talk me into a volume pedal

[feet]

ok, neat swells, quick "on/off". what else can be done with it? would it love an ebow? how are you getting fancy with your volume pedal?

thanks

 

[SUPERMUFF1]

Hey I think you should get a volume pedal......

 

[LPSlinger]

You can use it to mimic some pedal-steel type licks with pre-bending and a volume pedal. Some people use it full-open for a lead tone and then back off on the volume pedal for rhythm.

 

[capt4inslow]

I bought one but it's not on my board...I just take it with an extra patch cable as I need it...

 

[feet]

You can use it to mimic some pedal-steel type licks with pre-bending and a volume pedal. Some people use it full-open for a lead tone and then back off on the volume pedal for rhythm.

the former sounds cool. the latter, less so. rather use and od or boost, but i see the value.

 

[facon]

Practice swells and stuff on your volume knob on the guitar for a while. If you like the effect you're getting but wish you could do it faster or find that it would be more convenient at your feet, get a volume pedal.

 

[etvedt]

Depending on what kind of overdrives or fuzzes you're using after the volume pedal, you could find your distortions provide a dynamic range you didn't know existed before using the volume pedal. This just happened with me. I've had a Keeley Fuzz Head for a while, but recently bought a volume pedal. I found that dialing off on the volume pedal turned the Fuzz head--a pretty volatile and loud pedal--into more of a light overdrive, almost like a clean boost. It was a pleasant surprise. I'm also a big volume swell user with tons of delay, so it's great for that, too.

I recommend the Dunlop volume pedal. It looks corny, but sounds really great and doesn't require a battery.

 

[feet]

Practice swells and stuff on your volume knob on the guitar for a while. If you like the effect you're getting but wish you could do it faster or find that it would be more convenient at your feet, get a volume pedal.

using just the volume knob, i have trouble keep the attack consistent, especially when i'm recording. holding the pick, working with/going around the bigsby and stuff is distracting. realizing that lead me down this path.

Depending on what kind of overdrives or fuzzes you're using after the volume pedal, you could find your distortions provide a dynamic range you didn't know existed before using the volume pedal. This just happened with me. I've had a Keeley Fuzz Head for a while, but recently bought a volume pedal. I found that dialing off on the volume pedal turned the Fuzz head--a pretty volatile and loud pedal--into more of a light overdrive, almost like a clean boost. It was a pleasant surprise. I'm also a big volume swell user with tons of delay, so it's great for that, too.

I recommend the Dunlop volume pedal. It looks corny, but sounds really great and doesn't require a battery.

i hadn't thought of that. i used to assume that the volume pedal goes first in line, but it is "supposed" to go somewhere in the middle, right?

ok, one vote for dunlop. and i see ernie balls all over. funny thing about volume pedals is that if you don't go for one of the $80 standbys, the next price point is like $250 puts me in a weird position, as i don't want to buy something that isn't worth owning, but i'm not going to drop that kind of cash, either.

 

[belafonte]

volume and tremolo pedal let you cop an organ sound okay

 

[Evansexcellent]

I use mine for my ebow, swells, tuner features and if I need to do a minor adjust to volume until a song is over then I'll fix the amp. I put mine first but I've had it in the middle and end as well to interact differently with my delay and dirty pedals. Personally I like Ernie ball and boss. I currently run the fv500h for the expression jack when I need it.

 

[Tarmac]

Talk you into a Volume pedal?

You might not fit with all the capacitors in there... and if it's not true bypass, you might not make it out the other side..

 

[facon]

using just the volume knob, i have trouble keep the attack consistent, especially when i'm recording. holding the pick, working with/going around the bigsby and stuff is distracting. realizing that lead me down this path.

Then there you have it. You need to try out a volume pedal. I picked up a used Ernie Ball VP JR from a Music Go Round for $45. I see them on CL all the time for around the same or less. Not a big investment if you want to see if it'll work out for you.

 

[cookedbutok]

First argument for a volume pedal: Your username is "feet"...

Second argument (observation) for a volume pedal: Honestly, just the fact that you are on here trying to have someone to convince you to buy one tells me you will own one soon.

Third argument for a volume pedal: Here's my .2 cents. To me, a volume pedal is an absolute must and it has nothing to do with swells or for muting, it's all about control. I run mine smack in the middle of my chain, after drives, before delays and verbs, the great thing about doing that (IMO) is that i'm not affecting my gain stages in the same ways as rolling back the volume on my guitar. So if I want the same gain "profile" if you will, I can have it at whatever volume I need it, not just at full mast on my pedals and guitar, I hope that makes sense.

I play music that requires me to wear a lot of different hats to fit into the overall mix during each song. The more control I have between those transition spaces the better. I do use it for swells regularly. I do use it for a quick mute occasionally. It's just a really great tool IMO. The great thing is, you don't have to spend a lot to get a decent one. I have a Goodrich just because of some of the tone suck issues with a EB VP Jr., BUT I had a VP Jr. forever and it was a great pedal and you may not even have tone issues with it, if you do get a $30-40 buffer from T1M or LS Effects and you'll be fine. Two tips: 1) Experiment with where in your chain you like it. 2) Give yourself some time to get used to all the ways you can use it. It took me a few weeks to get my swells right, get a feel for when to use it and when not to, etc.

Hope that helps!

 

[Silent Sound]

Meh. They're okay. I have a Little Alligator. No complaints with the actual unit, it works fine enough. I've found the minimum volume knob to be very handy from time to time. I used to use it for my ebow, but now just roll back the guitars volume.

The reason I originally bought it was because the other guitarist in my band at the time had a Line 6 amp that he had a hard time controlling the volume jumps when he switched between amp models. So by comparison, I was either too loud or too quiet, and I didn't like adjusting the volume on my guitar, because that changed the distortion characteristics. But that band broke up and my new band is a three piece, so I don't have it on my pedal board anymore.

A couple of times I've set up the volume pedal on an amp and guitar that I'm not playing and rested the guitar right next to the speaker so all I had to do was get it started and then I could swell the feedback in and out with the volume pedal while playing a different guitar/amp combo.

Having had that volume pedal for about ten years, I can say it really only served a few purposes. Outside of those, it's not worth the weight/space it takes up. Now, while I haven't had it on my pedal board in years, I do seem to break it out every once in a while because I seem to find uses for it. It just has trouble finding a permanent home. If it were stolen, I'd probably buy another one, but not immediately. Below are about the only uses I've come across for a volume pedal. There are probably more, but these are the reason's I can think of to own one. None of them are essential, but some are kinda cool.

1. Controlling your volume to match someone else who can't control their volume.

2. Controlling the volume on a amp that doesn't otherwise control volume well (like some modeling amps)

3. A quick and smooth switch between two volume levels, such as a lead tone or using an ebow. A minimum volume switch is handy for this one.

4. Creating a swell effect or going for a reverse guitar like sound.

5. Quickly and easily cutting off a guitar or mic (Shure Green Bullet) when not in use.

6. Controlling a constant background sound like feedback or a loop.

 

[sergedeep]

I like to turn the amp up and control the gain by the volume pedal - many people control this with the volume knob on the guitar, but I prefer a volume pedal...

 

[ERGExplorer]

Dude, if you can't come to a decision about whether you want a piece of gear, don't buy it.

If you can't make it work, and don't see a path to acquiring the skill to use it in a useful way, then don't flounder.

If you decide that the problem is something else, like "Help me master use of the volume pedal!," then that's a different topic.

 

[feet]

ok, you guys win. i'll keep my eyes peeled for something. so you guys liking 250k pots? stereo? this is all fascinating, thanks.

 

[gtrbarbarian]

First argument for a volume pedal: Your username is "feet"...

Second argument (observation) for a volume pedal: Honestly, just the fact that you are on here trying to have someone to convince you to buy one tells me you will own one soon.

Third argument for a volume pedal: Here's my .2 cents. To me, a volume pedal is an absolute must and it has nothing to do with swells or for muting, it's all about control. I run mine smack in the middle of my chain, after drives, before delays and verbs, the great thing about doing that (IMO) is that i'm not affecting my gain stages in the same ways as rolling back the volume on my guitar. So if I want the same gain "profile" if you will, I can have it at whatever volume I need it, not just at full mast on my pedals and guitar, I hope that makes sense.

I play music that requires me to wear a lot of different hats to fit into the overall mix during each song. The more control I have between those transition spaces the better. I do use it for swells regularly. I do use it for a quick mute occasionally. It's just a really great tool IMO. The great thing is, you don't have to spend a lot to get a decent one. I have a Goodrich just because of some of the tone suck issues with a EB VP Jr., BUT I had a VP Jr. forever and it was a great pedal and you may not even have tone issues with it, if you do get a $30-40 buffer from T1M or LS Effects and you'll be fine. Two tips: 1) Experiment with where in your chain you like it. 2) Give yourself some time to get used to all the ways you can use it. It took me a few weeks to get my swells right, get a feel for when to use it and when not to, etc.

Hope that helps!

 

[tmac65]

Clean up the drive with the guitar's volume knob, control rig volume with the pedal. Works great.

 

[hyde]

I used to use a volume pedal but I found I was always tweaking it. I started feeling like I was stuck with my foot on the damned thing. I stopped using it and I find I move around much more on stage...and I don't really miss it. Sounds stupid but I had a friend mention the same thing.

Lots of great uses for a volume pedal, just make sure it doesn't become a crutch.