The Ernie Ball VP Jr 250K is a compact volume pedal that Ernie Ball describes as perfectly voiced for passive signals, meaning guitars with passive pickups that connect directly to the pedal1. It is part of the VP Jr family, which carries the same features as the company's original volume pedal while cutting the footprint by 22%, so it takes up less room on a pedalboard1. For more on the wider category, see the site's page on Volume Pedals.
How it works
Inside the VP Jr design, a tough, long lasting Vectran cable transmits pedal travel to the potentiometer and is attached by a stainless steel spring. In the 25K version of the VP Jr that potentiometer is a 25k unit; the 250K version covered here uses a 250k pot, which is the voicing Ernie Ball recommends for passive pickups1. The same mechanism is shared with the Ernie Ball VPJR 25K, which is aimed at active signals, and the full size Ernie Ball 250k Mono Volume Pedal, which the VP Jr shrinks down from1.
Controls
The pedal's one user-adjustable feature beyond the rocker itself is a small switch hidden under the footplate1:
| Control | Location | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Rocker pedal | Underfoot | Sets the volume level |
| Micro taper switch | Directly behind the input jack, under the footplate | Provides two distinct volume swell rates1 |
The micro taper switch lets a player choose between two swell feels without tools beyond lifting the footplate edge near the input jack, according to Ernie Ball's description1.
Build
Ernie Ball describes the VP Jr as having a compact, rugged design, with an aircraft grade aluminum housing the company calls virtually indestructible1. As a passive pedal it needs no power supply or battery.
The VP Jr 250K is voiced for passive signals. Players running active electronics or buffered pedalboard setups may want to compare the 25K version, the Ernie Ball VPJR 25K, or the Ernie Ball MVP instead1.
Videos
Premier Guitar
Reverb
Zeppelin Design Labs
Sources (1)
- Volume Pedals, Ernie Ball Inc.
