Volume Pedals

[cmcneil]

What's out there that you guys like? Thinking about picking up an Ernie Ball but I remember some thread on the old board about some other options that steelers recommended... any opinions pro or con on the Ernie Ball also welcome.

[Ben Harmless]

Some seem to think they have better volume pedals than the Earnie Ball, and they may, but when I used the Ball pedal, I never had a problem. It did exactly what it was supposed to do, without any unpleasant tonal coloration, and it's built like a tank. Seems to me like you can't go wrong.

I didn't use it though. I just use my volume knob now. I am, however, considering building an ultra-clean tele with no controls, pickguard, etc., so the volume medal might come in handy in that case.

[MJ Harnish]

I'd agree, it's hard to go wrong with an Ernie Ball. They don'tcost a fortune, are well-built, and the pot can be replaced easily when it wears out. It's also got a very good feel to me: not too soft, not too hard.

MJ

[Ward]

Steelie's all love Goodrich's (for the most part). I have an Ernie Ball. It's good, but my problem is that I wish I could have a smoother response for swells etc. The E.B. pots seems to go too fast for my taste. I'm thinking about getting a different pot for my E.B. to get a smother response, any suggestions? Ward

[blu4co]

i think the Goodrich is a major upgrade from the ernie
ball....it's smoother, and has a lower profile, so as to not
make you feel like you're standing on a big box...however
i did have an Ernie Ball for a long time..and it got the job
done

[Jimi D]

I've never played a Goodrich volume pedal, but I love my Ernie Ball... I'd play a Goodrich if I saw one, but it'd have to be pretty special to make me swap out my EB - maybe I'm just used to it, but I love it for swells, and because my pedal board is really (really!!) cramped, I like the fact that it stands higher than my other pedals so I can get my foot on it without worry of tapping on something else I'm very, very happy with my Ernie Ball...

[jazzrat]

The EB works great for me!

[decay-o-caster]

A vote for Goodrich here. Beautiful smooth taper to the
pot, slightly smaller footprint, and less tone-suck than the
EB. Downside is that all the connectors are on the right
side of the pedal and that can make wiring it up a bit
funky. Also, no tuner out.

I have both the active and the passive Goodriches. The
active one has a buffer that's handy if you have a bunch
of true bypass pedals. They will drag your signal down,
but the Goodrich buffer clears it up nicely. Not totally
transparent, maybe a little brighter than a straight cord to
the amp, but it's easier to dial out a wee bit o' treble than
it is to try to dial in a huge loss of tone.

[Brad]

I've used the same Ibanez VL10 stereo volume pedal for the last 15 or so years. It has never failed me. Excellent sweep. Quiet. Tuner out. You can also use it as a panner between two amps. I don't remember what I paid for it, but it is certainly worth it whatever it was! Last week, I noticed the pot was bit scratchy. I took the bottom plate off for the first time, squirted some Lube Job into the pot. Pushed the pedal up and down about 20 times and it once again works like new! I've used Dunlop, Ernie Ball and Morley vol pedals in the past. While I like the heavy duty feel of the EB's & Goodrich pedals, the Ibanez has certainly been the most durable Vol pedal I've ever owned. Boss also makes a similar pedal. Some may be put off by the plastic housing, but again....I've never, ever had an issue with it chipping, breaking or breaking down. The pedal travel is just right for me to do swells, psuedo pedal steel licks, Whale sounds, cello, bass, violin and ebow type sounds. One thing I love to do when running stereo out of the vol pedal is use the front pickup ( Seth Lover ) in my tele, roll the tone almost completely off, switch on a Vox Valve Tone, switch on a digidelay using the solo setting. I then play slow arpeggios starting each note with no sound and swelling into each note and varying the speed in which each note is brought to full volume. I'm sure this is nothing new with most of you, but it never fails to get a positive reaction from the audience. I usually have several people come up each time I do this and compliment me on the sound as well as wonder how in the heck it's done. With the delay ping-ponging between each amp, the sound seems to come out of nowhere. Very atmosphereic!

[Scotland]

I've used one for years, no problems, no tone changes, just does exactly what it says on the box.
I have recommended them to loads of guys.

[Cliff]

I've never used an Ernie Ball, but a Goodrich has served me well for a few years. I have the low profile model, which is closer to the floor. You can pick up a used one at a reasonable price at the Steel Guitar Forum. I see them there from time to time on the Buy and Sell.

[Bernie]

EB works fine for me - no problems. I've got the one with the switch thing that allows you to pan between amps and it's pretty cool. I've had it for years.

Bernie

[Paul in Colorado]

Another vote for the Ibanez. I also have a DeArmond that is OK, but won't stay in the off position.
What's the secret to using the Ibanez as a pan pedal? It never worked right for me.

[Jay Jordan]

ernie ball

[cmcneil]

Ended up running into a good deal on an EB and it is working great - thanks for all the great input 8)