work man! Congratulations!

I don't even have a Guv'nor but this might be one of the best pedal modding videos in RU-vid. Great work, man. But damn, what were they thinking when they added in the deep knob.

I like it! Thanks for your very thorough walk through of the differences 😊

Thank you so much for not only figuring everything out but also sharing the information with everyone else! I was almost willing to spend a crazy amount of money on a boutique pedal because I wasn't satisfied with my drive pedals when I saw your video. After being able to get a GV-2 for not more than 30€ (shipped) and sourcing the parts I was able to get an amazing pedal for not much money at all. I haven't added the additional diodes to the power rails yet but I'm already stunned with the result. Again, thank you so very much!

Only just seen this video. Brilliant ! Just done the mods to my GV-2 and it sounds excellent with single and twin coils pickups. Thank you.

Thank you so much! I just got a cheap Guvnor 2 plus from eBay. Opening the case shows the older board with markings on the bottom side. The pots are somewhat sketchy, too. Ergo: first model of the GV-2. After modding and fiddling around with different types/values for C12 I settled for 2x10nf ceramic disc in parallel, which sounded somewhat tighter than all the other options I tried. Cool mod!

Phenomenal!! Thank you for this tutorial. Just finished my GV-2 and it is sweeeeeeet now! 👍🏻😀

Great Explanation and Information I Thank You and will keep you posted on my first go at my first Stomp-Mod.

I just made this mod and it the tone improved immensily!!!

I've had a mark 2 for over 10 years and have barely used it as I built a distortion. With the mods it not only sounds great but it's really versatile and by experimenting with, say, a lead tone, I find that the same tone is a little tweak away from a rhythm tone that I wouldn't have considered. Thank you

great video! well explained!

Very interesting, looking forward to the JCM800 episode - I have 2 of them :-)

Applied this mod to my old pedal today (GV-2 revision printed on the board). I never liked its mushy and dull distortion with howling lows, shrieky mids and almost absent highs, so it spent the last ten years gathering dust in the closet with me thinking occasionally of either selling it (for peanuts, probably, so not really worth the effort) or throwing it into the garbage bin. Haha, now I'm so glad that I resisted the spontaneous itching to just get rid of it through all these years! It definitely sounds much, much better, a lot clearer and crunchier. Muddiness is completely gone, trebles are singing, bass is tight and roaring at higher levels of gain. I'm playing a Strat with Fender CS 69 pickups into a 4 Watt Vox AC4 head with a 12'' cabinet and set the Guv'nor as follows (values ranging from 0 to 10 for ease of understanding): Deep 0, Bass 4, Mid/Treble 10, Gain 4-8. Amp volume is set half-way, so that the tone is only slightly breaking, when the pedal is switched off, and stepping on the Guv'nor footswitch turns my nice little amp into a freaking BEAR!! I'm completely blown away, that the change in tone is so substantial! Also, a piece of advice for those, who are thinking of making this mod: stick to 0.125 Watt resistors! The shop that I went to had only 0.25 Watt 10 kOhm resistors, and fitting those two (R12 and, especially, R19, which is located right under a sheaf of wires) was ugly as hell. Thankfully, I managed to get other resistors in 0.125 size, so I did not have any issues with the rest of the changes :)

So much in-depth knowledge, and generosity in sharing. One of the great positives of the social internet. Why did you stop 4 years ago?

OK you got me. I used to have a GV-2. I now have a Gov'Nor ($). But even with headphones for this video, I bet I could not tell a difference if I could not see what box you were stomping. Nicely done.

Great video, I have a gv2, its gonna get this mod. Thank you.

I would like to attempt this mod if I come across a second hand MK2. I really enjoyed this video and the application of electrical/control theory. We need more of that 👍👍

Nice guitar solo at the end!

I've just found this gem of a video and I'm thrilled! Thanks man for the great explanation how to mod it to the MK1 specs. I've moded my to the Wampler book but I'm not to thrilled. What do you think about stacking op amp there, would it sound better in MK1 spec mod?

Great video. I always thought the MKii was just for the bin, but wow! It actually sounds better in some ways with your mod! By the way, I have a MKi.ii (Korean made MKi) - they sound quite similar to the England-made ones to my ears, but are you aware of any technical differences between the two?

Hi Joe....does burr-brown make an op-amp that works in the guvn'r 2? Getting a marshall bluesbreaker clone with a Burr-B op-amp made a huge difference to my ears ....was wondering if that improvement would apply here. Thx for the excellent video, I subbed right away.

Mk 2 is sounding amazing with the volume on 10, but I am lowering my amp as much as possible. What do you think the cranked volume does to the pedal? Do you think it`s just pushing my amp (amp gain is on 0) or does it really change the tone of the pedal itself? Also, does with affect compression and drive of the pedal itself? Would the mod give it the cranked volume sound without having to crank it?

Thank you so much for this video! This will be my first mod, I hope you don't mind, but before I begin can you please confirm the following?: I have the first version of the GV-2, is the process exactly the same with the same capacitors, resistors and diodes? Also, the two diodes in D1 - are you saying solder two 1N4007s together, end to end, then replace the existing diode with those?

GREAT VIDEO!!!!! Help-me!!! That is... I need to remove the r25, r26, c23 and replace c22 with 47pF. right?

Sounds awesomme! whats the settings on the gv-2?

the tone and drive sound is there but the mk1 has more headroom , mk2 slightly compressed, but very close

Hi Joe, I really want to try this mod but in need of two things, the first is confidence which is down to me and the second is a link so that I can print the details. Have you got a link or a web site so that I can copy and print. I've watched the video loads of times but still not fully understanding the diode thing. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Baz.

Excelllent!!!

Excellent content! Need to think about modding something like a BD-2, DS-1, MT-2 or Rat. What do you think? Any ideas for other pedals to mod?

Congratulations man, just perfect!!!! Don’t you have nothing in mind for the jack hammer? seems to be a great pedal but some frequencies are wrong!! Any way thanks for share it with us!!!

Love the mods. I did want to verify two things. I lifted one leg of the diode D1, soldered he two added diodes in the correct (same) orientation and then back into the hole/pad where I had taken D1 out of. Hat is correct? Also, I do notice the volume range is lower on the modded pedal. It’s no big deal, I can make it up by cranking volume up, but for similar settings the unmodded pedal has more output. Is this expected?

Hi Joe Simon I have a mark 2 and I'm interested in this mod! How much do you charge for this mod? Any reply would be greatly appreciated thanks 😊

The sound probably won't rely on the OP amps or the LED diodes, is the overall design of the circuitry on the resistors as the degrade over time, older resistors with "wide" tolerances produced better tones like the good old pedals Tube Screamers or the MXR Distortion Plus or the DOD Grey, etc, etc, I think this pedal benefits with the bigger LED 3mm I got in red or white super bright red composite, instead of the tiny ones, and a better polarized capacitor like a Nichicon bipolar or "gold" at 50v range, if you like to destroy stuff in order to get the "tone" you want.

Great video!I just finished the mod.I have korean guvner and kompare it with my chinese moded mk2.There is no difference by ear.Only one thing that i notice.Now moded doesn't work on battery.Maybe I've got a mistake while replace D1 with series diods?

great content. Subscribed immediately, and I'll check out your other videos.

Hi Joe! Awesome job you've done and great video! I'm wondering if you could share the schematic of this mod so I could try to do it myself on my Guv2 pedal... You can share it or it's a "business thing only "you have going on? Can you send me more details about it? What can you share? Thank you in advanced and keep the awesome work on your channel ;) Cheers from Portugal

Great video! Now, can you make one for modding a Blues Breaker BB-2 to BB-1? :D Like in swapping 300 bucks to 30 as well?

Oh and by the way, can you do a similar video with the Blues Breaker? Regards

Thanks! ,👍

Great video Joe. Thanks! You advise removing D3 and D5 or they can be left? Thanks again!

Does it matter on the brand of the electrical components? Can I get these a a basic electronic store?

A troubleshoot for my pedal 😬, just to understand, whats the reason of these 2 diodes added? How much voltage does it should drop? Because on mine it is barely sounding, not sure if the shop sent me the right diodes

What software did you use to simulate and analyse wave forms?

Great. Do you have any 'in stock'? Greets from good ol' germany....

Has anyone tried to use the Guv v2 as a preamp through the fx loop?

Genius

Awesome! If there's a difference I certainly can't hear it. I sent you an email.

You should maybe think about selling modded Guv'nor Mk2s to those of us who are too lazy or too stupid to perform this mod.

Your V2.1 photo of the circuit board shows a wire across D1 instead of a rectifier diode. Why is this? Also, would you be willing to post a photo of the two 1N4007 rectifier diodes wired in series with the original? I would like to se how you arranged and soldered them. Thanks! Harley

There is also the bluesbreaker

Do you have a parts list of all parts I'll need to buy?

great video the mk1 has more low mids , sounds better to me

Should the 2 diodes be before or after the existing diode? Do you have a picture of your mounting of these 2 components?

Are you able to tell me the wattage of the resistors used? Thanks for this!

I just tried to mod mine, and I f****d it up. I'll try to reverse what I've done. It's clear that electronics is not my thing. Amazing video, anyways!!

Forgive my ignorance but where the #$%^ does one get the electronic componants to do this?

Still waiting jack hammer mod video ❤❤❤

Do you have a mod for BB 2 pedal

Hi Joe, can you mod my gv-2 for me? How can I best contact you? Dennis

I actually slightly prefer the modded Guv 2

💯😭👍👍

Are you selling mod kits ? Morgan

Dad: son you doctor yet Son: no im 10 years old Dad: 2:08

great little channel... Subscribed! Glad to find you. You are welcome to pop in to my lil' channel sometime. I'm big on my Mk.I, original issue, it was even in today's upload. Bless you Sonic Brother!

the mk1 is warmer

Say I don't need/want the extra deep control, is it as simple as cutting before C15 and after C18? Cheers

personally, i think t'his is not "a great sounding pedal", my PAL800, my revival drive hot rod, sound way better than this, i don't understand the hype around these things, it's a box with resistors, capacitors pots and a switch and with poor quality compared to those these day's, there is not even a "secret component in it, i would never buy this pedal