Quick Poll: Volume Pedal

[NoNoise]

Hey everyone,

I've read a lot of threads on volume pedals, and I'm pretty much narrowed down to 5 pedals.

I'm aware of the issues and complaints of all of the ones listed here. To be honest, the more I read, the more undecided I become (since none get 100% positive reviews).

So, I just thought I'd post this poll just to see if it might help sway me one way or another.

Again, I'm not asking for people to repeat themselves regarding the pedals, since I have already done the searches. I just want to see what the numbers may say to help push me in a direction.

I'm currently playing a passive Fender Strat into 10-13 pedals into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. The Volume Pedal will be towards the middle of my chain after a Boss DS-1 "Synth Drive" (JHS modded pedal). I am not opposed to adding a buffer before the Volume Pedal, if necessary.

Thanks!

Here are URLs and "standard" prices for the choices:

Dunlop DVP1 (http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/dvp1-volume-pedal) $100
Boss FV-500H/L (http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=697) $110
JHS-modded Ernie Ball VP JR (http://jhspedals.com/jhspedals/Ernie_Ball_VP.html) $140
Thru-Tone modded Ernie Ball VP/VPJR (http://www.thru-tone.com/Ernie_Ball_Mod.html) $245/$215
Visual Sound Visual Volume (http://www.visualsound.net/index.php/products/guitar_effects_pedals/v2_visual_volume/) $140

[NoNoise]

More votes? :D

[chops612]

Dunno if you can change the poll now, but for the sake of your percentages you might just make one Thru-Tone as the normal and Jr are exactly the same other than size. And of course I'd vote again if I could! ha

[walterw]

you forgot to include a regular 25k ernie ball. (i suppose the boss 500L would serve.)

after that ds-1, you'll want a low-impedance pedal and won't need a buffer.

[dave12]

If you're gonna pay that much for a Thru-Tone modded EB, why don't you just go ahead and buy a Hilton/Goodrich?

Out of the other ones, I'd say JHS modded hands down.

[crxshdxmmy]

I sent my EBVPjr to This1smyne earlier this week for a $35 (+ shipping) version of what JHS does for $50. Can't beat that.

I'm still somewhat intrigued by the thrutone mod, but even after talking to the guy about it some, I wasn't convinced enough to pull the trigger. I only paid $35 for the pedal to begin with... so dumping so much into it to basically achieve the same (or very similar) result as a $35 mod would yield seemed rather excessive.

YMMV.

[chops612]

Problem with a lot of guys and the Hilton is that is has a very short angle and throw which is made for sitting down (steel players). You get a lot more to work with with other brands. The T1M and JHS are good fixes as well, but where as they are essentially just a single input buffer hardwired to the input, the Pro Mod is the complete and ultimate solution to turn your EB into a fully active VP with much extended durability for years of hard playing. It isn't expensive for any other reason than the components involved, built by hand, and time involved to do the whole mod. As I always said it isn't for everybody, but it got it's name the "Pro Mod" for the fact it was from demand of many hard working pro players!

[radcliff]

Where's my Goodrich 120?

[NoNoise]

Dunno if you can change the poll now, but for the sake of your percentages you might just make one Thru-Tone as the normal and Jr are exactly the same other than size. And of course I'd vote again if I could! ha

To be honest, I was just curious which size people prefer. I'd probably go for the JR to save board space, but I kind of just combine those votes when thinking of that option (Thru-Tone). :)

you forgot to include a regular 25k ernie ball. (i suppose the boss 500L would serve.)

after that ds-1, you'll want a low-impedance pedal and won't need a buffer.

Yeah, I didn't include the un-modded version, as it just seemed like a given that I wouldn't want one with the problems people mention.

Problem with a lot of guys and the Hilton is that is has a very short angle and throw which is made for sitting down (steel players). You get a lot more to work with with other brands.

Yep, that's why I didn't include Hilton. :)

Where's my Goodrich 120?

I haven't read much about the Goodrich. In one of the threads on TGP, people complained about bad pots. And since I don't want to do any mods myself, I decided that was enough to leave it out. I can reconsider though, as long as it doesn't have the same short-angle issue as the Hilton.


Thanks everyone for all your input!!

[NoNoise]

The T1M and JHS are good fixes as well, but where as they are essentially just a single input buffer hardwired to the input, the Pro Mod is the complete and ultimate solution to turn your EB into a fully active VP with much extended durability for years of hard playing.

I just want to be clear (since I didn't say anything about it one way or the other before) that I do believe the Thru-Tone mod is worth the money for the work done to the pedal.

I'm just not sure I need that much of a solution, at this point.

So, the way I see it, the T1M and JHS mods are a step between the un-modded version and the Thru-Tone mod. Both are great work and worth the money for what people get (i.e. there is no bashing any of these great people that do this work or their pricing/work). :)

[Cosmogang]

I had a T1M Vp Jr before. It was nice.

[dave12]

Problem with a lot of guys and the Hilton is that is has a very short angle and throw which is made for sitting down (steel players). You get a lot more to work with with other brands.

Of course, its just my opinion, but that's what I love about the Hilton. I was getting sick of the log taper on the EB, where the volume only starts to come in on the last quarter of the sweep. The Hilton is smooth in engaging and smooth in its swell over the sweep.

I used to be the EB guy, but now I think, why would I go back to a volume pedal where half of the sweep is worthless? It could just be that I do swells a lot and ambient sounds, but the Hilton was definitely worth every penny for me.

[chops612]

Yeah I totally get it! I hope it wan't implied its a bad pedal... Great build, but for function I see why it's many steel players choice. Part of the design of the "Pro Mod" is that the sweep is made fully useful and smooth... CONSISTENTLY... vs having outside pedals' impedance's influence and affect the way the EB supposed to work.

[NoNoise]

Just an update...

I decided on the Thru-Tone modded VP Jr.

Here are the reasons why:

1.) I got a good deal on a used VP Jr. from a TGPer, making the total cost of getting the Thru-Tone modded VP cost closer to the T1M or JHS modded VPs.
2.) I'm still not convinced the Goodrich or Hilton will work for me, as I'm worried about the angles, since I'll be standing while using the volume pedal.
3.) The Dunlop is too heavy considering I'll have a total of 14-15 pedals once my board is finished.
4.) The Boss pedals don't look as sturdy as the VP, and it sounds like it also has tone-suck issues.

So, even though this decision is a personal one, and there is no "right answer," I wanted to give my thoughts in case it helps anyone else. :)