Don't Make These VOLUME PEDAL Mistakes!

Most guitarists have a love/hate relationship with volume pedals. But with a few helpful tips, you can make any volume pedal sound and function exactly how you want it to. Today, I'm teaching you everything you need to know about volume pedals: the different types, signal path placement, and my top recommendations.

If you know of a high quality volume pedal that we didn't mention in this video, tell us in the comments below!

Table of Contents
00:00 Introduction
00:34 Volume Pedals
01:34 What is a Volume Pedal, Really?
02:44 Types of Volume Pedals
05:55 Make any Volume Pedal Active
06:46 Volume Pedal Placement
07:04 Position 1: Before Overdrive
09:24 Position 1: Sound Example
10:05 Pros and Cons to Position 1
11:31 Position 2: After Overdrive
13:11 Position 2: Sound Example
13:56 Pros and Cons to Position 2
14:52 Position 3: In Amp FX Loop
16:49 Position 3: Sound Example
17:23 Pros and Cons to Position 3
18:11 What Did We Learn?
19:51 A Warning Against “Tuner Out”s
21:13 Thanks for Watching!
22:18 Support Us!

⬇️ MY RECOMMENDED VOLUME PEDALS ⬇️

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FOLLOW US

⬇BUY VERTEX PEDALS⬇

⬇PODCAST⬇

⬇DIY BUFFER DIAGRAMS & TEMPLATES⬇

⬇RECOMMENDED MATERIALS⬇

CREDITS:
Host/Co-Production: Mason Marangella
Video: Nico Sotomayor
Video Editing: Victor San Pedro
Co-Production/Design: Mason Mejia
Audio Engineering: Hunter Harrison

#volumepedals #guitarpedals #electricguitar

[VertexEffectsInc]

If you know of a high quality volume pedal that we didn't mention in this video, tell us in the comments below!

[Drtydeeds]

Doing the Lord's work, Mason. The guitar community as a whole is getting better with your help and insight.

[Boomsterblak]

Mason Marangella you get a five star award..hardest working..informative..my rig has never sounded better..you can be proud of your work..much appreciated .Lehle looks cool.

[foxboyo]

This was probably the best way to explain the different ways to place your volume pedal. Amazing job!

[nuthinbutlove]

I'm delving back into the pedal world and I've been living on YouTube the last few months. I've learned more from your vids than any others.
Your intellectual approach is much appreciated!

[Thomas-pqys]

Not knowing active from passive, I bought the Ernie Ball MVP, which you don't mention. I was suprised that it needed power...

I used it with with a Tele, and was amazed at the amount of control I had... I play clean Country twang, but also Blues, with just a tad of hair.

The guitar's volume acted like a gain control...

I have the volume pedal between the compressor and overdrive (Vertex Clean Drive). This is a match made in heaven for this Americana picker...

I will experiment with placement...

[christopherharv]

Great video and presentation, Mason really has a way with words. But I have to say that a volume pedal even right up front in the signal chain is not the same as the volume pot on a guitar. Very similar yes, but when I compare the two on my guitars, there is noticeably more high end and more fullness of tone in the volume swells that come from the pedal rather than the pot on the guitars. When you use a pedal, yes even when it's first in the signal chain, you're swelling *_the full output of the guitar_* when you use the pedal... whereas when you volume swell with the pot on the guitar, the pickups are just 'waking up' so to speak.

[Steven-uw]

This is a video a lot of guitarists need to see I follow where you're coming from. I can see where you're coming from with having knowledge in the background with some of my other hobbies thanks very much for the video. I will check back for more. Thanks again

[pkflash]

Hi Mason. I've always had a problem using a volume pedal due to the tone suck. About a year ago I bought a Vertex Boost MkII and all my problems were solved. I use a VP JR from the TRS jack of the boost and use the volume pedal's tuner out. No loss of tone, great volume swells, an always on tuner when needed and no problems whatsoever. You have a great product that I couldn't recommend any higher!

[stickman]

Another great video! There’s a reason you’re the Rig Doctor!!! So helpful and thorough!

[Dbj]

I use a passive volume after the buffer of boost pedals and it works great. I like the 250k pot feel in the pedal.

[zandig]

Great vid bud ! It helped me in my recent vol pedal selection choice

[peterbennett]

Thanks so very much for your time and effort! Forty years as a pro and I didn't know that the tuner out on a passive Volume Pedal split the signal adversely. Kind regards from Peter (Australia)

[GeorgeFN]

Damn, I just learned something important. I have a Dunlop Volume X mounted on the right hand side of my board just as an expression controller for my Keeley Halo. BUT, for ease of connection I'm running my guitar into it and using the TUNER OUT into the rest of my chain. Oops. Will adjust accordingly. Thanks Mason :)

[jamesnichols]

I didn't understand this nearly as well as I do now!

I'm running option #2 - guitar (passive) > morning glory > dunlop x

But now I know how much using the pot interacts with that combo. Thanks so much Mason!

[jpistolas]

Words don't express how much I covet that PRS. I love mine but that needs to sit right beside it. Thanks for the video on vol medals. Esp the Dunlop. I've been interested in one. Good reviews & I like the size.

[johnechampion]

Very helpful. I just finished a new pedal board and I’m gonna have to change my Dunlop DVP 4 for something else because it’s in the effect loop and it’s more or less off for the majority of the curve and 90% of the volume happens at the very end which is very annoying.

[jackgreenwood]

Cool stuff! I've found a standard, passive volume pedal works surprisingly well (no tone suck) when placed straight after a buffer

[dude_crush_]

The Morley Little Alligator Volume Pedal is pretty good. It's Active and has a Level Knob to adjust the Level when the heel is down. I used it in the Effects Loop and it worked great. You can set the knob on the volume pedal to give you a rhythm guitar volume when the heel is down, otherwise you can use it as a master volume in the effects loop.

[amphitheatre]

14:25 that is my setup. basically what you're coming at is that this option gives you two stages of gain and still allows me to do the first option if i want using the pot on the gtr.