The Morley 20/20 Volume Plus is a compact optical volume pedal from Morley, introduced in November 2019 as part of the company's 20/20 line of pedalboard-friendly pedals12. Morley describes it as "the ultimate optical Volume pedal," using optical circuitry in place of the potentiometer-and-string mechanism found in many volume pedals, which the company says will never wear down and gives noise-free volume swells13.
What sets it apart from a plain volume pedal is its Minimum Volume control. Switched on, it sets a floor under the treadle's range, so you can use the pedal to jump between a rhythm level and a lead level, or as a variable gain control in front of a dirt pedal45.
The controls: switchable minimum volume
The pedal has two modes. In the first, the treadle runs through a smooth audio taper that Morley says is ideal for violin-type swells. In the second, the Minimum Volume control sets the lowest level the pedal will reach, with an LED showing when it is active21.
Guitar World's buying guide highlighted what that minimum level is for:
"A minimum volume knob lets you use it to control either the volume or as more of gain control, and there's a handy minimum volume off switch that you can use as an instant boost."
In Sweetwater's demo, Morley's Pete Fennec walked through the uses: setting rhythm and lead volumes, placing the pedal in front of a distortion or fuzz as a variable control for that pedal, and, by setting the minimum at 1 or 2, dialing in a more linear taper that opens up the pedal's sweep2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Treadle | Volume sweep; smooth audio taper for violin-type swells1 |
| Minimum Volume knob | Sets the pedal's lowest level for rhythm/lead switching or gain control use5 |
| Minimum Volume switch | Turns the minimum level on and off, with LED indication; off works as an instant boost15 |
Optical circuitry and the buffer
Instead of a potentiometer linked to the treadle by a cord, the Volume Plus uses an optical element, so there is no mechanical pot to scratch or string to stretch. Guitar.com reported that the design replaces "outmoded pots and rope for noise-free volume swells"31. Like the rest of the 20/20 line, the pedal also has a buffer, which Morley's Pete Fennec confirmed in Sweetwater's demo2.
Where it came from
The 20/20 Volume Plus shipped in a Gator Green finish at a $129 street price46. Morley builds the 20/20 pedals in the USA, in cold-rolled steel housings with silent relay switching, and gives them a smaller, pedalboard-friendly footprint that Morley says is still comfortable to play2.
The minimum-volume idea was not new for Morley: the earlier Morley Mini Volume Plus offered a footswitchable Minimum Volume Control for jumping between rhythm and lead volumes at the same $129 price78.
What reviewers said
Sweetwater's Don Carr, demoing the pedal with Fennec, came away positive about the feel of the sweep:
"it sounds great super smooth throw on it I love the taper and as you heard in the intro when I was playing the chords just really bloomed nicely"
Carr also noted the pedal suits pedal steel players looking for violin swells, calling the audio taper "very forgiving"2.
In the demo, Carr plays a Harmony Rebel through a Super Galaxy amp on the clean channel with delay bypassed, so the volume pedal is heard on its own2.
Glow in the dark, and other details
The treadle rubber and toe-end logo glow in the dark, a detail Morley carried across its mini and 20/20 pedals so the treadle illuminates on a dim stage17. Power comes from a single 9-volt battery or an optional Morley 9V adapter, and the pedal is compatible with most 9V adapters1.
The $129 price is the street price Morley announced in November 20194. The warranty is one year out of the box, with a lifetime warranty available if you register the pedal with Morley1.
Videos
Morley
Odysseus' Dog
Questions
Does the Morley Volume Plus have a buffer?
Yes. Morley's Pete Fennec said in Sweetwater's demo that all of the 20/20 pedals, including the Volume Plus, have a buffer. The buffer helps preserve your signal when the pedal sits at the start of a long pedalboard chain.
Can the Morley Volume Plus do tremolo sounds?
Morley says the Minimum Volume control can perform a variety of functions, including tremolo style sounds, and Guitar.com likewise reported that the control allows tremolo-like sounds. You rock the treadle rhythmically against a set minimum level rather than getting a timed tremolo effect.
What warranty does the Morley 20/20 Volume Plus have?
The pedal comes with a one-year warranty, and a lifetime warranty is available with registration. Morley's Pete Fennec also described the 20/20 line as carrying a lifetime warranty in Sweetwater's demo video.
Why is the treadle on the Morley Volume Plus glow in the dark?
The 20/20 Volume Plus has glow-in-the-dark treadle rubber and a toe-end logo. Morley applied the same treatment across its mini pedals, with the treadle rubber and toe-end logos illuminating on a dim stage so you can find the pedal's position when the lights go down.
Sources (8)
- 20/20 Volume Plus, Morley
- Morley 20/20 Volume Plus Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2019-11-21
- NAMM 2020 Video: Morley introduces three new Wahs for its 20/20 range, Guitar.com, 2020-01-16
- Next 20/20 Pedals Press Release, Morley, 2019-11
- Best volume pedals 2025: control your tone with these essential pedal picks, Guitar World, 2023-12-08
- Morley extends its 20/20 vision with 4 tricked-out wah pedals, Guitar World, 2019-11-19
- Morley introduces three new Mini pedals, Guitar.com, 2018-02-22
- Morley Debuts Three New Mini Pedals, Guitar World, 2018-02-20
