How many here use volume pedals?

[Pete Martin]

When I watch videos, I see some use and some don’t. I’d love to hear opinions on both sides.

I currently don’t use one but wonder if I should?

Thanks. I’m practicing a few hours a day, big fun!!!

[Noah Miller]

I have used volume pedals, but most of the time they don't fit the sound I want.

[Cappone dAngelo]

I almost always have one inline, but tend to use it more when I’m using benders for pedal steel type sounds or for ambient sounds, and less (or not at all) for bluesy, dirty leads.

[Brooks Montgomery]

I like them for A6 & C6 tunings on my 8-string steels. But I don’t use them for Open D (vestapol) or open E tunings on six string guitars, whether they are dobros, weissies , or laps.
Always on pedal steel.

[Mike Christensen]

I play A6 lap steel and always use one. Miss out on some expression without, that I would rather not miss out on. Happy Trails.

[Mark Evans]

I play mostly in major tunings, but I do dabble in some 6th and 7th modes. I do not play your classic country swing or Hawaiian styles (more contemporary ambient with folk/blues motifs scattered in). The volume pedal allows for expression beyond single notes and chords. In a group setting it adds musical elements above bass, percussion, horns, string melody. It’s worth checking out. I Started with a Moyo and now waiting on a Lehle Mono 90 oh yeah

[Fred]

I always have one plugged in whether I'm using it or not. I also use the volume and tone knobs on the guitar and would give up the volume pedal before the volume knob.

[John Harmon]

I am learning to use it somewhat. I like it in our jams because some folks are really loud and I can "hang" with them if I want. Otherwise I play softly, John

[Erv Niehaus]

I've always used one.
It helps for expression and sustain.
Erv

[Michael Kiese]

Hey Pete,

Volume pedals can be very handy little devices if used properly, and they can get a bit tiresome if overused.

Best uses:

#1) Let's say if you have a very bright steel guitar, you can use a volume pedal with a 250K pot (or lower) to help bleed more high end frequency to ground. Very handy even if you don't use it.
#2) used sparingly to increase the length of a sustained note. Set your normal playing volume level with the volume pedal at about 75%. When you play a long extended note, as the note starts dying off, increase the volume on the pedal. The resulting effect is that sustained notes are much longer in duration. When I lived close to Nashville for 5 years, I noticed this was a trait amongst the pedal steelers I liked the best. It's a very mature, natural, and transparent use of a volume pedal. You don't even notice it, and that's the point. I got to listen to Paul Franklin a bunch at the Station Inn, sitting in front of him in the audience as he was on stage. I'd watch his feet. Doug Jernigan does this very well too.

Not-so-good uses:

#1) Overusing the Volume pedal where most every note played seems to always swell in volume in a Crescendo or Sforzando-like fashion. Every note starts out soft, and gets louder. To me, just one man's opinion, this seems to be the most egregious use of a volume pedal. It tires the ear, and it's unnatural sounding to me because singers don't sing like that. Also when people speak, nobody talks like that. That said, there are no rules and some people like that sound and they're free to play that way. Just not my cup of tea, personally.

Overall, volume pedal use is more common amongst the Country steelers. Not so much amongst the Hawaiian Steelers. I can't speak as to the Sacred Steelers (never met one, but I do love and admire Chuck Campbell's playing). I think the Sacred Steelers tend to use Wah-wah and a lot of effects, so it just depends on the player.

As far as Hawaiian Steel goes, the only player who extensively used Volume Pedals was Jerry Byrd. To the best of my knowledge, the rest of the Hawaiian players didn't use (or seldom used) volume pedals. The consensus from the players I've talked to, Bobby Ingano included, reason that pragmatism wins out and that volume pedal use sounds "too country" for Hawaiian music. Hawaiians are pragmatic; they don't want to carry and set up any more gear than what is necessary to a gig, lol. It's possible that Hawaiian players of yesteryear used them and I'm unaware. That said, most of the Hawaiian Steelers alive and playing today don't use 'em. Just go on YouTube and look at the feet of any Steel player playing live in Hawaii.

Having said all that, I really like MOYO volume pedals. I have 2 of them. One with a 500K pot, one with a 250K pot. They're small, heavy duty, and fairly priced. I used to bring the 250K pot one on my Hawaiian gigs with my Rickenbacher steel, but I found that I didn't need it, and it just was one more thing I had to set up and break down. It also cluttered the stage with cables. I ended up weighing the pros/cons and just took it out of my chain. I think they're great for country sounds, especially if you use Palm Benders. Gives you that quintessential country sound that people love (myself included). It just matters what genre of music you're playing and what you want to idiomatically sound like to support your band's style/sound.
https://reverb.com/item/4390294-moyo-mini-volume-pedal

No offense to any of the other brands of volume pedals out there, but charging $500+ for a volume pedal is ridiculous in my opinion, especially considering how simple they are, and the effect they produce. I fully support anything "made in the USA", but at the same time, I don't appreciate being taken for a ride.

Just my 2¢.

[Rich Arnold]

I was using one because the volume pot on my Fender Stringmaster was scratchy and I loathe having to disassemble it.
But now that I got my volume pot fixed I might pull it out.
Until one of several bands I've been in contact with finally pulls the trigger and hires me.
Playing live behind a singer I like my volume pedal because I set the volume knob on it while backing then when it's time for a solo I push forward on it. After my solo is finished I can return to the same lower volume level.
've also been dabbling with the pedal steel. I find it difficult to use on the PSG E-9 because I got so many other things going on by-and-large and I'm a poor multitasker.

[Rick Aiello]

I used to use one … but I’d have it set so it never went “off” … used it to lessen the attack but not eliminate it …

[Peter Krebs]

Are there any Hawaiian style players known for using volume pedals, or is it usually volume/tone pots?

[Michael Kiese]

Are there any Hawaiian style players known for using volume pedals, or is it usually volume/tone pots?

Aloha Peter,

I covered that in my comment above.

Jerry Byrd was pretty much the only Hawaiian Steel player that extensively used a volume pedal.

Jerry was an undisputed master. That said, he did like to put some country into his Hawaiian steel playing. I mean, the guy recorded "Cold Cold Heart" with Hank Williams. lol.

Not too many, if any, of the "born and raised" Hawaii steel players use volume pedals. The unofficial consensus amongst Hawaiian musicians is that volume pedal usage can sound "too country" for Hawaiian music. Most Hawaiian players who do volume swell effects prefer to do it right at the potentiometer.

There are always exceptions, I just don't know of any.

[Bruce Roger]

I use a Stage 1 volume pedal screwed into my pedal board, to sustain longer notes or chords. It's easier to use the foot than a finger on the volume knob. A plucked string has a very short decay time; think of the volume pedal as a bow.

Listen to how Jimmy Day, who Scotty called "Mr. Soul," expressed emotion in his music by using his volume pedal to vary his dynamics.

Bruce