High-impedance (volume) pedal for volume control and/or as expression pedal?

  • Hello, I intend to use a Boss FV-30H high-impedance vomlue pedal with the Kemper head.

    1. is such a high-impedance pedal appropriate for the Kemper head or rather a low-impedance pedal?

    2. can one use a volume pedal as an expression pedal (Wah for example)?

    Would appreciate some feed-back.

    Have a great day.

  • High impedance is correct for an analog volume pedal with guitar.

    A volume pedal is generally not a good choice to use as an expression pedal as expression pedals have linear taper pots but volume pedals have logarithmic (audio) taper pots. You would need to rewire the output for a TRS (stereo) cable to make it work. When using a modified volume pedal as an expression pedal you tend to end up with all the adjustment available only in a very small area of the travel then everything drops off a cliff.

    Some volume pedals (such as FV500) have two pots and separate outs to allow them to be used in either situation but it doesn’t look like the FV30 is one of them.

  • Yes some volume pedals handle expression perfectly because they were designed to. I have both the Boss FV-500H & FV-500L. They both have dedicated exp. jacks. But the 30 series is not capable.

    The 500 series prices aren't kind, but I found one at a goodwill for $35 and the other from Japan for $30 just days apart. But regardless, these have to be the most rugged and robust pedals I've ever stepped on. Even more solid than good old Crybaby housings. They are incredibly designed so I can see their MSRP's being fair. But if you can grab one used, jump on it.

    "No socks? No problem."

  • Yes some volume pedals handle expression perfectly because they were designed to. I have both the Boss FV-500H & FV-500L. They both have dedicated exp. jacks. But the 30 series is not capable.

    The 500 series prices aren't kind, but I found one at a goodwill for $35 and the other from Japan for $30 just days apart. But regardless, these have to be the most rugged and robust pedals I've ever stepped on. Even more solid than good old Crybaby housings. They are incredibly designed so I can see their MSRP's being fair. But if you can grab one used, jump on it.

    Many people love the FV500 including Bert Meulendijk. I bought one on his recommendation and agree they are unbelievably solid. However, I no longer use it as I hate the dead spot at each end of the travel which can’t be dialled out. They are also enormous and weigh more than a small planet 🤣

    Spantik7000 I can highly recommend themZoom FP02M as a great expression pedal at a reasonable price.

  • Many people love the FV500 including Bert Meulendijk. I bought one on his recommendation and agree they are unbelievably solid. However, I no longer use it as I hate the dead spot at each end of the travel which can’t be dialed out. They are also enormous and weigh more than a small planet 🤣

    I wonder why you have dead-spots? Yes the mass of these pedals can create their own gravity fields. :D

    "No socks? No problem."

  • I wonder why you have dead-spots? Yes the mass of these pedals can create their own gravity fields. :D

    The dead spots are there by design apparently. The tread moves a little before the pot kicks in. I tried to adjust the pot position etc but nothing works. The only way to fox it is to put some sort of physical stop (like a bit of rubber or something) under toe and heel.

  • The dead spots are there by design apparently. The tread moves a little before the pot kicks in. I tried to adjust the pot position etc but nothing works. The only way to fox it is to put some sort of physical stop (like a bit of rubber or something) under toe and heel.

    I don't have dead-zones. I just opened one up to look at the mechanism and the motion of the pot is 1:1 with the treadle. ?(

    "No socks? No problem."

  • I don't have dead-zones. I just opened one up to look at the mechanism and the motion of the pot is 1:1 with the treadle. ?(

    That’s interesting to hear. The dead zones are part of the design and are well reported by many users. Even C Kemper mentioned this in one of the posts on this forum. It crops up on forums for other devices too including the Fractal forum. In my case I know they exist from personal experience but it seems I am not alone. I wonder if you just got lucky or if yours were modified before you bought them.

  • That’s interesting to hear. The dead zones are part of the design and are well reported by many users. Even C Kemper mentioned this in one of the posts on this forum. It crops up on forums for other devices too including the Fractal forum. In my case I know they exist from personal experience but it seems I am not alone. I wonder if you just got lucky or if yours were modified before you bought them.

    Really strange. It doesn't seem modified at all. Could it be that the rubber bits under the toe and heel are worn down on yours? Or the pots need some contact cleaner? I'm looking up some of the reports you mentioned. The only thing I saw different in others' pictures was the appearance of the pot itself. Theirs look very normal and generic dual pots. Mine looks more like a rotary switch. It's housed in a black finish. Maybe Boss changed them at some point? What the heck would be the purpose of this intended design? So strange...

    "No socks? No problem."

  • For owners of the Boss FV-500H pedal, it would need to be re-wired to be used as an expression pedal (despite having an expression output which works fine with e.g. Line 6), as it only supports mono signal (TS cable). The low impedance variant (FV-500L) can be used as it is wired for stereo (TRS cable). So, the only way how to use FV-500H as the volume pedal is to include it in the chain through the effect loop. Yes, it takes one slot of the chain but works well, no issues so far.

    Edited once, last by JurajJ (September 9, 2024 at 1:26 PM).

  • For owners of the Boss FV-500H pedal, it would need to be re-wired to be used as an expression pedal (despite having an expression output which works fine with e.g. Line 6), as it only supports mono signal (TS cable). The low impedance variant (FV-500L) can be used as it is wired for stereo (TRS cable). So, the only way how to use FV-500H as the volume pedal is to include it in the chain through the effect loop. Yes, it takes one slot of the chain but works well, no issues so far.

    That’s strange. According to the Boss FV500H manual it should be a 1/4” TRS on the expression pedal out so should work fine with the Kemper.

  • For owners of the Boss FV-500H pedal, it would need to be re-wired to be used as an expression pedal (despite having an expression output which works fine with e.g. Line 6), as it only supports mono signal (TS cable). The low impedance variant (FV-500L) can be used as it is wired for stereo (TRS cable). So, the only way how to use FV-500H as the volume pedal is to include it in the chain through the effect loop. Yes, it takes one slot of the chain but works well, no issues so far.

    Ummmmm. No, not quite.

    It depends on the Min Vol control on the side of the pedal. At 0 its a the pedal works as a TRS expression pedal, while at 100% its a TS Exp pedal. I use these pedals with devices that need TS (line 6 Helix) and TRS exp peds (EHX Hog etc) - it can work with both.

    An alternative to the BOSS FVH500 is the Behringer FC600 which is a spot on copy of the FV500 (and just as indestructible)

  • Ummmmm. No, not quite.

    It depends on the Min Vol control on the side of the pedal. At 0 its a the pedal works as a TRS expression pedal, while at 100% its a TS Exp pedal. I use these pedals with devices that need TS (line 6 Helix) and TRS exp peds (EHX Hog etc) - it can work with both.

    An alternative to the BOSS FVH500 is the Behringer FC600 which is a spot on copy of the FV500 (and just as indestructible)

    Wow. That’s good to know. I didn’t realise it could work with both TRs and TS devices. That’s a cool feature 👍

  • I don't think its actually a feature - rather a happy accident - its just the way the min volume affects the perceived end point of the pedal sweep. On startup I sometimes have to do a 0-100% sweep to make the pedal / device calibrate - which isn't a lot of work.

    Also - I may have the 0-TRS / 100 TS bit around the wrong way - I'm writing from memory - but they are definitely TRS EXP pedals which can do TS.

    NB - the Behringer FC600 felt like a better pedal too.