The Bespeco VM12ARTE is a mono volume pedal for guitar, made by the Italian accessory maker Bespeco. It sits on the floor of a pedalboard and controls level with a rocking foot action: toe down for full volume, heel back for quiet. Its distinguishing feature is a minimum regulation potentiometer, a small trim control that sets how far down the volume actually falls, so the pedal can be set to sweep between two levels rather than all the way to silence1.
Bespeco describes it as an "ABS mono volume pedal for guitar with metal shielded base and non-slip feet"1. It belongs to the wider family of volume pedals, which also includes models from makers such as Ernie Ball, Morley, Boss and Lehle.
Controls and connections
The VM12ARTE keeps things simple: one user-facing control and one input and output pair1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Control | Minimum regulation POT, 100 Kohm1 |
| Input | 6.3 mm mono jack socket1 |
| Output | 6.3 mm mono jack plug1 |
The minimum regulation pot is the pedal's one adjustment. Turned one way, the pedal fades to silence at the heel; turned the other, the heel position settles at a set minimum level. That makes the pedal usable as a smooth level trim during a song, not only as a mute. The same control appears on Bespeco's Italian product page as a "Potenziometro regolazione minimo 100 Kohm", confirming it is a 100 Kohm potentiometer2.
Because the pedal is mono, with a single mono jack in and out, it carries one audio path. Players running stereo rigs would look at a stereo model such as the Bespeco VM14 instead1.
Impedance and where it sits
Bespeco lists the impedance at 100 Kohm1. Impedance matters on passive volume pedals because it interacts with the pickups and pedals around it: a pedal placed straight after a guitar generally wants a higher impedance value, while one placed after buffers or active gear works with lower values.
Size and build
The body is ABS plastic, with a metal shielded base and non-slip feet, a combination Bespeco uses to keep the pedal stable underfoot while shielding the electronics inside1.
The VM12 and VM12ARTE
Bespeco's range includes a plain VM12 alongside the VM12ARTE, and the ARTE version carries its own product code, VM12ARTE2. The documented features of the VM12ARTE are the minimum regulation pot, the ABS body with metal shielded base, the 100 Kohm impedance and the mono jack connections1. Players deciding between the two should compare the specifications on each model's page.
Questions
What does the minimum regulation pot do on the Bespeco VM12ARTE?
It is a small potentiometer, rated at 100 Kohm like the pedal's main impedance, that sets the minimum volume the pedal reaches in its heel-up position. Instead of fading all the way to silence, you can adjust it so the quietest setting is a rhythm level, then rock the pedal forward for full volume. Players who use a volume pedal for swells rather than full cuts find this useful, since the pedal can be set to trim between two usable levels rather than acting as an on-off mute.
Is the Bespeco VM12ARTE mono or stereo?
It is mono. Bespeco describes it as an ABS mono volume pedal for guitar, and its connections back that up: a single 6.3 mm mono jack socket for the input and a single 6.3 mm mono jack plug for the output. If you need to run a stereo rig or a stereo effect chain through a volume pedal, you would need a stereo model instead, such as the VM14 in Bespeco's own range.
What is the impedance of the Bespeco VM12ARTE?
Bespeco lists the impedance at 100 Kohm, the same value as the minimum regulation potentiometer. A higher impedance like this suits use after low-output sources, and it is a figure worth comparing against other pedals: passive volume pedals are commonly offered at 25K, 250K and 500K values, and the right one depends on where the pedal sits in your signal chain.
What is the difference between the Bespeco VM12 and VM12ARTE?
Both are mono volume pedals in Bespeco's range, and the VM12ARTE carries its own product code, VM12ARTE, distinguishing it from the plain VM12. The ARTE version's documented features include the minimum regulation potentiometer, the ABS enclosure with a metal shielded base and non-slip feet, and the 100 Kohm impedance. For the full picture of how the two models differ, compare the specifications on each product's page.
Sources (2)
- VM12ARTE, Bespeco, 2026
- Bespeco - VM12ARTE - Pedale volume mono in ABS per chitarra, Bespeco, 2026
