The Looperwerk Volume Switch is an analog volume pedal that does the opposite of a booster: instead of amplifying your signal, it reduces it. Looperwerk describes it as a way to passively cut level for less distortion and compression without coloring the sound, similar to turning down your guitar's volume control, but operated by footswitch and with adjustable treble bleed. It can also be used as an A/B switch1.
What it does
The Volume Switch sits in your signal chain and cuts level passively, so it does not add gain or color of its own. Looperwerk's stated use case is cleaning up an overdriven signal: rolling the level back tames distortion and compression the same way your guitar's volume knob does, but leaves both hands free to keep playing. The adjustable treble bleed addresses the dulling that can come with turning a passive signal down1.
Looperwerk frames it as "The Volume Switch goes the opposite direction as a booster - it reduces the signal instead of amplifying it"1.
A second use RockBoard's PedalPedia describes is as a clean-channel tool: "It allows you to get a cleaner sound out of an overdriven tube amp preamp (basically adding another channel to the amp)"1. The same idea applies in front of dirt pedals, where the Volume Switch can add a cleaner second sound to fuzz, distortion and overdrive pedals1.
How it compares
Most pedals in the volume pedal category, such as the Ernie Ball Mono Volume Pedal or the Boss FV-500H, use a rocker pedal you rock with your foot to sweep level continuously. The Volume Switch instead works from a footswitch with adjustable treble bleed, and it doubles as an A/B switch, which puts it closer in spirit to switching pedals than to a conventional rocker1.
Power
The Volume Switch runs on 9V DC center negative and draws 10mA, so it fits a standard pedalboard power supply outlet1.
Videos
LOOPERWERK
Questions
Does the Looperwerk Volume Switch need power?
Yes, it runs on 9V DC center negative and draws 10mA, so it fits a standard pedalboard power supply without stressing its budget. The circuit itself is analog and works passively on the signal, reducing level rather than amplifying it.
What is the Looperwerk Volume Switch used for?
It reduces signal level for less distortion and compression without coloring the sound, much like rolling back your guitar's volume control, but from a footswitch with adjustable treble bleed. Looperwerk also describes it as usable as an A/B switch, and says it can add a cleaner second sound to an overdriven tube amp preamp or to fuzz, distortion and overdrive pedals.
Sources (1)
- Volume Switch by Looperwerk, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
