Volume Pedal Advice

[exocet]

I'm after a bit of advice on use of Volume Pedals , what to you and where to place in chain.

I'm really liking the sound of my High Plate skyline build but I've really settled into using the OD for clean as well, using the guitar volume to clean up - o.k we're not talking pristine blackface cleans here, rather something with a bit of grit to it.

The problem is that the 'clean' is a lot quieter than the OD when I open up the guitar pot so I have been raising the master for clean. This of course means that OD is too loud and my ratio doesn't really have the range to balance it out.

So I thought about putting a volume pedal in the loop return ( I use a Fuchs Verbrator as a loop / reverb unit), setting the master high and using the volume pedal to balance out between clen and OD.

Is this a silly idea as most volume pedals tend to be used in front of the amp.

Ernie Ball do two different pedals, one for standard passive use and the other for active circuits - any idea which would work better in loop return?

[Pete]

Ernie Ball do two different pedals, one for standard passive use and the other for active circuits - any idea which would work better in loop return?

I use the standard (old) large style EB pedal, it has a 250K pot. If the other one you referred to has a larger value it may work better in the loop. Also, I'm not sure I understand why your Ratio control would not have the range it should. You should be able to turn the Ratio to a setting much lower than when switched to no OD. How does it work for you with nothing in the loop or no loop? I prefer the volume pedal in the front input, in fact much better than no pedal.

[exocet]

Sorry my comments on Ratio were misleading.

In essence I like using the amp in OD mode, backing off quite a bit on the guitar volume to get a slightly gritty clean.

With this sound the amp is much quieter i.e. when I open up the guitar volume to get singing lead tone it is much louder.

So, I manually crank the master up to increase the clean 'volume' when I have the guitar volume 'down' and visa versa. A volume in fron of the amp would only replicate the guitar volume pot? Hence my thoughts about putting it in the loop.

I like the look of the EB pedal but was 'thrown' when they mentioned different types (active / passive). Their quite expensive over here in the U.K (most likely will have to import) and I don't want to waste cash in getting the wrong one.

[Structo]

I think you are right, the volume pedal should mimic the guitars volume pot.
So you can use it to clean up the tone, then mash it to the floor for your lead tone.

[Bob-I]

I use a 1M pot in the loop, built into my Dulator, to control the overall volume. I'd expect that a 1M pot would be your best bet, but the Ernie pedal is 250K. It should work ok, but the impedance loading of the PI will be off. I'd check around to see if you can find a 1M pot for the pedal.

[crbowman]

I would highly recommend checking out the pedal steel forums. Steel players tend to be very picky about their volume pedals seeing as they are a major part of the steel "vibe".
I personally use a Goodrich light beam pedal. Uses a photo resistor and a light bulb. No pot to get scratchy or suck tone. Cleans up just like using your volume control. You do need to plug it into 120v though.

[Structo]

Yeah, I have an old Morley wah pedal that uses the light bulb and photocell.
It is even powered by 120 vac.

It never worked that great as a wah pedal but I have heard they make a good volume pedal.

[talbany]

I'm after a bit of advice on use of Volume Pedals , what to you and where to place in chain.

I'm really liking the sound of my High Plate skyline build but I've really settled into using the OD for clean as well, using the guitar volume to clean up - o.k we're not talking pristine blackface cleans here, rather something with a bit of grit to it.

The problem is that the 'clean' is a lot quieter than the OD when I open up the guitar pot so I have been raising the master for clean. This of course means that OD is too loud and my ratio doesn't really have the range to balance it out.

So I thought about putting a volume pedal in the loop return ( I use a Fuchs Verbrator as a loop / reverb unit), setting the master high and using the volume pedal to balance out between clen and OD.

Is this a silly idea as most volume pedals tend to be used in front of the amp.

Ernie Ball do two different pedals, one for standard passive use and the other for active circuits - any idea which would work better in loop return?

Exo
If you decide to go with the pot driven one make sure they don't have the smaller type pots on them.. A good friend of mine purchased an E-ball one..that had what I believe was a CTS small pot it didn't last 6 months...If you spray any type of cleaner in them and give them a week they will DIE!!.. He sent me the pedal and had to modify it for a Clero.. The older Eb pedals are wonderful feel great and last forever if you take good care of it..The older EB's I believe had the Allen Bradley's in them.. Those are the ones you want.. Craigs List one.. Put it right in line with your guitar ..Have a nice day.. The opto driven ones work fine but feel different and you gotta plug them in or use a battery.. Why go there..Good Luck

Tony

[talbany]

For those who are real particular about tone... If you use the volume pedal religiously you may want to think about disabling it from the guitar all together.. I know Robben does this or at one time did this.. Think about it.. With the pedal in the chain from the guitar you have a pot feeding a pot.. Even with the pots wide open you still have that added 250k load there. This up's the impedance and loads the front end .. You can hear it in the highs and does make a slight difference.. Thought I would mention..

Tony

[exocet]

Thanks for the input everyone especially the points on newer v older EB pedals. I'll scour Craigslist for an old model. Out of interest, do Alan Bradley still manufacture pots? In the U.K they were not very common items.

[exocet]

Tony

Does this look like an older EB pedal to you? It doesn't look quite the same as their current ones?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ernie-Ball-Volume ... 500wt_1182

Marc

[doveman]

You need to use the 25k version of the EBjr pedal in the loop. I have both models and the the 250k is too sensitive ... the 25k version works much better in the loop. My amp is the D'Lite 22/33 with a IronSounds loop.

[Structo]

Wouldn't a volume pedal for what he wants work better into the front end?

He is wanting to clean up the tone like his guitar volume does, so wouldn't you want the pedal right after the guitar into the input?

[doveman]

The reason is this ... what Talbany said is true ... loads up the front end.

For those who are real particular about tone... If you use the volume pedal religiously you may want to think about disabling it from the guitar all together.. I know Robben does this or at one time did this.. Think about it.. With the pedal in the chain from the guitar you have a pot feeding a pot.. Even with the pots wide open you still have that added 250k load there. This up's the impedance and loads the front end .. You can hear it in the highs and does make a slight difference.. Thought I would mention.. Tony

Volume pedal works great in the loop but doesn't effect the tone ... my experience anyway.

[Deric]

Wouldn't a volume pedal for what he wants work better into the front end?

He is wanting to clean up the tone like his guitar volume does, so wouldn't you want the pedal right after the guitar into the input?

No. He is using the guitar volume to control the tone/gain. Since this changes the volume he wants to control the overall output with a pedal so he can better balance his clean and OD tones.

To accomplish this the pedal needs to be in the loop.