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Goodrich vs. Ernie Ball Jr. volume pedals
Posted: 16 Apr 2020 12:14 pm
by Mark Ungar
I’ve been using an Ernie Ball Junior volume pedal for quite a while. I’ve also owned a Goodrich pedal for quite a while, that came with my pedal steel, but I have not been using it because the pot was scratchy. I’ve had a lot of free time recently, so I thought I would order a new pot and install it. I did so, and I’m surprised to find there’s a huge difference between the two volume pedals. The Goodrich attenuates the volume significantly ccompared to the Ernie Ball, and also the sweep is precipitous and not even...not so useful. I got the new pot, which is 500 K, from Tonetronix in Ohio.
Are my results a surprise? I can still keep the Goodrich pedal for a back up, but I am not very happy with it.
Posted: 16 Apr 2020 12:38 pm
by Howard Parker
what taper pot did you get? The pedal does not attenuate. It's just a mechanical device. It's the pot that attenuates.
h
- edit that if you have the correct audio taper pot than there are 2 possibilities. 1. Defective replacement pot or 2. The pot rotation needs to be adjusted while mounted in the pedal.
The Goodrich has been a standard for decades. Jacks on the correct side for steel, etc. The EB is designed for stand - up guitarists.
Posted: 16 Apr 2020 12:47 pm
by Mark Ungar
Audio taper. It’s the only Goodrich replacement pot available.
Posted: 16 Apr 2020 12:49 pm
by Mark Ungar
Posted: 16 Apr 2020 1:10 pm
by Howard Parker
Whelp...
My comment still stands. I'm betting the rotation needs adjustment. You should not go to either mechanical stop. Many players, including myself adjust so the pedal does not fully close, never reaching the off "stop" but gets very close to the full open "stop".
fwiw.
h
h
Posted: 16 Apr 2020 1:16 pm
by Mark Ungar
I’ll try adjusting the rotation.
Posted: 16 Apr 2020 1:22 pm
by Howard Parker
Assuming the pot is strung correctly you loosen the retaining nut slightly and rotate the pot body a tad.
h
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 7:06 am
by David Nugent
Not certain, but believe that the EB Jr. is equipped with a 250K pot from the factory. If so, could be making the difference in what you are hearing when comparing the two.
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 8:06 am
by Mark Ungar
David Nugent, I think that’s the problem.
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 8:09 am
by Gene Tani
ask Goodrich
https://goodrichsoundcompany.com/about/contact-us-2/
also not clear from tonetronix page if they sent you a Goodrich or Dunlop pot. I love my Goodrich L10k, the EB VP Jr, it's ok
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 8:15 am
by Mark Ungar
Interesting —I just went to the Goodrich website, and their replacement pots are $244. Since I already spent $50 for the pot and shipping, I think my quest is going to end here and I’m just going to live with the result.
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 9:36 am
by Howard Parker
Don't know what you are looking at but their price for pot + installation is $65. A complete refurb for a passive pedal is $95.
The entire pedal new is $300.
edit - I saw the prices you mentioned. I have no idea what that refers to. My prices also came from the website. I'm thinking the pot prices are in error.
h
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 10:05 am
by Scott Denniston
I bought one of these Dunlop pots on Tom Bradshaw's site. It's $34(incl.shipping) and comes with installation instructions. I haven't gotten around to putting it in my Goodrich but I bought it because I had heard good things about it. Click here >>>>>
https://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/potentiometers.php
Edit: Hmmm looks like this pot is maybe the same one you ordered from "Tonetronix".
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 10:06 am
by Erv Niehaus
Howard,
For that price, you can get a pot complete with a flush handle!
And they might even throw in a roll of toilet paper.
Erv
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 10:11 am
by Ken Pippus
When I looked recently, you couldn't buy a single pot from Goodrich, and the price quoted was for 5. Hence my enthusiasm for the Bradshaw option.
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 10:12 am
by Howard Parker
Howard,
For that price, you can get a pot complete with a flush handle!
And they might even throw in a roll of toilet paper. Very Happy
Erv
Or maybe a briefcase full of pot? Dunno, but seems reasonable.
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 10:17 am
by Howard Parker
Went back to Goodrich and dug into the description. Indeed, the listed price was for a 5 pack.
Still, there are better deals out there.
h
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 1:38 pm
by Jack Stoner
I have a Bradshaw/Dunlop pot installed in a Goodrich 120 pedal. Works OK.
Local music store is a Goodrich dealer and tried to order pots about a month ago but couldn't get any and was placed on back order. The store has been closed because of the Virus so don't know if they ever got their order.
Bradshaw has the new lug style.
http://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/potentiometers.php
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 3:07 pm
by Mark Ungar
The update is that either the new pot was defective or it was the wrong one. I talked to a nice guy at Goodrich, he gave me some helpful advice on setting the travel of the pedal and wrapping the string correctly. After trying this a couple of times with no new results, I uninstalled the old pot to return it to where I bought it. Before I unsoldered it, I checked it out plugged into the amp, so it’s to take the physical properties of the pedal out of the equation. It’s definitely either defective or somehow has the wrong values - there’s really no taper at all, and it attenuates the volume to a significant degree. I contacted ToneTronics, and they said to send it back for testing, and they would either give me a new pot or a refund.
Then I reinstalled the old pot, but before I did I cleaned the shit out of it with Deoxit. Surprise, surprise – it works just fine now! What an awesome pedal. I can see why you guys were dissing the Ernie Ball VP Junior.
BTW, the pot is the same one Bradshaw is selling, a Dunlop, square plastic case.
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 4:30 pm
by Mark Ungar
Mark Ungar wrote:The update is that either the new pot was defective or it was the wrong one. I talked to a nice guy at Goodrich, he gave me some helpful advice on setting the travel of the pedal and wrapping the string correctly. After trying this a couple of times with no new results, I uninstalled the old pot to return it to where I bought it. Before I unsoldered it, I checked it out plugged into the amp, to take the physical properties of the pedal out of the equation. It’s definitely either defective or somehow has the wrong values - there’s really no taper at all, and it attenuates the volume at maximum to a significant degree. I contacted ToneTronics, and they said to send it back for testing, and they would either give me a new pot or a refund.
Then I reinstalled the old pot, but before I did I cleaned the shit out of it with Deoxit. Surprise, surprise – it works just fine now! What an awesome pedal. I can see why you guys were dissing the Ernie Ball VP Junior.
BTW, the pot is the same one Bradshaw is selling, a Dunlop, square plastic case.
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 5:08 pm
by Jerry Roller
I have both Goodrich and Dunlop pots and both are considerably less than $50.00 each. As to tone differences in any pot pedals, the tone is all in the pot and has nothing to do with the brand of pedal. One might be more comfortable but the pedal is nothing more than a device to activate the pot. Another consideration is that it be wired correctly. If wired backwards it would be like using the output jack for input.
Jerry
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 5:18 pm
by Gene Tani
Posted: 17 Apr 2020 7:03 pm
by Greg Lambert
I put a 500k Dunlop in my old EB pedal. Never been happier.
Great tone and sweep.