The Ernie Ball 40th Anniversary Volume Pedal is a limited edition volume pedal from Ernie Ball, released in 2018 to mark the 40th birthday of the original Ernie Ball Volume Pedal. It is built on the compact Jr.-sized chassis in a slate black aluminum finish with updated graphics, and it carries over the features players expect from the VP line: a tuner output, active and passive signal compatibility, and a switchable taper for two swell rates123.
Ernie Ball describes the original Volume Pedal, introduced in 1977, as the leading choice for musicians across the globe and the world's best-selling volume pedal1. Vintage Guitar magazine framed the pedal's place in history plainly:
"Ernie Ball's Volume Pedal was not so much a guitar effect as it was a fundamental tool."4
A limited slate black Jr.-sized volume pedal
The 40th Anniversary VP was announced in late January 2018, alongside the Ernie Ball Expression Tremolo pedal, to kick off the company's anniversary year5. Where the standard VPJR pedals carry the usual finish, the anniversary edition gets a limited edition slate black aluminum chassis with updated graphics12. MusicRadar's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, thought the finish suited it:
"the 40th Anniversary VP looks really slick in a new slate black finish"5
The chassis itself is the familiar compact Jr. size. Guitar World describes the compact machined aluminum housing as virtually indestructible, with a sleek, compact Jr.-sized pedal chassis2, and Guitar.com likewise lists a compact VP JR sized pedal chassis among its features3. Ernie Ball's product page names it the Volume Pedal Jr. 40th Anniversary Edition, the next generation of the world's best-selling volume pedal1.
One mechanical change sets the anniversary edition apart: a redesigned ultra-durable PVC-coated Kevlar cord, which Guitar World says improves potentiometer traction for precise volume control and a super-smooth foot sweep2. The cord is the link between the foot treadle and the potentiometer, so better traction there translates directly into more predictable volume response under your foot.
This is a limited edition. MusicRadar notes the pedal was launched to mark the company's 40th birthday5, and Ernie Ball sells it as a limited anniversary edition1, so availability may differ from the standard Ernie Ball VPJR and Ernie Ball VP Jr 250K models.
Tuner output and signal handling
The pedal's most practical feature for a working pedalboard is its tuner output, which Guitar World describes as allowing tuning at any volume level2, and which Guitar.com lists as a tuner output at any level3. You can roll your volume back mid-song, or mute your signal entirely, while a tuner connected to the dedicated output keeps receiving a full-level signal.
Ernie Ball says the 40th Anniversary VP is designed and engineered to work with both active and passive audio signals1, and MusicRadar's review confirms it works with both passive or active signals5. That means one pedal covers passive pickups and active electronics without the impedance matching that some volume pedals require. The wider Ernie Ball Volume Pedal range has long included mono and stereo units plus pedals for use with passive or active electronics4.
A switchable taper gives two distinct swell rates3, so you can choose between a gradual sweep for slow swells and a faster response for quicker volume moves. In use, MusicRadar's reviewer found it works both as a foot-controlled master volume or signal mute and as a creative tool to swell notes in5.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review of the 40th Anniversary VP found little to criticize, with one practical caveat about board space5:
"None really but it will take up a lot of space on your 'board."5
That size point is worth weighing against the alternatives: compact options like the DOD Mini Volume, Dunlop Volume X Mini and MOOER Leveline trade footprint for sweep length, while full-size pedals such as the Boss FV-500L and Lehle Stereo Volume take even more room.
Where it came from
Videos
Guitar World
Rob Chapman
Riffs, Beards & Gear
Questions
Does the Ernie Ball 40th Anniversary Volume Pedal have a tuner output?
Yes. The pedal has a tuner output that lets you tune at any volume level, so you can mute or lower your signal on stage and still feed a tuner a constant signal. Guitar World and Guitar.com both list the tuner output among the pedal's features at launch.
Does it work with active and passive pickups?
Yes. Ernie Ball says the 40th Anniversary VP is designed and engineered to work with both active and passive audio signals, and MusicRadar's review confirms it works with passive or active signals. That covers both standard passive guitar pickups and active electronics.
How much did the Ernie Ball 40th Anniversary Volume Pedal cost?
The list price was $129.99 USD, given by both Ernie Ball's product page and Guitar World's launch coverage. In the UK, Guitar.com reported it at £149.99 GBP at the time of the 2018 launch.
Is the 40th Anniversary pedal a Jr. size?
Yes. Guitar World describes it as a compact Jr.-sized pedal chassis, and Guitar.com calls it a compact VP JR sized pedal chassis. Ernie Ball's own product page lists it as the Volume Pedal Jr. 40th Anniversary Edition.
What is different about the 40th Anniversary edition?
It marks 40 years of the Ernie Ball Volume Pedal with a limited edition slate black aluminum chassis and updated graphics, rather than the standard finish. It also has a redesigned PVC-coated Kevlar cord that improves potentiometer traction for precise volume control and a smooth foot sweep.
Sources (5)
- 40th Anniversary Volume Pedal, Ernie Ball
- Ernie Ball Announces 40th Anniversary Volume, Expression Tremolo Pedals, Guitar World, 2018-01-26
- NAMM 2018: Ernie Ball Reveal Expression Tremolo + 40th Anniversary VP, Guitar.com, 2018-01-25
- Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2015-01-02
- Ernie Ball 40th Anniversary VP Pedal review, MusicRadar, 2018-08-12
