The Steel Guitar Forum

good evening y'all..

just got my first volume pedal...still haven't gotten the steel yet but just playing around some tonight I noticed a couple things...

Got a goodrich 120, looks to be in great shape from fellow member here...I've always loved the "effect" and swell action of a vol pedal, so needless to say I was excited to get going..

Must say, this is really going to be a learned technique, more involved than I thought but think it's just end of a long day as well...

However, I noticed two things...First, when the pedal is fully depressed there is a noted "hiss" that doesn't occur without the pedal...is this common? Second, and this might be difficult to explain or maybe I am just naive, but I figured that off meant off, which it is...but as one aproaches the threshold, I figure there would have been much more travel to get a more gradual swell until it reached full volume...however, I notice that the volume change is only really apparent the last 15-25% of travel...is this common? Is it the goodrich? If I were to turn up the amp vol will this increase the "travel" just unable to as the pro reverb is too loud at midnight...might just be another reason for a attenuator....seems most people use either the goodrich or hilton, so it can't be everyone that gets the same outcome, right?

thanks again y'all...now if I can just find a steel, pref GFI for less than 1400

found someone on an old post state it this way...
"the goodrich is more a logarthemic taper/volume vs. the hilton which is more linear" this explains it better then probably what I explained previously. there was also something posted about adjusting a trimpot which allows the on-to-off occur at a different rate in the goodrich ldr...is the 120 setup similar?

The LDR is an electronic pedal (like the Hilton) and the 120 just uses a potentiometer. No real adjustments on the 120 except loosening the string around the pulley and turn the pot to a point where you want the "off" position to be and letting a little sound to go through even in the "off" position. The only problem I can possibly see with this is MAYBE if you set it too far from off, then when you reach the full on position of the pedal, maybe the pot would break, or it would turn in the mounting bracket and throw it out of adjustment. Don't know for sure.

thanks for the info..wonder if a hilton is what i'm looking for...gonna try turning up the amp today and see if the pedal and subsequent swell has more travel cause as of right now, it's very odd having it act more like an on/off

so, apparently it's an impedance issue with the pickups in the t5...these are low impedance and the taper of the L120 works better with higher impedance pickups...just wish I could get an all in one pedal, but alas, might need two...will wait to purchase a second one until I try it with the jazzmaster, or if when the steel arrives, it's no change...

good to have brilliant, musical, and talented friends..

Paul,

What is the make and value of the potentiometer in your pedal?

edit...actually looks like an AB 500k

Well, my volume pedal concerns are no longer an issue...with the steel, it swells wonderfully...it was all the impedence on the taylor t5 lipstick pickup vs. the GFI II...gotta love people with know-how..

You have all the equipment you need now. Crank up the volume on the amp and use the pedal, forget about an attenuator. You won't learn it overnight either, so don't get discouraged. A lot of people don't want the pedal to ever be completely off. It's too much of a crutch that way. Good luck!

Thanks Doug!! And thank you for all the support, advice you have given. Truly an honest and hardworking guy...