Review: Black Mountain Volume Pedal
Compact, durable, and versatile – a fresh take on volume pedals for precise control and performance.
By Preshan John
23 October 2024
A nice volume pedal is easily among the most under-appreciated components of a guitarist’s toolkit. It’s not fancy, but it’s functional.
Black Mountain has uniquely reimagined the ubiquitous ‘expression pedal’ format of a volume pedal and turned it into a wheel instead.
The first result of this fundamental design alteration is a substantial reduction in the pedal’s footprint (excuse the pun). But small pedals can be less stable. Thankfully this isn’t the case with the Black Mountain Volume Pedal. The rubberised flat lobes on the front and back keep it firmly planted and resistant to back and forth movement when your foot pulls and pushes the central wheel.
IN POSITION
As with any volume pedal, the BMVP’s function changes depending on where you position it in your signal chain: before your amp (to control the input level driving your amp); after your amp but before your effects (to control the level feeding reverbs, delays, etc. while preserving amp gain and tone); or right at the output (essentially a fader that controls the entire level of your rig).
The ergonomics of the Black Mountain Volume Pedal are fantastic. Hard kicks and knocks won’t phase this thing in the slightest. It’s built tough. The main wheel, the jacks, the switch all feel reassuringly solid.
Operating the BMVP felt instinctive (at least for me) but that’s not to say I didn’t need to practise using it. The wheel has a smooth feel with little resistance. This makes quick, stabby tremolo-type movements just as easy as slow, epic ambient swells. Using it while sitting felt easier and less fatiguing than while standing up, as the latter requires you to lean more weight onto your other foot to smoothly glide the wheel back and forth. In this case, a hinged expression pedal is probably more forgiving on stage, however, the extended travel of a wheel allows for more precise control.
Make sure your first contact with the wheel is at the right spot or you won’t have enough ‘footspace’ for the entire travel of the knob. The rule of thumb is to place the ball of your foot on top of the knob when it’s wound back to 0. For me (I’m a size 9), this comfortably equated to the knob reaching a full 10 just at the top of my heel.
One thing to keep in mind: wear flat-soled shoes. The first time I took the BMVP to a band rehearsal I made the mistake of wearing sneakers with deeply grooved rubber soles which made it near impossible to operate the volume knob smoothly. Even something with a slight heel like boots or formal shoes can be a challenge. Wear shoes with flat soles from top to bottom and you’re good to go.
EXTRAS
A switch on the front changes the volume change from linear to a tapered curve. You’ll probably find your playing style naturally gravitates towards one or the other based on how you use a volume pedal. For me, I enjoyed the curved Audio Taper setting with big reverbs and modulated delays where ambient swells rush at you more dramatically.
Another thoughtful addition is the Tuner output which splits the incoming signal. Use it to feed a second amp, record a DI track, or of course, leave it connected to a tuner. Even more options become possible based on where it sits in your chain, too. Note the Tuner output is a direct feed from the input therefore remains active regardless of the position of the wheel.
I also appreciate the numbers on the wheel which allow you to recall wheel positions. The most practical application is if you want to reduce the output of a guitar with hot pickups. I could wind it back to 8 when using my PRS to match the output of my Strat at 10 and maintain a similar level going into the amp stage.
All in all, the Black Mountain Volume Pedal is a solid addition to a pedalboard. Once you’ve adjusted to the different foot-feel, it offers a satisfying means of creative volume control for any guitarist. Just make sure you’re rocking those flat soles!
This a great review! Just want to mention that Jack White is touring around the world as we speak and he’s using the the black mountain roller wheel pedals standing up every night with no issues at all. The pedal is built very strong and can take hundreds of pounds of pressure. It’s a common misconception that you can’t stand and use it, but with a little practice it’s actually quite easy. Thank you for the great review! : )