Mark V: BOSS Volume/Expression Pedal FV500L vs. FV500H?

[BrownieD2W]

I am having a bit of difficulty figuring out what I want. I am trying to buy a volume/expression pedal to go with my new Pitchfork pedal. The Boss FV500L and FV500H look like they might be my best bet for a volume and expression pedal 2-in-1 configuration. I have a few questions before I actually place the order.

My main two guitars have high-output passive pickups, my backup has EMG's. I want to use the BOSS V/Exp pedal as both a Volume Pedal for swells and an Expression pedal for my Pitchfork.

Question 1) Can you use this pedal as both a Volume and Expression pedal without one effect drastically interfering with the other? Will using the Expression Pedal function result in Volume differences?

Question 2) Do I want the FV500L (Low-Impedance 25k Ohm pot) or the FV500H (High-Impedance 250K Ohm Pot) for my configuration?

Question 3) Would I be using this pedal more in the FX-Loop of the Mark V, or would it be better suited out front?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LesPaul70]

I have a Boss FV500 pedal but your questions are so specific I don't know the answers. :lol: Maybe you should try asking on a Boss/Roland forum?
In fact, I'm not even sure which version I have, I'm using it only as an expression pedal for dive bombs with my PS-6 Harmonist (and fixed-bridge Gibsons).

Using it as an expression pedal and a volume pedal at the same time does not sound like a good idea to me. How would that even work? There's no way to tell the pedal not to do volume swells when you are using it as an expression pedal.
I don't have the manual in front of me, but I don't recall seeing that in the suggested use scenarios, so I assume it's either-or anyway.

If you want to use it as a volume pedal (to control your overall volume level), I would definitely place it in the loop. If you place it in front of your amp, it will work somewhat like your guitar volume control - turn it down, and your sound changes, you also lose preamp gain. Of course, if that's what you want to accomplish, then in front is the correct answer.

As for the pedal itself, it is pretty big and heavy, and sturdy enough. Hasn't let me down so far. I also like that you can adjust its feel. I like a very light feel - makes those whammy bar trick emulations easier and more realistic-sounding.

One important thing to notice: when using the Boss as an expression pedal, it expects a stereo plug/cable. If you are using an ordinary mono plug cable, you get very limited effect range.

 

[BrownieD2W]

I have a Boss FV500 pedal but your questions are so specific I don't know the answers. :lol: Maybe you should try asking on a Boss/Roland forum?
In fact, I'm not even sure which version I have, I'm using it only as an expression pedal for dive bombs with my PS-6 Harmonist (and fixed-bridge Gibsons).

Using it as an expression pedal and a volume pedal at the same time does not sound like a good idea to me. How would that even work? There's no way to tell the pedal not to do volume swells when you are using it as an expression pedal.
I don't have the manual in front of me, but I don't recall seeing that in the suggested use scenarios, so I assume it's either-or anyway.

If you want to use it as a volume pedal (to control your overall volume level), I would definitely place it in the loop. If you place it in front of your amp, it will work somewhat like your guitar volume control - turn it down, and your sound changes, you also lose preamp gain. Of course, if that's what you want to accomplish, then in front is the correct answer.

As for the pedal itself, it is pretty big and heavy, and sturdy enough. Hasn't let me down so far. I also like that you can adjust its feel. I like a very light feel - makes those whammy bar trick emulations easier and more realistic-sounding.

One important thing to notice: when using the Boss as an expression pedal, it expects a stereo plug/cable. If you are using an ordinary mono plug cable, you get very limited effect range.

As far as I can tell, the Boss FV500L is for stereo use and comes with 2-Inputs/Outputs, 1 Turner Out, and 1 Expression jack. The FV500H is for mono use and comes with 1-Input/Output, 1 Turner Out, and 1 Expression jack. The primary difference is the potentiometer. The FV500L comes with a 25k Ohm Pot, and the FV500H comes with a 250K Ohm Pot. From what I could find out about it, the expression function on both pedals is the same, with a separate 10k Omh pot for this purpose. What I don't know/understand, is whether or not you could use the pedal as a Volume pedal the majority of the time and then make a relatively simple change like plugging-in or unplugging a cable from the Expression jack? Or do the two pot's somehow operate independently? When the signal is received from the Expression jack it overrides the volume pot/function? I don't know, I'm just spitballin' here.

I will most likely be using this pedal as an Expression Pedal for my new Pitchfork, but I would like to have the option of using it as a volume pedal when the need/urge arises. So with my Mesa Mark V, two guitars with high-output passive pickups, and my new Pitchfork (Octave/Pitchshifter/Detuner) Pedal, which of the two versions of the Boss FV500 would best suit my needs? Or should I perhaps be considering another pedal/(s) as potentially better options?

FV500H: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/boss-fv-500h-mono-volume-pedal
FV500L: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/boss-fv-500l-stereo-volume-pedal

BOSS US: http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=697

Without having them right in front of me I can't check to see if this separate Exp Pot, Volume Pot, configuration is accurate. But several people on other boards discussing the use of the BOSS FV500 claim that the pots are separate. I also understand that the Expression Pot needs to be Linear (Marked A on the Pot) instead of Logarithmic (Marked B on the Pot) in order to work correctly with my Pitchfork?

 

[LesPaul70]

Ah, yes. In that case, I have the mono version.

In my experience, the pedal position determines the pot value directly. For example, if I forget to pull it up and then connect it as an expression pedal to my PS-6, I get a very downtuned sound.
I haven't tried switching between volume pedal/expression pedal use 'on the fly' but I don't see why that wouldn't work.

The important thing to keep in mind is that the expression pedal jack needs a stereo plug. I said this already but I'm repeating it because this crucial detail is easy to miss. (It was mentioned somewhere in the manual but not emphasized enough.) I first tried to use an ordinary mono cable between the Boss FV500 and the PS-6, set the PS-6 for a 2-octave dive bomb and then wondered why, with the expression pedal fully depressed, the pitch didn't go down more than a third or so.

 

[MrMarkIII]

Usually, you use a high-impedance volume pedal when hooking it up between a guitar with passive pickups and the input of the amp. A low-impedance version would work best with active pickups, or in the effects loop of an amp.
Combining passive and active pickups, and expression pedal use is beyond my humble experience, but you may need both types of pedals.

 

[BrownieD2W]

You are awesome LesPaul70!

I know you said that about the stereo cable in your first post, but restating it in your second post made it much more clear. I noticed several people on other boards thought they're pedal was broken and now I better understand what they mean, and the problems they were having. Between the pedals' ability to "learn" and the stereo cable requirement it sounds like these pedals do require a distinct setup but nothing to extreme.

I've got a couple more questions for you if you don't mind, if I were to buy the FV500H would mono cables be OK for the Volume and Tuner Inputs/Outputs? And for use as a Volume pedal, the FV500H pedal would be just fine in the FX Loop of the Mark V or should I run it out front? I'm mainly interested in doing swells and things when I get a decent delay pedal (I'm new to pedals for the most part if you can't tell :lol: ).

I really appreciate your replies LesPaul70, and any further input on those questions above would be great! Thanks again and Happy New Years Eve!

 

[LesPaul70]

You're welcome.

Yes, mono cables should work for everything else. Except the expression pedal jack.

If you plan to use it as a volume pedal in the effects loop, the version you want is the low-impedance one. Just like MrMarkIII said above. (The expression pedal part does not matter here.)