My VP

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 18 Jun 2015 8:44 pm

Someone ask to see my Volume pedal idea so I thought I would just post it.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 19 Jun 2015 2:59 am

Bill, I'd like to see more with a description.

My questions:
Are you using a regular ABC Pedal?
Is the apparatus spring loaded where you have to keep constant pressure on the pedal, or does it work like a standard VP?

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 19 Jun 2015 6:45 am

Great idea Bill!

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 19 Jun 2015 7:27 am

Congratulations Bill.
Jim is correct. . . pure genius at work. In fact, Scott and I were just talking about this idea within the last week or so. A great advantage of the built-in volume pot is that there's no guitar cord across the pickup. Plug a buffer in right at the guitar, and with only one cord going directly to your amp it should sound pretty amazing.

Some may remember the Little Buddy steel years ago had a built-in volume pedal, but it was spring loaded and the whole thing was "junky"

My hat's off to you Bill.

Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 19 Jun 2015 7:37 am

Why

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 19 Jun 2015 7:39 am

That sort of VP was on some old MSA guitars.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 19 Jun 2015 7:55 am

Think about Erv... no "tone suck" from a cable going to a volume pot. Plus, the pot is MUCH easier to replace.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 19 Jun 2015 8:02 am

The tone suck on a chord going to the volume pedal is like a wart on an elephant's butt!

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 19 Jun 2015 9:17 am

Erv,
To each his own, but the truth is: today's well-groomed elephant doesn't have warts. In fact, in a recent survey, most elephants don't even have wall warts.

Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 19 Jun 2015 9:21 am

Most well groomed pedal steels don't have built in VP's either.

Jack Goodson · Post by **Jack Goodson** » 19 Jun 2015 9:53 am

the biggest problem i see is if you play 3/different guitars....jack

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 19 Jun 2015 11:12 am

that is a very good idea...

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 19 Jun 2015 4:05 pm

My first guitar, MSA Red Baron had a built in volume pot that worked with a rotary gear on the shaft that connected to a rod that connected to a plank of wood that was attached to the pedal bar. The only thing that was missing was a can of lighter fluid and a .match

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 19 Jun 2015 4:37 pm

Doesn't the signal from the pick up run through the potentiometer before it is buffered by the Li'l Izzy in this scenario? I was under the impression that for the best results you should convert the pickup signal to low impedance by placing the buffer before both cables and the volume pedal pot.

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 19 Jun 2015 5:49 pm

Tony,
Bill's system doesn't hinder the tone because there is no unwanted capacity from a guitar cord across the pickup. The pot is a purely resistive load on the pickup. Bill didn't mention the value of the pot, but I assume it's 500,000 or perhaps 1,000,000 ohms.

With a properly designed buffer following Bill's inboard volume control, it should sound "clean as a whistle". Without a buffer, all bets are off; now you have a high impedance pickup going through a 500,000 ohm pot (guessing the value) A 500K pot will output up to 125,000 ohms minimum, allowing your guitar cord to do what it does best. . . kill your highs and overtones.

Happy Fathers Day guys.

Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 19 Jun 2015 6:42 pm

My Ritt is a SD 10, 3 pedals and 6 levers. The VP has a 500K dunlop pot. It is spring loaded but can be made solid. It is nothing like the old MSA VP.
There is no tonal loss. It's not for everybody, but I like it and that's all that matters. On another note, I get sick of people who don't like new Ideas or innovation's, who say the wheel is already invented is an asinine statement.
Erv, how did you feel when pedals were invented or do you use them. BTW, My Steel as well as myself are very well groomed.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 20 Jun 2015 1:54 am

Bill, you are right, too much negativity about new ideas, not having tried your idea I can't comment on it, but if it works for you that is main thing.Will follow this with interest.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 20 Jun 2015 2:38 am

Well, I for one like the idea. I plan ONE guitar (because I can only afford one) and would love to see more pics and info. Bill, if you don't want to share on the forum, send me an email. I would love to correspond about your idea and design.

Tim Russell · Post by **Tim Russell** » 20 Jun 2015 3:48 am

I like this idea as well...and in my foggy memory, I'm sure I played a steel years ago with something like this rigged up on it.

When I get some free time, I think I'm going to add this to my Sierra - if nothing else, it's one less piece of gear to lug around...not that I gig anymore anyway...

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 20 Jun 2015 5:56 am

I may be the only one who doesn't get the whole picture, Bill. How is your volume actuated, with a knee lever?

Jack Stanton · Post by **Jack Stanton** » 20 Jun 2015 6:02 am

Bill,
Didn't mean to come off as negative, just saw an opportunity to inject a little humor ( or so I thought)in reply to Earnest's comment about the old MSA guitars with the onboard volume control.
You're correct, your system is completely different.

Bruce Repka · Post by **Bruce Repka** » 20 Jun 2015 7:09 am

love this idea. I can also see this with an added by-pass output jack just in case the pot got scratchy or went out in the middle of a gig. A regular volume pedal could be placed on the bypass jack.

Would like to see more info on how this is operated.

Thanks for posting!! Love new ideas!

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 20 Jun 2015 7:24 am

Jack I knew you were joking and my comment wasn't directed at you.

Rick I have a pedal on the pedal bar on the right side with a rod that hooks to the cross shaft. If you look under the Rittenberry logo you can see the rod.

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 20 Jun 2015 7:28 am

Now, I see. Thanks, Bill. Is the pedal tension set somewhat like a conventional volume pedal? That's a really cool idea.

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 20 Jun 2015 9:17 am

Bruce,
Your concern about the pot becoming scratchy is well-founded, but if that happens couldn't you just turn the pot all the way up and be good to go.

(Or at least find a good spot between the scratches. LOL)

Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

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