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Topic: Buffer and volume pedal compatibility |
Dave Hepworth
From: West Yorkshire, UK
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Posted 30 Aug 2022 3:08 pm
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Hi Folks
Could someone please explain why when I use a buffer between guitar and volume pedal then the taper is totally wrong .....most of the volume increase is at the end of the travel and unusable .The pedal is an ernie ball side loading model ....old but is mint unused condition.
When just guitar to pedal the taper is fine.I am using a peavey vegas amp .If I plugged the guitar into the buffer and then straight into the amp and use the in and out on the front would this bring the taper back to how it should be.If not what is the remedy please ? |
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Mike Bacciarini
From: Arizona
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Posted 31 Aug 2022 5:13 am
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I believe that the buffer should be after the volume pedal. The pickup output presents a high impedance signal to the volume pedal and makes it happy, whereas the buffer output presents a low impedance signal. PSG > Vol Pedal > any FX pedals > then to the amp. See how that works.... _________________ MCI Arlington S-10 3+5, George L E-66, BJS & Emmons bars, Fender Princeton 65W, Fender Satellite SFX, custom FX rack, 1983 Dobro 60D, SX-8 lap steel, Martin D16GT, Ibanez AS73, 1978 Rickenbacker 4000 custom. |
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Donny Hinson
From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 31 Aug 2022 5:29 am
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If the buffer you're using is amplifying the signal, then that would make the taper seem different. Try turning the amp up or down and see how that affects the taper. ![Winking](images/smiles/icon_winking.gif) |
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Jack Stoner
From: Kansas City, MO
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Posted 31 Aug 2022 5:42 am
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What buffer do you have?
I have a Goodrich MatchBro (dobro simulator) that is designed to be connected between the steel and volume pedal. It has a mini "Matchbox" which is a buffer with low impedance on the output. I see no difference in volume pedal operation, either a Goodrich pot pedal or an electronic VP such as a Hilton or Telonics.
Most Ernie Ball's, from what I see posted have a 250K pot, where the steel guitar VP's use a 500K (audio taper) pot. The pot resistance difference could be the problem as a volume pedal (properly wired) is a "variable" voltage divider. |
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Richard Sinkler
From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 31 Aug 2022 7:40 am
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Curiosity question: Can the 250k ohm pot in an Ernie Ball pedal be changed to a 500K pot? My assumption in yes. Reason for asking is that along with the Dekley PSG and NV112, I got a beat up EB pedal. Wouldn't mind fixing it up for a spare.
If so, the OP might consider changing out the pot. _________________ Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Mike Bacciarini
From: Arizona
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Posted 31 Aug 2022 8:48 pm
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I put a Dunlop 470k pot in my VPJR and love it. _________________ MCI Arlington S-10 3+5, George L E-66, BJS & Emmons bars, Fender Princeton 65W, Fender Satellite SFX, custom FX rack, 1983 Dobro 60D, SX-8 lap steel, Martin D16GT, Ibanez AS73, 1978 Rickenbacker 4000 custom. |
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Dave Hepworth
From: West Yorkshire, UK
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Posted 10 Sep 2022 8:04 am
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I replaced the pot with a 100k and it seems to have cured the taper issue going straight into amp ( buffered with the new Fender "set level and buffer" unit )
Also with the old pot by using the in / out at front of Vegas that also cured the taper as well . |
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Brad Sarno
From: St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2022 9:14 am
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that weird taper behavior kinda suggests the volume pedal is wired or connected backwards.
It should behave with the exact same taper regardless of a buffer there or not.
B |
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Dave Hepworth
From: West Yorkshire, UK
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Posted 11 Sep 2022 2:09 am
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Thanks for all the replies.Could I ask you Brad....if I wanted to convert say a 500K pot to low impedance can it be done by putting a resistor in parallel to drop the value accordingly. Would it go between the input lug on the pot and earth ? Thanks in advance. |
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Don Griffiths
From: Steelville, MO
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Posted 2 Oct 2022 10:22 am
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Richard Sinkler wrote: |
Curiosity question: Can the 250k ohm pot in an Ernie Ball pedal be changed to a 500K pot? My assumption in yes. Reason for asking is that along with the Dekley PSG and NV112, I got a beat up EB pedal. Wouldn't mind fixing it up for a spare.
If so, the OP might consider changing out the pot. |
Yes Richard, I forgot where I got the last pot I bought.Probably from
Tom Bradshaw. The last time I broke a 12 year old rigging string a got some extras as well. _________________ Shobud Pro1,BMI U12, Santa Cruz F, PRS Standard, Fender Twin Reverb, ‘53 000-28 |
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Donny Hinson
From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 2 Oct 2022 3:10 pm
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Dave Hepworth wrote: |
....if I wanted to convert say a 500K pot to low impedance can it be done by putting a resistor in parallel to drop the value accordingly. Would it go between the input lug on the pot and earth ? Thanks in advance. |
Putting a fixed resistance in parallel will change the taper action of the pot, as well as the volume level. |
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Philip Mitrakos
From: The Beach South East Florida
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Posted 3 Oct 2022 6:03 pm
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. .
Last edited by Philip Mitrakos on 31 Jan 2023 1:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tommy Shown
From: Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 17 Oct 2022 2:26 pm
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I use the black box and I go out the guitar to the input of the bb
Out the black box to the volume pedal. |
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Philip Mitrakos
From: The Beach South East Florida
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Posted 17 Oct 2022 2:57 pm
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