Q about Goodrich 10K volume pedals

Joe Buczek · From: Montana, USA

I just got a new Goodrich 10K pedal recently. I mostly play through a small Alesis mixer into headphones and I used to use a basic Ernie Ball pot pedal. Needless to say, the tone from the new pedal is awesome by comparison, but I am not happy about how the Goodrich pedal is working for me in this setup because it seems like there isn't much of a volume ramp: the change from mostly off to all the way on is pretty small compared to the pot pedal I am used to. Is this the way the pedal is supposed to be?

Its been back to Goodrich and Ollie says its working fine (I don't doubt him). But the ramp is so shallow that I find it hard to accept. I would love to hear from other Goodrich 10K users about this. Can I expect it to work very differently into an amp vs. into this mixer?

Thanks in advance,
--Joe Buczek

Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

I've used Goodrich 10K pedals for several years now and I have never noticed a problem like you describe. I've never played directly into a mixer, but I don't think that would be any different than playing into an amp.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Joe Buczek · From: Montana, USA

Thanks for the data point, Darvin. I plan to play mine through an amp this week, just as a sanity check. But I agree with you, that I can't understand how it would behave any differently. There's lots of experitse here on the Forum, so maybe someone can explain...

I would really like to hear from more 10K users about the behavior of their 10K pedal, especially about how linear the volume ramp seems on theirs. Perhaps its just me! I've never used one of these before and didn't know what to expect, but it seems so different than the vanilla pot pedal in behavior I just have to hear it from other users that what I've got is what I should have.

Thanks!
--Joe

Bill Crook · From: Goodlettsville, TN , Spending my kid's inheritance

Joe.........

Any pedal with a 10K pot WILL do exactly what your describing (the change from mostly off to all the way on is pretty small)

Now,with a 250K pot,you will find the change a lot smoother. useing a 500K pot seems to be the best for pot Volumne pedals. May I suggest a linear 500K pot,(NOT audio taper)because the linear device works best for swells and soft passages because it dosen't abrutly change the volumne.

Your 10K pot is almost either a off or on sounding thing. Just a touch of the pedal will make a BIG difference in sound. Useing a 500K pot, You have a much greater control of the sound.

Just my 2cents,for what it's worth.

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http://home.comcast.net/~crookwf/
http://photobucket.com/albums/v479/billcrook/

Joe Buczek · From: Montana, USA

Thanks, Bill, for your comments. I believe the Goodrich 10K pedals don't use the pot for directly controlling the audio volume but, rather, use it for controlling a circuit that buffers the signal. So the pot indirectly controls the volume, which is actually controlled by (probably) an opamp, indirectly. Maybe someone has tried other pots in Goodrich's 10K pedals? But I think Mr. Goodrich designed the buffer circuit for whatever pot he builds into them.

The thing I want to know from other 10K users is, "What is your volume ramp like? Is it pretty linear, or does it seem very short and exaggerated?"

Cheers,
--Joe Smile

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

I've got two of the L10Ks, and I don't see the problem that you see on either one. I use them into an amp and into a Tascam mixer and they seem the same either way.

Maybe it's just a shorter pedal throw than what you are used to?

BTW, you are correct about the 10k pot, it is part of a buffer amp circuit with a very low power opamp.

Joe Buczek · From: Montana, USA

Thanks, Bill. It really is the shorter pedal throw that I think I am most interested in hearing about. I only have an Ernie Ball pot pedal to compare my 10K with. By comparison, the EB is very linear from off to on, and it has what I would consider a pretty long throw.

Does your 10K pedal have what you would consider to be a short throw? Can you compare it to other (guitar) volume pedals? Any guidance/comments along these lines would be appreciated!

Cheers and thanks,
--Joe Buczek

Robbie Daniels · From: Casper, Wyoming, USA

I have been using a Goodrich 10K pot for some time now and am not experiencing what you describe. I use it with my non-pedal steel and get much better results from tone and signal than with the 120 model. I can pop it quickly for the old Hank Thompson sound or gradually for Jerry Byrd sounds. It perhaps is relative to what the user wants. Everyone wants and hears differently.

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Carter D12, MSA D12, MSA S12, 1956 Rickenbacker D8, Evans FET 500LV, Evans SE200, Peavey Transfex Pro

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Joe, I don't know if the L10K has a shorter throw than other comparable vol pedals for steel, but I wouldn't expect it to be too different.

When I first started on steel I had a DeArmond pot volume pedal, and eventually bought my first real steel guitar volume pedal. It was one of the original Dekley Low-Boys (a great pedal btw) and it seemed like an on-off switch compared to the DeArmond. It took some time to get used to it.

I used that Low-Boy for many years and When I started using the L10K a few years ago, it didn't take much getting used to.

Did the EB pedal have that long nylon ratchet and pinion gear setup? The DeArmond pedal did, and it made for extremely long travel from stop to stop.

Joe Buczek · From: Montana, USA

quote:

Did the EB pedal have that long nylon ratchet and pinion gear setup? The DeArmond pedal did, and it made for extremely long travel from stop to stop.

The EB pedal doesn't have a ratchet but it has a nylon string and pulley system much like the one inside the L10K. I measured the two and strangely they are not that far apart. I guessed the EB had 2 inches but it was more like 1 5/8. The L10K had about 1/4 inch less. So the actual physical difference in travel (measured at the front edge where travel is farthest) wasn't that much after all.

I'm thinking this is all in my head. I'd still like to hear other user's comments.

Thanks!
--Joe Smile

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

You can slow~down the gain on your volume-pedal by ‘increasing’ the diameter of the collar on the shaft. However, it will likewise shorten the sweep of the rotation and lessen your maximum-volume, if you are starting from completely OFF. In the original design of the pedal, the total rotation of the pot would be determined by both the size of the Collar and the pivot-point where the two halves of the pedal are joined. If everything is planned perfectly, the pot would have full rotation of the pot from Full/OFF to Full/ON! It might be nice, if someone designed a volume-pedal with an adjustable pivot~point. I personally couldn't get used to the Sho-Bud volume-pedal, because; for me; the pivot-point was too close to my heel!
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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 20 February 2006 at 03:34 PM.]

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 20 February 2006 at 03:36 PM.]

Dean Cavill · From: Toronto

Joe,

My suggestion might help lessen the "surprise" of the "short ramp" you mention.

My only beef with the 10k, to my ears anyways, is that there's, say, half an inch of play between the fully "off" and "gettin' something" position. So instead of having to deal with this unnecessary movement, I stuck about 1/3 of an inch (2 pieces actually) of felt furniture leg cushions under the pedal to stop it traveling all the way off. At least this way it will cut down on a fair bit of the guesswork involved.

Hope this helps

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Steelin' for the Dark Side

Joe Buczek · From: Montana, USA

Dear Dean,

Thank you very much for your post. I have been wondering if other 10K/L10K users have observed the same short travel behavior as I have. Your experience seems to confirm what I have been observing.

At least now I know I am not the only one who's seeing this!

Thanks,
--Joe Smile

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