Telonics taper choices

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 4 Oct 2015 2:14 pm

For those of you that use the Telonics volume pedal, particularly in the most current configuration, I would be interested to know which taper, or tapers, you use, and why you choose that particular taper. I have one coming, and it would be nice to get a little jumpstart, using your experience!

Thank you!

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 4 Oct 2015 2:23 pm

I use number 6. It is about like an old AB pot in a Goodrich pedal, but it gives you a little more gain right at the end (I think 6db or so). It's useful to me when I kind of miss a chime or when I'm trying to sustain a chord longer than I should.

I think taper number 2 is the same without the extra "push" at the end.

I think your pedal will have the new firmware with another taper? I can't really remember. I need to update mine, but I need to borrow a Windows machine. All my stuff is Mac.

You'll love the pedal.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 4 Oct 2015 2:37 pm

I use #6 as well, it's the older Allen Bradley pot taper simulation and is very nice and smooth, has a bit more oomph on the front end for better sustain I feel.

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 4 Oct 2015 6:43 pm

Excellent- exactly the kind of info I'm looking for!

I didn't realize that you have to use a PC for the firmware updates - disappointing! Good to know, though

Paddy - you also use the Telonics combo amp, yes? Part of my willingness to buy the volume pedal comes from how much I love my Telonics amp - a truly remarkable rig

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 5 Oct 2015 7:51 am

I recently got one from Jim Palenscar.
He uploaded the latest firmware at that time.
Maybe yours will have the latest firmware loaded?
I'm still just crop-shooting through the various settings at gigs, but I think I like setting 8 the best.
That is the one with 6db boost at the end of the sweep.
Sounds great!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 5 Oct 2015 9:16 am

i like the concept of a $400 pedal having a setting to get the sound of a $100 pedal. that's cool!

Chris Grigsby · Post by **Chris Grigsby** » 5 Oct 2015 12:22 pm

chris ivey wrote:i like the concept of a $400 pedal having a setting to get the sound of a $100 pedal. that's cool!

Taper is not the same thing as sound...

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 5 Oct 2015 7:11 pm

Yeah, Chris I - I know you are pretty down on the Telonics pedal, especially the price, from some previous posts of yours. I actually prefer the sound of pedals like the Hilton and the Telonics over the couple of Goodrich pedals I've had, and like having some flexibility to the taper, which as Chris G pointed, isn't the same as the sound. The other reason I'm willing to spend that much on their pedal is that the Telonics TCA500 combo amp, also very spendy, has proven to be worth every penny and more, both for the steel and for my archtop, which is how I make most of my living. I completely trust their quality, so I'm looking forward to owning one, which will be delivered tomorrow.

I spend very little money on anything but musical equipment, and I tend to prefer modern, more "hi tech" gear, not because of some weird attachment to the "latest and greatest", but because I make my living this way, and I like the way this gear sounds, always have. Acoustic Image amps, my archtop which was built for me,Lexicon and Eventide effects, my MSA Studio Pro... I prefer this gear for my purposes, and since I have to deal with hearing myself playing, night after night, that's what I buy.

Really looking forward to it!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 5 Oct 2015 8:45 pm

aw i'm just cheap and get by with what works for me in my price range. i'm sure i'd buy stuff if i had the money.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 5 Oct 2015 11:32 pm

Hi Chris
Yes I do have the Telonics Combo amp and it is outstanding as you said, very versatile and lightweight as well.
I also have a Telonics Rack system, which I use for studio sessions and bigger shows - but whatever you do don't tell Chris Ivey ... he'll be having us banned from the forum for spending too much loot on good gear hehe !!!

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 6 Oct 2015 3:22 am

I suggest 5... what pickup are you using

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 6 Oct 2015 4:01 am

David - the Alumitone

Paddy - haha! Good point.. I think most steel guys would say I play with too dark a tone, but the jazz guys I play with rave about the tone of the amp!

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 6 Oct 2015 4:08 am

with that pickup go with 5,,

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 6 Oct 2015 5:54 am

It's on the truck for delivery today

Tomorrow I get the Studio Pro back from MSA

They did my 5 year fix up and detail

I'm guessing it'll be like new

That first moment

Those first notes

Telonics pedal, like new Bb6 Studio Pro, into a TCA500 with a Telonics 15"

David - you KNOW he'll be smiling as i play some big jazz chords...

Mitch Adelman · Post by **Mitch Adelman** » 6 Oct 2015 8:32 am

I recently downloaded new tapers 7-9. 8 is my new fav. Allen Bradley pot with alittle extra at end but more gradual than 6 short throw increase. Really like it!

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 6 Oct 2015 9:47 am

I like 5 - which is the taper from the old-style Hilton, with the attached power supply. Seems the most smooth throughout the travel, with no dog-legs.

In addition to the tapers and tone, I like that this thing is built to last...I've had other pedals break (always at the worst time, of course), but my Telonics probably will be around long after I'm gone...

I'd love to try the new tapers, but I'd have to buy a license for Windows and a program to run it on my Mac...Telonics just doesn't dig Macs, I guess...

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 6 Oct 2015 9:57 am

I use #4, which emulates the taper of an old Emmons VP w/ an AB post.

addendum: my pedal only has #1-5 as active VP options, settings #6-9 are non-active. I do like setting # 2 too.

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 6 Oct 2015 10:03 am

Another vote for Taper #4...had my Telonics VP since 2010 and so far, so very good! Tried Taper #6 but quickly went back to #4. Whatever works for you is the key...

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 6 Oct 2015 10:15 am

Here is something to think about, concerning the taper of "any" pedal, including pot pedals. The way a pedal comes on and goes off depends to some degree on what volume it is controlling. If a amp volume is set really loud, it takes less movement of a pedal to get a lot more volume. Likewise if the volume of a amplifier is set really low, it takes more movement of a pedal to get a lot more volume. Volume in "any" pedal is increased, or decreased, by division of the voltage of the guitar signal. A potentiometer, or pot, in electronics books is actually described as "a voltage divider". Say your volume on your amp is set on 8, and your pedal moved 1/4 inch down. Next, suppose your volume on your amp was set on 3, and your pedal moved 1/4 inch down. Which movement would creat the most volume the quickest? So taper of a volume pedal is dependent on what volume it is controlling. By the way Dave Beaty and I are friends. Hope this information helps.

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 6 Oct 2015 1:36 pm

Here is something else to consider. Dave Beaty's pedal gives you 9 different tapers to chose from. My pedal has one set taper. I know Dave, or I, could build you a pedal that had infinite taper choices.
How would you like a knob on the side of the pedal that changed taper throughout the movement of the control knob? As the knob turned you could have hundreds of taper choices. Don't know about Dave's pedal, but a infinite taper changing knob would be easy to add to one of my pedals. If having hundreds of taper choices is important to you, you might ask Dave or me about installing a infinite taper knob on your pedal.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 7 Oct 2015 6:23 am

Infinite taper adjustments might be fun to mess with, but as with other modern "many choices" devices, it'd be easy to get bogged down in experimenting, and maybe too easy to lose the sweet spot- the cool thing about 5 or 8 preset tapers is being able to play a song, or set, on stage and reach down and change the taper for another song. You pretty quickly find the differences and which one or two settings are most personally comfortable. Awesome.

I also would have the new tapers to experiment with if I could get 'em into my mac.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 8 Oct 2015 9:58 am

Chris,I've been using#4 since 2011,not really sure why but it feels right to my dumbass!!

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 13 Oct 2015 8:46 am

Well, got the pedal

I confess, I defer to David Wright in most things steel, and have it set at 5. I will try others, but this is so great, it's hard to mess around

I have owned and used 3 volume pedals for steel - a Goodrich 120, which I hate (sounds weird), a Hilton, newer vintage, which I love, and this new Telonics pedal, which I love the most. What a difference in sound and feel - I am very satisfied

Thank you,Telonics- both your amp and your volume pedal blow me away!

Joshua Tschetter · Post by **Joshua Tschetter** » 13 Oct 2015 9:58 am

If you don't buy the pedal for what it is, buy it for the Customer Service. Worth every Penny!!!

Jon Logan · Post by **Jon Logan** » 15 Oct 2015 3:44 am

Mega Dittos on the customer service. Dave really helped me out when I had a minor issue with the TCA500.
The combo amp is great and lightweight,,, still trying to find 'the' setting to get the sound I'm looking for, I'm sure it's under one of those buttons somewhere,, !

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