Why do so many people use Ernie Ball Volume pedals??

jinithith2 · #1 03-22-2008, 02:52 AM

I saw one and it was HUGE. I am into little pedals that maximize boardspace, so I thought there must be something that makes people want to use them over smaller alternatives.
What makes people use the EBMM VP jrs?

icarussmicarus · #2 03-22-2008, 03:15 AM

Most volume pedals are quite large. The Jr's aren't that big really, compared to other things.

They aren't stompboxes. They are treadles. If you didn't have the larger treadle to control then it wouldn't really work as a volume pedal.

If you just want a set volume boost buy a boost pedal, they are really small. If you want to be able to control volume increase/decrease with your foot. Suck it up and make room.

cnltb · #3 03-22-2008, 03:18 AM

There's an answer to that (IMO).
The EB is sturdy , fairly small, reliable and sounds half decent.

**TheMutt** · #4 03-22-2008, 04:56 AM

Why use em?
-Made of durable (and fairly light!) aluminum, not plastic.
-Comes in two flavors. 250k for passive instruments, pre-effects. 25k for active instruments, and post/between effects.
-Sturdy enough to take years of abuse and keep on working.
-Ability to switch between two different swell rates.
-Models that include pan/stereo volume control.
-Relatively inexpensive, and easy to maintain. (the pot will eventually get a little scratchy, but that ca be fixed with pot cleaner. The string may eventually break, but it is really easy to replace it.)

Because of this, I chose one of these for my volume pedal of choice. There are a ton of other volume pedals out there on the market. Some of which use optical instead of the old-fashioned pots. (see also, they require power...

) Most of these volume pedals are a little hard to come by in your normal everyday store. Plus the fact that this pedal has a much smaller footprint than say, the Morley Little Alligator... (it's huge!)

synaesthesia · #5 03-22-2008, 05:03 AM

...because some people have big feet and wear big shoes?

I use the standard EB vol pedal not the jr. and it works well and I ALWAYS gig with it. I have in the past used Ibanez and Boss (Roland) volume pedals.

jinithith2 · #6 03-22-2008, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarussmicarus

Suck it up and make room.

hey thanks for your reply but I'm not complaining or whining. I'm just wondering what is so good about them that make people use them. Is it just the way I placed the words that made it sound like I was whining at how big they are?

jinithith2 · #7 03-22-2008, 05:14 AM

Thanks for the reply guys. I should stop comparing these things to the size of my whammy treadle (thanks for the new word icaruss

) I heard when the treadle is fully close (muted) it automatically routes your signal to a tuner?

**TheMutt** · #8 03-22-2008, 05:22 AM

Actually, the beauty is that you always have signal being sent to your tuner, all you need to do for silent tuning is stick the EBVP treadle in heel down position.
That way, everyone doesn't have to hear you tuning. It's also great for when you need to leave your gear up on stage and come back up and play one last song for the set. Instead of having to shut everything down and wait for it all to warm back up again, I can just mute everything with my EBVP and stick it back to toe-down and continue playing.

jinithith2 · #9 03-22-2008, 05:50 AM

ugh GAS!!!!!! that sounds really handy for switching basses

Bhuti · #10 03-22-2008, 05:57 AM

They do the trick. Volume go up, volume go down. Simple. As for size, get a VP Jr. No more quams.

rustynuts · #11 03-22-2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinithith2

ugh GAS!!!!!! that sounds really handy for switching basses

It is. A better way is with an A/B switch.

jinithith2 · #12 03-22-2008, 06:28 AM

I have a 18V, 9V and a passive bass. do A/B or A/B/C with individual volume presets exist?

rustynuts · #13 03-22-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinithith2

I have a 18V, 9V and a passive bass. do A/B or A/B/C with individual volume presets exist?

Check out the Radial ToneBone Bassbone. It does that and more.

rasthedoctor · #14 03-22-2008, 01:49 PM

I used mine religiously until it crapped out on me without warning. Thanks for starting this thread - it reminds me that I've been meaning to look at it again and see if I can repair it....

hkroy · #15 03-22-2008, 11:37 PM

+1 for EBMM VP jrs

Munjibunga · #16 03-22-2008, 11:47 PM

OK, here's why.

About ten years ago, my country western band was playing a gig. We were in the middle of a song, and the lead guitarist had a solo. About halfway through his solo, I looked over at him, and he was standing with both feet on his EB volume pedal, like he was hanging ten on a surfboard. I started laughing so hard, I almost lost it. The EB volume pedals are durable. That's all.

icarussmicarus · #17 03-23-2008, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinithith2

hey thanks for your reply but I'm not complaining or whining. I'm just wondering what is so good about them that make people use them. Is it just the way I placed the words that made it sound like I was whining at how big they are?

Yeah sorry if i jumped down your throat

I'm just one of the few people that happens to like large pedals because 1 - i don't use a board and 2 - so many cool pedals are huge :P

Jazz Ad · #18 03-23-2008, 04:47 AM

I too wondered about this before.
Even more, I wonder why brands keep manufacturing passive volume pedals.
An active circuit solves all impedance problems and acts as a booster too.

bongomania · #19 03-23-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

An active circuit solves all impedance problems

Ah no, not always.

I can think of several cases where active circuits caused (or at least did not help) impedance problems. But I agree that they can solve most impedance problems if they are carefully designed/selected for the specific application.

judas jedermann · #20 03-23-2008, 11:34 AM

And volume pedal is excelent for violin-type volume swells. Especially if you put delay pedal after it