High or Low Impedance Volume Pedal

[qqjimbo]

I am buying a volume pedal, but see some say high impedance and others say low impedance? I'll be playing an electric guitar through it.

[Tarktones]

High impedance.

[Ed Belknap]

...unless his guitar is a Les Paul Recording, or a Les Paul Signature, or an original L-5S, or one of the other dozen or so guitars that actually came with low impedance pickups.

(Man, I've got way too much trivia rattling around inside my brain.)

[Guitarplayer]

Actually, it depends...

If you are plugging your guitar straight into the volume pedal, then go with a high impedance model. If you're inserting it after your first non true bypass effect (see explanation below) or in an amplifier effects loop, go with low impedance.

*Most all modern effects pedals have impedance conversion and buffer amplifiers built into them (unless they are "true bypass") and convert your signal to low impedance. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a bad thing if it's done properly - in fact many pros consider it a good thing; it lessens the chance of EMI and RF interference and allows you to have MUCH longer cable runs with little or no signal degradation.