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Topic: Volume Pedal....which is the best. |
Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 19 Nov 2013 2:54 pm |
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As a long time professional player and studio musician I have used just about everything over the years -- but I got a Telonics pedal when they first arrived on the scene, directly from Dave at the Dallas Steel Show the first year he was there ... IMO there is nothing else that comes close in playability and engineering quality and foresight. And the ability to be upgraded online pretty much makes it future proof.
Never had one issue with the 2 pedals I own and they have done a ton of work since I have had them.
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases.
Last edited by Paddy Long on 12 May 2021 5:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Scott Hay
From:
Portland, OR / Yucca Valley, CA USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2013 8:18 am
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| Guys.... I've been using pot. I keep it in my volume pedal. I'm sorry. |
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Richard Keller
From:
Deer Creek, Illinois, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2014 9:30 am
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| For you guys that like the pot pedals, do your pots have a linear or audio taper? |
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Bill Moran
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2014 11:59 am
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I like pot. What was the question again ? 
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Bill |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 7 Oct 2014 2:00 pm
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| Richard Keller wrote: |
| For you guys that like the pot pedals, do your pots have a linear or audio taper? |
The audio taper is the de-facto standard, but either will work. It's just that the linear pot "comes on" faster, and requires far less foot movement. The zero volume and max volume are exactly the same, and there's no tone difference between the two.
Here's a clip made awhile back...me, at an unrehearsed, rough-as-a-cob, outdoor gig, with a pot pedal and Peavey solid-state amp. Guitar, pot pedal, amp, and nothing else. Now, I don't claim to be a great player, but listen to how the high harmonics ring out! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8psmkuBb14
Pot pedals kill the highs, do they?
Whatever you guys say.  |
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 2:27 am
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| Donny Hinson wrote: |
Pot pedals kill the highs, do they?
Whatever you guys say. |
I don't think Scott Hays' pot pedals have any problems with their highs getting killed.
Nice sound,Donny.
I agree. If pot pedals kill any highs it wouldn't really matter much since we adjust for all that at the amp anyway? It's always a balancing act. I think its strange that when my high strings were sounding thin, my mentor suggested I turn up the low end a little and lo and behold, there were the highs that had been hiding.
I think there are subtleties that we all appreciate as individuals when we hear them, that don't make a lick of a difference to anybody else, except that when we are more comfortable with our sound, we play better. As long is my pedal has lots of audio-grade pot and lots of chrome, I am happy. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 8:42 am
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My favorite is the Hilton Low Profile pedal, followed by the Goodrich LDR2. I am really partial to the electronic pedals. I tried a friend's Telonics pedal and didn't really care for it. I even set it to the "Hilton" taper setting. But, I will admit, I only gave it a 1 hour test drive. I would have probably liked it better if it were mine and I could spend the time with it and tweak it to my taste.
But, I have had 2 Hilton pedals and had problems with both. The first one, I went through 3 wal-warts. I am sure it wasn't the pedal taking them out. All those gigs were outside and the power to the "stage" probably wasn't all that good. I sold that first pedal (needed the cash at the time). I kind of recently bought another one. Last Saturday, playing an outside gig in 90+ degree weather, the glue holding the rubber top to the pedal came "unglued" (so did I) and slid of the pedal as I played. For the first set, I kept putting it back on the pedal hoping it would stay. Nope. At break time, I got out my Goodrich LDR2. By the way all you guys that gig, carry some kind of spare VP with you. Today I'm going to Re-glue the top part of the pedal back on and be as good as new.
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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. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 8 Oct 2014 1:54 pm
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| Richard Sinkler wrote: |
| ...By the way all you guys that gig, carry some kind of spare VP with you. |
In 50 years of playing, never have, never will. (I've used the same pedal since 1963. Through the equivalent of about 10,000 gigs, if it was ever going to let me down, it likely would'a happened by now.  ) |
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James Woodall
From:
Queens, New York
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Posted 25 Apr 2021 11:57 am
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| I wonder if there are any new perspectives on this question as I am now in the market for a new volume pedal. Thought I'd revive this thread rather than start a new one! |
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Asa Brosius
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Posted 25 Apr 2021 2:51 pm
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James I'd say the best volume pedal is the one you don't think about.
I use an active Telonics- because I got a good deal, the customization options (set it and forget it) and their customer service is outstanding. I also use a passive Moyo, for the size and ease- quick set-ups/changeovers,small stages,and frying an active VP in Europe-all good reasons to go passive. It takes a few seconds to transition between the feel of the two- the Moyo has the pot characteristic of less brightness early in the throw- not a problem, and sometimes I prefer that. I'd truly be happy using any Hilton/Goodrich, and I have.
In terms of newer developments, I appreciate Goodrich's Omni- smart design, passive/active, and the flexibility to plug in from either side- all great, and I'd pick one up if it solved any problems I had. |
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kevin ryan
From:
San Marcos, California
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Posted 25 Apr 2021 3:14 pm
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| I'm a pot guy, big surprise. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 25 Apr 2021 3:44 pm
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Telonics best, Hilton best value.
The Telonics is crystal clear but has a stack of features I shall never use - the Hilton just works extremely well for a lot less money. I also have a Goodrich which I bought out of curiosity. It's very nice and I can see why it's kind of the industry standard, but I've had no occasion to use it yet.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Apr 2021 6:40 pm
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| Goodrich pot pedal. I have a Hilton too. I guess old habits makes me prefer the pot pedal with no power supplies needed. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 25 Apr 2021 8:30 pm
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| James Woodall wrote: |
| I wonder if there are any new perspectives on this question as I am now in the market for a new volume pedal. Thought I'd revive this thread rather than start a new one! |
I'm still using Goodrich L120s with there new pots in them. I bought a pile of replacement pots and sold them after a while because the ones in them don't seem to ever wear out. I also use MOYO pedals. I use them for fly dates and I keep one in my seat as a backup. They are really awesome. They feel and sound like a Goodrich. Very well priced too.
If you are considering a more complex pedal I suggest a careful study of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW0bx_Ooq4
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Bob |
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Robert Parent
From:
Gillette, WY
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Posted 26 Apr 2021 7:27 am
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Purchased a Lehle 90 a couple months back and it is great.... I was planning to buy a Telonics but the price at 2x the Lehle just was a bit over the top. I have been a pot-pedal person for decades, but with no quality pots available for replacement there are not many options.
Robert |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2021 7:53 am
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| Bob Hoffnar, that was hilarious. As a retired Chrysler dealer technician, I believe I had that instructor. I met Keith Hilton back when he introduced his pedals at his booth in St Louis. At the time I was studying advanced electronics and attending GM specialized electronics for the new Buick Riviera. I fully understood his concept and was impressed. I already had a Morley volume pedal for guitar and Goodrich for pedal steel. Good pots were plentiful so I dismissed the need for advanced pedals for steel. Besides, everyone I admired used pot pedals at the time. I now own several Goodrich, Ernie Ball, and others including a Hilton. I do notice a tone difference in the various designs. I still use the Goodrich with a buffer in front as my go to pedal. Old habits are hard to break. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 26 Apr 2021 8:32 am
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I don't think there's a lot new under the sun wrt volume pedals since this thread started except the Goodrich Omni, which you can read more about here - https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=332166
The Omni looks like a winner to me (IMO, there is no 'best', but lots of good choices) since it has the option of both active and passive operation. I guess the passive operation is "backup" in case the active has an issue like the battery going dead. I think if I was in the market for something new, I'd be looking at one of these because I absolutely will not mess around with a power supply wire going into a volume pedal that sits under my pedal steel.
Personally, I generally prefer potentiometer pedals - 500K for pedal steel, but 250K is generally OK for guitar. I actually like the fact that you lose a little brilliance as the pedal is backed off. When I turn down, I usually want to be less present in the mix. I have buffers (my fave is Sarno Freeloader) if I really need one, but I haven't really needed it much lately. So I have a few old Sho Bud volume pedals and what I believe is a lifetime supply of Allen-Bradley 500k pots. But honestly, I can't remember the last time I had to change one of these, and those old Sho Bud pedals are built to withstand plenty of abuse.
Ha, the Chrysler thing is hilarious. I worked at Chrysler (OR/IE/Materials) in Detroit in the 70s - early 80s. That one looks like it was made right after I left. This kind of technobabble goes back a long way - e.g., https://youtu.be/raPNZc5ehYM?t=87 and I'm sure earlier. |
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Jim Cooley
From:
The 'Ville, Texas, USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2021 8:43 am
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Bob Hoffnar wrote:
I'm still using Goodrich L120s with there new pots in them. I bought a pile of replacement pots and sold them after a while because the ones in them don't seem to ever wear out. I also use MOYO pedals. I use them for fly dates and I keep one in my seat as a backup. They are really awesome. They feel and sound like a Goodrich. Very well priced too.
If you are considering a more complex pedal I suggest a careful study of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW0bx_Ooq4
But...but...but...is the Turbo Encabulator passive or active? Does it need a power supply, have a pot, no pot? Maybe people on pot understand.
Last edited by Jim Cooley on 26 Apr 2021 9:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Glenn Demichele
From:
(20mi N of) Chicago Illinois, USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2021 8:56 am
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I love my Moyo. No wires, tiny size
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Franklin D10 8&5, Excel D10 8&5, homemade buffer/overdrive, Moyo pedal, GT-001 effects, 2x BAM200 for stereo. 2x GW8003 8" driver in homemade closed-box. Also NV400 etc. etc... |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 26 Apr 2021 12:19 pm
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| Robert Parent wrote: |
I have been a pot-pedal person for decades, but with no quality pots available for replacement there are not many options.
Robert |
Robert and all concerned,
There are good pots available now. They are at least as good as the old military grade ones. They are available straight from Goodrich and other places. They last forever and work perfect. I have been using them for years and have never replaced one.
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Bob |
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Fred Justice
From:
Mesa, Arizona
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Thornton Lewis
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 30 Apr 2021 11:51 am
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| I'm going to second the Moyo. Cheapish, tiny, built like a tank, no power supply. I have a Hilton low profile and it is great, but too darn big. The Moyo stays out of the way while a two foot my Uni 7x5 which I do a lot. |
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Robert Parent
From:
Gillette, WY
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Posted 1 May 2021 7:36 am
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| Bob Hoffnar wrote: |
| Robert Parent wrote: |
I have been a pot-pedal person for decades, but with no quality pots available for replacement there are not many options.
Robert |
Robert and all concerned,
There are good pots available now. They are at least as good as the old military grade ones. They are available straight from Goodrich and other places. They last forever and work perfect. I have been using them for years and have never replaced one. |
Bob,
Glad you had success, but I have not with those and other so called 'premium pots'. The tapers are not even or they just don't last before the noise returns.
Robert |
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Ron Shalita
From:
California, USA
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Posted 2 May 2021 7:25 pm
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Love my Telonic’s !
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Been playing all of my life, Lead Guitar, and Pedal Steel, sing Lead and Harmony.. play other Instruments also but I hate to admit to it.. |
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Paul Seager
From:
Augsburg, Germany
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Posted 5 May 2021 11:12 am
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Caveat #1, I play more lap than pedal steel.
Caveat #2: I don't believe either the Telonics or Hilton are easily available in Europe so I make do with what I can get!
My first pedal was a cheap Bespeco. It is not even worth using as a paper weight!
I had a Morley for a long time and liked that till it started to squeak and I made the error of applying WD40. Don't ever do that!
I have a Boss FV50 which I found ok and its my back-up pedal to ...
... a second-hand Goodrich and I really like this but it does occasionally have a mechanical noise. Essentially its a length of string wound around the pot so it's easy to repair!
Now for something completely different. I often use a Roland Expression pedal because it's a one cable connection to my Boss MS3 FX unit so simplicity itself. In comparison to the Goodrich its a little too small and not so stable on the floor.
So I guess I am a Goodrich fan. I have often considered the Lehle which is made here in Germany, it's just a matter of finding a dealer, blindsiding the wife, etc..
\paul |
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