The new Dunlop Volume pedal works great with Peterson tuners

Dan Johnson · From: Texas, USA

I want to share this info with every steeler I know , the new Dunlop Volume pedal rocks , this thing is built like a tank and has a band drive (no more strings) also comes withe a screw that adjusts tension , the weight and grip makes this thing stick to the stage, but the best par is that it has a tuner out that fixes the dreaded peterson strobe buzz,.
In a age were steelers can no longer get a pedal steel , george l cable, a carter starter or even strings from Guitar Center, its good to know that you can still get a
solid VP for only 80 dollars.
And no I don't work for them , if I did the pedals would have skulls and spaceships on them.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Is it this pedal? Seems like a lot of pedal for the money. Amazon has it with a 4 cord cable kit for $99.

Greg

Dan Johnson · From: Texas, USA

I have two, I love it because I own most of the of pedals and they can't come close to this thing , once it is on the stage it doesn't slide all over the stage because it has good tread on it instead of four rubber stoppers.

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

Can someone give the distance from the heel to the floor with it at full volume? I would like to know how it compares to a low profile.
Jerry

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

If they would just put the jacks on the side...

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Roger,

I thought about the jacks on the side thing....if you use the George L's right angle connectors at the pedal end you can still put the pedal pretty close to a pedal steel pedal rack.

Greg

Roger Crawford · From: Griffin, GA USA

I thought about that too, Greg. If the pedal is that good and that reasonably priced, you could probably get by that way. I'm waiting for your review on it! You always have great stuff on your site.

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Can someone explain the mechanism? It's called a "band drive". Is that like a rubber belt, a steel band, or what? I felt one at the store and it seemed VERY smooth. I wonder about the height, angle, and overall geometry since a lot of guitar VP's are better geared for a standing player and not a seated steeler. But the smooth "band drive" is intriguing.

I'd love it if someone could open it up and take some photos of the guts for us to see.

Brad

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

I wonder if Dunlop uses the Dunlop 470K "Hot Potz", like Tom Bradshaw sells.

Tom Bradshaw · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

The picture provided for the new Dunlop Volume pedal is of their Guitar Pedal. They have a pedal for steel guitarists in the works and I suspect it will be available in about 3 months. It will have the jacks on the side, not in front. Its profile will be a bit lower. Unless they change their minds, the design will be more in line with the boxy style of the Goodrich pedal.

They are thinking of making it available as a dual volume pedal (two inputs/two outputs, with both circuits being independent). I suspect the cost will be a bit more, but they like products that don't sell much beyond $100.00, retail.

The pot in these pedals (both guitar and steel) are supposed to be 250K audio taper. However, the pots will be of the old style variety, having the three standard soldering lugs, not the PC Board mounting pins as I have been selling. The pots are made by the same firm however, and will be the typical long-life (Type J) variety. They chose the 250K pots because there is less line (microphonic) noise if a cable is dragged across the floor or is stepped on.

The turning mechanism for the pot is quite unique and very, very clever. It is as smooth as silk and has a short rotation cycle. I'm lost for words to describe it. Even with a picture of it (as in their newest catalog), I don't know how to begin to describe how a stainless steel strap manages to rotate a pot's shaft. I've held the mechanism in my hand and it is still a bit baffling to me. I'll need to observe it within a pedal to understand how it works. Needless to say, I am really impressed with the design of that mechanism.

The guitar pedal is well built and that mechanism for turning the pot's shaft also allows for easy installation of a new pot. But then, I question how many years of use it will take to wear out one of the pots that's in it, which is made by the same company that makes the pots I sell. I've been selling those pots for over 5 years and I feel I only replaced one as a result of it wearing out!

Dunlop is going to sell tons of these at the price their mass production capabilities are.

I will likely sell them, but I'm thinking of waiting until their steel guitar pedal is available, with the side-mounted jacks and lower profile

...Tom

Bob Sykes · From: North Carolina

I like it. Very smooth action. The heel sits 3" high at full volume though. Had to raise my guitar to accomodate the extra height.
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Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Could someone post some pics of this mechanism? I'm thinking they just replaced the string with a spring steel band...but I'd love to see their method.
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David Griffin · From: Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA

Tom: Will the new Dunlop steel VP have 2 outputs (parallel?) like Hiltons' & others? I would hope so. It comes in very handy at times. For example: I run a wet/dry/wet setup w/ the dry signal going to a NV 112 using the amps' reverb. The other output feeds a TC Nova stereo FX unit into a Groove Tubes Space Station which puts out a stereo signal from a single cabinet. This setup sounds HUGE to the player & actually lets the audience hear a true stereo signal. Very Happy

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Bruce Bouton · From: Nash. Tn USA

Thanks Tom for the good info!
BB

Bruce Bouton · From: Nash. Tn USA

Thanks Tom for the good info!
BB

Tom Bradshaw · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

David: I've talked to the head engineer at Dunlop. He tells me the pedal steel volume pedal will have two input circuits that will be independent of each other. When I press him about buffered circuitry, he says that it can have that also. The engineer is really a sharp guy and I like him a lot. However, he seems a bit eager to tell me that the pedal for steel players will have about anything that I come up with, in terms of what a steel player might want: low profile, jacks on the side, independent dual inputs with "no-touch" outputs on each, and buffered circuitry. Still, they don't have the unit ready and can't give me a date. I've been trying to get them to consider a dual-input/dual-output pedal I've designed, but they seem reluctant to even talk to me about it. I'll probably have to go ahead with it myself. [Note: I don't want to spark interest and questions here about something I've designed, then have a ton of people asking me about it when I can't deliver promptly]. So, let this part of my post die here if everyone will let it.

I'll keep making inquiries with them and will post anything that comes up new whenever I can find something out. All the Dunlop folks are fine people. Jim Dunlop and I have been friends for 40 years. I don't want anything to stress that relationship by my posting something that doesn't come to pass. ...Tom

Randy Gilliam · From: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Tom If You Start Selling them for steel, I Will Buy one From You, Thanks Randy Gilliam.

Bruce Bouton · From: Nash. Tn USA

I personally don't think buffered circuitry is necessarily the way to go. Part of the beauty of pot pedals is the purity of the signal.Many of the floor pedals these days are buffered anyway. Perhaps a buffered input and a non buffered input might be the compromise but I think many players would want direct in's and outs.
BB

Tom Bradshaw · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

Bruce: I agree with you, users should have it both ways. The following is what I've been working on for nearly 2 years. I'd prefer the Dunlop people to do the manufacturing and distribution, but may have to do it myself. But I ask everyone not to press me on when I'll have it available for purchase. I've already put too much money into it, but will probably continue to "feed the kitty" until it is done:

FEATURES:
 The pedal employs two independently operating audio-taper million-cycle potentiometers. Either pot can be disarmed (with its rotation eliminated). Thus, the pedal is two pedals in one, with one being available as a spare if needed or desired! Therefore, the user will never be caught with a "scratchy" pot at the worst possible moment.
 With two input channels, the unit can be operated for a stereo effect for one unit, directing one circuit to two amps or to a delay for creating a stereo effect. If the pedal is used for controlling two instruments, each will have true bypass circuitry, never having one circuit electronically "touch" the other.
 When used with two instruments, one circuit can be employed to direct the user's instrument to a primary amp, while the second circuit can be used to direct the output to a second amp or to an effects device.
 "No loss" buffered circuitry is provided through both outputs, but either can be switched off, allowing direct use of the analog pots.
 Buffered Circuitry Power: One 9-volt battery or AC power supply (wall wart) can be employed. Note: If buffered option is by-passed, the battery is disengaged.
 Toe-actuated on/off switch, for activating a remote effects device.
 Heel-actuated on/off switch, for activating another remote effects device or for monitoring a tuner.
 Tuner Input Jack. The tuner is in the "on" mode when plugged into the jack. But when bypassed, the switch becomes another on/off switch for a remote effects device.
 The treadle drag is adjustable.
 Construction will be a die-cast aluminum base and treadle, then powder coated. Unique "spider web" graphic on treadle.
 Low profile.

I ask that no one press me to know when this pedal will be available. If anyone has been driven to introduce a new product, you must know how many hurdles you have to jump in order to get the project finished (as well as invest a ton of money). I'm still working at it, but don't know when I'll complete the project. If and when I do, I'll certainly alert everyone here on the Forum. My heirs may have to complete the project. LOL. ...Tom

David Griffin · From: Jimmy Creek,Arkansas via Cowtown, USA

Thanks for your answers,Tom. A pedal with all those features would definitely sell! Hopefully it could be built to sell at a decent price that working musicians could afford. The price of volume pedals has gotten completely ridiculous. The "top of the line" VP now sells for more than some of the steels I've bought over the years! Shocked

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Bruce Bouton · From: Nash. Tn USA

Much of that design looks really cool. I love the stereo ,mono input options. I might suggest doing away with efect switching etc. There are so many good switching options on the market these days at a reasonable price that would allow much more flexibility than could be built into a volumn pedal. Having to deal with miultiple pedal boards it's nice to have the volumn pedal as just a volumn pedal.
Cheers!

Tom Bradshaw · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

My idea of a volume pedal is much like my car with over-drive or a restaurant with all the condiments on the table. If I don't want the options, you don't have to use them. However, if I'm on a long stretch of level road and want to save gas, it's nice to use the over-drive. And, if I want my burger with no sauce on it, so be it. But, if I have the urge to drown it in ketchup, mustard and hot sauce, it's nice to already have them on the table.

I just like the idea of being able to switch an effects unit on or off without taking my hands off my guitar strings. Am I lazy? I guess so. ...Tom

Bruce Bouton · From: Nash. Tn USA

Essentially you are talking about putting a loop in the pedal. To me the more stuff built in , the more stuff to go wrong. In a touring situation , simple is always better because things always fail. Just my opinion.

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