Ever considered another volume pedal?

[four leaf clove]

Hey guys, I'm in the marked for a volume pedal and I was wondering if anyone has compared Ernie Ball Volume pedals to other brands. I noticed guys like Morley and George Dennis offer pedals with minimum volume knobs, which I like. They also use optical sensors instead of pots. I understand the appeal of an optical sensor (they don't get scratchy like pots) but it seems to me that it would color your sound more. Does anyone have any input on this?

Also, do all Ernie Ball volume pedals have the taper switch that allows you to switch swell rates? That's one of the main features that I really wanted in a volume pedal. The two EB pedals I'm looking at (Stereo 25K PN: 6167 and VP Jr 25K PN: 6181) don't say anything about having a taper switch though. The other thing is that I was reading on a thread that the difference between the two swells is barely noticeable. Is this true?

So I guess those are my questions. If you have any stories about other volume pedals you have tried and why you ultimately decided to go with an EB, I'd love to hear them. Also, if anyone is actually using the stereo feature on their EB, I'd like to know how it sounds and what your setup is.

 

[SteveB]

Did you read the sticky thread in this forum entitled "Volume Pedal Info"?

Jongitarz put some really good info in there which does address some of your questions. (Particularly about the switchable taper).

I can't offer much in the way of a comparison.. I have a Boss FV-50 which I never use because I can't stand it.

 

[four leaf clove]

Hey SteveB, thanks for the reply. I actually have read the sticky thread you are refering to and did a pretty complete search of the forum. I didn't really find the information I was looking for though. This is what the sticky thread says on the matter of taper switches:

"Some of our old style MONO pedals were fit with a taper pot on the side, which gradually modified the taper of the volume pot. In 1998, these taper pots were replaced with a taper switch, which you can now find in all of our 250K mono pedals."

This doesn't really help me since I need an active volume pedal, which would be 25K. Am I supposed to assume that active pedals don't have this feature?

SteveB, I'd like to hear more about your experience with the Boss FV-50 and why you can't stand it. Have you switched to an EB pedal? Thanks again.

 

[SteveB]

Well, my main gripes with the Boss volume pedal are: 1) I don't like the swell, and 2) the thing is too light! These are just my personal gripes, that's all. I'm not using any other dedicated volume pedal right now, I've got a Digitech RP-2000 which has a multi-function volume/wah pedal on board.

 

[Jimi D]

I owned a Morley for a number of years before getting an EB pedal, and it did the job, but it does suck more tone that the EB. The "minimum volume" feature was nice for some stuff before I standardized on one guitar model and learned how to use the volume control on the guitar for subtle changes, leaving my foot volume free for cool swells and effects like fade-outs, which you can't do with a Morley when the min volume is set for "rhythm guitar" levels or something like that...

 

[four leaf clove]

Thanks for the information guys. SteveB, I did notice that when it comes to construction, you're not going to beat an EB volume pedal. Reliability is really important to me.

Jimi D, which EB pedal are you currently using? Are you happy with that pedal now that you've used it for some time or would you have gone with a different EB?

Also, has anyone had to change their pot because it was too scratchy? I was just wondering how long I can expect to have the pedal before it requires a pot change. If this is even a large concern (I would expect it to need some repair after a period of use.) I have the feeling that "scratchy pots" are a marketing tactic for companies that are trying to push their optical sensors.

I started out wanting a volume pedal so I could do cool delay swells, but now I'm finding out you can do so much more with them. Especially if you're using a stereo rig. I didn't realize there were so many different options for a pedal that does something so simple, but hopefully you guys can help me make an educated purchase. Thanks again.

 

[four leaf clove]

Come on guys, I know it's hard to admit it, but I'm sure there's more people out there that have owned other volume pedals besides EB's. I'm anctious to hear your opinions.

 

[Jimi D]

Jimi D, which EB pedal are you currently using? Are you happy with that pedal now that you've used it for some time or would you have gone with a different EB?

I don't know what model mine is - it's mono with a Tuner output, but it's tacked down to the pedal board and I don't want to go through the struggle of tearing it up to check the model... It's a pot for passive pickups, so I presume a 250 or 500K.... Anyway, three years of moderate use and I've had absolutely zero prob's with this pedal. I really like it.