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Volume Pedal

C

crjenkins

Jan 12, 2009
26
0
Nashville!!!
#1
I had a question. What would you guys recommend to kill or slow the attack of a bass? I was thinking that a volume pedal would give me most control, but are there any specific effects to do this effect? Also I would love some recommendations for volume pedals

Thanks all!
 
#2
The boss slow gear does what you're asking, but is discontinued and costs a lot. I think berringer makes acopy, and BYOC has kits for a clone called the lazy sprocket. I've never actually used one, so I can't really coment on how well they work.

For just volume pedals, I like the ernie ball VP JR.
 
#3
You can use envelope-controlled pedals like the Boss Slow Gear, BYOC Lazy Sprocket and Guyatone Slow Volume. The Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synth also includes a slow attack mode.
 
#7
The Visual Sound Visual Volume pedal is indeed an awesome pedal. Had I still planned on going to a stereo setup, I'd be keeping mine instead of selling it. I will probably buy another later on in the future.
The Ernie Ball is hands down the most rugged pedal being solid aluminum, but if the string gets broken, be prepared to curse and yell and scream for 20-30 minutes trying to get the new one on. :hmm: Two people, two needle nose pliers, and a spring pull will make life a little easier, but not much.
 
#8
the boss volume (500 series) pedals are great. solid, rugged, and no string!
they have a minimum setting pot on the side, and would probably be bombproof.
in terms of slow gear type pedals. I have the guyatone and the behringer, and IMO the behringer is far better. the 'ramping speed' is far more useable, and the threshold control seems to work better on the behringer ( i can't believe i've just given a behringer pedal a positive review! - i must say though that it is the only one of theirs that i own!)
 
#9
Really, the behringer is alright? these behringer guys are coming out quite cheap... I might just get one to fool around with, I've been GASing for a slow gear clone for some time now.
 
#10
On the subject of volume pedals:

I've read some terrible reveiws of the Visual Volume in terms of construction/reliability - is that an older model perhaps?

Also, do volume pedals essentially go from 0-10? Meaning, having it cranked will give you the volume you would have otherwise, if the pedal were not in your signal chain? Or is it possible to configure a volume pedal so that it can also function as a boost beyond the volume you would have otherwise?

Any in general, if people want to chime in on their favorite and why, that would be awesome. Primarily I'm looking to get one for fade in/volume swells.


EDIT: And what is this string you are referring to, TheMutt?
 
#11
Putting my EB Volume Jr back together was seriously one of the most annoying things ever, the frigging string would not stay on the roller on the bar at the bottom of the pedal, took like 4 tries. That said it is a great tool for cutting out your attack, making awesome swells.
 
#14
CrispyDelicious said:
Also, do volume pedals essentially go from 0-10? Meaning, having it cranked will give you the volume you would have otherwise, if the pedal were not in your signal chain? Or is it possible to configure a volume pedal so that it can also function as a boost beyond the volume you would have otherwise?
Click to expand...

Some volume pedals can go to 11. ;)

I believe some (if not all?) active volume pedals can do this. I haven't messed with the Morley PVO+, but it has a minimum volume knob... so I think it can probably boost. However, it probably also means you couldn't simultaneously use it to swell from "zero" - it would be "rhythm/lead", "zero/unity", or something in between.

I do know that Visual Sound Visual Volume can boost your volume in active mode. It's an advertised feature, too.

Passive volume pedals can't boost your volume - they're no different than the volume pots on your bass. And no, the Ernie Ball volume pedal for active basses is NOT an active volume pedal. It's just a passive pedal with an impedance value that's better suited for active basses.
 
#16
CrispyDelicious said:
On the subject of volume pedals:

I've read some terrible reveiws of the Visual Volume in terms of construction/reliability - is that an older model perhaps?
Click to expand...
I have seen a few issues that people have had with the new ones. Primarily because the stock factory settings for this pedal are set to unity volume halfway up, and the treadle tension is very high and makes for difficult volume swells. A few easy to do adjustments and the problem is solved however.

CrispyDelicious said:
Also, do volume pedals essentially go from 0-10? Meaning, having it cranked will give you the volume you would have otherwise, if the pedal were not in your signal chain? Or is it possible to configure a volume pedal so that it can also function as a boost beyond the volume you would have otherwise?

Any in general, if people want to chime in on their favorite and why, that would be awesome. Primarily I'm looking to get one for fade in/volume swells.
Click to expand...
Active pedals usually have a setting for extra gain (a feature that passive pedals do not have) and might even have a setting for minimum volume. If that is the route you are going, the Visual Volume is an awesome pedal due to the led's telling you how far on the treadle you are. It is, however, bigger than most volume pedals.

CrispyDelicious said:
EDIT: And what is this string you are referring to, TheMutt?
Click to expand...
The Ernie Ball volume pedal family all use a spring-tensioned kevlar cord attached at the front and back of the treadle to turn a potentiometer. Ordinarily, these pedals are great. If/when that cord should break, be ready to be annoyed for about half an hour.
 
#19
CrispyDelicious said:
Man, I love this forum.

Thanks, TheMutt. The EB sounds more up my alley. I basically want it to go from 0-10 for volume swells, and size is always an issue as well.

Those strings though? Do they break often? Or is it more of a rarity?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

I've had mine for 2 years and it doesn't look like it is about to break, that wasn't my problem last time, this little hex nut came loose and it was slipping, I could have fixed it without taking it apart, but I had to take it apart to figure that out because I'm dumb like that. The string is VERY sturdy.
 
#20
CrispyDelicious said:
Man, I love this forum.

Thanks, TheMutt. The EB sounds more up my alley. I basically want it to go from 0-10 for volume swells, and size is always an issue as well.

Those strings though? Do they break often? Or is it more of a rarity?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

The string shouldn't break all that often. I had to replace a string because I bought one with a broken string for $30. The guy was too lazy to replace it, and just bought a new one.

MysticBoo said:
If size is an issue, be prepared to be annoyed by ALL volume pedals. AFAIK, they don't come in compact sizes. :D
Click to expand...
The EBVP comes in a slightly smaller size (EBVP Jr.). IIRC DOD and Morley used to make compact volume pedals as well. The trade-up of making small volume pedals is that they may be too small for your feet.
 

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