Question about volume pedal with my Diezel VH4

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mark-anthony

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Hey guys, just wondering if this makes sense. The first pedal going in my amp is my Ernie Ball Volume pedal (passive) and then to the rest of my pedals. I dont know about you guys, but I dont really like the pedal at all. The swell, I find is terrible and when I move the pedal up to down and vice-versa I hear a grainy sound, I dont know if the potentiometer in the pedal is dirty etc. Also if the swelling doesnt sound good, is it possible that the pedal has to go after my effects? Someone at Ernie Ball said that the swelling wont sound as good as an (active Ernie Ball volume pedal).
Just wanted to know what you think. If this is the case, why dont they make a good volume pedal for passive pickups like I have? I never liked active pickups because I always felt that they sound cold IMO.

My setup is: Diezel VH4 > Ernie Ball Volume > Boss Noise Suppressor > MXR Phase 100 > MXR Tremolo

and then I have (in Channel 1 insert): MXR Carbon Copy delay > Boss Super Chorus > Redwitch Empress Chorus pedal.
 
Use the (active) version of the pedal in the amps serial loop. I've see. Olaf recommend 10k pot for the loop. The active version is 25k which is close enough you won't reports difference. The passive version is 500k and it's no bueno for the serial loop. I've never liked volume pedals in front of the amp... Why not just use your guitar's volume? :)
 
sickgoose":wg4hpwaq said:
try the volumepedal in the serial loop of the amp.
Click to expand...

Works fine with my Einstein. But you need a low-resistant pedal like the Boss FV-300L, I use.
 
Hi guys, thanks for the replies.

Sickgoose: I will try it in the serial loop and see what happens. Thanks

Slyvren: Can I use the active version if I have passive pickups in my guitar? If not, can I change the pot in my passive volume pedal to get a good swell? If so, what value should I use?

Thanks again
 
Slyvren, I forgot to reply to you about my guitar's volume. Id like to use the guitar's volume knob but I find it isnt smooth enough. The swell doesnt really start until I reach about 2 on the volume. So pretty much 2 is my 0 on the volume knob
 
The active version just means it has a different pot value (25k) if you run volume pedal in serial loop active pedal (25k) is better than normal vol pedal. If passive pickups AND running vol pedal in front of amp then your pedal is fine. Otherwise go for active version of EB pedal or any other lower value pot pedal. With diezel I HIGHLY recommend Ernie Ball vol pedal Jr. Active version in serial loop. The swell is nice.
 
mark-anthony":m97uetm9 said:
Slyvren, I forgot to reply to you about my guitar's volume. Id like to use the guitar's volume knob but I find it isnt smooth enough. The swell doesnt really start until I reach about 2 on the volume. So pretty much 2 is my 0 on the volume knob
Click to expand...

You might want to try a linear taper pot instead. Good luck!
 
Hey Slyvren, thanks a lot for your help. For some reason I never tried my passive EB volume pedal in the serial loop and had it in front of the amp and the swell was bad and I heard this grainy sound everytime I either opened or closed the pedal. This afternoon, I put my passive volume pedal in the seial loop and no more grainy sound and the swell actually sounds better, but its still not consistent, its better when you open the volume, but the swell is bad when I close the volume on the pedal.
Is there any way I could just buy the 25k pot and install that on my passive volume pedal, this way I dont have to sell this one and buy the active Jr EB pedal like you reccomended?
 
Also, you might want to try putting the noise suppressor in front of the volume pedal. Your volume pedal may be getting chopped by the noise suppressor.

Cheers,
 
racerevlon":1wofj9ce said:
Also, you might want to try putting the noise suppressor in front of the volume pedal. Your volume pedal may be getting chopped by the noise suppressor.

Cheers,
Click to expand...

i just wanted to say that!!
it makes no sense having a volume pedal in front of a noise suppressor. that is most likely the source of any troubles.
also whether you put your volume pedal in the loop or in front of the amp should depend on what kind of swell you are looking for. for an increase in gain (with sounds most natural) use it in front of the amp or any drive pedals, for a increase of volume use it in the loop or after any drive pedal. but definitely not in front of any noise suppressor!

heavy greetz
 
Hey guys, dont know why I didnt think of that before lol.
In my case I just want the swell to sound more gradual than for the gain. Its in the series loop right now which was an improvement, but I will definitely put the noise suppressor first and then the volume pedal (in front of the amp) and all the rest of the pedals. Ill try this tomorrow and get back to you guys to let you know what happened.

In my previous question, do you guys know if I can swap the 250k pot in my passive volume pedal for the active 25k pot?

Talk to you soon
 
Hey guys, I tried the volume pedal in front of the amp today, with the noise suppressor first, then the volume pedal etc and it did sound better, and no grainy sound too, but I actually prefer it in the serial loop instead, I find the sweep is a bit more gradual, not perfect but better.

Could I swap the 250k pot in my passive volume pedal for the active 25k pot?
 
mark-anthony":1801dntw said:
Hey guys, I tried the volume pedal in front of the amp today, with the noise suppressor first, then the volume pedal etc and it did sound better, and no grainy sound too, but I actually prefer it in the serial loop instead, I find the sweep is a bit more gradual, not perfect but better.

Could I swap the 250k pot in my passive volume pedal for the active 25k pot?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't touch it to be honest. Ernie Ball volume pedals are weird with all the string winding and springs and everything. I've taken one apart to replace a pot and it never felt or worked the same afterwards. I'd just drop the $100 or however much it is and grab the (active) EB VP Jr. Just to clarify the pot itself isn't active. It's just a different value primarily for active guitars. It just so happens that value works better in serial loops too.
 
Hey Slyvren, thanks again for all your help. Ill keep my passive EB pedal in the serial loop for now then, and then eventually Ill switch to the active pedal. So like you said, if I get the active version of the pedal, it will still work with my guitars that all have passive pickups?
 
Yes! I have it now and all my guitars have passive pickups. Just keep in mind: "The active pedal is mainly for serial loop."
 
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