Enhancing tone - volume pedal

Donald Boyajian · Posted 18 Apr 2013 9:58 am

So, my goodrich volume pedal has been a little scratchy. I decided to play without it for a little. I was shocked how much better my guitar sounded going straight through. So much clearer. What could I do to get closer to that tone when using the volume pedal? Black box? Some type of EQ change? Thanks!
_________________
GFI S-10 Expo. Peavey NV 112

john widgren · From: Wilton CT

TELONICS FP-100 volume pedal...nuff said.
_________________
Steel Guitar Services:
Live performance and recording. Instruments, repairs and lessons. Fresh bait/discount sushi.
(203) 858-8498
widcj@hotmail.com

Dave Bertoncini · From: Sun City West, Arizona USA

What John Said....can't be beat. Excellent customer service too

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

You could just stick a pedal such as a tuner in between the steel and the volume pedal to isolate the pickup in the steel from the pot in the pedal...or you could solve the problem and never have a scratchy pot again with an active volume pedal like the Telonics (which I also use).
_________________
https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I use a Lil' Izzy buffer when plugging into solid state gear.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Joshua Gibson · From: Arizona, USA

+1 for the Telonics FP-100, or I have also used a Cmats mods Buffer in front of My Goodrich model 120 too...good solution for less then $70,
_________________
'83 Mullen custom D-10 8x5.
Mesa Lonestar classic 112 custom cab.
Session 400 Ltd, Nashville 1000,
Telonics, Zoom, BJS,
Goldtone BS, LITM, OS Dobros.
Fender, G&L, Gibson, Ibanez guitars.

Richard Tasso · From: Arizona, USA

Telonic,s pedal

Richard Tasso · From: Arizona, USA

delete

Daniel Policarpo · Posted 20 Apr 2013 4:10 am

In the long run, the Telonics is certainly worth the price. How much are they going for? Around $500? However, if you are looking for an immediate solution, a decent pedal with a buffer placed in the chain will do the trick. All BOSS pedals have a buffer, for example. If you have one of those laying around you can put that in the chain.

George Seymour · From: Notown, Vermont, USA

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Daniel makes a good point putting a Boss pedal in line with passive VP to get the buffer effect. Also, this is a bit off topic but I use George L solderless cables from guitar to VP then a good quality regular cord from VP to effects pedals and then another George L cable to amp. George L cables are great but I find them exclusively gives a bit brighter sound than I care for.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Not to knock either the Telonics pedal or the Hilton, but some top flight pickers use the passive pedal, without the buffer (but they're running tubes).
I won't run Solid State without a buffer, but if I run the Twin, I skip it.
I kinda get bothered when somebody tells a newbie they have to spend three to five hundred dollars on a volume pedal. If a 120 is good enough for Paul Franklin or Tommy White, I think it's good enough for a student.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Joseph Meditz · From: Sierra Vista, AZ

Donald,

If your pedal is scratchy replace the pot. The difference between going through the pedal vs. straight into the amp should be negligible. Also, I didn't notice much difference when I went through a buffer before my Goodrich pot pedal at moderately low volume in my room.

On the other hand there is a marked difference in sound between my Goodrich LDR2 and Goodrich pot pedal. The LDR 2 has a lot more bass (I have to back off the bass on the amp.) than the pot pedal and a smooth, high fidelity, sound. I like them both. But if I had to chose one it would be the pot pedal for its simplicity, its raw, satisfying sound, and lastly because it is the reference standard to which all pedals are compared.

Two of the best sounding players I've ever heard in person are Bobby Black and Jim Loessberg who both use pot pedals. And on the great steel recordings pot pedals far outnumber electronic pedals.

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Another issue with pot pedals like the Goodrich 120 (which is what I use) is whether you have it strung to give you full on or full off; without being modded I don't think you can get both. Most have the pedal set up so that when you bring your heel all the way down you kill the volume completely, i.e., the string inside turns the pot to full-off position. I generally like it this way myself. However, given the length of travel on the pedal and the size of the shaft on the pot inside, this very likely means that when you put you toe completely down, i.e. run the volume pedal wide open, you are not turning the pot inside to full-on position, and thus not getting full volume. With most pots, this will also effect your tone somewhat. I have recently restrung my pedals to be full on; my band, including a couple of forum members who shall not be named (Chris, Bob) is pretty loud(!). This means I can't cut off my sound completely and noodle on stage between songs without being heard (better I wean myself off this bad habit anyway, right?), but really has no other drawbacks.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

That is not a drawback, it is a protection feature. That way, the pedal does not try to overrun the fragile stops inside the pot. Ideally, the pedal should travel from just above off to just below fully on.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

telonics pedal...$500ish...have to plug it in.. Crying or Very sad

goodrich 10k pedal..$200ish (or less, used) no plug .. no hassle Very Happy

or as lane says..any pot pedal with a lil izzy type unit which changes high imp signal to lo imp. incredible difference in clarity.

cheap fix as opposed to 'very' expensive boutique stuff.

Joseph Meditz · From: Sierra Vista, AZ

Joshua Gibson · From: Arizona, USA

OK, so...I'm gonna get jumped on and already see that coming Confused

, but I'm sorry there is no comparison between the LDR2, the 10K and the Telonics... No offence to any of Y'all that use and like Them, and I am speaking from MY EARS PREFERENCE, if You want to maintain a pot pedal sound or You just like the feel I would still recommend the Telonics FP-100!... One thing that not a lot of people seem to notice is the individual "tapers" of the FP-100 do more then change the supposed"feel"of the pedal, since I have been using the pedal I have found that there is an individual tone to each of the tapers in the pedal...for instance: I have found that dependent upon the acoustics of a room when I'm gigging I have found that taper 1 lends itself to a brighter room where as taper 5 will lend itself more to a muddy or dark sounding room.

Now, once again, I am speaking SOLELY from what I HEAR,
And I apologize for the novel but I am just trying to pass on My experience.

Thanks,
_________________
'83 Mullen custom D-10 8x5.
Mesa Lonestar classic 112 custom cab.
Session 400 Ltd, Nashville 1000,
Telonics, Zoom, BJS,
Goldtone BS, LITM, OS Dobros.
Fender, G&L, Gibson, Ibanez guitars.

Joseph Meditz · From: Sierra Vista, AZ

That's useful information Josh. Thanks!

I just checked the Telonics web site and learned that there is a taper selection switch on the unit. (I actually thought you had to download a taper every time you wanted to change it.)

I do believe that the Telonics is worth its high price. I paid around $250 (expensivish at the time) for the LDR2 about 7 years ago thinking it was the last pedal I'd ever buy. Oh well. Maybe some day I'll buy an FP-100. At this time I am satisfied with what I have.

Forum Index > Electronics		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic