Auto Volume Pedal

TheCiscoKid · #1 09-07-2007, 08:34 AM

I ordered a Guyatone SV2 slow volume pedal and it finally came yesterday. I am looking for a "Faux Cello" sound. So I hooked up to my practice amp and added the pitch modulator. It sounded great, just what I was looking for. I took it to rehearsal, and while I was warming up I noticed that my bass was distorted. The SV2 was plugged in but was off. Removed the SV2 and the bass sounded fine, plugged it back in while turned off and distortion. So it looks like my really loud active bass takes down another pedal.

Are there any other similar auto volume type pedals out there?

bongomania · #2 09-07-2007, 08:44 AM

Boss SG-2 Slow Gear (discontinued), Pigtronix Attack Sustain (new), BYOC Lazy Sprocket (DIY kit), Behringer Slow Motion (whatever).

TheCiscoKid · #3 09-07-2007, 09:22 AM

That is what I love about this site. Post a question and 10 minutes later you have an answer. Thanks Bongoman. I think the Pigtronix is going to be the way to go, just need to save up for it. I really wish I could solder so I could do the lazy sprocket.

JanusZarate · #4 09-07-2007, 09:34 AM

The EHX Bass Micro Synthesizer also has the "Attack Delay" slider, which does what the Slow Gear does, essentially - it controls volume swelling on that pedal.

You could use it alone (with all other sections dialed out), but if that's all you use it for, it's not worth the price tag.

Swift713 · #5 09-07-2007, 04:12 PM

I got a pre-built Lazy Sprocket for a couple bucks extra. It's kinda touchy, not quite as fluid as I was hoping and notes will not sustain. It behaves better with my passive bass than with my active. I would say it sounds more like some kind of synth than a cello due to the somewhat unnatural envelope. I use my vol knob for slower more sustained swells.

dirtgroove · #6 09-08-2007, 07:25 AM

the line6 dl4 also has a setting that does this.

Swimming Bird · #7 09-08-2007, 08:59 AM

Wait, shouldn't you be able to send it back to whatever company you bought it from? I mean, it's defective right?

JanusZarate · #8 09-08-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimming Bird

Wait, shouldn't you be able to send it back to whatever company you bought it from? I mean, it's defective right?

+1

Plus... an active bass can't "destroy" a pedal! But it can certainly be defective, and a power surge can certainly fry one, too.

I'm betting that it's just defective.

TheCiscoKid · #9 09-10-2007, 12:26 PM

I guess it is possible that it was defective. I am not sure since the distortion was evident while the unit was off. I did not try it while the pedal was on. While using my practice amp, I have my bass set to 1/4 volume and while at rehearsal it was 3/4 so I think I was just overdriving the input of the pedal.

By saying "takes down another pedal", I meant that my bass removed another pedal from my GAS list not that it broke the pedal. I called MF and exchanged the SV2 for the next pedal on my GAS list the Jekyll and Hyde. Hopefully it will be here this week. The Echo Park, which also has an auto swell feature has moved significantly up the GAS list.

Swimming Bird · #10 09-10-2007, 12:50 PM

I'm pretty sure you can't overload a pedal when it's on bypass mode, even if it isn't true bypass.

And I've encountered a few SV2s with quality control issues, so I'm almost 100% it was defective.

Swift713 · #11 09-10-2007, 03:37 PM

The swell on the Echo Park is a lot like playing with a slow tremolo. You can't play faster than it's preset tempo IIRC. It feels really robotic.

niftydog · #12 09-10-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swimming Bird

I'm pretty sure you can't overload a pedal when it's on bypass mode, even if it isn't true bypass.

Well... if it runs a buffer amplifier (op amp or transistor) you can overload it.