Can't survive a gig without a volume pedal? Carry a spare!

Kevin Milner · From: Los Angeles, California, USA

I was setting up my rig for the first of 3 shows on a 3 night cruise last month when my worst fear came true - my Hilton volume pedal was dead. No signal made it through the pedal. I carry a backup power supply, but that didn't fix it (I have had one of the supplies die on me in the past, and luckily had a backup), it was the pedal itself. So now I'm stranded on a cruise with 3 gigs and no volume pedal! Luckily the guitar player in the band had an Ernie Ball VP Jr on his board that he could live without, and loaned it to me for the trip. I made it through the weekend, but that really got me nervous.

So, as a PSA, always carry a backup! Seriously. I didn't want to spend a ton on a backup, and don't have any extra room in my seat, so I decided to to buy a cheap BOSS FV-50L for $40 on Craigslist. It only weighs 1 pound, and I dual locked it to the inside of my amp so it will always be with me. I hope to never, ever, use it, but it is comforting to know it's there. NOTE: if you decide to go the same route as me, get the FV-50L if you place your pedal after a buffer (in a loop from your amp, after a buffered pedal/black box or similar), but get the FV-50H if you plug the steel directly into your volume pedal.

Don't make the same mistake I did!

P.S. $65 later (including shipping each way) I have my Hilton pedal back, repaired by Keith.
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GFI S10-P Ultra -> Milkman 40w Pedal Steel Mini or 300w Half & Half (or Sarno SGBB/Nashville 112 or '94 Twin Amp or Homebuilt 5e3)
Effects: Cali76-CD Compressor -> EP booster -> Sarno Earth Drive -> Earthquaker Devices Zap Machine -> Earthquaker Devices Grand Orbiter Phaser -> Caitlinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk III -> Malekko Envelope Filter -> Hilton VP -> Pedal Projects Klone -> Tech 21 Blonde -> Strymon Timeline -> TC Electronics Spark Mini Boost -> Strymon Lex -> Strymon Flint

Carl Mesrobian · From: Salem, Massachusetts, USA

I keep a Goodrich as a spare in my cable/junk bag. Been there - luckily at the end of the last set of the night. It was an encore and loud was ok Smile

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--carl

"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I hear you. I've been there a time or three. I had the string come unwrapped on a Goodrich just as I was setting up for a steel show. Luckily, I was able to borrow one from another steeler. Another time, I left my main pedal and my spare at home, but happened to have an EV-5 in my tote. And I've had to play without a vp a couple times. You might be surprised how quick you can get used to that.

Looks like Glenn Taylor's little Moyo pedal would be ideal. Not much bigger than a stomp box. Good reviews, but a little pricey for my current state just to carry for a spare.

I do have a couple other big ones though. Usually keep a spare in my vehicle, seat or my bag.

Bill Cunningham · From: Atlanta, Ga. USA

Thanks for the advice. I have been using a Telonics for about 4 years I guess and kept a Goodrich in the pac-a-seat just in case. About six months ago I took it out to save weight. Guess I will put it back in!
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Bill Cunningham
Atlanta, GA

Bill L. Wilson · From: Oklahoma, USA

I carry "3" Emmons fixed pin pedals to every gig. All with good pots and strings.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

When we play, I take a backup for everything but the steel guitar. I even take one of my little Cube amps as a backup. (One time my Evans amp pooped out during the second set...lesson learned.) If I am wearing a white shirt I even take an extra white shirt, ever since the BBQ sauce incident. Oh Well

I've even thought about wearing both a belt and suspenders.
You can't be too careful! Surprised

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Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande

There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.

Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

Got a spare in the trunk.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

https://www.facebook.com/Moyovolumepedal/

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I've had the power supply die twice before 2 gigs on my Hilton. If I hadn't had my Goodrich LDR-2 with me, they would have been really rough nights.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Eric Philippsen · From: Central Indiana, USA

At one gig or another over the years I think I've had every piece of equipment go on the blink. That includes a Super-Pro where two of its pot-metal bell cranks broke in a single night. The most recent incident was a trusty ole' Goodrich whose pot decided to go bad in the noisiest way.

I pack backups for everything except, because of their bulk and weight,
the steel and amp. If a steel goes "down" on a gig I can ... just ... get by without negatively impacting the song or artist by switching necks or by playing the neck as a strictly open tuning without pedals or knees. An amp going bad on a gig is a tough one. In that case, as a last resort, I'll usually go direct into the PA and hope for the best. Those situations have been really rare, though, in part due to the effort I put into keeping equipment the best it can be, condition-wise. You know, "An ounce of prevention......"

Bruce Derr · From: Lee, New Hampshire, USA

I'm another who packs the wee Moyo pedal. It's the perfect spare. I've used it for full gigs and it's just fine - I don't even think about it while I'm playing. True, it's not cheap, but I think it's very fairly priced considering the nice design, great build quality, Dunlop pot, and the fact that it's not mass-produced in China. And it fits in the pedal bar/leg compartment of the steel case... how cool is that?

John Gould · From: Houston, TX Now in Cleveland TX

I've had a couple of gigs where the volume pedal went south and finished the gig without the pedal . I sometimes practice without a volume pedal just to be able to handle the situation . I have 5 volume pedals laying around but try to keep them all well maintained so I don't have problems on a gig anymore . It's been years since I've had a failure on a gig .
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A couple of guitars
Nashville 1000 Fender Mustang III Boss Katana MKII 50
Emmons LeGrande II and Sho Bud Pro II

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

so are we saying it's time to change the pot and the string on my Goodrich 120 which I have been using now for about 15 years with no maintenance ? Question

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Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Kevin Mincke · From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

Although discontinued, the DOD vcc-1 is also very compact to carry as a backup.

Norbert Dengler · From: germany

i always think it`s a risk, but have been too lazy to carry a 2nd volume pedal to the gig Confused

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

That's one of the reasons I use a pot-pedal. Pots always fail very slowly, so there's nothing to go catastrophic but the string, and I have an extra one taped inside the pedal. Should it ever break, 10 minutes (with no tools) will get it working again, since the bottom of the pedal just snaps on. Cool

Jeff Porter · From: Stumptown, OR, USA

Just saw this yesterday:
http://digitech.com/en/products/dod-mini-volume
$99 street. Would make a great spare.
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"I make dozens of dollars a year playing music."

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

Or you can get a good spare that was designed to be used in the seated position - The Stage One volume pedal for $100.

http://www.stageonesteelguitars.com/volume_pedal

Bruce Derr · From: Lee, New Hampshire, USA

Doug, I recently picked up a used Stage One pedal, and I must say I like it quite a bit. Lightweight but stable, and looks very reliable but also easy to work on should the need arise. Feels smooth when playing. Nice pedal.

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

Thank you for the kind words Bruce. Some of the other well known pros are using them and seem to be well satisfied.

joe long · From: San Antonio, Texas

I never left home without a spare peddal.

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