Volume Pedal
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
-
John Harmon
- Posts: 94
- Joined: 11 Jul 2022 8:13 am
- Location: Virginia, USA
Volume Pedal
Evening friends. I have what seems like an unusual problem. Recently received an 8 string from Bob Allen. Love it and looking forward to taking it to our jam session but I really need to use a volume pedal there. I have an Ernie Ball Jr and it works well with my Remington d8 (heavy) but when I hook to the Melbert it seems to kill the volume. The Melbert has Sentel pick ups and they seem pretty hot, but something just doesn't jell. Any ideas? Thanks for your time, John
-
Bill Groner
- Posts: 1386
- Joined: 30 Dec 2016 8:42 am
- Location: QUAKERTOWN, PA
Re: Volume Pedal
Have you consulted with Bob?
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
-
Michael Kiese
- Posts: 310
- Joined: 17 Jul 2023 12:27 pm
- Location: Richmond, Virginia (Hometown: Pearl City, HI)
Re: Volume Pedal
Turn volume knob on your amp higher to compensate.
Analog Volume pedals are the most simplest devices. If it works fine with other instruments, then it's fine.
If your Melbert works fine without the volume pedal, it's probably fine.
Plug your Melbert Steel straight into your amp, adjust volume and EQ to how you like it. Then insert the Ernie Ball jr. into the signal chain, and set it to 100%. If it sounds different (different, but close), then just adjust the volume and EQ on the amp to make it sound like it did without the volume pedal.
Simple machines have simple problems. Don't overcomplicate things.
Analog Volume pedals are the most simplest devices. If it works fine with other instruments, then it's fine.
If your Melbert works fine without the volume pedal, it's probably fine.
Plug your Melbert Steel straight into your amp, adjust volume and EQ to how you like it. Then insert the Ernie Ball jr. into the signal chain, and set it to 100%. If it sounds different (different, but close), then just adjust the volume and EQ on the amp to make it sound like it did without the volume pedal.
Simple machines have simple problems. Don't overcomplicate things.
Aloha,
Mike K
1932 A22 Rickenbacher Frypan, 1937 7string Prewar Rickenbacher Bakelite (C Diatonic), 1937 7string Epiphone Electar (Jerry Byrd's E9), 1937 Epiphone Electar (C#m9), 1940's Post War Rickenbacher Bakelite (Feet's D), 1950 Supro (Open F), 1950's Rickenbacher ACE (C6), 1950's Rickenbacher A25 Frypan (A6), 1957 National New Yorker (Jerry's E13), 1955 Q8 Fender Stringmaster (A6, C6, Noel's E13, C Diatonic), 1961 Supro (Open A), 8string VanderDonck Frypan (Buddy Emmons's C6).
Mike K
1932 A22 Rickenbacher Frypan, 1937 7string Prewar Rickenbacher Bakelite (C Diatonic), 1937 7string Epiphone Electar (Jerry Byrd's E9), 1937 Epiphone Electar (C#m9), 1940's Post War Rickenbacher Bakelite (Feet's D), 1950 Supro (Open F), 1950's Rickenbacher ACE (C6), 1950's Rickenbacher A25 Frypan (A6), 1957 National New Yorker (Jerry's E13), 1955 Q8 Fender Stringmaster (A6, C6, Noel's E13, C Diatonic), 1961 Supro (Open A), 8string VanderDonck Frypan (Buddy Emmons's C6).
-
John Harmon
- Posts: 94
- Joined: 11 Jul 2022 8:13 am
- Location: Virginia, USA
Re: Volume Pedal
Thanks Bill and Mike for answering. Will try Mike's suggestion if nothing different will talk to Bob
-
Michael Kiese
- Posts: 310
- Joined: 17 Jul 2023 12:27 pm
- Location: Richmond, Virginia (Hometown: Pearl City, HI)
Re: Volume Pedal
Happy to help!John Harmon wrote: 29 Jun 2025 10:37 am Thanks Bill and Mike for answering. Will try Mike's suggestion if nothing different will talk to Bob
Enjoy!
Aloha,
Mike K
1932 A22 Rickenbacher Frypan, 1937 7string Prewar Rickenbacher Bakelite (C Diatonic), 1937 7string Epiphone Electar (Jerry Byrd's E9), 1937 Epiphone Electar (C#m9), 1940's Post War Rickenbacher Bakelite (Feet's D), 1950 Supro (Open F), 1950's Rickenbacher ACE (C6), 1950's Rickenbacher A25 Frypan (A6), 1957 National New Yorker (Jerry's E13), 1955 Q8 Fender Stringmaster (A6, C6, Noel's E13, C Diatonic), 1961 Supro (Open A), 8string VanderDonck Frypan (Buddy Emmons's C6).
Mike K
1932 A22 Rickenbacher Frypan, 1937 7string Prewar Rickenbacher Bakelite (C Diatonic), 1937 7string Epiphone Electar (Jerry Byrd's E9), 1937 Epiphone Electar (C#m9), 1940's Post War Rickenbacher Bakelite (Feet's D), 1950 Supro (Open F), 1950's Rickenbacher ACE (C6), 1950's Rickenbacher A25 Frypan (A6), 1957 National New Yorker (Jerry's E13), 1955 Q8 Fender Stringmaster (A6, C6, Noel's E13, C Diatonic), 1961 Supro (Open A), 8string VanderDonck Frypan (Buddy Emmons's C6).
-
John Harmon
- Posts: 94
- Joined: 11 Jul 2022 8:13 am
- Location: Virginia, USA
Re: Volume Pedal
If anyone is interested, found my problem. Had a brand new set of cables on here, put old ones on and it runs you out of the house. Still don't know why the signal was attenuated instead of killed but that was the problem. Thanks for answering, John