The Morley Volume Commander is a two-channel analog volume pedal: a treadle-controlled volume unit that also carries tone-shaping switches, made by Morley. Morley announced it in November 2023 with the line "Take Command of your Tone with the new Morley Volume Commander."1 Its two channels can be used separately or together, each footswitch-able, with LED indication showing what is engaged.2
Controls and switching
The pedal's controls, as Morley lists them:2
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume Controls | Range from Full Volume to Zero Volume |
| Low-Cut Switch | Three modes: None, Fine and Deep |
| Tone Switch | Bright or Warm options to complement your instrument's pickups |
| Footswitches | 2 footswitch-able channels, used independently or together |
| Indication | LED Indication |
The Low-Cut and Tone switches are what set this apart from a straightforward volume pedal: rather than only riding level, you can trim low end or tilt the tone toward Bright or Warm as you swell. Morley frames the idea as "Imagine a device that you can plug into your already existing favorite gear and get multiple new tones out of them without having to change your settings?"3
Power and practical details
The Volume Commander runs on a standard 9v power supply or a 9v battery, so it works on a powered board or standalone with an amp.2 The cold-rolled steel enclosure and the 5.3″ by 4.5″ footprint put it in the larger format Morley builds its volume and wah pedals around, comparable in intent to the Morley Volume Plus or the Morley Little Alligator Volume from the same maker's volume range. For other approaches to the same job, see the site's Volume Pedals page.
Morley's warranty for this pedal is 1 Year, and the maker asks that you keep your purchase receipt.2
What reviewers have said
Morley posted a review by Kenji Suzuki in April 2024, in which he demonstrated the pedal's tone manipulation in a studio and DAW context, writing "Create your own unique tones in your DAW!"4 That angle, using the pedal's Low-Cut and Tone switches on recorded material and with modelers, is the main published take on the pedal so far.
Videos
Morley
TheMomoZone
TheMomoZone
Questions
Is the Morley Volume Commander true bypass?
Yes. Morley lists the Volume Commander as True Bypass, so when the pedal is switched out of the signal path your guitar's signal passes through without the pedal's circuitry loading it. That matters on a pedalboard where several pedals sit between the guitar and the amp.
Does the Morley Volume Commander run on a battery?
Yes. Morley says the Volume Commander is powered by a standard 9v power supply or a 9v battery, so it can be used on a board with a supply or plugged straight into an amp without one.
What do the Low-Cut and Tone switches do on the Volume Commander?
The Low-Cut Switch has three modes: None, Fine and Deep. The Tone Switch selects between Bright and Warm modes, which Morley says are there to complement your instrument's pickups. Together they shape how the pedal sits in the mix while you ride the volume.
Can the two channels be used at the same time?
Yes. Morley describes the Volume Commander as having two channels that can be used separately or together, with two footswitch-able channels you can use independently or in combination.
Is the Morley Volume Commander analog or digital?
The Volume Commander is an analog pedal. Its volume controls range from full volume to zero volume.
What warranty does the Morley Volume Commander have?
Morley gives the Volume Commander a 1 Year Warranty and asks buyers to keep their purchase receipt as proof.
Sources (4)
- Introducing the Morley Volume Commander, Morley, 2023-11-21
- Morley Volume Commander, Morley
- Volume Commander by Morley, RockBoard (PedalPedia), 2026
- Kenji Suzuki Reviews the Volume Commander, Morley, 2024-04-15
