Ernie Ball and Goodrich experience

Tim Tweedale · From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada

I'm a lap steel player. A couple of weeks ago I received a Goodrich 120 volume pedal. Up until then I'd been using an Ernie Ball volume pedal with a sweep modification (a pot on the side that allows you to adjust the shape of the sweep/throw). A very useful feature.

Over the last few weeks I've been trying to adjust to the throw on the Goodrich. I'm not sure if it's just the one that I have, but I have had real difficulty with the uneven-ness of it; it seems that a good 80% of the increase happens in the last quarter of an inch, meaning that I'm struggling with the tiniest foot movements to try to get an even sweep. Tonight during the soundcheck for a show, I just got so fed up with the Goodrich that I packed it up, and brought back the old Ernie Ball, and proceeded to play one of the best shows the band's ever had. I know there's a lesson in there somewhere...

Questions: is this just something I have to get used to with the Goodrich, or is it a sign of a worn out pot? (I know that when pots on guitars behave that way, they need to be replaced).
Are there other volume pedals out there that have an adjustable throw/sweep?
One thing that drives me crazy about my Ernie Ball is that there is no "zero". With my heel all the way down, it's very quiet but it's still making some noise. I was told that this could not be fixed (or if it could, there would be a crackle in the transition between zero and on), however the Goodrich pedal has a zero (and no crackle). So, what's the real story? I appreciate any advice or knowledge you have to share on these matters.

-Tim

[This message was edited by Tim Tweedale on 10 February 2005 at 11:01 PM.]

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

Both pedals in question use a potentiometer ("pot") and, as such, function like most any volume control that you might use (before the digital age). It is easy enough to determine the problem that you are describing by getting into the guts of the pedals and simply loosening the string that turns the pots and do them manually. Remember to note how the string is attached and which way it winds on the shaft of the pots before loosening it. If you can't completely quiet the pedal to zero noise in the off position then it is the pot and you can replace it. If the action of the pot is not as you would like it to be you can replace it. The common replacements are 500k audio taper. I would suspect that in both cases you are simply dealing wtih an adjustment issue as the manufacturers tend to put the appropriate pots in their pedals from the get-go. If you get lost reattaching the string there is a nice description on the Carter web site or I can refer you to one.

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

Tim, are you connecting the pedal properly? The guitar should be plugged into the front jack. Looking at the side where the 3 jacks are located, it is the one on the right. You can use either of the other two for the output. I assume this is a used pedal. Maybe it has an incorrect pot, the string is wound wrong or the pot is wired backward.
www.scottysmusic.com has a goodrich stringing picture.

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

I believe that Goodrich makes or made a pedal with a taper adjusment on it.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

Most passive pedals do not utilize the full travel of the pot - you either get total silence at one end and less-than-full volume on the other or full volume at the top and the audible bleed that you describe on the bottom. This can be adjusted at the shaft of the pot where the pulley attaches.

It sounds like your Goodrich may have a linear-taper pot installed. For purposes of volume pedals, an audio taper pot is pretty much mandatory.

Glenn Austin · From: Montreal, Canada

Tim, The pot on the side of the Ernie Ball is to adjust the volume of the pedal in the off position, so as to have a rhythm guitar level in the off position and a lead guitar level in thefull on position. It doesn't change the taper of the pot inside. The Hilton volume pedal has the same feature I think.

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

I beleive if Im not too old to comment..to my knowledge all EB pedals have a 250 K volume and tone potentiometer,,is this correct or am I living in the past?

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

JC/ On the one I used or 24 years I dumped the tone pot early on and in the 4 or 5 pot replacements I used either. I think the stock off the rack replacement was an AB EJ 250.

They were both about 70% of the volume I get out of my Hilton™.

EJL

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