That resistor is very important, it forms a 470k+470p/470k divider throught Volume 2 (normal) pot to ground, or 470k+470p/1470k when Volume 2 is full, even when using only Channel 1.
By removing that resistor you've doubled the low frequency voltage into V2a.
This circuit only has a handful of components, every component is important and affects the sound, no need to remove anything.
In fact, add a passive Volume 2 to Channel 1 Treble only models for maximum authenticity, or fix it internally at 0, it affects the sound.