The Blackeye Effects MVP, short for Mighty Volume Pedal, is a compact volume pedal built in a wah-sized enclosure1. It sits in a player's signal chain to control volume with the foot, in the same family as pedals like the Ernie Ball VPJR or the Boss FV-500H, but in a smaller footprint closer to a standard wah.
What it does
The MVP does the one job a volume pedal does: it sweeps the signal level under the foot. Two details set it apart in the reviewer's account. First, the pedal does not use a string to drive its sweep, which removes the broken-string failure point common to string-driven designs. Second, it carries the Blackeye Buffer inside the pedal, a built-in buffer that the reviewer described as doing "its magic on the inside of the pedal"1.
A version with a tuner output was also made, letting a player send a feed to a tuner without affecting the main signal path1.
The Blackeye Effects MVP is no longer in production. The review that covered it noted that it "is no longer in production, but is still worth mentioning and reviewing"1.
Sweep feel
The reviewer noted that the MVP's sweep is a little faster than another popular volume pedal, and that it takes some getting used to. His verdict on the adjustment period: "It is a little faster of a sweep, but with a little practice you will do just fine."1
For players comparing footprints and features across the category, the Volume Pedals page gathers the alternatives, from mini designs like the Dunlop Volume X Mini to larger formats like the Goodrich Classic.
Questions
Is the Blackeye Effects MVP still made?
No. Pedal of the Day noted in its 2014 review that the MVP was no longer in production, though the reviewer still considered it worth covering because it could be found secondhand. Players interested in one today would need to look at the used market rather than a dealer.
Does the Blackeye Effects MVP use a string to drive the sweep?
No. The reviewer highlighted that the MVP does not use a string, which removes the broken-string problem that can affect string-driven volume pedals. The pedal also carries the Blackeye Buffer inside, and a version with a tuner output was made.
Sources (1)
- Blackeye Effects MVP Volume Pedal, Pedal of the Day, 2014-07-16
