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Topic: Fender Classic Series Volume Pedal |
Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 19 Jun 2013 4:59 am |
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Since I got my first pedal steel 11 months ago, I've been using a Morley Little Alligator optical volume pedal, and for practice its worked out pretty well. Still, I wanted to try a pot-based volume pedal. Going to Ebay, I scored a great deal on a used Fender classic series volume pedal. Part of my decision was based on all that pretty chrome plating, and the price I was able to win it at.
I have 2 basic questions:
Stock, it works off of a 250K pot. I use a humbucker, that I think is pretty hot output (Stage One Zumsteel). Should I stay there or move to a 500K?
Liking all that mirror chrome on newer models, the one I purchased is pretty dirty(no doubt part of the reason I got it at the price I did). What is best method to polish up the chrome a little?
Thanks!
-Dan
Works fine but pretty dirty....
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Last edited by Daniel Policarpo on 24 Jun 2013 12:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 20 Jun 2013 6:16 am
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If it were me, Daniel, I'd put a 500k Dunlop pot in it. A 250k loads down a pedal steel pickup too much.
As to the chrome, I'd use some Goo-Gone on the tape residue, then get some non-abrasive chrome cleaner from the auto store to polish it up.
I've got an original Fender tone/volume pedal that my Dad used many years ago. It's still in terrific shape, and it has 2 old, original, 500k pots (Ohmite I believe) that are still quiet as a mouse. That baby is worth some bucks....at least to me it is.
Pedal on, bro. 
_________________
Best regards,
Mike |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 23 Jun 2013 2:37 am
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I have several of these new Fender VP's and they sound OK. I got tired of bending down and changing over pedals to other guitars.
I got my Fender VP's for $60.00 each |
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 23 Jun 2013 4:17 am
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I'll be receiving it tomorrow, then I'll be able to compare it with the Little Alligator. The thing I love about the Little Alligator is that it hardly has any effect on the sound and it is quiet. I do think the taper could be better. It's fine at practice volume, but loud in a band situation, the taper gets a little disjointed.
I have a buffer in my Holy Grail pedal, I understand that can help a bit with any loss of tonal integrity, though I would venture you could just make up for that by adjusting the EQ at the amp? The humbucker in the Stage One is pretty substantial, I think it will work out fine as long as the taper is improved and allows me to sound like (insert favorite player).
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 24 Jun 2013 12:43 pm
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Well the Fender pedal came in and all that smutz on there rubbed right off with a damp cloth. A little polish and it will be shiny as new! Fine working order. Compared to the Morley little Alligator, I can hear a little bit of what people call "tone suck", but it is not bad at all given the sustain has also increased about 2 fold. It's not nearly as sensitive in picking up "extraneous sound", which I now understand what people were trying to say regarding the Morley. The Fender is very quiet and I have much more control over the volume itself.
Maybe it is something about the active optical circuit in the Morley, but it was almost like I was picking up every little pick and bar noise. I thought it was part of being a beginner, you know getting clean at pickin' and shakin', a learning curve, but I am glad I went through the Morley my first year playing because now I sound pretty dang clean.
It's also a radical physical difference. It sits a little higher than the Morley and it is huge! It will take a little getting used to, but all in all it fits my needs better than the Morley. A well spent $36. |
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Daniel Policarpo
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Posted 25 Jun 2013 7:07 am
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Okay, I have a buffer in my Holy Grail pedal, which I keep on the amp and it is always on. Buffer works whether the pedal is on or off, but it's not doing enough to keep the tone from degrading because of the pot/pickup combination. I recall a recent thread talking about the Little Izzy and how for some pickup-pot pedal combos it is recommended to have one after the volume pedal, as well as one at the steel's input. So I thought this idea would probably apply to my situation. As Mike W. notes, the 250K pot does load down the humbucker a lot.
I don't have a Little Izzy, yet, but I have a Boss Super Shifter, which is a really cool pedal, and like all Boss pedals, has a pretty good buffer in there from what I can tell. I put that between the Stage One's input and the Fender Volume pedal. Between having a buffer both before and after the Volume pedal, the tone is restored, Nice!
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