Telonics FP 100 taper

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

I find my MSA vintage XL decay envelope to be a bit unfriendly for working with volume pedals compared to my Fessy and Shobud.

Basically the MSA has a strong attack, and quick initial decay, followed a good sustain period, so you see that to quash the initial attack, and then manage the decay envelope, there's a pretty large range of pedal movement.

Any suggestions on taper selection and min output vol, etc, that would make vol pedal motions 'smaller'?

Dave Beaty · From: Mesa, Arizona, USA

Tom,
There are a number of options available to make either, or both, the electrical taper and/or the mechanical travel, start position and/or finish position more closely suit your personal preference with your Telonics FP-100 pedal.

In addition to selecting various tapers using one of the six factory supplied tapers, the mechanical range of movement as well as the start and stop positions can be changed from the factory settings.

If we understand your description correctly, you wish to have the inverse of the volume change characteristics you describe. Which would entail lower, or even no apparent volume at "heel-down" position (to assist in counteracting the relatively sharp attack you describe), followed by a mildly rising taper, followed by a logarithmically increasing taper as required to hold volume as the strings decay.

This can be accomplished in the vast majority of cases by choosing a corresponding factory-supplied taper.

However, you ‘may’ be a player who wishes to have less total movement of your ankle than you currently have.

If the resultant mechanical range of movement is a little long for you, you can turn the MINimum ON control slightly counterclockwise such that the output is completely OFF (to your ears) at heel-down position. This will drop the “off” end of the taper, placing the point where you start to hear sound at a steeper point on the taper curve. This will reduce the length of physical treadle travel you are required to utilize.
You can then choose which of the provided tapers best fits your taste and tailor the MINimum ON point for each individual taper. The pedal will "remember" your desired setting for each taper and and recall it when each taper is selected.

In the event that these customer-accessible modifications do not yield the desired results, we will be happy to make custom modifications to your pedal as follows (free of cost to you).

(If you should ever want to restore your pedal's settings to factory standards, you can download the FP-100 Tool Kit and restore or modify your taper settings using the USB port next to the pedal board light.)

The standard range of motion of the FP-100 pedal is intentionally greater than that of most pot pedals in order to provide added mechanical resolution, however if this range proves to be too great for your personally, it can easily be changed to precisely suit your preference.

If you own a small digital inclinometer, that’s all you need. If not, they are available of $10-20 at discount tool stores such as Harbor Freight. You can, of course, use a mechanical angle finder as well.

Try each of the existing tapers and choose the one which feels closest to what you want.

Next, with the pedal on a level floor (not carpet) and with the small inclinometer placed on the pedal beside or in front of your foot, determine the start angle (the desired new heel-down position), and then the stop angle (the desired new toe-down position).
(Of course if you happen to use a “reverse” pedal (ala Jerry Byrd), that is no problem, your pedal will already do that by “telling” it you wish to reverse all functions.)
Send us your pedal along with those two angle readings and we will set the mechanical range to exactly coincide with your desired positions. All tapers will automatically conform to the new mechanical settings and your foot will then only have to move as much, or as little as you wish.

(If however, you happen to be attending a steel guitar convention/show where we have “the Telonics Room”, we will be happy to make the measurements for you.)

Although such special modifications are extremely rare (in the order of 0.3% of all FP-100 pedals produced), we are nonetheless happy to accomplish them as they are relatively simple, the pedal being designed in advance to accommodate them.

Just let us know what you would like to do and we’ll take care of it within 24-48 hours at our laboratories.

Dave

Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

Dave Beaty's response to this question demonstrates what is known as After sales Service taken to the highest degree.
Dave backs any,and all of the Telonics range the same way.
Best regards
Billy

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

Wow...thanks so much Dave...I'll pm you with specific q's if you don't mind.

Dave Beaty · From: Mesa, Arizona, USA

OK Tom,
Just let us know what you'd like to do or try.
We will be out of the laboratory until Wednesday of next week due to holidays. The best method of contact there for me personally, is dave@telonics.com.

It might be a good idea to also copy your email to Stacy (who will be making any mechanical modifications) at stacy@telonics.com,

as well as to Sophie who coordinates all FP-100 routing and shipping, her email is sophie@telonics.com.

We'll get right on your wishes when we hear from you.
Dave

Dave Beaty · From: Mesa, Arizona, USA

Thanks Billy, we try our level best.
Hope you are still thrilling and amazing everyone with your tone these days.
Will you be attending the Irish Steel Guitar Festival this year? Buck Reid will do a great job there with his new Infinity guitar.

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Dave, Billy will be thrilling and amazing everyone with his Scottish jokes as well Very Happy

Just don't ask him about the denim jacket hehe
_________________
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