Help with Volume/Wah/Expression Pedals

[shadoogie]

Hi Everyone,
As a total novice I am confused as to the uses of the three types of pedal descriptions - WAH - Volume - Expression

I am trying to achieve the sound used in numbers like "Evening Comes" where the notes are "blended and flowed" (for want of a better description.
I have a volume pedal but that does not seem to achieve that sort of sound - it adjust the volume only. I am considering a Dunlop Cry Baby WAH pedal - is that the sort of thing needed. And is an "Expression" pedal the same thing.

Sorry to perhaps seem "thick" but I am sure experts out there could make a simple explanation and guide me and other as to what is recommended to achieve the "Hank" sound rather than the "Heavy Metal" distorted sound from a WAH type pedal.

I am using a ZOOM G2.1u with Charlies EFTP Patches through to a Fender Mustang 1 amp set as "clean" as I can get it.

Many thanks

Geoff

[JohnJ]

Hi Geoff i have a Fender swell (volume)pedal i bought around 1970 it has done a lot of work and is still going very well the only thing i ever replaced is the string line that works the volume pot amd that was only once in all that time i have had it , i believe that it has just been reissued as a volume only or volume/tone (wah), I don't know the price but i believe it is not dear

John

[noelford]

Geoff, a Volume/Swell Pedal does just what it says on the tin, usually from zero to full volume and allowing you, with practice, to produce that violining effect. This is achieved by having the pedal fully up (no volume) as you strike the string and then smoothly pressing the pedal down to allow the note to sound. This eliminates that percussive twang that you normally get as you pick the string.

A Wah pedal does what the name sounds like, going from very dull to very toppy treble. Quite aggressive and not recommended for melodic instrumentals.

A combined Volume and Tone pedal (Fender produce one) usually works with an up and down and side to side action, and produces an effect similar to a wah pedal but much more subtle and gentle, bringing the volume up from zero to full and the tone up from bass to normal treble.

An Expression pedal is normally connected to a processor or amp with digital effects and can usually be programmed to fulfil various functions.

Hope this helps

Noel

[TonyL]

Hi Geoff

I've got almost the same setup as you (original Zoom G2) with the addition of a Zoom FP02 foot pedal which allows me to play Cavatina, Somewhere etc. I've only got it set to control the Volume but looking at the instructions for the G2 it can be set to control a number of other effects (not that I've tried).

Incidentally what settings are you using on the Mustang?

[shadoogie]

Many thanks Noel & John,

That has cleared up my mis-understandings of what the different pedals do.

Tony, my Mustang 1 Amp settings for "Clean" so that the Zoom effect pedal sounds better is as follows:-

Amp is set as Fender '65 Twin Reverb
Gain 5 / Volume 10 / Treble 1 / Middle 8 / Bass 9

No other setting at all - no added delays/reverbs or whatever.

Regards

Geoff

[TonyL]

Thanks Geoff, sounds good to me.