Pedals work by manipulating the electrical signal of a guitar to produce different tones – this process can either be accomplished analogically or digitally.
Boost, overdrive and distortion pedals all increase the volume of guitar signals while fuzz pedals distort them to create a unique tone. Modulation pedals adjust over time with small changes to produce different effects.
Effects Foot Pedals
Effects foot pedals are designed to modify the sound of your guitar in various ways, used by musicians looking to add character and dimension to their tone. There are numerous types of effects pedals available but the main ones include distortion, boost, echo, reverb and modulation pedals – ideal options for those without space in their effects rack who require something easier and portable.
Boost effects pedals increase the volume of your guitar’s signal, typically used to add overdrive and sustain to the tone. Distortion pedals essentially alter or distort this original signal for more grit or crunch in your tone. Modulation pedals work similarly but instead provide subtle variations over time to alter its signal in different ways that produce different effects such as chorusing, vibrato, tremolo or phaser effects.
Reverb effects pedals add depth and space to your guitar tone and should typically be placed after your amplifier in the signal chain. Echo pedals create delayed repetitions of its original signal and should also be located after your amp. Looper effects allow you to record performances for later playback; such effects pedals are known by this term.
Other pedals add additional processing to your guitar signal, such as compressors, limiters, noise gates and equalizers. Some advanced examples include Keeley Compressor, MXR Dyna Comp and Boss CS-3 compression sustainer; more musical examples include Thomas Organ Cry Baby Wah-Wah pedal or Dunlop HT1 Heil Talk Box.
Volume Foot Pedals
Those new to pedals may first encounter volume foot pedals as one of their first FX units. Resembling wah pedals in appearance and operation, volume foot pedals allow you to control master volume of your rig without needing power for operation. Some also come equipped with tuners or allow users to change settings of another pedal by pushing down on them (an expression pedal).
Your volume pedal has much more potential than simply controlling volume; depending on where it sits in your signal chain, it can create swells and ambient textures, which is especially helpful when working with effects such as reverb and delay. Furthermore, they can even mute your guitar, making this tool invaluable on stage or during recordings.
Not all volume pedals are created equal; passive and active versions exist, and their differences can have an immediate effect on your tone. Passive volume pedals lack buffers and may become susceptible to “tone sucking,” whereas active models provide buffering mechanisms and are suitable for any position within your signal chain.
Are you searching for an easy, reliable, and budget friendly passive volume pedal? Consider the Signstek Guitar Stereo Sound Volume Pedal as it features minimum volume adjustment knob and rock solid enclosure at a price you simply can’t beat!
Tuning Foot Pedals
Tuner pedals are essential tools for gigging guitarists as being out of tune on stage can quickly ruin a song. Tuner pedals resemble other stompbox effect pedals in that they feature an activated footswitch with digital display showing which note requires tuning; some also offer various tuning modes (standard/capo/strobe) for additional assistance when pinpointing difficult notes.
Pedal buffers are essential in any signal chain as they help avoid high-frequency loss due to multiple effects pedals or long cables. They work by adding another level of amplification for your guitar’s input signal; some models even specialize specifically in maintaining high frequencies while other come as part of larger pedals.
As well as the main categories of effects pedals, there are also others which provide greater control over guitar output such as compression and limiters – useful in helping control peaks and noise that might otherwise arise during playing – while time-based effects such as delay and loop pedals add another dimension to its sound.
Many pedals feature both input and output jacks and require a power supply for operation. The power supply mostly converts low-impedance line-level* output from an audio interface or mixer into high-impedance instrument-level** that most pedals expect. Some also come equipped with switches for changing between standard or high-impedance output, or daisy chaining capabilities, giving you even more control of your signal.
Switcher Foot Pedals
A switcher is an invaluable asset if you use many pedals. By creating combinations of effects with just the push of one footswitch, a switcher allows you to save time when switching multiple effects simultaneously; be it phaser and reverb before chorus or distortion overdrive and delay building towards crescendo in your song.
Most switchers allow you to plug a regular stompbox-style footswitch into their front, while attaching an external controller like a MIDI keyboard or another switcher to their rear for controlling multiple pedals with one controller, creating combinations impossible on a standard board. Switchers also take pedals out of your signal chain, helping reduce noise and decrease overall pedalboard size.
Tap Tempo for Delay pedals require you to connect them directly to a special input on the device itself, with some models having loop jacks designed specifically to work with switchers – these jacks don’t carry your guitar signal, but offer the shortest path from amplifier to pedal for reduced noise and loss. In addition, some switchers feature MIDI inputs enabling PC and CC messages from switcher devices into PC/CC pedals which allows instantaneous preset changes!
If you plan on using a switcher, make sure that the relay boards match up with your pedal’s design and that their pins correspond. Relay boards sometimes have wires reversed so they won’t work correctly; similarly when installing PC mount momentary switches it is wise to test them with a multimeter first as these may get installed “backwards”, thus rendering them inoperable.
Expression Foot Pedals
Are you looking to add expression to your effects pedals? An expression foot pedal may be the solution. These pedals enable you to control various parameters with your foot by changing the position of a rocker; volume can be altered while side-to-side movements alter tone.
These pedals work by connecting to your equipment using standard guitar cables (TS or TRS) and transmitting control voltage from one conductor while receiving signal on another conductor. As the pedal is moved up or down, its resistance changes causing changes in its potentiometer that cause its return signal amount to vary allowing it to alter parameters such as volume, delay or vibrato settings on its device.
When selecting an expression pedal, it’s essential to keep in mind that different devices require specific resistance values. Selecting one with higher or lower resistance than what your gear demands may result in limited range, notchy responses or even damage; so it is advisable to find one equipped with adjustable rocker tension and polarity switches that ensure compatibility across most devices.
The Dunlop DVP3 Expression Pedal is an outstanding solution that meets both criteria. At an unbeatably affordable price point that won’t exceed that of takeout dinner, its straightforward controls and wide compatibility make it a vital addition to any rig. Featuring output level knob, polarity switch and 10-k Ohm potentiometer (which covers most devices with expression input), the DVP3 provides all of the essential features necessary for an effect pedal solution.