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Topic: Goodrich Omni |
Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 9 Dec 2019 3:45 pm |
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Today I received my new Goodrich Omni volume pedal that I ordered through Bill Ferguson. In my nearly fifty years of playing steel I’ve never been as happy with a purchase.. It’s so smooth but what it did for my tone is really shocking to me.. At first I thought it was making my sound muddy but after a small tweak to my amp it was more than I could have ever expected. The reality is that it reproduces exactly what my steel sounds like directly to the amp.. On passive mode it sounds great but turning on the active mode gave the string separation I’ve always wanted.. It has an internal battery and a power supply so you can run it basically three ways (passive, battery active and PS active) without worrying about loosing your power supply and not being able to play.. You can find Bill here or on Facebook, he’ll treat you great and have it to you in no time..
https://goodrichsoundcompany.com/volume-pedals/ |
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Chris Grigsby
From:
Boulder, CO
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Posted 10 Dec 2019 5:53 am
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Hi Wally, I’m curious what pedal you were using prior to the Omni, as I experienced the direct opposite as compared to a Hilton and a Telonics pedal. There was so much rolloff of the highs with the Omni by comparison that I was almost convinced something was wrong, but then I read somewhere that the Omni’s active mode is still designed to sound like a pot pedal as opposed to a traditional active pedal like a Hilton.
All three sounded good to me, but I kept the Telonics as it was clearly the most transparent and faithful to the true sound of the guitar, with the Hilton not too far behind. Like you, I figured it is preferable to adjust the tone using my amp if need be but I want the pedal to capture all of the high end detail of the guitar and pickup at the source.
Best,
Chris
_________________
Mullen Discovery S10, Hilton VP, Kemper Profiler Head and Kabinet. |
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Bill Ferguson
From:
Milton, FL USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2019 8:10 am
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I knew you would be happy Wally. Out of some60 that I have sold, I have only had 2 people say they did not like the OMNI (or any passive pedal).
To answer the question in your thread. The OMNI is not designed to sound like a Hilton or a Telonics (both fine pedals).
It is designed to sound like a "pot" pedal, but with more clarity.
_________________
AUTHORIZED George L's, Goodrich, Telonics and Peavey Dealer: I have 2 steels and several amps. My current rig of choice is 1993 Emmons LeGrande w/ 108 pups (Jack Strayhorn built for me), Goodrich OMNI Volume Pedal, George L's cables, Goodrich Baby Bloomer and Peavey Nashville 112. Can't get much sweeter. |
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Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 10 Dec 2019 8:18 am
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| Chris Grigsby wrote: |
Hi Wally, I’m curious what pedal you were using prior to the Omni, as I experienced the direct opposite as compared to a Hilton and a Telonics pedal. There was so much rolloff of the highs with the Omni by comparison that I was almost convinced something was wrong, but then I read somewhere that the Omni’s active mode is still designed to sound like a pot pedal as opposed to a traditional active pedal like a Hilton.
All three sounded good to me, but I kept the Telonics as it was clearly the most transparent and faithful to the true sound of the guitar, with the Hilton not too far behind. Like you, I figured it is preferable to adjust the tone using my amp if need be but I want the pedal to capture all of the high end detail of the guitar and pickup at the source.
Best,
Chris |
Chris,
I've owned pretty much every pedal available through the years and have been using a Hilton for the last five years with no problem at all.. They are a great pedal and I could get by with one from now on. I've also owned a Telonic's. Before the Hilton I used a Goodrich with a Matchbox for years. There's something about a pot pedal that I've been missing lately. The problem with a pot pedal is that the tone changes as you move the pedal, that's why the Matchbox was designed. The Matchbox basically changes the impedance from the guitar from High to Low impedance before the signal is passed through the pot resulting in a much more even tone from the back of the pedal to the front. The Goodrich OMNI, from what I understand, has a Matchbox type circuit built in. I love the fact that it uses a battery so for quick setups like festivals and steel show you don't have to deal with a power adapter. On the Hilton if you loose the power supply your out of luck. In my opinion, for me anyway, the Goodrich OMNI, is the best of all worlds.. I did have to tweek my amp tone to get it were I wanted. On my Nashville 112's I rolled off the low's to -0-, left the mids at -3 & just below 800hz and boosted the highs and presence to +3.. This is with the stock speakers, which is what I prefer. We all chase tone so I recommend just using what you love. There's lots of great products out there these days..
Have a great Christmas!
Wally |
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Chris Grigsby
From:
Boulder, CO
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Posted 10 Dec 2019 11:39 am
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Very interesting, thanks Wally! I’m guessing the tonal
character of the guitar and/or it’s pickup might pair better or worse with one pedal versus another. We are definitely spoiled for choice, and I agree that all three of those pedals are of high quality.
Best,
Chris
_________________
Mullen Discovery S10, Hilton VP, Kemper Profiler Head and Kabinet. |
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Bill C. Buntin
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Posted 10 Dec 2019 3:27 pm
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Thanks for the review Wally. I’ve been seriously considering an Omni myself just been sort of putting it off. Makes me want to call mr Ferguson and take the plunge.
Bill |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2019 5:32 am
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| Wally, bass at 0, wow. Typically Peavey amps are suggested as bass full on. I rarely do that. Interesting to know what you think about the pedal and the reference to the others. Thanks for the review. |
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Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 11 Dec 2019 6:28 am
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| Larry Dering wrote: |
| Wally, bass at 0, wow. Typically Peavey amps are suggested as bass full on. I rarely do that. Interesting to know what you think about the pedal and the reference to the others. Thanks for the review. |
One thing I like about the Peavey pre-amp is that with everything set to -0- its is totally flat. I've measured it with an RTA. After that point everything changes depending on the power amp, cabinet and speaker combination. Most people that boost the low's that much also add a lot of highs to compensate.
My son, Jeremy, is as big a nerd as I am. He did measurements with an RTA with all the above mentioned volume pedals. The OMNI was the flattest and went down lower in frequency than any of the other pedals. That's why I needed less lows added to the amp. That along with playing Jay Dee's steel with an OMNI a couple of weeks ago is what prompted me to buy one. Anytime you add low's to an amp you reduce the headroom of the amp. It takes ten times the power to reproduce low frequencies
than highs. When you boost lows you are also boosting frequencies that the speaker can't reproduce, the result is that it kills your headroom before distortion. High frequencies ride on the top of the lows so the first thing you hear is distortion in the highs... |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2019 8:41 am
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I've never had a Goodrich pedal I didn't love-the OMNI is no exception!
SH |
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Larry Dering
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2019 9:25 am
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Wally, really cool that you measured the Peavey and the Goodrich pedal. That's great information on both counts.
Steve, I'm a die hard Goodrich pedal user too. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2019 11:19 am
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I've used a Goodrich pedal SO long, the 1st one was steam powered. 
Erv |
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2019 12:35 pm
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| Erv, how many times have you had to change the string on that pedal? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 11 Dec 2019 12:44 pm
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That model came with a chain!! 
Erv |
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Chris Grigsby
From:
Boulder, CO
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Posted 12 Dec 2019 7:23 am
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| Wally Moyers wrote: |
My son, Jeremy, is as big a nerd as I am. He did measurements with an RTA with all the above mentioned volume pedals. The OMNI was the flattest and went down lower in frequency than any of the other pedals. That's why I needed less lows added to the amp. That along with playing Jay Dee's steel with an OMNI a couple of weeks ago is what prompted me to buy one. Anytime you add low's to an amp you reduce the headroom of the amp. It takes ten times the power to reproduce low frequencies
than highs. When you boost lows you are also boosting frequencies that the speaker can't reproduce, the result is that it kills your headroom before distortion. High frequencies ride on the top of the lows so the first thing you hear is distortion in the highs... |
No disrespect intended, but there is simply no way the Goodrich Omni pot pedal is more flat than the Telonics. From the FP-100 user manual, "The FP-100 system does not modify your tone (unless you load down your pickup with the Impedance Control). In terms of frequency response, it is “flatâ€, or “transparentâ€. You may “think†it boosts the high frequency response, but it Does Not. It simply allows you to hear what has always been there, but was attenuated by your system prior to installing the FP-100." As mentioned above, this is consistent with my own experience as the attenuation of the highs with the Omni in active mode was clearly audible when A/B'ed with the Hilton and Telonics.
I see this as the difference between digital and film cameras, or digital recording and an analog tape machine. Some people prefer the unvarnished accuracy of a digital medium, whereas others prefer the more pleasing, albeit less accurate, medium of analog. One isn't better than the other, of course, and it is wonderful that one can pick the one that matches the tone in their head.
I would just hate someone to purchase an Omni thinking it is ruler flat and going to capture the full frequency response of the guitar when it was never designed as such. Rather, it was designed to be a better sounding pot pedal.
Best,
Chris
_________________
Mullen Discovery S10, Hilton VP, Kemper Profiler Head and Kabinet. |
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Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 12 Dec 2019 9:26 am
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I would just hate someone to purchase an Omni thinking it is ruler flat and going to capture the full frequency response of the guitar when it was never designed as such. Rather, it was designed to be a better sounding pot pedal.
Best,
Chris[/quote]
Hello Chris,
I don't have the exact data with me right now but never said it was ruler flat. I will post the data later.. The low frequency is extended on the OMNI more than the others based on his measurements and my ear. You are correct about digital versus analog, I've been in the recording studio business for 40 years and have experienced this firsthand. I also said the others are great pedals. As I said in one of my post, I've owned them all and this is my favorite. In my studio I have many pre-amps that all sound different, I love and uses them all depending on what I'm going for. I could give you a list of steel amps that I like and many that I don't even though I hear others using them that sound great.. Same with these pedals.. It is just my own personal review.. BTW, No disrespect taken at all and the same back to you..
Last edited by Wally Moyers on 12 Dec 2019 10:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Chris Grigsby
From:
Boulder, CO
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Posted 12 Dec 2019 9:44 am
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Wally, I know you didn’t say the Omni was ruler flat, but you did say it was the flattest with the most low-end extension. I don’t believe that is accurate, and I’m sure Dave Beaty could provide us with the data to corroborate. Having owned both these pedals, I don’t think the Omni goes lower, but rather significantly attenuates the high-end frequencies, which creates the perception of low-end extension.
_________________
Mullen Discovery S10, Hilton VP, Kemper Profiler Head and Kabinet. |
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Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 12 Dec 2019 10:18 am
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| Chris Grigsby wrote: |
| Wally, I know you didn’t say the Omni was ruler flat, but you did say it was the flattest with the most low-end extension. I don’t believe that is accurate, and I’m sure Dave Beaty could provide us with the data to corroborate. Having owned both these pedals, I don’t think the Omni goes lower, but rather significantly attenuates the high-end frequencies, which creates the perception of low-end extension. |
Chris,
I have upmost respect for Dave, he is a friend. It is possible that he purposely rolls off the lows at some point. I do this in the mastering process all the time, it's actually not a bad thing to do.. Again not trying to argue here.. Buy yourself an RTA and check them out, your results may be different.. I'm sure you sound great on the Telonic's...
Wally |
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Patrick Huey
From:
Nacogdoches, Texas, USA
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Posted 15 Dec 2019 5:10 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
That model came with a chain!!
Erv |
Erv didn’t you sell David his first lyre???🤔🤔😂😂
_________________
Pre RP Mullen D10 8/7, Zum 3/4, Carter S-10 3/4, previous Cougar SD-10 3/4 & GFI S-10 3/4, Fender Steel King, 2 Peavey Session 500's, Peavey Nashville 400, Boss DD-3, Profex-II, Hilton Digital Sustain, '88 Les Paul Custom,Epiphone MBIBG J-45, Fender Strat & Tele's, Takamine acoustics, Marshall amps, Boss effects, Ibanez Tube Screamer, and it all started with an old cranky worn out Kay acoustic you could slide a Mack truck between the strings and fretboard on!! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 15 Dec 2019 6:43 am
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Yes, he used that to calm the sheep.
Erv |
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Quentin Hickey
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 17 Apr 2020 7:12 pm
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Erv you are the one-liner king the the steel guitar forum  |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2020 7:36 am
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Thanks,
But Godfrey has me beat for humor!
Erv |
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