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Topic: Morley EOV optical volume pedal for PSG? |
Benjamin Jayne
From:
Orange County California, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2011 11:13 pm |
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I'm looking to replace my current DeArmand (pot) volume pedal. I'm on a tight budget, and really need something that A)won't eat pots and B)will swell properly for PSG.
I found the Morley EOV optical volume pedal which works on a 9v battery, does not use a potentiometer, and advertises that it has an even swell. It's available new for $70, but I'm hoping to find a used one (anyone have one they want to part with?)
Any experience using this pedal with PSG?
Any alternative make/model I should consider. And please don't just say "Hilton" or "Teletronics" because I need something under $100. I realize I can't expect a cheap VP to match the performance of a Hilton pedal, but I am sick of the potentiometer and need a better, affordable option.
Thanks
Ben
_________________
Lamar S-10, Goodrich L10K VP, Carvin Vintage 16 all-tube amp, John Pearse Cryogenic steel tone bar, John Pearse strings. |
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Jason Hull
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Posted 15 Feb 2011 2:20 am
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| I used to have a Morley optical pedal (not sure of the model) and I hated it. It was cheap enough, but the swell didn't feel right. It didn't have a true bypass switch and was quite a tone suck. I dropped it once and the optical part became de-aligned. I tried to fix it, but never could the alignment quite right, and it never worked the same again. I couldn't replace it fast enough! |
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Benjamin Jayne
From:
Orange County California, USA
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Posted 15 Feb 2011 8:16 am
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 well that's too bad, Jason. I was hoping I'd found an alternative. Any other reports? Any suggestions when it comes to getting a cheap, but working volume pedal for PSG? Maybe I'm stuck with pots for a while...
_________________
Lamar S-10, Goodrich L10K VP, Carvin Vintage 16 all-tube amp, John Pearse Cryogenic steel tone bar, John Pearse strings. |
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Roman Sonnleitner
From:
Vienna, Austria
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Posted 16 Feb 2011 10:17 am
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I don't know the Morley "EOV", but had a Morley Pro Series, same experience, very sudden action, not a smooth fade-in; all the action happened on the very last third of the pedal travel; more like an on-off switch than a vol. pedal...
For regular guitar I like the George Dennis optically controlled vol. pedals, but they might be a bit high for use with a PSG.
WIth my PSG I currently use the Boss FV500H, which is a passive, pot-driven vol. pedal, but sucks less tone than other passives I've tried; very smooth taper; unfrotunately, the in/out jacks are on the front, not the side, but it is still useable on PSG if you ue cables with angled plugs. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 16 Feb 2011 11:25 am
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| i feel sorry for those who've had problems with pot pedals. i have used them heavily for 40 years. i think i've probably replaced about 3 or 4 pots over that time.. no problem. pedals i've used are sho-bud, fender, zumsteel, emmons, goodrich. still have 3 of them. |
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Benjamin Jayne
From:
Orange County California, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2011 11:52 am
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My DeArmand has the front input/output as well. It is def. a bit annoying. I'm not sure about tonal "suckage"-any tests you'd recommend running to see if it's a tone-sucker?
I've only had it a few months, and the pot is still good, but I'm thinking about the future and would really prefer an electronic that doesn't need maintenance. From what I've read on the forum, it seems like a lot of folks are moving away from pot pedals because of all the troubles they cause. Maybe it's not as common to go through a bunch of pots as it seems, but we hear about it all the time since people only mention them when they stop working?
Could it be that pots vary in quality?
Lets open the discussion to include inexpensive VP that use pots, but don't suck tone out of the guitar and don't have other problems associated with use with the PSG (correct height/even swell, etc). The other consideration I have had is that I use a Logitech RP 150 with my PSG, and I understand that many musicians find the need for an "impedance matching" device. It would be great if they had a VP that did this. That may be the direction I end up going with my next VP if it's affordable.
_________________
Lamar S-10, Goodrich L10K VP, Carvin Vintage 16 all-tube amp, John Pearse Cryogenic steel tone bar, John Pearse strings. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 16 Feb 2011 12:56 pm
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| i say this constantly...but...i really like the goodrich 10k pot pedals. i don't know if they're made anymore but they have a low impedance circuit which makes everything clean and wonderful. one 9v battery which i don't even change yearly. |
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Benjamin Jayne
From:
Orange County California, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2011 1:05 pm
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| chris ivey wrote: |
| i say this constantly...but...i really like the goodrich 10k pot pedals. i don't know if they're made anymore but they have a low impedance circuit which makes everything clean and wonderful. one 9v battery which i don't even change yearly. |
I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for a used goodrch 10k...sounds like a winner.
_________________
Lamar S-10, Goodrich L10K VP, Carvin Vintage 16 all-tube amp, John Pearse Cryogenic steel tone bar, John Pearse strings. |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 17 Feb 2011 9:19 am
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| Quote: |
| Lets open the discussion to include inexpensive VP that use pots, but don't suck tone out of the guitar and don't have other problems associated with use with the PSG (correct height/even swell, etc). |
If you use the search function for "scratchy pot", "volume pedals" etc. you'll find this discussion has been done to very great extent. The short version is that the old U.S.-made Allen Bradley pots were great, but the newer Mexico-made ones are big trouble - the best new replacement pot is a Dunlop one and one of the forum sellers is where everyone buys them for $25 (and here's another forum member's replacement tutorial):
http://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/potentiometers.php
http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Goodrich%20120%20Pot/Goodrich%20120%20Pot.html
You may find it easiest to keep using the DeArmond while saving for a Hilton - you didn't say whether it's the little rounded one or the big square one, but I've kept a DeArmond as a backup to my Hilton and the size is the only objection, not the action or taper. Old, virginal DeArmonds have "the good pot" and are still pretty cheap. It's unlikely that you'll happen across a secret stash of the "right" Allen Bradley pots, as that fields been picked over pretty carefully.
In your price range, you may be able to find an old potted Goodrich, Carter or other steel pedal with a bad pot, and next month or the one after buy a good pot and fix it yourself. This may sound old-fogeyish, but I've come to realize that I was forced to learn how to do an awful lot of things when I was poor that still save me money to this day. |
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William F. Powell
From:
Alabama, USA
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Posted 17 Feb 2011 9:46 pm
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| There is a youtube post about how to make the Morley pedal have a smoother taper. It's really easy to do. I did the modification on mine and it works better but still not as smooth as I'd like. Tonewise it's just so so. |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 18 Feb 2011 4:01 am
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| Benjamin...Most volume pedals with the exception of Goodrich, Hilton, and Telonics are manufactured with six string players in mind(thus the front mounted jacks and uneven taper found on most). Dunlop has recently issued a new VP that is getting decent reviews and Ernie Ball pedals work fairly well (but come equipped with 250K pots which are not ideal for steel guitar), both sell new for under $100.00. I leave an EB set up to use at our rehearsal space, but I replaced the pot with a 500K Dunlop model from Tom Bradshaw. I overcame the front mounted jack problem by using cords with 90 degree plugs on one end. If interested in obtaining a Goodrich, I have one that is a bit cosmetically challenged, but works well and has a nice quiet pot. $85.00, shipping included. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 21 Feb 2011 6:32 pm
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Benjamin, I retired my Emmons pedal in the Early 80's after far too many pot transplants..I found a Stereo Morley pedal and have used it ever since.. WITH NO PROBLEMS..
I must admit that on occasions in the studio I sometimes use my Hilton, but the "tone/volume sucking" experience can be eliminated by using a "Buffer Amp" I have always used a "LO-Z pack" straight out of the guitar to it and then the Morley.
Stereo suits me because, on live gigs, I also play regular guitar and switch betwixt the two on consecutive verses/chorus's.. Having a volume pedal on the guitar allows me to INSTANTLY match the levels, as they are constantly changing within a song and obviously from song to song.
The Morley has served me well on hundreds of album sessions thousands of single sessions and countless TV/broadcast and live gigs.
One thing I did was to modify the taper by painting a different profile on the blade that interrupts the light beam.
_________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——> |
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Kev Conlon
From:
Leeds, England
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Posted 7 Apr 2013 7:48 am
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| basilh wrote: |
| ................... I have always used a "LO-Z pack" straight out of the guitar to it and then the Morley........................... |
Hi Basil
...Kev 'ere in Leeds!!
Bought a LO-Z pack from 'Musicground' here in Leeds in the 80's....and was trying to find some reference to it...and up you came!!
(No-one else seems to know anything about them tho'....nowt on t'internet!!)
I've just been playing with mine....and notice a definite improvement in tone. |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 7 Apr 2013 8:26 am
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Yep, i've used mine for yonks now, have a spare just in case. Basically it's a buffer amp. Does the job, really CLEAN sound an no problem with the pedal matching impedance..
_________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——> |
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