Paul Franklin volume pedal and MB studio pre

[Ben Godard]

Has Paul always used a pot volume pedal when recording. And Does anyone know what the resistance of the potentiometer in his volume pedal when he was using his old recording rig with MB studio preamp

I have two Goodrich pot pedals One with 500k. The other with 250k

I know his BL710 pickups on his guitar ate pretty hot and he somehow has it set right to still have plenty of headroom and extra volume for the volume pedal

[Dave Grafe]

I do not know what pedal he uses, but 500k is optimum for a passive VP with a pedal steel, while 250k is the preferred resistance for 6-string guitars. This is due to the rather large difference in pickup impedances, PSG pickups have impedances two to three times greater than those commonly used in electric guitars.

As for "setting" the VP adjust your amp so that you achieve full desired attack (i.e. picking) volume when the pedal is 1/3 to 1/2 open from full off. This often means a howl of feedback when the pedal is wide open with no signal going through it, but ensures maximum sustain when a signal is present.

[Anthony Krcmar]

Hey Dave, Im new to the steel world, I need a vol pedal, Im not really concerned about price I just want something that works really clean and smooth. Im from the guitar world and those pedals do not cut it! If you have a couple or any recommendations it would be much appreciated as you seem to have a better understanding than me

Thanks in advance,
Anthony

[Dave Grafe]

The Goodrich 120 is a top-rnd passive pedal, i.e. it uses an old-school 500k potentiometer. Zumsteel, Sho-Bud and others also made comparable pedals that often show up in forum classifieds, all use a string and pulley to activate a rotary pot. Learning how they work and how to repair them is a common rite of passage for steel pickers.

Hilton and Telonics are two popular active pedals, i.e. they require external power for their internal electronics, usually a wall wart, and seldom require attention other than occasionally replacing a bad power supply.

Passive volume pedals require no power but do have thei own affect on tone which some of us swear by. Others prefer the unaffected sound of an active volume pedal. Neither is "better" and I often carry an active spare for the passive VP that is my go-to.

[Anthony Krcmar]

Thanks so much for all the information! As I have been foraging around the forum I have one last question. I will be using this solely for studio recording. Some people have suggested a preference for recording over live settings. Any thoughts on this and if so what direction would you go?

Thank you again!
Anthony

[Lane Gray]

It's a matter of personal taste. Many people dislike the "tone suck" of a partially open pot, while others regard it as a plus, because as you roll off the volume to recede in the mix, you lose some "cut".

So some want their whole tone the whole range, and some think it's good that rolloff comes with a reduction in highs. I like it both in live and studio.

[Anthony Krcmar]

It's a matter of personal taste. Many people dislike the "tone suck" of a partially open pot, while others regard it as a plus, because as you roll off the volume to recede in the mix, you lose some "cut".

So some want their whole tone the whole range, and some think it's good that rolloff comes with a reduction in highs. I like it both in live and studio.

Thank you!