Advantages of a Guitar Volume Pedal

A guitar volume pedal lets you control your guitar’s master volume in a foot-operated way. It can be used to fade in and out of chords and notes or to create dramatic swells. It’s also useful for adjusting the level of your guitar effects.

There are two main types of guitar volume pedals: passive and active. Passive pedals don’t contain an amplifier circuit and are the cheaper of the two. They work well enough and are a great option if you’re looking for something simple and budget-friendly. Active pedals, on the other hand, do contain an amplifier circuit and are more expensive. They’re often more versatile than passive pedals and are perfect for a wide range of applications.

Passive pedals are a great option for those just starting out. They’re usually very affordable and can be found in a variety of different sizes. Most are fitted with a 250k potentiometer which is suited to most passive pickups. These pedals are usually referred to as a ‘volume pedal’ and are a great addition to any rig.

One of the biggest advantages of a volume pedal is that it allows you to vary the intensity of your guitar tone. By simply pushing the pedal up and down, you can change the level of your tone from sparkly clean all the way to just on the edge of breakup. This feature is particularly handy when playing with a band, as you can use the pedal to create the right amount of volume for each song without having to rely on someone else to turn up your amp.

Another benefit of a volume pedal is that it can be placed at the beginning of your signal chain. This means that it will clean up your guitar tone if you’re using it before overdrive or distortion pedals. It will also help to keep your high-end sounds intact when running it after effects like reverbs and delays.

If you’re looking for a guitar volume pedal that will give you the most versatility, consider getting an active pedal. These typically have a built-in buffer that protects your signal from the effects that you’re running after it, so you don’t run into that dreaded ’tone suck’ issue. The best examples of these are the Mission Engineering VM-Pro and the Ernie Ball Most Valuable.

Lastly, you should be aware that there are volume pedals available which offer a log control instead of a linear one. A log control increases volume more slowly at the beginning and steeply towards the end, mimicking the natural way that we perceive loudness in real life. This is ideal for creating a swell effect as it will seem more gradual when fading in and out of your note or chord.

A guitar volume pedal is essential for any guitarist, no matter what style or genre you play. You can find a variety of options from brands like Ernie Ball, Dunlop and Boss to suit any rig. They’re especially popular with ambient musicians who use them to swell into chords, remove the percussive attack of their instruments and create gentle synth-like pads.