The loudest radio? The one with the most limiters cut out of it.
Face it, ANY "loud" export that has in your face audio, has at least one limiter removed (TR32, TR57, R249, R246 in the common 3600 board). Then, you hang a 1N4001 diode off the back or in series with the resistor for the swing mod. You control the "loudness/dirtiness/bleeding" via the Mic. Gain knob.
Purchase a General Lee from Sparky's CB Shack. Pop the "warranty" stickers off and you will find a trace cut on TR57. That is your "loud." He does a good job aligning the radio, but he could have just opened the VR's up all they way and got the same effect. Plus, the radio has virtually zilch for average power. You are basically riding the deadkey with tons of splatter. He could at least do the diode swing mod. It costs what, $0.05 for a diode? He is there cutting a trace, he could at least solder on a diode and bring your average power up out of the mud.
I just worked on a friends Bi-polar General Lee (2312s instead of 520s). Did the diode swing mod and adjusted deadkeys back down to a normal level, 2 low and 6 high. 2 watts was averaging 14 watts and 35 clean(ish) watts, 50 dirty watts. 6 watts was averaging 20 watts and 38ish clean(ish) watts, 50 dirty watts. I replaced TR32 to see if it would clean the audio up a bit. It lost some average power, now does 10-11 average on low and 15-16 on high. Still overmodulating as the VRs are opened up but not near as "raspy" as it was and still sounds "loud." Backing the mic. gain off did take some "loud" away but does clean the signal up.
The 3600 board does not need hacking to be loud. Leave the limiters in, add the diode swing mod and adjust VR's either fully open or close to it.
This "loud" and "swing" stuff has gotten waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of hand. There are only so many mods for the 3600 board, NOBODY has reinvented the wheel for this chassis. This business of being loud and clean is PURE and ABSOLUTE BULL FECES. You can not have loud in your face audio and be clean, no way, NONE. If it is LOUD, a limiter is gone or the modulation VRs are opened up.
/rant
10-4 dude, well said