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Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .
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Average Price: $92
Standard/Professional
$60
$161+
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Budget
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Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Ernie Ball 6180 VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal: An Essential Expression Tool for Every Musician
Meet the Ernie Ball VP Jr. Passive Volume Pedal, a compact yet potent expression tool that offers dynamic control at your feet. This pedal is expertly crafted to handle passive signals, providing consistent volume control and smooth transitions, ideal for creating dramatic swell effects or subtle volume shifts.
A standout feature of the VP Jr. Passive Volume Pedal is its internal Micro Taper switch. This easily accessible switch offers two distinct volume swell rates for maximum control and expressiveness. Choose between a faster swell rate for pedal steel-like effects or a slower rate for subtle volume shifts as per your performance needs.
The VP Jr. Passive Volume Pedal is not just about flexibility and control; it's also about durability. With its robust construction featuring aircraft-grade aluminum housing and a stainless steel pivot shaft, this pedal is virtually indestructible, ensuring it can withstand the rigours of regular gigging.
At the heart of this pedal is a 250k potentiometer, ideally suited for passive pickup signals. This ensures your natural tone comes through clear and unchanged, regardless of how aggressively you work the pedal. The pot is connected to the rocker pedal via a durable Kevlar cable and stainless steel springs, making for a rugged yet responsive design.
Key Features:
- Expertly voiced for passive signals, providing smooth and consistent volume control
- Internal Micro Taper switch offering two distinct volume swell rates for maximum control and expressiveness
- Robust construction featuring aircraft-grade aluminum housing and a stainless steel pivot shaft
- Equipped with a 250k potentiometer ideally suited for passive pickup signals
- Durable Kevlar cable and stainless steel springs connecting the pot to the rocker pedal
- Silent tuner output for quiet onstage adjustments
- Compact design to fit comfortably on even the most packed pedalboards
Product specs
| Height | 2.4" |
| Width | 3.5" |
| Depth | 10" |
| Weight | 2 lbs. |
FAQs
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Is the Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal suitable for use with passive electronics?
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Yes, the Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal is designed specifically for passive electronics, making it ideal for guitars with passive pickups.
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How does the Ernie Ball VP JR. compare to the full-sized Ernie Ball Volume Pedal?
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The Ernie Ball VP JR. is a more compact version, offering the same functionality in a smaller footprint, which is ideal for pedalboards with limited space.
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Can the Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal be used as an expression pedal?
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Yes, the Ernie Ball VP JR. can be used as an expression pedal with the appropriate cable and compatible gear, allowing for versatile control over effects parameters.
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What is the impedance rating of the Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal?
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The Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal has a 250K impedance, which is optimal for use with passive guitar electronics.
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Does the Ernie Ball VP JR. require any power supply to operate?
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No, the Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal does not require any external power supply as it is a passive pedal.
Videos
YourGuitarSage
Ernie Ball VP Jr. Volume Pedal - Gear Review
Ernie Ball VP Jr. Volume Pedal - Gear Review
YourGuitarSage
Ernie Ball VP Jr. Passive Volume Pedal | Reverb Demo Video
Reverb
Ernie Ball VP Jr Lifetime String Instalation
shnobel
Ernie Ball VP JR Tuner - Demo
Guitar World
Ernie Ball VP Jr Review and Demo
Groundbreak Creative
Reviews
PROS
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Smooth action with adjustable resistance
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Passive operation; no power required
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Versatile for both guitar and steel guitar
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Durable build, described as "built like a tank"
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Transparent tone; minimal quality loss
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Features an internal switch to change volume sweep
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Useful for swells and dynamic volume control
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Comes with durable cables as a bonus
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Can be used as an expression pedal
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Equipped with a tuner out for convenience
CONS
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Some users report tone loss, especially without mods
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Occasional noise issues, particularly when using the tuner port
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Potentiometer and string may have a limited lifespan
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Some reports of sudden volume jumps or drops
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String mechanism considered outdated by some
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ernie Ball 6180 VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal.
Features and functionality
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Some owners use the VP Jr. between drives and modulation to mute output and prevent buzz without using an effects loop.
Source -
Using a TRS splitter allows the VP Jr. to function as an expression pedal, but compatibility with specific gear should be verified, as it may not work with all pedals.
Source -
The passive VP Jr. does not require a power source, unlike the active version, which includes features such as a clean boost and minimum heel adjustment.
Source
Mods and upgrades
Use cases and applications
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The VP Jr. is particularly beneficial for achieving swells in solos, like “La Villa Strangiato,” without relying on the guitar volume knob.
Source -
It can be creatively used after effects like pitchfork, envelope filter, and bit crusher for unique soundscapes or video game sounds.
Source -
For ambient swells, the passive VP Jr. is deemed suitable, especially in setups that include a buffer pedal like the Boss TU-3 tuner.
Source
Other
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The pedal can function as a splitter using the tuner out, although only one side is affected by volume adjustments.
Source
Comparisons
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The Dunlop DVP4 is suggested as a better alternative for combining expression and volume functions, though it requires getting used to its smaller sweep.
Source -
The active VP Jr., unlike the passive version, offers additional functionalities like a clean boost, making it more versatile for users needing extra signal enhancements.
Source
Software and compatibility
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It's noted that not all pedals are compatible with expression functions due to varying ohm ranges and design differences, such as Line 6's TS and Source Audio's TRRS requirements.
Source
4.5 out of 5
Based on 26 Reviews and 249 Ratings
234
Simple as you'd expect, nice and reliable
You shouldn't ever expect much from a volume pedal, ultimately you should never really think about it too much either! The VP JR is great for a reliable piece of equipment to easily take for granted. Being passive there's next to nothing to go wrong, and being a simple mechanical operation it's easy to fix if it ever did break.
Having the internal switch to change the shape of the volume sweep is nice as well. For those who don't know what I mean, you can have it to either increase in a linear fashion, or flick the switch so that at first the volume increases very little and then a lot faster when the top is pushed further down.
I like it, it hasn't broken yet, that's good.
485
Thanks for the review! had no clue about that switch!
282
It’s fine.
It’s nothing crazy: not the smoothest or most sensitive taper but it gets the job done. After 8 years or so the pot in mine has finally said enough is enough. I’ll be replacing it soon, but probably not with a other Jr.
552
4 stars because it isn't powered, which would be nice
It does the job well, especially considering its the junior. It would be nice if it were powered, but that could be fixed by buying the JHS modded version, which my buddy got, and he loves it. Perfect for swells and any transitional changes of volume.
141
Solid pedal and pretty reliable!
I've had this one for a long time (who hasn't) and it has yet to fail me! Every once in a while the volume will have a jump from nothing to about 30%, but every time that has happened I just fiddle with the spring a little bit and it has fixed the problem. I love to use it to create swells and ambient sort of sounds and the volume has a very nice even rise. Definitely a staple in my board!
120
Great Pedal
I know a lot of people have issues with these because of tone suck or the string breaking, but the string is an easy fix, and as long as you're smart with placement and buffering, the tone suck isn't a problem at all. It does what it needs to do, and it does it well. I've had mine for two years with no issues.
124
Great pedal but not the strongest around
Works great most of the time, but doesn't have the longest lifespan. Had one go out after only a couple of years of use. Haven't found a better option to replace it with however and my new one is still going strong after a few years so hopefully something improved.
896
Fantastic Volume Pedal
Smooth foot action. Little to no quality of tone lost when run through this pedal! Overall, a fantastic pedal!
142
Easy, simple, and effective
The VP Jr. is a well-known volume pedal among guitarists, mostly for being one of the cheaper options while remaining reliable. While it's not the best, nor is it particularly preferred over other volume pedals for things like swells, manual tremolo, etc., the VP Jr. is the best option for beginner guitarists who are learning the art of creating pedalboards.
Used it for ten years and love it. (Other than having yo replace the Kevlar string once a year when it breaks)
Other than the string breaking inside the volume pedal every year and having to replace it, which is cheap, (it only cost five dollars for the string and you can put it on yourself), the volume pedal is a standard and my acoustic and my electric shows.
319
Classic volume pedal
It looks good, lot of pros use it, it does the job pretty well. My only complaint is the string technology... Isn't it a bit too old school and unreliable?
Artist usage
Add artist
Moving on to his pedal board, Andy has an Ernie Ball volume pedal next to the tuner.
In this photo, which shows his pedalboard built for him by XTS (source) one of the pedals that can be seen in his live pedalboard is the Ernie Ball VP JR. volume pedal.
Marc Byrd of the band Hammock can be seen performing here in a photo left on the band's website. From what can be seen, Marc is using an Ernie Ball volume pedal on his board.
Taylor Madison uses the Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal, as demonstrated in a Reverb demo video on YouTube.
According to Guitar Geek's rig diagram, Wade uses the Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal.
He uses the volume pedal to control the amount of gain in this vid
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A VP Jr can be seen on the right side of this picture
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Like his fellow players, Kjartan begins his signal chain with a common Ernie Ball Volume Pedal.
For Marsden, his desert-island effect has to be an Ernie Ball VP Jr Volume Pedal because he says it’s the most expressive tool under his control. When it comes to actual noisemakers on his board, he has a Fulltone OCD, an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, Electro-Harmonix POG2, a Strymon El Capistan, a Boss DD-7 Digital Delay, an Electro-Harmonix Bass Soul Food that he sniped from bandmate Emma Richardson, an EHX Cathedral, and a Danelectro Reel Echo. Everything is controlled by GigRig QuarterMaster QMX8 switcher and it all stays in tune thanks to a Boss TU-3 Tuner.
Travis' rig is the same as Claudio's: a Whirlwind Multi Selector, Audio-Technica wireless, and Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra. He only uses a few presets, his heavier sounds modeled after his Mesa/Boogie Mark Vs, and lead tones are more of a Marshall kind of lead with delay and reverb.
On the floor, he uses a Mission expression pedal and Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro, as well as an Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Jr.
In this photo, Quinn Allman can be seen with an Ernie Ball VP JR. Passive Volume pedal on his pedalboard.
In the video, at 15:03 it zooms in and you can see very clearly on the side of the first pedal that jImmy uses Ernie Ball VP JR. volume pedals (not the standard Ernie Ball VP volume pedals).
At 10:40 Jimmy demonstrates how he uses the volume pedal while playing to control his volume.
At 11:04 he says the only effect he uses is reverb using an Eventide Space reverb unit (although he is known to use a couple of other distortion effects pedals to get his sound, like the H&K Tube Distortion unit and King of Tone distortion pedal) , and he controls the amount of reverb that is mixed into his sound while playing through the use of another Ernie Ball VP JR. volume pedal.
At 12:00 he demonstrates the use of the VP JR. pedal to mix the amount of reverb he wants while he plays.
Album Usage
The Ernie Ball 6180 VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ernie Ball 6180 VP JR. Passive Volume Pedal, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Community setups
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