Volume Pedals 101

[@hijkellamellap6655]

Hey guys! Great episode demistifying VP’s. I will say though, I’ve been using the Hilton pro guitar edition that takes 9v, has a better angle for standing up and has a modified buffer for electric guitar as opposed to pedalsteel. It’s been amazing and would recommend it to people! That being said I’ll probably buy a lehle next as the Hilton is getting harder to acquire in Canada. Also to the point of VP at the front of the chain, I’ve put my VP after all drives so I can manage noise and avoid clicks/pops, but swells with overdrives are definitely more fun when the drive’s saturation climbs up with the sweep instead of the saturation decaying down as the swell/volume climbs up. I’ve tried sandwiching a VP between drives which works well if the final drive has silent switching, but bad power will make clickless switches click anyways, so I bailed on it all and just put the VP after all drives for live work at least. All up to what the context is I guess! As always appreciate what you guys do for us homebrew pedalboard surfers!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I would expect the only change might be the input impedance or a less efficient buffer running on less voltage. This is all speculation of course, I've not seen the circuit or how it's changed. I do find them to be less robust however than Lehle for an active volume pedal.

[@KanlydNorge]

I always have the volume pedal after gain before modulation and the time based effects. I started out with the Ernie Ball pedals but ended up with the Boss FV-300L for life. I did the FV-500L with Mason’s mod for some time, but I always end back with the FV-300L. Having the Vol pedal after gain also make it a noise gate. When off no hiss.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

FV-300L is my favorite Boss taper as well, I just can't fit it anywhere LOL!

[@jw112mail]

So much great info. I like these 1on1's with Grant & Mason!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad you like them!

[@BruceKnouseMusic]

Very helpful episode, thank you! Feels like there's a lot of misinformation out there on volume pedals and this cleared a lot of that up for me.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ATotalDork]

I am here once again to evangelize the Source Audio EQ as the greatest pedal ever made. I use a Mission Engineering expression pedal with my Source Audio EQ2 to work as a volume pedal. I have my signal going into the EQ2 before my overdrives and in my amp's fx loop, and using MIDI presets I can have that expression pedal act as a volume pedal before my overdrives for cleanup or in my amp's fx loop as a master volume. I can even send CC messages to have the expression act as a wah pedal, again both before overdrives and after my overdriving amp if I wanted. It's not right for everyone since a lot of guitarists and bassists are scared of MIDI and digital, but the amount of functionality per square inch is unparalleled

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Digital volume...it's one way to go.

[@TheBlackSheepMM]

I run mine the exact same way. Also with gate on pre and post 😂

[@zandig666]

Cool I was hoping there was more on this than the short I saw !!!!!!

[@micktheman6]

They aren’t for me they take up to much space and seem to always tone suck in most situations. But I still listened to this for education. Great episode. I’ll add I think the vertex boost with a volume pedal really is a great combo.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for sticking around!

[@marcuslewitzki4610]

I would like to have both a volume pedal at the beginning to simplify cleaning up my tone while playing, as well as after my gain. However, regarding volume first in your chain - as I understand it you should have a high impedence volume pedal when having it first, but even so (as I've understood) it will have a bit of a tone-suck if it's passive, so you should have an active one, right? But if that's true, this will not be a good thing if the next thing you have in your chain is another high impedence pedal, like a fuzz, right? Since an active pedal is buffered... So... How should I approach this?

[@chrispost5275]

I use an ES-8 and, until now, ran my volume pedal in front of everything so i could use the volume pedal input for another pedal. I was using a full size Dunlop volume pedal off the board. I'm now re-laying out my board, putting the volume pedal on the board and will start using the volume pedal input on the ES-8. Because I'm space challenged i need to go with a small footprint volume pedal. In spite of your comments about reliability, I'm going to go with the Dunlop mini. I like the sweep and I've never had any issues with my current Dunlop. As you know, the ES-8 allows me to place the volume pedal anywhere in the signal chain. The Dunlop pedal is 250k pot. Is there a concern if I place the 250k volume pedal after my drives in my chain? If it matters, I'm using the buffered input and outputs on ES-8. Thanks guys.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

It’ll be ok just not as optimal.

[@chrispost5275]

@@VertexEffectsInc Thank you Mason.

[@shawnhelsel923]

I’m here to be educated, thanks. I’ve been running tuners off of the tuner-out on my volume pedals for eons. I place the volume pedal after all of the gain/filter/octave/modulation pedals in my chain if any/all/minimal. Maybe what saves me is that I always have some kind of buffered effect prior. Or maybe I suck. I can’t say I’ve had noticeable tone trouble and I’ve done a fair amount of critical listening and comparison over many rigs and years. Maybe I need to do some more.

[@shawnhelsel923]

Actually I think comedy IS in Mason’s wheelhouse. I blew Diet Coke through my nose when he said don’t be a pervert for doing what I just described. 😆

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Give it a try...if the shoe fits, if not, disregard!

[@MrDavemiley]

My favorites Volume pedal situation is the Vertex Boost MK II used with an expression pedal. Only down side is I have had "Three vertex Boost just up and quit on me . All sent out for repair , haven't seen them since . . . still waiting . . .

[@moonchard]

Where did you send them?

[@MrDavemiley]

@@moonchard Finally got them back from vertex and sold them immediately as I just could not trust having any of them on my board for a gig.

[@ramilrodriguez8340]

I love my lehele stereo!! Works beautifully!! I use it in the amps effects loop, before all other pedals in the loop.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Great to hear!

[@ramilrodriguez8340]

@@VertexEffectsInc also have serve me well for a few years no issues using it four times every week for church services.

[@wisconimike7590]

I am running Guitar > JHS Switchback > Boss ES8 Switcher (buffer off). Loop 1 is my Analogman Sun Face Fuzz. Ernie Ball 6180 250k Passive Volume pedal looo comes after loop 1 always. In the Volume Pedal loop is an Analogman Buffer AFTER the Ernie Ball. So if Fuzz is on it's Guitar > JHS Switchback (sometimes adding Keeley Compressor Plus) > Boss ES8 Switcher (buffer off) > Fuzz > Ernie Ball Volume > Buffer >rest of rig If Fuzz is off, it's Guitar > JHS Switchback (sometimes adding Keeley Compressor Plus) > Boss ES8 Switcher (buffer off) > Ernie Ball Volume > Buffer >rest of rig Does that Volume Pedal setup make sense?

[@JohnFraserFindlay]

I forgot I do have a stero EB pedal..I used it on an acoustic gt tour tho which was D.I. so already bright..tried for electric but yes way big and seemed to change the tones.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Ideally you'd need a buffer in your chain first to work with the Stereo and Low Impedance VP like that.

[@gunsandguitars6678]

Excellent ☆☆☆☆☆. I love these episodes I was playing at a World Book of Guinness for the song Freebird at a function and talking to young musicians and it ended up turning into a class which I feel it's my duty to pass the Baton have either of you guys performed a hot tap so you can power your band? The things that we had to learn over the years compared to what they can just learn on KZbin at any moment in time thanks for the videos Rock on ☆'s

[@dude_crush_]

Would you put a BOSS GE-7 before or after a Lehle Mono Volume pedal in the Effects Loop? Would the order matter if you have a TC Electronic BonaFide Buffer at the beginning and end of the Effects Loop chain? In my case I use the EQ pedal flat and adjust the Level Slider to get a clean Volume Boost or Volume Cut.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

You could put it before, no problem...if you want it to act as more of an amp. You can leave the buffers as they are.

[@kimfaucher007]

I first want to thank you guys for all the information you are sharing! I personally run a stereo bass rig with a very dirty signal chain and a not so dirty signal chain that has a bit of overdrive. Both amps that I use have an effects loop. I don’t own a volume pedal… yet! I would use a stereo volume pedal at the beginning of my current effects loop. My loop begins with a stereo chorus, a stereo multi-effects (that can add them in parallel or series) for flanger, phaser and tremolo effects (it also has other effects that I don’t use much) and then ends with a stereo delay pedal…. Would you then use the Boss stereo volume pedal that you were talking about at the end of the video?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I don't think you need a stereo volume pedal, just a low impedance one. You can send to the volume pedal right after your effects send on the amp (which is mono). Then go to your stereo effects and then to the returns of your amps.

[@kimfaucher007]

@@VertexEffectsInc , since I use both of my amps effect loops on the same stereo pedals’ two inputs and if I understand correctly: I could put a mono volume pedal in front of the « mono side » input of my first stereo pedal (which is a tc Corona Chorus) in my effect loop. I would not have to plug anything into the « stereo side » of my chorus. And this would affect both sides of the stereo effect loop. Am I right?

[@kimfaucher007]

Thanks a lot for the help and support!

[@JohnFraserFindlay]

TGP!! Still have many good friends from the old days! Working with one this past week..you guys are funny-I miss Brian tho. I have never been able to 'bond' with a volume pedal unfortunately.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for listening!!!

[@pirhala]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

You're welcome!

[@JoelCalebOfficial]

Hi mason. I know you work on several landau's boards and pedals, could you tell me which was the volume pot preference for him in terms of log vs linear pits?

[@marcuslewitzki4610]

What about placing the volume pedal after the dry amp in a W/D/W setup? So basically after the preamp and power amp, going out through the Speaker Output into a Suhr Iso Line Out Box and THEN have the volume pedal there, right before any wet effects?

[@rm_ohlsen3587]

What a great Job! Thank you for doing these episodes! I‘m using a Ernie Ball Volume Pedal (40th anniversary) and it is starting to make crackling and rush noises, when turning on the Volume. What am i supposed to do with it? Whats the most long term healing effect when trying to fix it? 👀

[@VertexEffectsInc]

You can try contact cleaner sprayed into the pot.

[@rm_ohlsen3587]

@@VertexEffectsInc Okay, thank you! ✌🏽 One last Question for today: Compression before or after the Overdrive? What would you suggest?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

@@rm_ohlsen3587 Depends on the compressor and compression type you like. The studio compressor are always after the microphone.

[@JohnFraserFindlay]

always wanted to try a Hilton tho

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Lehle would be the best active option.

[@ijustin_rocks]

Love this podcast, i try to watch on YT every week so when you guys show diagrams and stuff. Mission VM-1 passive, after overdrives, says 500k pot, am I doing anything wrong? No tone loss but never was a huge fan of the taper.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

If you have a Gibson guitar and you use the VP first, 500K would make more sense that 250K.

[@ijustin_rocks]

@@VertexEffectsInc thanks for the reply, yes i agree, although i like volume after overdrives… my 5 years ago self did not take into account impedance… but i’ve done the “tone town” test and it passes for me, just the taper seems to be not as even or gradual.

[@PetrisonRocha]

Watching this right after ordering a vintage Ibanez VL10 with a 500k pot 🥂

[@zandig666]

chEErs !!

[@JohnFraserFindlay]

Hey guys maybe Im jumping the gun becuz Ive nought finished the video-but what about using a vol/express pedal on an HX Stomp( or any digi) to avoid tone sucks?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

EXP pedals in a digital format like that don't have a "tone" they're all digitally controlled.

[@BenJBrandt]

Mason I’m using a boss fv 30h first. It is going into a wah-fuzz-person tuner should I consider something else? I am using an old Les Paul with paf type pickups

[@VertexEffectsInc]

That sounds fine. You might consider finding a passive 500K pot however to match up better with your Les Paul.

[@wininpol]

What about the polytune mk3 with bonafide buffer? I use the ernie ball with the vertex boost after the distortion section, but my guitar signal comes in via the tuner. It sounds clear and alive???

[@VertexEffectsInc]

If the tuner is in line, no problem, if you use the Vertex Boost also with your VP, you could also use the tuner out with no tone suck.

[@gregorysokol2229]

Thanks for this. Curious if you have encountered the Sonuus Voluum pedal - as a bassist who plays almost entirely clean (with some compression), I'm interested. It seems kind of obscure and I haven't seen much about it.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I'm no aware of it.

[@bobbykotick2642]

Ibanez ds10 is a stereo distortion pedal.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

One in a row! Let's go!

[@2tallB]

I usually pronounce it like you guys, but if you ask the Lehle folks, they’ll tell you “it rhymes with tequila”. So lee-la

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Ah, ok!

[@heathband]

Didn't Ernie Ball solve that string issue w a different material?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Only for the high impedance version. They still have issues with the pots however.

[@heathband]

@@VertexEffectsInc heard. thnx

[@gunsandguitars6678]

One more thing to the young musicians the mini Spark by TC Electronics has a 2 position switch they can't be momentary is a great lead booster on the effects loop on your head/amp because the soundman sucks !!!

[@ezymarquez5521]

Great content, missed the drum roll tho 😂

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Next time!

[@waynegram8907]

Why doesn't a volume pedal CLEAN up a fuzz or overdrive/distortion pedals? How can you modify a volume pedal to CLEAN up a fuzz or overdrive distortion pedals?

[@mrblablablabla]

It does! You need a high impedance volume pedal. At least 250k. (Generally. This is very much an oversimplification)

[@rogerloydmccoy]

So he’s a model of hydration but you two are well 🤔

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Ha! Maybe that Starbucks water isn't as good as we thought!

[@marcuslewitzki4610]

"...you got a face tattoo, you gotta' live with it" 🤣

[@chadromney]

What do you think about the Xotic XVP-250K High Impedance Volume Pedal?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

If you need a High Impedance volume pedal, then it's one of many passive versions out there.

[@wayn3w]

What are your experiences with Morely Volume pedals?

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Don't prefer them to what we talked about here.

[@leapingtortoise]

I've had a Morley volume plus for years. It's been really solid but probably going to ditch it on account of the footprint (they're very large). Kinda cool that you can adjust the sweep by adjusting the LED.

[@marcuslewitzki4610]

Please Mason, Vertex needs to build a volume and an expression pedal.

[@jacobpittman1996]

@17:40 ….especially at your church gig.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Don't forget your volume pedal!

[@jamwayofaiken-augustarockb7643]

Great episode too bad Brian decided he wanted to be sick today

[@VertexEffectsInc]

He'll be back this week! We missed him!

[@omilionaudio]

😂😂😂

[@vovokidx9691]

can i use 12v in lehle?

[@uffizichu]

Lehle mono volume 9v-15v

[@ericwarrington6650]

Hey guys! Where's Brian? 😂... that's some crap he's 😷...I'd fire him...lol

[@VertexEffectsInc]

He's on the mend, thankfully! He'll be back for next week's episode!

[@ericwarrington6650]

@@VertexEffectsInc I was just trying to kid around...meant no disrespect... comedy apparently is not my thing.. 😂..I'll stick to guitars and music..lol

[@VertexEffectsInc]

@@ericwarrington6650 no sweat!!!

[@78tag]

When you went with the STAR Bucks BS I almost shut this discussion down - I'm going to keep going just in case.

[@jacobpittman1996]

Aw, man! Brian ain’t here?! Volume pedals and Brian ain’t even here. He thinks they’re swell, even, and he ain’t here. It’s a cryin’ shame.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

We miss Brian! Next week he'll be back!

[@omilionaudio]

Haha Jacob! This episode was Swell tho!

[@jacobpittman1996]

….Broken strings/dreams.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Ha!

[@omilionaudio]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Glad you're feeling better Brian!

[@ericwarrington6650]

And he's lazy?? Oh man... lmao 🤔😂🤘

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Brian is one of the hardest working dudes in the biz...we kid him ;)

[@ericwarrington6650]

@@VertexEffectsInc I'm 1000% kidding around on the tails of your joking around w him guys...I'm sure he's everything and more that you say...you don't get far without good work ethic and I have utmost respect for Bryan as I do the both of you..your hard work is self evident..I watch u guys regularly and meant no disrespect...we love u guys around these parts in Adirondack mountains in upstate NY.. my apologies for my bad jokes..lol...🤔🥴♥️🤘🎸

[@omilionaudio]

Appreciate it Eric! :) severe flus suck! But I’m getting better!

[@ericwarrington6650]

@@omilionaudio Yes.. Brian I was only joking in the heals of the guys.. when I'm heard and not seen it's hard to tell if someone is kidding..I'm sorry for the confusion..mad respect to you my friend..get well soon..just battled a severe tooth infection for a week...it sucks being down..🤘😷🎸♥️☮️🙏🎶🎶🎶

[@omilionaudio]

@eric no confusion made, you’re all good! I know all jokes are in fun. :)

[@Klocaine237]

Now paint us a Hunter Biden picture

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Huh?

[@blairmichaelhogan4502]

I know your brain has been completely ruined by the internet anyways, but I think you’re lost. This isn’t one of your right wing outrage channels.