Volume pedals...

[jermyboyofwonde]

I'm looking for a volume pedal but i dont know really what to look for. Passive or active, whats the difference with a volume pedal? I know I dont need stereo.

Feel free to recommend good volume pedals.
Any help would be good.
thanks
Jeremy

 

[sile2001]

Ernie Ball 6166 Mono volume pedal. It doesn't get any better than one of those. I own two of them (normal, and the smaller Jr. model) and they are both bullet-proof. They are built so well that they can regularly support me (150lbs) or one of my friends (200lbs) putting our full weight on them, jumping on them, etc. Some people like them enough to transplant the guts of other pedals (wahs and such) into these frames. You will pretty much never have to buy another volume pedal.

Read the reviews:
http://guitargeek.com/gearview/26/
http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/Ernie_Ball/6166_Volume_Pedal-01.html

Order the pedal:
http://www.music123.com/Ernie-Ball-6166-Mono-Volume-Pedal-i95659.music?match=1
Or your local music store.

 

[pohaku]

Ernie Ball 6166 Mono volume pedal. It doesn't get any better than one of those. I own two of them (normal, and the smaller Jr. model) and they are both bullet-proof. They are built so well that they can regularly support me (150lbs) or one of my friends (200lbs) putting our full weight on them, jumping on them, etc. Some people like them enough to transplant the guts of other pedals (wahs and such) into these frames. You will pretty much never have to buy another volume pedal.

Read the reviews:
http://guitargeek.com/gearview/26/
http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/Ernie_Ball/6166_Volume_Pedal-01.html

Order the pedal:
http://www.music123.com/Ernie-Ball-6166-Mono-Volume-Pedal-i95659.music?match=1
Or your local music store.

What he said!

 

[cephus]

I have a Boss volume pedal that must have been replaced by the FV-50H. The one I have was about $70, 15 years ago easily. I like it because it has a tuner out, which I rely on. You can turn down the volume to the amp but the tuner still works. It doesn't have any static and I have had zero problems with it. It's a good piece.

 

[Anfontan]

Ernie Ball is the one

Another vote for the passive Ernie Ball volume pedal, I got mine used from a small music store and its never given me any trouble. I like it so much I bought a backup (mono type) in case of problems, I really depend on it! The first one is a stereo pedal that has a preset pot for easy rythmn and lead volume settings, it's really more of a steel guitar pedal because it can pan from left to right or right to left with volume fades. I did defeat the pan operation on it though, so I didnt get any suprise volume drops when I wanted gain. Anyone out there have an idea of how the preset pot is wired on this pedal by chance?
I have a Morley that uses a optical sensor that is AC powered that I rarely used..the thought of drinks on stage with an AC current at my feet freaked me out for sure~~

 

[Light]

Errnie Ball, end of story. It also has a tuner out, if you feel the need for that, and it is built to last forever. Plus, they fell great to use. If you want to save a little money, they are making a Jr. version now which is a bit cheaper. I've got big ol' clown feet, so I use a big one.



Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[mrface2112]

+1 for the ernie ball.

i don't know what model number mine is--but it's ancient and mono and totally bulletproof. i've had it for almost 20 years, and never had a problem with it--and i use it weekly. i just wish it had the in/out on the end of the pedal instead of the side--a change they've since made.


cheers,
wade

 

[andyhix]

Another vote, I guess for the Ernie Ball, based on the fact that I've never used one, but recoently just bought an el cheapo brand from the local store, and I'm pretty dissapointed. It's near silent through a third of its travel than has a quick increase in volume over the remainder of the movement. I can only assume a more expensive vol pedal would be a smoother volume transition.

 

[jermyboyofwonde]

Shoudl the sting be a concern? Will it break?

 

[gizmowizard]

Morley

Another option might be the Morley volume/wah pedals. I bought one of ebay for $45 dollars and it's built like a tank. Plus there's no silly strings to break or pots to get scratchy.
Remember to check the battery in it occasionally, however.

Ryan

 

[jermyboyofwonde]

I have a morely bad horsie wah. I like the Switchless side of it... but i dont want my pedal board to look like a morel fan club president owns it, so i want someting else.

 

[jfrog]

Another vote, I guess for the Ernie Ball, based on the fact that I've never used one, but recoently just bought an el cheapo brand from the local store, and I'm pretty dissapointed. It's near silent through a third of its travel than has a quick increase in volume over the remainder of the movement. I can only assume a more expensive vol pedal would be a smoother volume transition.

That's the problem with some volume pedals...the swell rates aren't optimal for guitar. the ernie ball jr. has 2 swell rates (both seem to be good) plus the tuner out, which lets you tune with the pedal in any pedal position.

 

[sile2001]

Plus there's no silly strings to break or pots to get scratchy.

Yeah...so that "silly string" is a kevlar string. You know...the same kind of stuff they use in special forces ballistic armor? (i.e. "bullet-proof" vests). If you regularly break that string, then maybe you need to re-evaluate your style of usage.

Even if it does break, it's only a few bucks to replace it. How much would the repair bill on a Morley be if you broke something in it?

 

[jfrog]

Yeah...so that "silly string" is a kevlar string. You know...the same kind of stuff they use in special forces ballistic armor? (i.e. "bullet-proof" vests). If you regularly break that string, then maybe you need to re-evaluate your style of usage.

Even if it does break, it's only a few bucks to replace it. How much would the repair bill on a Morley be if you broke something in it?

It's cheaper to replace the string every 10 years than to be continually be buying batteries.

 

[SLicata]

Ernie Ball is the way to go...mine has acted funky a few times...it sucked the life out of my tone at one rehearsal...i stomped on it by where the inputs/outputs are, and it popped back into gear...it seems to be fine now...contact cleaner takes care of that thanks to homerecording.com/bbs

 

[andyhix]

That's the problem with some volume pedals...the swell rates aren't optimal for guitar. the ernie ball jr. has 2 swell rates (both seem to be good) plus the tuner out, which lets you tune with the pedal in any pedal position.

I've contemplated taking the pedal apart and seeing if there is a way to reposition the gear arm (or whatever) on the pot, maybe to get the swell more centered on the pedal travel. I've done this before with my wah pedal, and it helped a bit. Anybody done that to improve a less than perfect vol pedal? I suppose it might just move the problem to the top end of the pedal travel instead of the bottom.