Volume & Expression Effects Pedals

When you want to control the sound of your guitar on the fly, your pedals are the way to go. From adding effects to managing your signal routing, there's a pedal for everything. Some of the most basic, yet powerful, of these are volume and expression effects pedals. Despite their simplicity, these pedals can have a huge impact on your performance. Volume pedals belong to the 'dynamics' family of effects pedals, changing the volume of your guitar by altering the amplitude of the audio signal. You're not likely to be playing within arm's reach of your amplifier's volume dial, so these pedals are a must-have for adjusting volume during the performance. You may use your volume pedal as a booster to prevent signal loss in a long chain of effects pedals, or use it to crank up the volume when it's time to nail that solo. In some cases, volume and expression effects pedals are one and the same. Multiple outputs allow you to control volume and effects separately—or, if you feel so inclined, both at once. An expression pedal is designed to accompany a multi-effects unit, amplifier or synthesizer that supports it. In a setup like this, the pedal gives you precise control over such things as the frequency of wah effects or the rate and time of modulation and delay effects. Build quality is important for volume and expression effects pedals, and it's a smart idea to choose one that will stand up to repeated use. Only you know how hard you are on your gear, so only you can decide which pedal is durable enough for your needs. High-quality pedals with metal construction are the norm, so you won't have to look far to find a pedal that can take some punishment. Your volume and expression effects pedals put the most important characteristics of your sound directly into your control. Whether you're spicing up your sound with effects or turning yourself "up to 11" for a solo, these pedals give you the tools to make the most of your setup.