Volume pedal pot adjustment?

Robert Murphy · Post by **Robert Murphy** » 16 Oct 2006 6:40 pm

I bought a used Goodrich and replaced the pot. o.k. With my ohmeter I found that in the full on position I still had more resistance than the pot at its' max rotation before install. I tested this with my amp also. So I undid the set screw and tweeked a little more volume out of the full on position. Now the pedal is loud but there is some amplification in the full off position. Very low level that I can live with. This is my first pedal so am I doing this correctly. Your opinion is welcome.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 16 Oct 2006 7:00 pm

That is what I do - sometimes there is a bit of a tradeoff. But I like my full-on to be full-on, and I can live with the slight bleed in the full-off position. I imagine there are those who prefer it the other way.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 Oct 2006 2:07 am

I always adjusted mine so it's off in the "off position". If you need more volume, just turn the amp up a little.

I now use a Hilton and I have it set the same way - "off is off".

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 17 Oct 2006 7:08 am

It's all based on the design of the pot collar that the manufacturer designed for the string. If you were able to turn it down on a lathe, you might find that you had full range of the pot. However- you never want the pot to stop the pedal travel- it wouldn't last long that way- the stops need to be done by the pedal itself. So- all in all- it really is a trade off and, in my experience, not worth the trouble of making it perfect.

Mike Harmon · Post by **Mike Harmon** » 17 Oct 2006 8:48 am

There's another reason you don't want the pot to hit the stops -- it makes a nasty 'clunk'. I work on a lot of pedals for Scotty and I always check after replacing a pot to make sure that the pedal hits the rubber bumper just barely before it hits the end of rotation.

Mike

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 17 Oct 2006 10:45 am

One of the factors in getting a good tone is, in my very humble opinion, always have volume coming through the pedal.
A volume pedal that shuts off completely will give your tone the dreaded 'miaaaeeew' factor in spades.

I always set my pedals to have about 20% signal when they are physically backed off completely.

Your mileage may vary, but I have had some good comments regarding my tone on my YouTube videos.
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Robert Murphy · Post by **Robert Murphy** » 17 Oct 2006 4:47 pm

Thanks for the input. First time I ever owned a volume pedal and I enjoyed noodling it out.