Volume pedal with small amp

Paul Strojan · Post by **Paul Strojan** » 30 May 2023 9:22 pm

If I am playing through a volume pedal, the output to the amp is at most half of the unimpeded signal. Is there a way to boost the signal backup to fully utilize a small amp?

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 30 May 2023 10:43 pm

Get a pedal that gives full output when stepped on. I use a Goodrich pot pedal but many others work well too.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 31 May 2023 3:42 am

The point of the volume pedal is to have reserve volume to maintain sustain. If you pick a note at full volume there is no place left to go.

If it ain't broke we can fix that too!

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 31 May 2023 8:13 am

Assuming that the amp has gain and master volume knobs, you can put the gain knob way higher than normal, in distortion territory, because you'll never drive it that high with pedal starting halfway.....so set your gain at that level...

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 31 May 2023 11:39 am

The guitar volume (with the volume pedal at “max”) should be around 90% of the volume available if the guitar was plugged straight into the amp. But if you’re using a pedal designed for guitar players (which usually have a 250k pot), the max volume available may only be 70%-80%.

But in order to give you more precise info, we need to know what amp you’re using, what pedal you’re using (and the pot value), and what kind of pickup your guitar has. (Your problem may just be that the pedal has an issue which can be easily fixed.)

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 31 May 2023 11:04 pm

Have you checked and proven the pedal volume with another amp?

Is the pot in the VP in the 500K range.
Have you tried different cables.
If the pedal pot is gear driven, It may have jumped a tooth or two on the gear.
If the VP has a string that operates the pot.
If the string that operates the pot has slipped, The pedal will not give you full volume the guitar is producing.

If a miss matched larger sleeve has been installed in the pedal, It may not rotate the pot to full volume.

Paul Strojan · Post by **Paul Strojan** » 1 Jun 2023 8:59 am

When playing with a volume pedal, only half of the max signal is used. In order to do get sustain with a volume pedal, a note is struck with the volume pedal at roughly 30 percent output and that level of volume is maintained by depressing the volume pedal at the same rate as the note is decaying. So, the input to the amp is never more than half of the maximum output of the guitar. Is there a way to boost the output of the volume pedal back up to the raw output of the guitar?

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 1 Jun 2023 9:14 am

Paul Strojan wrote: Is there a way to boost the output of the volume pedal back up to the raw output of the guitar?

Bypass the pedal for full output. The purpose of using a volume pedal is to cut the raw output.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 1 Jun 2023 1:35 pm

Paul, now you know why most steel players (who are seldom using more than 40 or 50 watts) prefer 200-300 watt amps.

The power is always there if you need it. Of course, you can boost the signal to your small amp by using a powered pedal, like the Hilton, or some kind of preamp/booster. I’ve occasionally used an MXR “Micro-Amp” preamplifier, but if you use too much pedal with a preamp, or with a powered pedal cranked up, the amp will distort on the loud notes.

Everything is a trade-off, it seems.

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 3 Jun 2023 8:10 pm

In my list of things to check. If the VP uses a string driven pot. Check the set screw on the shaft sleeve.
If the set screw is loose the sleeve could be slipping on the shaft.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 4 Jun 2023 2:13 pm

Run the guitar straight to the amp input, and the VP into the amp’s effects loop, if it has one. That way you can get the full guitar output signal to the preamp at any volume level.

If that’s what you are asking about.

If you are asking about volume level from the amp with the VP maxxed out, as compared to the volume level going straight from the guitar into the amp, and those two levels are not equal, then Houston we have a different kind of problem, which I believe Raybob Bowman addressed in his first response. It is a volume pedal type issue.

Input/Output signal and Volume are related, but they are not the same.