The AC Noises Vola is a Preamp/Overdrive pedal, hand-built in Italy. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in May 2017, described it as "Basically a 3-in-1 pedal, the Vola can be used as a clean boost, a preamp or an overdrive, depending on your settings." For a player, that means one small box can push an amp from the front, act as a tone-shaping preamp, or add drive, all through the same three knobs. It sits in the wider family of overdrive pedals and preamp pedals, and players who mainly want lift without drive can compare it with dedicated boost pedals1.
Controls and how the three modes work
The Vola carries the three controls players expect from a pedal of this type: Gain, Volume and Tone. Pedal of the Day noted that "the Volume, Tone and Gain controls are pretty much to be expected within a pedal of this type, they all work cohesively," meaning the three interact rather than acting in isolation. How far you push Gain, and where you set Volume and Tone around it, is what decides whether the pedal behaves as a clean boost, a preamp or an overdrive1.
The reviewer described the resulting range as sounds that "combine to form a slew of differing sounds and tones, constantly changing and giving you the boosts and drives you're lo[oking for]," calling it "a broad musical stroke perfect for giving your amp a kick"1.
The numbered knobs and the dragonfly graphic
One detail sets the Vola's faceplate apart: the knobs are labeled with numbers rather than names. Those numbers correspond to each knob's function through a dragonfly graphic on the pedal, so the artwork doubles as the legend for which control is which1.
Build and where it is made
The Vola is hand-built in Italy, and its jacks are mounted on the top edge of the enclosure. Pedal of the Day summed up the build this way1:
"A unique design, high-quality parts, top-mounted jacks and hand-building in Italy give the Vola (meaning 'fly' in Italian)..."
Top-mounted jacks are worth noting for pedalboard planning: with cables entering from above rather than the sides, the pedal can sit closer to its neighbors.
What reviewers said
The published review on record is Pedal of the Day's May 2017 write-up. Its overall verdict was favorable: the reviewer called the Vola "a unique design" with "high-quality parts" and "killer drive tones overall"1.
Videos
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Questions
Where is the AC Noises Vola made?
The Vola is hand-built in Italy. Pedal of the Day's review highlights the hand-building in Italy, along with high-quality parts and a unique design, as things that set the pedal apart from mass-produced overdrives.
What do the numbers on the Vola knobs mean?
The knobs are labeled with numbers rather than names, and those numbers correspond to each knob's function through a dragonfly graphic on the pedal. Once you know the graphic, the numbering tells you which control is which.
Can the AC Noises Vola be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the Vola as basically a 3-in-1 pedal that can be used as a clean boost, a preamp or an overdrive, depending on your settings. The same Gain, Volume and Tone controls cover all three roles.
Where are the jacks on the AC Noises Vola?
The Vola has top-mounted jacks, meaning the input and output sit on the top edge of the enclosure rather than the sides. That layout can leave more room on a crowded pedalboard.
Sources (1)
- AC Noises Vola Preamp Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2017-05-19