What is the Hamer of Volume Pedals?

[velorush]

I searched but didn't find any answers. 

I am generally content to work the guitar's volume knob for dynamics, but I now find myself doubling on some synth duties and am considering a volume pedal to delegate that task. 

I have never purchased a volume pedal but have read that they can negatively impact overall tone - trust me, I don't need anything to negatively impact anything guitar related.

I've seen (JHS, for example) modified volume pedals and I have seen active volume pedals, both of which claim to mitigate the negatives.

Anyone have experience with these and willing to make a recommendation?

I am still not sold on adding another component to my now stripped-down setup, but I do tend to ponder rather than practice...

[bruce919]

Volume Pedals | Ernie Ball

They are built like a tank. 

[django49]

I really like the Visual Volume (by Truetone). They are no longer being made, but you might check the used markets.

[Jimbilly]

i have an old Korg exp-2, plastic (with metal bottom plate), not as robust but smaller and lighter, - I just now dropped it and it's ok!  Coincidentally, I remember that Kull used the same one. It seems pretty 'transparent', and I actually have quite a bit of respect for Korg stuff.  Looks like they still make it, and it gets good reviews

[velorush]

One other question as it relates to maintaining the sound I have without a volume pedal: anyone using a buffer prior and the low impedance (25kΩ) volume pedal rather than just going straight into a normal impedance volume pedal (250kΩ)?

If that works better, my tuner has a nice buffer and it could go between the guitar and the volume pedal. 

[velorush]

Ended up going with the Ernie Ball MVP. It's active so I can use it directly after the guitar and I can use the Tuner Out without tone suck issues. We'll see how it goes. 

[Menehune]

Used an Ernie Ball passive pedal for years. Switched about six years ago to a Tapestry Audio Bloomery active pedal. It's a modest-size, reliable little tank.