Has the old pot volume pedal gone out of style?

Austin Tripp · From: Westminster SC

I've been using a Hilton for the past 7 years but I've just purchased a new Goodrich 120 and I was just wondering who still uses the old pot pedals.

Austin Tripp

Mark van Allen · From: Watkinsville, Ga. USA

They have for me, Austin. With the decline in quality of replacement pots and the availability of excellent alternatives like the Hilton and astounding Telonics pedals, it's a no-brainer to move on. The power cords are the only downside to me.
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Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

I use a Goodrich 120 pedal that I bought back in the 70s. I'm in no rush to get anything else.

Last I heard Paul Franklin was using a pot volume pedal. Seems like his tone is pretty good.
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Keith Currie · From: Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Canada

Yep I agree I cant get the feel or sound I like with out the pot petal, I tried the other but stayed with my old ways.

Austin Tripp · From: Westminster SC

I agree totally about the power cords Mark lol. Have been through 3 with my Hilton. And Keith I agree about tone. Something about those ole 500k's just have a sweet tone. One thing I do like about the electric pedals is it seems to me like they have a little more "get up and go" as opposed to the pot pedals. And I believe Paul s still using the ole stereo Franklin volume pedal last I heard. There's pros and cons about both I guess lol.

AT

Tim Marcus · From: San Francisco, CA

I use both the Telonics pedal and a Goodrich L120

I was frustrated with the lack of good pots and bought the Telonics - and it's a great sounding pedal - but I agree that the mojo is in the passive pot pedal.

I've been using regular PEC 500k pots (not the hi life) and it's been over a year since I have heard a scratch. I changed my pedals to be full on when they are pressed down all the way and I gotta say that it really brings the sparkle out when doing that.

Sometimes I just don't want to deal with running a power cable to my steel setup. If it's a rehearsal or a gig with little time to sound check for example the L120 is the easy way out. For a recording session I'll generally use the Telonics pedal - can't take a chance on scratchy. Also, if I use a single channel amp I'll use the Telonics because it plays nice with tele too, but with a 2 channel amp with one dedicated for steel the Goodrich is my choice.
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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Mine isn't that old. I bought it about 4 years ago. Still has the original pot.

Pots last a long time for me. I don't pump the pedal a whole lot. For some songs I take my foot off it. Blues and folk-rock don't really need a volume pedal. Often they sound better without it.
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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

The pot pedals have gone out of favor with a lot of people who say that the pots kill the tone.
While Tommy White and Paul F. still use the pot pedal. I'm not gonna tell THEM to move on....
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Scott Duckworth · From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies

One on the floor and one in the seat... just in case.
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Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've went to the Hilton as there is no pot to wear out and no string to break. The extra power cord is not an issue for me.

Whether "so and so" uses a pot pedal, does not mean that I should still use one. Just like my Franklin guitar. Several suggested I bought a Franklin guitar (new in 1981) because of Paul Franklin. I never heard of him until after I bought the guitar.

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

No. I still use my Goodrich L120, Dekley low boy, and even a DeArmond (nylon gear) pot pedals.
AND, a Little Izzy with them makes them even better.

Thanx,
Jim

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I've always used a pot pedal. Never could understand the "tone suck" thing. My feeling is that a lot of players just look for anything they can to blame their shortcomings on - except themselves. Rolling Eyes

When you consider:

"Black Album" (pot pedal)
"Panther Hall" (pot pedal)
"Fifteen Years Ago" (pot pedal)
"Don't Come Home 'a Drinkin" (pot pedal)
"I'll Come Runnin" (pot pedal)
"Jukebox Charlie" (pot pedal)

And everything Emmons and Charleton ever did with Tubb (pot pedal).

Well, 'ya just gotta wonder what the "tone heads" are hearing.
Oh Well

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

You lose high frequencies when a pot pedal is at low volume. I say that's good. I don't want highs when I'm playing in the background - I want them when I'm soloing. I played with an active pedal for a long time, and I switched back to a pot pedal very deliberately. It's just better for the way that I play.
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Tim Marcus · From: San Francisco, CA

if you set a Goodrich pedal to go all the way off when your heel is down, when its all the way up (toe down) the pot is still attenuating the signal some. There is just a little bit of rotation left on that pot, and it will load your pickup just a hair. Sometimes thats a good thing

I think both are good to own. The active pedal can be a real life saver, and the pot pedal can be a real time saver. They both sound good in different ways.

I know that Wayne Dahl uses a pot pedal and will probably never convert. He told me, and I agree, that the pot pedal has the mojo as long as you can find the reliable pots Very Happy

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Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

B0b and other pot pedal users, are you using the Lil Izzy? I use it in some situations. It may or may not produce the same results as the powered pedals but it's easy to own.
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Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Marty, I won't run solid state without my Izzy. The tubes is sometimes yes, sometimes no.
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John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I like the old Shobud pedals. They sound great, and just seem ergonomically correct for me. I was using an L 120, and liked it. But Eddie Rhea gifted me an old Shobud in primo condition, and I love it!
When I was foolishly using a complicated stereo rack set up, I got a Goodrich active stereo pedal. Everytime I went into the studio, the engineers complained about hum and buzz, which only disappeared when I pulled out the old pot pedal. And the engineers always said the guitar sounded much better.

Marty Broussard · From: Broussard, Louisiana, USA

Lane I think we're on the same page. In addition, my experience is similar to Bob 's; I don't wear out many pots so I continue to use them.
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RETIRED
Former steel guitarist for Tracy Byrd & The Byrd Dawgs, Mark Chesnut & The New South Band, Mark Nesler & Texas Tradition, Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun, Belton Richard & The Musical Aces

"Technique is really the elimination of the unnecessary..it is a constant effort to avoid any personal impediment or obstacle to achieve the smooth flow of energy and intent" Yehudi Menuhin

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

JB, you are so welcome my friend! Your friendship and advice has been well worth it to me.
Randy Tatman gave me a Marlen pot pedal(still use it), over a year ago when I started. I use my Shobud pedal with my Shobud s10. So I have two vp's and two psg's.
About 2/3 of the steel players I've met still use a pot pedal. The others almost exclusively use a Hilton or a Telonics. FWIW, I like my pot pedals and have no desire to switch to an electronic/powered type.
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John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Ha! Thanks Ed! And aren''t those D2F covers great? They fit right into the case. I'm going to have them make a cover for my '63 F-Tip S-10. I can't recommend them highly enough!

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

Right you are John! Thanks so much for the pedal cover and turning me on to a great product!
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Eric Philippsen · From: Central Florida USA

I carry both a Telonics and a Goodrich 120 to gigs. Always good to have a backup.

Which one do I usually gig with? Well, I gotta say that I make up my mind when I open up my seat and see both lying there. Heck, both sound good, just different. Truth be told, lazy guy that I am, sometimes I'll throw the Goodrich down and use that rather than mess with yet another power cord. It always sounds fine.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

I've got two Goodrich 120's and a Sarno FreeLoader and couldn't be happier. Brad puts some sort of voodoo magic in the FreeLoader. You can dial in as much or as little twang as you desire.
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There are only two options as I see it.
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Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

have three i carry since 1979

p.w Smile

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