Active vs. Passive Volume Pedals: What's The Difference? (and 25K vs. 250K?)

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In this video, I am answer these questions:
- What is the difference between active and passive volume pedals?
- What is the difference between Ernie Ball VP Jr. 25K and 250K (and in general)
- Which one is better: active or passive volume pedal?
- How much tone suck there is on a passive volume pedal vs. an active volume pedal?
I'm going to explain all that, and then I'll be playing through an active and passive volume pedal so that you can hear the difference of tone between them (how much tone suck there is).
Pedals I'm demonstrating in the video:
Mission Engineering VM-Pro
Ernie Ball VP Jr. 250K
Thanks for watching! If you have any other questions, leave them in the comment section below.
__________
► Full list of the pedals and gear I use to make music (these Sweetwater affiliate links support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you! 😊)
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- Mission Engineering VM Pro: sweetwater.sjv.io/6eQD4N
- EHX Micro POG: sweetwater.sjv.io/eK5jjZ
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This is the Ambient Guitar youtube channel of Canadian multi-instrumentist Antoine Michaud. Through original ambient music, chordal guitar lessons and tips on guitar pedals, Antoine is looking to educate and inspire aspiring ambient musicians to learn everything about the world of ambient guitar and chordal voicings on guitar.

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

►► Get my favorite Active Volume pedal (this Sweetwater affiliate link supports my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you! 😊) → sweetwater.sjv.io/6eQD4N

[@gr637]

Very clear and helpful video, grazie! Gaetano

[@gcroteau7226]

very clear and useful explanations. Thank you very much.

[@danboilard9881]

Super bien explique Antione, tres clair, merci mil fois!

[@redrooz]

Very concise, very clear, and therefore a very helpful presentation. Well done! Punchline @ 2:51: Get an active (buffered) pedal then, you don't have to worry about whether you have active or passive pups. I have both types on different guitars. I don't need yet another thing to think about when I plug in.

[@kenmosholder1935]

Thank you very much. Just what I needed. Cheers.

[@TGriner]

Very good. Thanks for clearing this up. I get it now.

[@80guitarguy82]

Very informative, thank you!

[@KordTaylor]

Really good info. Thanks for your video.

[@daniellapierre9798]

Thanks, great informative video!

[@Jef-sj6zc]

Great video , very clear explained the differences. Well done ! from the Netherlands

[@mauricevictor929]

Really clear explanation. Thanks.

[@olaftan8414]

Crystal clear, thanks!

[@kevon217]

Thanks for the explanation!

[@Mr.ABartley]

Thanks, great info.

[@ibaneztwo]

Very well explained. Thank you so much!

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

My pleasure!

[@michaelmattson3515]

Thanks great info.

[@seanstiller7202]

Thank your for your guidance my brother! 🙏

[@twilightsound3454]

Very helpful. thank you sir

[@jimwarner8071]

Great demo. Thx.

[@patricioconlazo2085]

Muy bueno!!! Gracias amigo

[@joeurbanowski321]

Wow..! What a diff..!! Thanks.👍🏼

[@ahaua1]

Excellent explanation.

[@danielmonson9939]

Huge difference. Active for me! great video

[@rodrigocastellanos3617]

I get your point, (I have a Dunlop HighGain a the end of my signal chain, and it reaaaaaally sucks a lot of highs) however the way you "swell" doesn't show how dramatic the situation is with the passive volume. In any case thanks for the video.

[@MK-tj5bf]

Thanks!

[@MustafaBaabad]

Thank you very much for the very clear explanation. Yes active pedal has more advantage and seems more reliable. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@MikeJamesMusic]

All you have to do to fix the tone issue with the passive pedal is put a buffer pedal before the volume pedal. FYI, many boost pedals have a buffer circuit in them.

[@johnr.b.murray3417]

It would have sealed the deal if you had finally compared the single units (no chain) straight into an amp. But, regardless of this omission what is left is that the active pedal is eminently more useable. Thanks for review.

[@borealico]

Very informative video Sir! Thanks!

[@MikeH_PR]

That's it. I'm buying an active pedal. Thanks for a truly helpful demo.

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

My pleasure, Mike!

[@MikeH_PR]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar I did too - I got the Lehle Mono 👍

[@anouargmusic]

Well explained, thank you! I was wondering whether I need to throw a pedal from my pedal board to have a free slot on my power supply again if I buy a volume pedal.

[@davenessien734]

Hello Antoine excellent video with a clear definition and great example between the two styles of pedals. In your opinion what pedal would you recommend I pair with my TC Electronic Alter Ego times 4? Cheers!

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

A reverb pedal to pair it with would be sweet! I would highly recommend you check out the Neunaber Immerse MkII which is one of my favorites!

[@davenessien734]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Thank you for taking the time to respond, much appreciated. I should have been more specific. What "volume pedal" would you recommend? I don't perform live I only play at home as a hobby. My only pedal that I have at this time is the TC Electronic Alter Ego time 4. I am trying to build a budget board. So would you recommend an "Active" or "Passive" volume pedal?. Also a brand that might be budget friendly? Once again thank you! PS I am a member of your KORDZ program.

[@softpillow9596]

Hey Antoine! Wonderful video! I have the Morley Little Alligator volume pedal. Do you have an opinion about that pedal?

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Never tried it, but I love optical pedals and I've heard good things of it!

[@caseyspaos448]

I'm thinking of buying a multi effects pedal like the NuX 300 just for the expression pedal, looper and drum machine. I'll keep using my analog fx pedals. What do you think?

[@exterC0ffx]

Tone suckered is contingent on many more factors than just a volume pedal. The quality of our patch cables and where we place the effect in the signal chain. I've run both Mission and Ernie Ball volume and expression pedals for years and they are comparable in unique ways, like, if you still run a TC G system limited brand volume and expression behave properly. Plug that ernie ball into a G system there will be issues. Otherwise I run two 250k ernie ball pedals into my rack via my Ground Control switcher. No issues there, and you don't need to work hard for tone. As our friend said it would've been good to compare these pedal straight into your amp.

[@bruhdamartinasty3636]

Geez, I thought this was going to be an easy decision. I thought the only question was going to be about which Ernie Ball volume pedal I should get. But after watching this video, I don't want any passive pedal. Wow. Nothing is easy!

[@qua7771]

That's no lie. It seems like every little thing takes days of research. Otherwise, it's like pissing in the wind.

[@samuelnicolay6460]

Just use a buffer or a buffered pedal before your EB and it will roughly act as a buffered pedal.

[@ErwinLeader]

Is there one that you recommend for both active electric guitars and acoustic electric guitar?

[@dmitricarabetchi4269]

I think it comes down to this - if you have a buffer somewhere before your passive VP, you're good. If you want your volume pedal to act as a buffer as well - go for the active.

[@hussstuart]

He never mentions volume pedal placement in the signal chain 🤔 where you put it has a huge impact and not just on tone suck.

[@mattofthemountain]

I recall this being the case for me as well, I could never hear any tone suck with my passive VP Jr after buffered overdrives, even using the tuner output.

[@user-bz4hh4oh3t]

Thnx

[@florintudose4188]

Thank you for drtail

[@Zamus1964]

hello! I am curious what the effect would be if only the volume pedal was inserted into the effects loop of an amp.....

[@MikhailMedvedev]

and now!... what's gonna happen if we put a passive VP after a pedal?!))) let\s say Compressor pedal... personally I think placing VP after a compressor is a better way for volume swells (the other way a compressor tries hard to make the initial quiet part of the swell much louder which is now what we want) ... I think of buying any active Morley VP now - there asr some used pedals with affordable prices nearby

[@nball461]

Question for you sir - if I’m adding it into my amps fx loop after the pre amp section of the amp is there still just as much tone loss with a passive?

[@milosgrujic7228]

Acoustic electric guitare with active pickup and great wish to create ambiental sweels in my music..im looking for boss fv500 volume pedal but is it better fv500L(low impedance) or fv500H(high impedance) for my case ? Tnx for your video!!!

[@prcc]

Interesting! What about pedal boards that use a preamp like the JHS Clover at the beginning of the signal chain? Would that bring a passive pedal to the performance level of an active, and should one use a volume pedal intended for active pickups in that scenario, as the preamp is effectively turning passive pickups into active ones from the perspective of the volume pedal being placed after the preamp?

[@gilguajardo7808]

I never see anyone really answer this question. I only use passive pickups, but my VP is always placed between my buffered OD pedals and my delay pedals. That’s also where most of the musicians I know place them. So… isn’t that as active of a signal as active pickups would create?? Idk. And idk why videos like this don’t mention such an obvious scenario.

[@mccrustic]

Hello Antoine, im looking for a volume pedal to add as a first pedal in chain to server as volume control instead of the knobs on guitar, and the thing im looking for is with a overdriven tone as you turn down the volume the signal cleans up. Will there be a significant difference between the passive and active volume pedal used in this setting?

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

It all depends if you found there was a big difference between passive and active in my sound clips or not. I'd personally go for an active pedal just to make sure there won't be any tone suck (especially since you want to use the volume pedal to control your overdriven tone). Passive pedals can be sensitive to what is placed after them, so active is probably a better decision.

[@mccrustic]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Nice, active it is :-), thanks for the quick response

[@chuckwoods9297]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar I also want to use the pedal for volume control to practice with a 20 watt tube amp in a small room with active pickups, so what about the Ernie ball anniversary edition, it is active and passive?

[@Pascal270]

Hello Antoine Do you know if I should use an active volume pedal with my EMG pickups, if I only use it in my effect loop? Thank you by advance!

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

If you have active pickups, an active volume pedal is recommended because it can take both active or passive pickups just as well. If you absolutely need to get a passive volume pedal, make sure you choose a model between 25-50k.

[@Pascal270]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Thank you so very much, Antoine!

[@admonpolus6214]

You are a great man, nice explanation, thank you🌹👏🍃🎸🌹🎼☑️👏 I am number 800 👏👍🌹🍃

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Thanks, Admon :-)

[@terencebrian9490]

Can I use the active volume pedal with my acoustic guitar? Thank you Antoine!! 🎸❤️🎸❤️ Ps the guitar pickup on my guitar is passive

[@tendingtropic7778]

thanks for this. almost bought a passive one. anyone have experience with the dunlop dvp4? how's the tone suck on that one?

[@samuelnicolay6460]

I really suspect that the tone suck comes from the entire signal chain and not from the passive pedal itself. You should have tested your rig without any volume pedal in the signal chain. Adding a buffered volume pedal solved the problem. As a consequence, adding a buffer or a buffered pedal before the passive volume pedal should also resolve most of the tone suck. Passive volume pedals have been used for years and the problems of impedance (aka tone suck) are well understood and solutions exist.

[@aletondaX]

He also used a chorus when demoing the active pedal, which he didn't use when demoing the passive one 🤡

[@ZachisSublime]

What about putting the passive pedal at the end of the chain to act as a master volume? It would have several buffers before it in my case

[@mustardjay]

buffers also plays a huge factor

[@Isra_Saberhagen]

What if I use loop effect? Which one is better 25k or 250k?

[@vipingaur6332]

Antuaan...one question. What if I place a passive volume pedal after a buffer (say Polytune + bonafide buffer)? Will the tone improve?

[@Maxu88]

The tone will improve when pedal is placed after a buffer.

[@RicardoMartinez-or1wu]

Dude the video was awesome!! And I already subscribed but I have some questions and I hope you answer me please!! I need a volumen pedal but I'm in 2 options ernie ball VPJR tuner & volume or the mission engineering VM pro buffered In your experience which one you prefer or recomend??...I really want the most high Quality and no loss gain I really need your opinion so I can buy my pedal...thanks dude and I hope you answer me!!

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Both seem like great options! In my case, I love my Mission Engineering, it's almost as if it enhances my sound (I find my guitar sounds even better than when I play through my volume pedal vs. with my amps without any pedals). So I can definitely recommend it!

[@RicardoMartinez-or1wu]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar thanks for the answers dude!! Say no more, I'm goin for the mission engineering pedal!!...the red one too haha Keep doing this videos ...they really help and you answers helps a lot!!

[@joebowbeer]

Another kind of volume pedal is an expression pedal, and another kind sends MIDI (CC 7). Thoughts on using either of these?

[@Powagoat]

I have one chapman stick with active pickups and one with passive... I didn't want to have to think about the problem so I bought an active ernie ball mvp pedal

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Great decision!

[@davidodea2116]

Very helpfull! i still have a doubt: which is the difference between a low or a high impedance volume pedal?

[@montyrayza7220]

Low impedance one is for a mic or anything low impedance and a High impedance one is for a guitar, keyboard or anything else high impedance.

[@marcuslewitzki4610]

I think I'd like to get a passive-aggressive volume pedal 🤔

[@zandig666]

Dang son that chorus echo delay pedal thingy is wiked what is it ??????? Thanks for highlighting the tone loss !!!🤟🤟

[@andrewlong6991]

Adding in a MXR Micro Amp or like device before the volume pedal will eliminate the tone suck on a passive volume pedal.

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

I used to have a MXR Micro Amp 12 years ago. One of my first pedals! Eliminate might not be the right word, though. 'Compensate' for the tone suck might be more appropriate, because the MXR is not 'really' going to eliminate it.

[@earlbucklin8323]

Great

[@rickcurtis2983]

Good job my friend, like 999!

[@Relayer6a]

The active tone was better. Especially the first test with just the clean guitar. But a huge difference to me was how the passive was smoother from no volume on the fade ins. The active one seemed like it didn't fade in from silence as well. It was more abrupt at the start of the volume swell from silence to audible. Also what was the signal chain? More specifically what guitar? Where they single coil or humbuckers? I'm thinking single, but hard to be sure. Another question, If you wanted to use the volume control as a "master volume" at the end of the pedal board, which should you use, or would it matter? I realize this vid is 2 years old and you might not see this. Thanks

[@aydenmarrocco2716]

It depends on whether your signal is well buffered already or not, but having a good buffer at the end of your chain is a solid move

[@Relayer6a]

@@aydenmarrocco2716 Thanks. Makes sense.

[@Relayer6a]

@@aydenmarrocco2716 It's been a while since I posted that question. My concern was would the front end of the amp rather see a "guitar load" like a passive pedal would give it, 1000s of Ω rather than a ~100Ω buffered load?

[@leryalamar]

what if I have a buffer on my signal chain? will it compensate the tone loss from a passive volume pedal?

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

It could help, but in the examples of this video, many of my other pedals on my board were in buffered bypass mode, and I still got some significant loss!

[@leryalamar]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar I see, thanks! Awesome content!

[@user-cf7bt9jw2p]

Vpjr is so smooth..

[@lalnuntluangachhakchhuak5767]

which pedal is that stereo reverb?

[@danielhoughton378]

wait so if I have a guitar with passive pickups can I still use and active pedal?

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Yes, no problem with that. That's what I personally do (passive pickup and active pedal).

[@Sharkbait173]

Is it a tone suck or a volume suck though? You’re not quite losing tone, you’re losing gain. Am I wrong? A boost pedal should help if you have one handy. Right?

[@Stratcat1967]

What was your tone before any of the two pedals were put in-line? Did the active pedal add to your tone?

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

Very good question, and something I should have included in the video. Yes, the active pedal added a little boost to my tone and signal.

[@batuksri]

No tone suck if you had used that white TC Elect tuner before the EB pedal because its also a buffer.

[@slesher84]

There are so many nuances in the formation of a guitar tone ... More than once I regret that I started to master the guitar mastery. The bass is much easier. Above practice more, and not think about the tone.

[@ventsislavdosev]

25K or 250K for fx loop amp?

[@Pingu65716]

If you were to place the passive volume pedal at the end of your pedal line, would tone be affected negatively? Or is it only if you recycle the output of the passive pedal through multiple pedals after it?

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

The thing is: you don't want the volume pedal at the end of your chain, cause that would kill the repeats/feedback/decay of any time-based effects/delays/reverbs you have as soon as you pull the pedal back up. So to me, even if that helped a little with the tone suck, that wouldn't be a good solution.

[@Pingu65716]

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Thanks, will definitely be getting an active pedal then

[@user-yk9tb3ob1k]

Hmmm…I’m a steel player. George Thorogood, maybe?

[@steamslint]

Hi there, The Ernie ball's vp Jr 25k active volume, Is a passive as well. I wonder if you would get a tone such as well.

[@TheLostHarmony]

Loved my Ernie Ball, but it crackles and makes me sad :(

[@AntoineMichaudGuitar]

I guess there's another point here: is the pedal durable? Lots of people have problems with Ernie Ball's because of the string breaking or just a little bit of dust causing all sorts of problems.

[@pvgaming8243]

You need to clean the pot. I stopped using ernie ball pedals because of the idiotic pulley system.

[@Pstaines439]

Yeah my VP jnr is a complete pain in the ass. It’s like they spent money on the design and look, then chucked a shitty pot and ball of string inside.

[@flowwang4591]

how come i feel the world does not need passive pedals at all after watching this

[@docshadrach]

And after the pedals? 🤨

[@marcelchaloupka]

Not sure about it sucking tone. It may change some tonal characteristics but that doesn’t mean it sucks tonally

[@AL_1991]

it means it degrades your signal you dumbass!

[@marcelchaloupka]

@@AL_1991 I’m you might want the rethink your comment and maybe use a little intelligence while you’re at it.

[@AL_1991]

@@marcelchaloupka lmao, english please.

[@marcelchaloupka]

@@AL_1991 said like a 3-year-old

[@johnsmith7140]

@@AL_1991 lol

[@love4thetruth]

If you have a passive pedal just turn up the amp volume a little more.

[@erickpontes2564]

It does not make sense.

[@TC_Conner]

I disagree with your assessment of tone loss using the passive pedal.

[@marcus_hermansson]

Volume pedals for dummies 😀

[@ernststavroblofeld2109]

How bad is the tone lust? The tone lust is very bad.

[@mohamedhabib8982]

omg the Ernie ball wins the looking the another Wins everything lol

[@RenoLaringo]

Could not hear that much of a difference.

[@Pstaines439]

The VP jnr is a huge tone sucker. Avoid!

[@MikeyBrannonMusic]

This seems more complicated than necessary.

[@StratsRUs]

'Tis the internet

[@MadmanDKDK]

"99% chance that your guitars are passive." Yeah, all of my guitars are active EMGs, so your math is completely off dude. ;)

[@SayJee]

Your grammar as well 😏

[@SevanGuitars]

99% passive pickups? No

[@Portuguese-linguica]

I would say it also comes down to what you like or prefer.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Budget?