There’s no harm in mixing up true bypass pedals with buffered pedals, so don’t worry if the particular volume pedal that you choose doesn’t line up with your other effects in that respect. Indeed, using a combination of these two pedal types is a safer bet than simply relying on one variety. If you do choose to mix the two, it’s best to start your signal path with a buffered pedal, as this will strengthen your instrument’s tone before it reaches the other pedals. Positioning a Volume Pedal in Your Signal Chain

The biggest downside of this pedal is its price, but if you consider that you are getting two in the same enclosure, it is actually a fair deal. One of the most popular techniques that can be used with this kind of pedal is playing volume swells. Next, you have compressors, limiters, and EQ pedals, which are subsequently followed by gain-based effects such as distortion, overdrive, or fuzz. After you’ve added your dirt, then comes modulation-based pedals. These include octave or pitch-shifter pedals, phasers, chorus, flangers, and tremolo, and so on. After modulation, you finish off the signal chain with delays and reverbs, and then send the signal out into the amplifier. Ernie Ball specializes in an assortment of volume and effects pedals that let you control your tremolo, delay, and overdrive. We offer four distinct classes of volume pedals, the Most Valuable Pedal, vp junior, the Mono Volume Pedal, and Stereo Volume/Pan Pedal, and the all-new VPJR Tuner Pedal.The Lehle Mono Volume Pedal is one of the most premium options you can currently find. If you’re a professional player who uses a volume pedal extensively at the studio and on the stage, you should try one of these out. The entire design and the way it controls your volume are quite different from the other pedals in the market. Other interesting features include a gain knob that allows you to get up to 10dB of boost that can help you push a tube amplifier into breakup. One useful addition to the Ernie Ball VP Jr is its tuner out feature. With it, you can connect your tuner pedal directly to the VP Jr, thus removing it from your signal chain and allowing you to have it constantly on. My Review: In recent years, we’ve witnessed JOYO’s emergence as one of the leading providers of affordable effects pedals. I’m a huge admirer of their extensive range, which spans across distortion, modulation, and reverbs, and with the Multimode pedal, I was pleased to learn that they have ventured into the world of volume and wah.

If you just need a good volume pedal this is one of the best choices available. FAQ What volume pedal works best with guitar for ambient swells? A volume pedal also has the more utilitarian use of evening out the volume of your rig relative to other instruments, in case you play live or in a band. If your volume pedal has the ability to set the minimum volume, you can use that for normal rhythm playing, and go toe-down on the pedal when you need to boost your volume for a solo, or achieve overdrive/distortion. The Ernie Ball VPJR Tuner Volume Pedal is one of my all-time favorite designs. I remember watching a video of it when it came out and I immediately loved the concept of combining a volume pedal with a tuner. The large touch display looks amazing, tuning is fast and accurate, and it is just a pleasure to use. If you are looking for the smallest option possible, there are more adequate pedals for you, but I still think that this one is very decently sized, and it feels very comfortable to use. Complete Specifications of the Ernie Ball VP Jr Volume Pedal Although modern effects pedals are mostly capable of noiseless operation, this wasn’t always the case. When manufacturers first began to produce them, guitarists had to contend with electronic hums and buzzes, especially when using multiple pedals in a signal chain. This was due to the inner circuitry of the pedals.Let me start by saying that there is no “right or wrong” way to position your pedals in a signal chain. Some of the most innovative guitarists and bassists have created their signature tones by doing things in a way that conventional wisdom would regard as being “wrong”. With that being said, some general guidelines can be used to create the intended effects from your pedals. This is a no-frills volume pedal - the enclosure is plastic, not metal like the other pedals on our list. It glides fairly smoothly, although we detected a slight mechanical grind noise when operating it. It admittedly does not feel very durable, which is a sacrifice you have to be willing to make at this low of a price point. If you gig or have a lead foot, you might want to go for a volume pedal with a metal enclosure (Ernie Ball, Boss, Dunlop, etc). The surface atop of the pedal unfortunately does not provide the best grip. You might want to experiment with some way to increase the “grippiness” so your foot doesn’t slip. The pedal offers a dedicated tuner output, which also presents the possibility of using it as an expression controller. I was really impressed with this feature, as it is the perfect tool for adding a little boost in volume to my guitar or rolling off the dynamics to conclude a performance. One of the nicest things about the Ernie Ball VP Jr. is that as far as volume pedals go, it’s nice and compact, hence the Jr. in the name. It’s about 3.5 inches wide, and 10 inches long, thus making it ideal for more compact pedalboard setups, or if you’re simply running out of room. It’s also lighter than other volume pedals we tested. Like its big brother the Ernie Ball MVP, construction of the VP Jr. is nice and solid, the chassis definitely looks like it could take a beating and survive unscathed. Aesthetically it looks nice as well. The pedal surface has a sandpaper-like grit to it, which ensures your foot won’t slip when operating the pedal.