Al Krow Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Finding myself with several pedals on my board that are expression pedal enabled. Currently have a budget Valeton EP2 which is a passive volume and expression pedal and is a nice intro bit of kit, but I suspect there are (significantly?) better ones out there. Be really interested to hear from you on your recommendations for an excellent expression pedal, plus any to avoid! Cheers, AK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 The Dunlop DVP4 is the best I've used - fits nice next to the Helix HX Stomp as well: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 I have a small red Hotone, that is reasonably light in weight. It has two other functions that I do not use. As long as the size is not an issue, passive pedals are practically identical. The only bigger difference is the passive pot, lower or higher impedance. Another thing is the reliability, so sometimes metal may be better in harsh conditions, but this depends. These are good, they say: https://missionengineering.com/product-category/products/expression/ but this is special: https://www.sourceaudio.net/reflex-expression-controller.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 @dannybuoycould I get you to elaborate on what was it about the Dunlop DVP4 you particularly liked? Also be very interested in which other ones you've tried and why the Dunlop bested them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 I haven't had many, just the Moog EP-2 and Hotone. The Moog felt cheap and creaky, and the Hotone too small with limited travel. I like the build quality on the Dunlop - it's solid as a rock, with a great thick tread rubber on top, and it does not flex or creak at all. It does not use any pots or bits of string (like the Ernie Ball pedals), just a solid mechanism that'll seems like it'll never wear out or need recalibrating. Even though it's a mini pedal, it has a very wide range of motion (more than a traditional wah enclosure) and doesn't feel small under the foot, although they so make full size versions too of course! The jacks are all up top to save space, plus it can be used as a volume pedal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiophonic Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 It depends. I use a Source Audio one because it has dual outputs (plus I need the annoying Source Audio connector for the Manta). It's proved to be fairly bombproof so far. Our guitar player was using a Moog, which was cheaper but it developed a fault whereby the pedal being controlled would only see the full range of the expression if you moved the treadle slowly. Too fast and suddenly you lost half the range. Our other guitarist uses the mini Hotone (the red one they do) but hates it. Before I had the SA one, I just used a low impedance Boss FV30L volume pedal. Since it's stereo, you can control two pedals with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 So I guess the important questions are - are there any features you need above and beyond a basic expression pedal, and do you want a mini one or happy to go full size? I wanted a basic mini one so went with the DVP4. But if you're happy with full size, might want to control more than one pedal with it, or link it to any Source Audio pedals, the SA would be the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 On 20/10/2019 at 10:35, Al Krow said: Finding myself with several pedals on my board that are expression pedal enabled. Currently have a budget Valeton EP2 which is a passive volume and expression pedal and is a nice intro bit of kit, but I suspect there are (significantly?) better ones out there. Be really interested to hear from you on your recommendations for an excellent expression pedal, plus any to avoid! Cheers, AK How bizarre. ive been thinking over the weekend about asking this myself. Although i dont need one id like to get a cheap but decent one to play with at home with my Stomp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) 19 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said: How bizarre. ive been thinking over the weekend about asking this myself. Although i dont need one id like to get a cheap but decent one to play with at home with my Stomp. One of us is clearly having a bad influence on the other...😁 Well there's going to be a Valeton EP2 (in vgc) coming up for sale in the near future and you're welcome to have first dibs. No idea how well it will work with the Stomp (as I'm using mine mainly with my Boss SY-1), so you're very welcome to have a try out first. Edited October 21, 2019 by Al Krow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 10 minutes ago, Al Krow said: One of us is clearly having a bad influence on the other...😁 Well there's going to be a Valeton EP2 (in vgc) coming up for sale in the near future and you're welcome to have first dibs. No idea how well it will work with the Stomp (as I'm using mine mainly with my Boss SY-1), so you're very welcome to have a try out first. Cheers Bas. i was looking at the M-Audio EXP, which is only £14 on Amazon. I know no one here would recommend it, but i just want to see if i have a use for something like this first Then ill see what you end up with, based on this thread, and get the same lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) My current faves are - Ernie Ball volume pedal with insert cable. (Rubbish as a wah though, unmatchable for control over smooth transitions and volumes) Mission Engineering (General purpose and useful as a wah) The Reflex is great - especially if you need the multiple outs and space saving on the pedal boards. Obviously none of these are particularly cheap options... but its worth knowing that you can take a volume pedal and pair it with an insert cable to use an expression pedal* * Make sure whatever you use it with can set the max and min input ranges. Edited October 21, 2019 by EBS_freak 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Im now thinking about this one, as its designed to work with the Helix (which is what i want it for). https://missionengineering.com/shop-2/products/expression/specific-use-exp/sp1-l6h/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 15 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said: Im now thinking about this one, as its designed to work with the Helix (which is what i want it for). https://missionengineering.com/shop-2/products/expression/specific-use-exp/sp1-l6h/ It's a good shout. They're probably the best all round choice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 They do look handy in that they offer a switch as well as the expression in one unit. Saves tapdancing to turn a wah on or off! They also seem to offer a specialised pedal for nearly every brand going. I just looked up the specs for their Kemper / Eleven / Line6 models for example, all are 10K linear pots with a momentary switch, but otherwise look indentical. The cynic in me says it's a marketing ploy to sell more pedals - you'll choose Mission because they designed a pedal just for your unit, then you'll buy a different unit and end up buying a 2nd Mission pedal for that one! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 I'm sure it's the guy from Mission who is selling the specialist Helix Stomp power units... proclaiming that despite the evidence proving otherwise, the competitors psus don't supply enough power. I kinda take what the guy says with a pinch of salt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 17 minutes ago, dannybuoy said: They do look handy in that they offer a switch as well as the expression in one unit. Saves tapdancing to turn a wah on or off! They also seem to offer a specialised pedal for nearly every brand going. I just looked up the specs for their Kemper / Eleven / Line6 models for example, all are 10K linear pots with a momentary switch, but otherwise look indentical. The cynic in me says it's a marketing ploy to sell more pedals - you'll choose Mission because they designed a pedal just for your unit, then you'll buy a different unit and end up buying a 2nd Mission pedal for that one! Ive never owned an Expression pedal, so take this as coming from someone who doesn't know what they are talking about, but with the Helix stuff there is the heel and toe areas. Maybe with is just different terminology but im guessing a pedal has to support these features for the Stomp to use them. If not then ill look elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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