Active vs. Passive Volume Pedals: What's The Difference? (and 25K vs. 250K?)

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In this video, I am answer these questions:
- What is the difference between active and passive volume pedals?
- What is the difference between Ernie Ball VP Jr. 25K and 250K (and in general)
- Which one is better: active or passive volume pedal?
- How much tone suck there is on a passive volume pedal vs. an active volume pedal?
I'm going to explain all that, and then I'll be playing through an active and passive volume pedal so that you can hear the difference of tone between them (how much tone suck there is).
Pedals I'm demonstrating in the video:
Mission Engineering VM-Pro
Ernie Ball VP Jr. 250K
Thanks for watching! If you have any other questions, leave them in the comment section below.
__________
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This is the Ambient Guitar youtube channel of Canadian multi-instrumentist Antoine Michaud. Through original ambient music, chordal guitar lessons and tips on guitar pedals, Antoine is looking to educate and inspire aspiring ambient musicians to learn everything about the world of ambient guitar and chordal voicings on guitar.

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11 ноя 2020

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Комментарии : 139

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 7 месяцев назад

►► Get my favorite Active Volume pedal (this Sweetwater affiliate link supports my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you! 😊) → sweetwater.sjv.io/6eQD4N

@redrooz Год назад

Very concise, very clear, and therefore a very helpful presentation. Well done! Punchline @ 2:51: Get an active (buffered) pedal then, you don't have to worry about whether you have active or passive pups. I have both types on different guitars. I don't need yet another thing to think about when I plug in.

@danboilard9881 Год назад

Super bien explique Antione, tres clair, merci mil fois!

@gcroteau7226 Год назад

very clear and useful explanations. Thank you very much.

@gr637 2 года назад

Very clear and helpful video, grazie! Gaetano

@MikeWilkins-w9o 3 дня назад

Learned a lot- thanks!

@TGriner Год назад

Very good. Thanks for clearing this up. I get it now.

@Jef-sj6zc 16 дней назад

Great video , very clear explained the differences. Well done ! from the Netherlands

@80guitarguy82 7 месяцев назад

Very informative, thank you!

@kenmosholder1935 2 года назад

Thank you very much. Just what I needed. Cheers.

@KordTaylor Год назад

Really good info. Thanks for your video.

@daniellapierre9798 2 года назад

Thanks, great informative video!

@mauricevictor929 3 года назад

Really clear explanation. Thanks.

@michaelmattson3515 3 года назад

Thanks great info.

@kevon217 Год назад

Thanks for the explanation!

@ibaneztwo 2 года назад

Very well explained. Thank you so much!

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 2 года назад

My pleasure!

@olaftan8414 Год назад

Crystal clear, thanks!

@Mr.ABartley 3 года назад

Thanks, great info.

@seanstiller7202 Год назад

Thank your for your guidance my brother! 🙏

@twilightsound3454 2 года назад

Very helpful. thank you sir

@jimwarner8071 2 года назад

Great demo. Thx.

@danielmonson9939 Год назад

Huge difference. Active for me! great video

@joeurbanowski321 Год назад

Wow..! What a diff..!! Thanks.👍🏼

@patricioconlazo2085 Год назад

Muy bueno!!! Gracias amigo

@ahaua1 Год назад

Excellent explanation.

@rodrigocastellanos3617 2 года назад

I get your point, (I have a Dunlop HighGain a the end of my signal chain, and it reaaaaaally sucks a lot of highs) however the way you "swell" doesn't show how dramatic the situation is with the passive volume. In any case thanks for the video.

@MikeJamesMusic 18 дней назад

All you have to do to fix the tone issue with the passive pedal is put a buffer pedal before the volume pedal. FYI, many boost pedals have a buffer circuit in them.

@MK-tj5bf 3 года назад

Thanks!

@MustafaBaabad Год назад

Thank you very much for the very clear explanation. Yes active pedal has more advantage and seems more reliable. Cheers from Indonesia.

@johnr.b.murray3417 Год назад

It would have sealed the deal if you had finally compared the single units (no chain) straight into an amp. But, regardless of this omission what is left is that the active pedal is eminently more useable. Thanks for review.

@borealico 2 года назад

Very informative video Sir! Thanks!

@MikeH_PR 2 года назад

That's it. I'm buying an active pedal. Thanks for a truly helpful demo.

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 2 года назад

My pleasure, Mike!

@MikeH_PR Год назад

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar I did too - I got the Lehle Mono 👍

@ErwinLeader 3 года назад

Is there one that you recommend for both active electric guitars and acoustic electric guitar?

@softpillow9596 3 года назад

Hey Antoine! Wonderful video! I have the Morley Little Alligator volume pedal. Do you have an opinion about that pedal?

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

Never tried it, but I love optical pedals and I've heard good things of it!

@anouargmusic Год назад

Well explained, thank you! I was wondering whether I need to throw a pedal from my pedal board to have a free slot on my power supply again if I buy a volume pedal.

@caseyspaos448 3 года назад

I'm thinking of buying a multi effects pedal like the NuX 300 just for the expression pedal, looper and drum machine. I'll keep using my analog fx pedals. What do you think?

@Zamus1964 2 года назад

hello! I am curious what the effect would be if only the volume pedal was inserted into the effects loop of an amp.....

@florintudose4188 4 месяца назад

Thank you for drtail

@milosgrujic7228 2 года назад

Acoustic electric guitare with active pickup and great wish to create ambiental sweels in my music..im looking for boss fv500 volume pedal but is it better fv500L(low impedance) or fv500H(high impedance) for my case ? Tnx for your video!!!

@nball461 Год назад

Question for you sir - if I’m adding it into my amps fx loop after the pre amp section of the amp is there still just as much tone loss with a passive?

@MikhailMedvedev 3 года назад

and now!... what's gonna happen if we put a passive VP after a pedal?!))) let\s say Compressor pedal... personally I think placing VP after a compressor is a better way for volume swells (the other way a compressor tries hard to make the initial quiet part of the swell much louder which is now what we want) ... I think of buying any active Morley VP now - there asr some used pedals with affordable prices nearby

@exterC0ffx Год назад

Tone suckered is contingent on many more factors than just a volume pedal. The quality of our patch cables and where we place the effect in the signal chain. I've run both Mission and Ernie Ball volume and expression pedals for years and they are comparable in unique ways, like, if you still run a TC G system limited brand volume and expression behave properly. Plug that ernie ball into a G system there will be issues. Otherwise I run two 250k ernie ball pedals into my rack via my Ground Control switcher. No issues there, and you don't need to work hard for tone. As our friend said it would've been good to compare these pedal straight into your amp.

@Isra_Saberhagen 3 года назад

What if I use loop effect? Which one is better 25k or 250k?

@dmitricarabetchi4269 3 года назад

I think it comes down to this - if you have a buffer somewhere before your passive VP, you're good. If you want your volume pedal to act as a buffer as well - go for the active.

@hussstuart 2 года назад

He never mentions volume pedal placement in the signal chain 🤔 where you put it has a huge impact and not just on tone suck.

@mattofthemountain 2 года назад

I recall this being the case for me as well, I could never hear any tone suck with my passive VP Jr after buffered overdrives, even using the tuner output.

@davenessien734 3 года назад

Hello Antoine excellent video with a clear definition and great example between the two styles of pedals. In your opinion what pedal would you recommend I pair with my TC Electronic Alter Ego times 4? Cheers!

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

A reverb pedal to pair it with would be sweet! I would highly recommend you check out the Neunaber Immerse MkII which is one of my favorites!

@davenessien734 3 года назад

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Thank you for taking the time to respond, much appreciated. I should have been more specific. What "volume pedal" would you recommend? I don't perform live I only play at home as a hobby. My only pedal that I have at this time is the TC Electronic Alter Ego time 4. I am trying to build a budget board. So would you recommend an "Active" or "Passive" volume pedal?. Also a brand that might be budget friendly? Once again thank you! PS I am a member of your KORDZ program.

@terencebrian9490 2 года назад

Can I use the active volume pedal with my acoustic guitar? Thank you Antoine!! 🎸❤️🎸❤️ Ps the guitar pickup on my guitar is passive

@mccrustic 3 года назад

Hello Antoine, im looking for a volume pedal to add as a first pedal in chain to server as volume control instead of the knobs on guitar, and the thing im looking for is with a overdriven tone as you turn down the volume the signal cleans up. Will there be a significant difference between the passive and active volume pedal used in this setting?

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

It all depends if you found there was a big difference between passive and active in my sound clips or not. I'd personally go for an active pedal just to make sure there won't be any tone suck (especially since you want to use the volume pedal to control your overdriven tone). Passive pedals can be sensitive to what is placed after them, so active is probably a better decision.

@mccrustic 3 года назад

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Nice, active it is :-), thanks for the quick response

@chuckwoods9297 3 года назад

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar I also want to use the pedal for volume control to practice with a 20 watt tube amp in a small room with active pickups, so what about the Ernie ball anniversary edition, it is active and passive?

@Pascal270 3 года назад

Hello Antoine Do you know if I should use an active volume pedal with my EMG pickups, if I only use it in my effect loop? Thank you by advance!

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

If you have active pickups, an active volume pedal is recommended because it can take both active or passive pickups just as well. If you absolutely need to get a passive volume pedal, make sure you choose a model between 25-50k.

@Pascal270 3 года назад

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Thank you so very much, Antoine!

@prcc Год назад

Interesting! What about pedal boards that use a preamp like the JHS Clover at the beginning of the signal chain? Would that bring a passive pedal to the performance level of an active, and should one use a volume pedal intended for active pickups in that scenario, as the preamp is effectively turning passive pickups into active ones from the perspective of the volume pedal being placed after the preamp?

@gilguajardo7808 6 месяцев назад

I never see anyone really answer this question. I only use passive pickups, but my VP is always placed between my buffered OD pedals and my delay pedals. That’s also where most of the musicians I know place them. So… isn’t that as active of a signal as active pickups would create?? Idk. And idk why videos like this don’t mention such an obvious scenario.

@bruhdamartinasty3636 2 года назад

Geez, I thought this was going to be an easy decision. I thought the only question was going to be about which Ernie Ball volume pedal I should get. But after watching this video, I don't want any passive pedal. Wow. Nothing is easy!

@qua7771 2 года назад

That's no lie. It seems like every little thing takes days of research. Otherwise, it's like pissing in the wind.

@samuelnicolay6460 2 года назад

Just use a buffer or a buffered pedal before your EB and it will roughly act as a buffered pedal.

@joebowbeer 4 месяца назад

Another kind of volume pedal is an expression pedal, and another kind sends MIDI (CC 7). Thoughts on using either of these?

@user-bz4hh4oh3t 6 месяцев назад

Thnx

@vipingaur6332 3 года назад

Antuaan...one question. What if I place a passive volume pedal after a buffer (say Polytune + bonafide buffer)? Will the tone improve?

@Maxu88 2 года назад

The tone will improve when pedal is placed after a buffer.

@admonpolus6214 2 года назад

You are a great man, nice explanation, thank you🌹👏🍃🎸🌹🎼☑️👏 I am number 800 👏👍🌹🍃

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 2 года назад

Thanks, Admon :-)

@tendingtropic7778 Год назад

thanks for this. almost bought a passive one. anyone have experience with the dunlop dvp4? how's the tone suck on that one?

@marcuslewitzki4610 4 месяца назад

I think I'd like to get a passive-aggressive volume pedal 🤔

@davidodea2116 Год назад

Very helpfull! i still have a doubt: which is the difference between a low or a high impedance volume pedal?

@montyrayza7220 9 месяцев назад

Low impedance one is for a mic or anything low impedance and a High impedance one is for a guitar, keyboard or anything else high impedance.

@zandig666 Год назад

Dang son that chorus echo delay pedal thingy is wiked what is it ??????? Thanks for highlighting the tone loss !!!🤟🤟

@RicardoMartinez-or1wu 3 года назад

Dude the video was awesome!! And I already subscribed but I have some questions and I hope you answer me please!! I need a volumen pedal but I'm in 2 options ernie ball VPJR tuner & volume or the mission engineering VM pro buffered In your experience which one you prefer or recomend??...I really want the most high Quality and no loss gain I really need your opinion so I can buy my pedal...thanks dude and I hope you answer me!!

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

Both seem like great options! In my case, I love my Mission Engineering, it's almost as if it enhances my sound (I find my guitar sounds even better than when I play through my volume pedal vs. with my amps without any pedals). So I can definitely recommend it!

@RicardoMartinez-or1wu 3 года назад

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar thanks for the answers dude!! Say no more, I'm goin for the mission engineering pedal!!...the red one too haha Keep doing this videos ...they really help and you answers helps a lot!!

@samuelnicolay6460 2 года назад

I really suspect that the tone suck comes from the entire signal chain and not from the passive pedal itself. You should have tested your rig without any volume pedal in the signal chain. Adding a buffered volume pedal solved the problem. As a consequence, adding a buffer or a buffered pedal before the passive volume pedal should also resolve most of the tone suck. Passive volume pedals have been used for years and the problems of impedance (aka tone suck) are well understood and solutions exist.

@aletondaX Год назад

He also used a chorus when demoing the active pedal, which he didn't use when demoing the passive one 🤡

@ZachisSublime Год назад

What about putting the passive pedal at the end of the chain to act as a master volume? It would have several buffers before it in my case

@mustardjay Год назад

buffers also plays a huge factor

@rickcurtis2983 Год назад

Good job my friend, like 999!

@user-cf7bt9jw2p 2 месяца назад

Vpjr is so smooth..

@Sharkbait173 9 месяцев назад

Is it a tone suck or a volume suck though? You’re not quite losing tone, you’re losing gain. Am I wrong? A boost pedal should help if you have one handy. Right?

@Relayer6a Год назад

The active tone was better. Especially the first test with just the clean guitar. But a huge difference to me was how the passive was smoother from no volume on the fade ins. The active one seemed like it didn't fade in from silence as well. It was more abrupt at the start of the volume swell from silence to audible. Also what was the signal chain? More specifically what guitar? Where they single coil or humbuckers? I'm thinking single, but hard to be sure. Another question, If you wanted to use the volume control as a "master volume" at the end of the pedal board, which should you use, or would it matter? I realize this vid is 2 years old and you might not see this. Thanks

@aydenmarrocco2716 7 месяцев назад

It depends on whether your signal is well buffered already or not, but having a good buffer at the end of your chain is a solid move

@Relayer6a 7 месяцев назад

@@aydenmarrocco2716 Thanks. Makes sense.

@Relayer6a 7 месяцев назад

@@aydenmarrocco2716 It's been a while since I posted that question. My concern was would the front end of the amp rather see a "guitar load" like a passive pedal would give it, 1000s of Ω rather than a ~100Ω buffered load?

@Powagoat 3 года назад

I have one chapman stick with active pickups and one with passive... I didn't want to have to think about the problem so I bought an active ernie ball mvp pedal

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

Great decision!

@earlbucklin8323 7 месяцев назад

Great

@andrewlong6991 3 года назад

Adding in a MXR Micro Amp or like device before the volume pedal will eliminate the tone suck on a passive volume pedal.

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

I used to have a MXR Micro Amp 12 years ago. One of my first pedals! Eliminate might not be the right word, though. 'Compensate' for the tone suck might be more appropriate, because the MXR is not 'really' going to eliminate it.

@leryalamar 3 года назад

what if I have a buffer on my signal chain? will it compensate the tone loss from a passive volume pedal?

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

It could help, but in the examples of this video, many of my other pedals on my board were in buffered bypass mode, and I still got some significant loss!

@leryalamar 3 года назад

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar I see, thanks! Awesome content!

@lalnuntluangachhakchhuak5767 Год назад

which pedal is that stereo reverb?

@slesher84 3 года назад

There are so many nuances in the formation of a guitar tone ... More than once I regret that I started to master the guitar mastery. The bass is much easier. Above practice more, and not think about the tone.

@batuksri 2 года назад

No tone suck if you had used that white TC Elect tuner before the EB pedal because its also a buffer.

@danielhoughton378 3 года назад

wait so if I have a guitar with passive pickups can I still use and active pedal?

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

Yes, no problem with that. That's what I personally do (passive pickup and active pedal).

@Stratcat1967 Год назад

What was your tone before any of the two pedals were put in-line? Did the active pedal add to your tone?

@AntoineMichaudGuitar Год назад

Very good question, and something I should have included in the video. Yes, the active pedal added a little boost to my tone and signal.

@ventsislavdosev 8 месяцев назад

25K or 250K for fx loop amp?

@user-yk9tb3ob1k 5 месяцев назад

Hmmm…I’m a steel player. George Thorogood, maybe?

@Pingu65716 3 года назад

If you were to place the passive volume pedal at the end of your pedal line, would tone be affected negatively? Or is it only if you recycle the output of the passive pedal through multiple pedals after it?

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

The thing is: you don't want the volume pedal at the end of your chain, cause that would kill the repeats/feedback/decay of any time-based effects/delays/reverbs you have as soon as you pull the pedal back up. So to me, even if that helped a little with the tone suck, that wouldn't be a good solution.

@Pingu65716 3 года назад

@@AntoineMichaudGuitar Thanks, will definitely be getting an active pedal then

@steamslint 3 года назад

Hi there, The Ernie ball's vp Jr 25k active volume, Is a passive as well. I wonder if you would get a tone such as well.

@TheLostHarmony 3 года назад

Loved my Ernie Ball, but it crackles and makes me sad :(

@AntoineMichaudGuitar 3 года назад

I guess there's another point here: is the pedal durable? Lots of people have problems with Ernie Ball's because of the string breaking or just a little bit of dust causing all sorts of problems.