New Design Volume Pedal

[dgelting]

I did a search using "volume pedal design" and didn't see anything like what I'm thinking about. This idea started in a seperate thread about volume pedals, and I want to see what more people think about it.

Volume pedals are bigger that I think they need to be. We all use pedal boards and it would be great to have more space for things that are "effects".

The smallest I've seen (limiting myself to foot-controllable here, obviously the volume knob on your bass doens't take up a lot of room...) is the DOD FX-17

I think someone needs to make a volume pedal that is a stand-alone version of the volume controller on the boomerang.


I've sent the idea to a couple of people, including the Boomerang Corp. I got a response back from Boomerang, but it didn't really say if that's something that they'd be interested in making.

It should be easy to make, and I think the demand would be fairly high. I think it could be as accurate as an "Ernie Ball type" as long as the radius of the wheel is high enough. I also think it could be quite rugged if made well.

A person would want to be able to go from 0 - 10 in one motion. Using a 1.5" radius, the circumference would be about 9.5". What size shoe is that? I have about 13" to work with on my size 11 shoes.

What do you all think? Would you use something like this? Do you know of anyone who would make something like this?

[katri]

I dare say you could find some one to make on custom for you. Buy it could be pretty expensive. Is a cool idea though

[Swimming Bird]

Again, when I get a spare day I'll work one up. Volume pedals can be one of the easiest projects though, especially if you're going to make a passive/non-buffered one. All you'd need is the wheel, housing, an audio-taper potentiometer and two mono 1/4" jacks.

You could make one even smaller by using a roller ball like on a regular wired mouse.

[coolrunner989]

I'd take one. Especially if you made it active and could boost, maybe have a center detent that is the bypassed volume.

[dgelting]

It really would be easy to make and if I didn't already have so many projects (I'm fixing up an upright right now), I'd make one too. The hard part for a do-it-yourself-er is making it strong and durable. I know that sometime I'd end up putting lots of weight on it and if the axle and housing isn't strong I'd break it.

I just think it would be a good commercial product and would like to see someone make it professionally. Maybe a pedal manufacturer will see interest here and put some effort into it. If I was interested in more side-jobs in my life, I'd have taken out a patent and just started making them myself and selling them. One of you should beat me to the punch.

[Jimbob Jones]

if you have a 1.5" radius, your pedal will be at least 3" tall, the lid of my board is ony 2.5" tall so that's me out

also, if it's just a rubber wheel on a normal pot, if you stamp on it too hard it'll just break the shaft of the pot.

good idea though, what about a really sturdy version of a fader? (like on a mixing desk)

[fitz420]

+1 for this idea. i think i'd probably buy one as well.