The Ernie Ball 500K Stereo Volume/Pan Pedal is a passive foot-controlled pedal that works as both a stereo volume pedal and a pan pedal. It uses a 500k potentiometer, which Ernie Ball describes as suitable for the audio path of passive or active instruments, so it can sit in front of an amp or in a effects loop style setup with either kind of guitar or bass1.
It belongs to the wider family of volume pedals, and it differs from a simple mono pedal in two ways: it carries a stereo signal, and a switch on the footplate changes what the treadle does1.
What it does
The pedal has two distinct operating modes, and a switch attached to the footplate selects between them with a tap of the toe. In volume mode it works like any volume pedal, controlling the level of your signal with your foot. In pan mode it does something different: with the switch set to pan and only the A input used, the pedal pans the signal between the A and B outputs, sweeping your sound across a stereo pair as you rock the treadle1.
Stereo and mono use
Ernie Ball describes the stereo 500k pedal as extremely versatile and says it can be used in stereo or mono applications. For stereo use, the company specifies TRS stereo cables connected to the B input and B output1.
A few practical points for wiring it up:
- Stereo: use the B input and B output with TRS stereo cables1
- Pan mode: switch the toe-tap switch to the pan position and use only the A input; the pedal pans between the A and B outputs1
- Mono: the pedal works in mono applications as well, per the maker1
Where it sits in the Ernie Ball range
Ernie Ball's volume pedal line covers several impedance values and formats, including the 250k Mono Volume Pedal, the VPJR, and the MVP. The 500K Stereo Volume/Pan Pedal is the line's stereo and pan-capable option, with a list price of $229.991.
Price and availability
Ernie Ball lists the 500K Stereo Volume/Pan Pedal at $229.99 in the US, as of the company's listing dated 2026-10-251.
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Gear Savvy
Questions
Can the Ernie Ball 500K Stereo Volume/Pan Pedal be used in mono?
Yes. Ernie Ball describes the stereo 500k pedal as extremely versatile and says it can be used in stereo or mono applications. For stereo use, the company calls for TRS stereo cables connected to the B input and B output. In mono, the pedal works as a conventional volume pedal, and the toe-tap switch on the footplate selects between the two operating modes, volume or pan.
How does pan mode work on the Ernie Ball 500K Stereo Volume/Pan Pedal?
Switch the toe-tap switch on the footplate to the pan position and use only the A input. The pedal then pans the signal between the A and B outputs, so moving the treadle sweeps your sound from one output to the other rather than simply turning it down. That makes it usable as a typical pan pedal in a stereo rig.
Sources (1)
- Volume Pedals, Ernie Ball Inc.
