Volume pedal vs finger strain

[Jim Pollard]

Finally dawned on me as i was falling asleep last night (what?! what do you think about when you're falling asleep?) That if I were to turn up my amp more and focus on using the VP to manage volume I might reduce my tendency to "dig in" with my picking fingers when I want to be louder. Maybe even turn the amp well past what I'm comfortable with hearing. A way to develop a lighter touch?

[Jerry Overstreet]

Many players do that, but that means you need precise control of your volume pedal.

I saw Sonny Purdum at the Spoke in Nashville one night, visited the stage on his break and noticed his 2 Peavey 400s were dialed wide open.

[Donny Hinson]

I saw Sonny Purdum at the Spoke in Nashville one night, visited the stage on his break and noticed his 2 Peavey 400s were dialed wide open.

That's the only way I ever play. I don't do to be loud, I do it so that I can have almost endless sustain of notes and chords.

[David W.D. McCormick]

...reduce my tendency to "dig in" with my picking fingers

Is this undesirable? A little off topic but I'm curious as to whether people feel you should usually be picking lightly. I like to "dig in" as i find it gives a slightly different tone.

[Jim Pollard]

Right now it's desirable for me as I'm having issues with my picking hand. Not trigger finger, more like radial tunnel syndrome. Makes my fingers feel stiff at times.

[Bruce Coffman]

Sounds like an “adapt or die” situation — figure out what works best for you. Us old guys deal with that kind of shit all the time.

Pretty sure that’s also one way Billy Gibbons keeps rocking HARD into his upper 70’s — his six-stringers are all using 8’s and his amps are WFO.

[Dave Grafe]

As for "digging in" I practice without an amp to keep me putting some meat onto the strings and behind the bar all the time. That's where tone comes from so this should be more the norm than the exception, use your hands to make the sounds and your VP to manage volume, dynamics and sustain.

[Steve Lipsey]

I gotta' say, some of the best advice I ever got was from Dave Grafe: "Pick it like you mean it!!"
It is so easy to lose tone by just picking delicately....