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Author Topic:  New volume pedal
Leslie Ehrlich


From:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 12:58 am    
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I'm seriously thinking about ditching my pot volume pedal and replacing it with an opto-electric unit.

I'd prefer one that can run on AC power, because I don't like changing batteries.

So far the only brands I know of that have the features I want are Morley and Hilton. What are the pros and cons of the various opto-electric volume pedals that are currently available?
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 7:30 am    
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I don't know anything about the Morley Pedal. But for pedal steel guitar, the Hilton gets my vote (and what I use).
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Roger Francis

 

From:
kokomo,Indiana, USA
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 7:44 am    
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HILTON here too!!!
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Don Sulesky


From:
Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 8:20 am    
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I can't give you the pros and cons. All I know is I have a Hilton and love it.
I don't find plugging in the wall-wart to be a problem. I take along a three plug extension and plug my amp,DD-5 and Hilton into the cord which in most places I need not being close to an AC outlet anyway.
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Fred Justice


From:
Mesa, Arizona
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 10:18 am     New Style Hilton Pedal
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Here ya go Les, this is the New Style Hilton with the power supply that unplugs.


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Michael Haselman


From:
St. Paul
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 11:13 am    
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Definitely go with Hilton. Made for steel players by a steel player/inventor. I'm hooked for life.
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Mullen RP D10, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. Hound Dog reso. Piles of other stuff.
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Eric West


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 11:23 am    
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Hilton.

IF you never take ANY advice from this place, take IT.

I have an Ernie Ball "backup" that I have not in the three years I've had the Hilton, had to use.

The new ones look really good.

I have no plans to get one, because the "old one" works fine.

I used that EB for twenty five years, and played a couple thousand gigs with it. I'd put a new pot in it, break it in past the initial "scratches" in a month or so, and then use it for three to five years until the brushes wore out. Then all over again.

The First time I got my Hilton, I did a simple experiment. I plugged in my guitar to the amp, and pegged the EB. Then I plugged it in direct. Tone change, and about 20% more volume direct.

The Hilton. Same thing.

The Results were astounding. No tone loss, and NO volume change.

Except for the old "Wah",Morley stuff sucks. Just my HO.

I don't see how any OE pedal could beat the Hilton, so I never tried one. The "drag" can be adjusted. They don't "creep" if you take your foot off.

If you happen to get a "used one" that has the old bigger power supply, I can't think of anything bad to say about them. Mine has worked every time I plugged it in. They're bound to be cheaper with the new ones coming out.

I've heard that Goodrich pedals claim the same "mechanism", but I think a search will show the results are in Hilton's favor.

You'll like it.

Even the "high profile" one is shorter than my poor old EB, that now houses insects and critters in the corner of my war room..

Smile

EJL
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Jack Ritter

 

From:
Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 4:37 pm    
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you won't regret getting a Hilton!!!
the builder and the quality are the best.
for me, it is THE steel pedal!!
Jack
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Leslie Ehrlich


From:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Post  Posted 23 Dec 2007 11:35 pm    
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What are the Hiltons like for reliability? If they break down, are they easy to fix? Parts availability?

Right now I have a Sho-Bud volume pedal that sits on the floor. It feels nice under my foot, but it doesn't take long for the pot to wear out.
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Eric West


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 24 Dec 2007 12:17 am    
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I've had mine for about 3 years, and I'm really hard on stuff. I had the cord pull slightly out of the socket, and I just loosened it up and slid it back in. No Prob.

The cord is REALLY tough, and I wouldn't like think what it'd take to bugger it.

The new one with the plug in power supply looks even better.

I had more problems with things sticking and strings sliding in my Ernie Ball.

I think there have been one or two guys that had problems, but less than with standard string types.

I'd like to see if it's a standard power supply, or if one would work that wasn't a fancy "voltage sensing" one. I doubt if I'll get to Europe again.

Anyhow, just my take.

My problems with SHo~BUds that I've tried is that they seem to get pegged all by themselves or by accident.

IMHO you can't go wrong with a Hilton. Older model, or probably the new one.

Keith seems to be here all the time, for what few problems have come up, and I dont' remember any not being solved to the customers' satisfaction.

Smile

EJL
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Fred Justice


From:
Mesa, Arizona
Post  Posted 24 Dec 2007 5:58 am    
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Eric, well worded and truely stated. Very Happy
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Keith Hilton

 

From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
Post  Posted 24 Dec 2007 7:38 am    
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Very Happy Fred, I hope that Hilton guy is not a Communist.
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Eric West


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 24 Dec 2007 9:19 am    
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Well I figger promoting them could help me out with getting Paris in my next Happy Little Eric Viddy..

I think he's her dad.
Wink

EJL
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Bob Cox


From:
Buckeye State
Post  Posted 24 Dec 2007 10:16 am    
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I am glad Hilton came up with the plug in adapter.I am going to have to get me one with that.The hilton I am useing now is the older style,and I have accidently wacked the cord in half twice with chair leggs and different delemas.Can an adapter like that be put in the older ones?
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Kevin Hatton

 

From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
Post  Posted 24 Dec 2007 2:50 pm    
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Keith Hilton obviously put in alot of thought to the quality design of the Hilton pedal. The plug in AC is probably gonna cause me to buy one. I know Keith held back on this for awhile but its really a smart move from a consumers stand point. Outstanding volume pedal designed and built by a quality guy. Top shelf customer service.
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Larry Hamilton

 

From:
Amarillo,Tx
Post  Posted 24 Dec 2007 3:08 pm    
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Leslie, Been playing my Hilton for about 4 years and no problems. I used a Hilton Digital Sustain before my Hilton VP. I know Keith stands behind his products from personal experience. You can't go wrong with any model Hilton Volume Pedal.
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Keep pickin', Larry
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Twayn Williams

 

From:
Portland, OR
Post  Posted 24 Dec 2007 6:33 pm    
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I have NOT used a Hilton, but I DO have a Morley. The Morley is cheap ($80) and easily available. Make SURE you get the Power Wah/Volume (PWV) as it has the "cleartone" buffer circuit. If you can afford the Hilton, it's undoubtably the better pedal, but the Morley will do you just fine.

I've actually gone back to my EB Jr because I prefer its sweep to the Morley. It is important to use a good quality buffer before any passive volume pedal to reduce the dreaded "tone-suck". I use an Xotic RC Boost (which allows me to make up the difference in output when switching between my GFI and Goldtone) but have had perfectly acceptable results using a Digitech Bad Monkey.
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Larry Behm


From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
Post  Posted 25 Dec 2007 1:30 pm    
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I personally like the solid chord pedal, I bought another wall wort as a backup when I had the plug in style, as I left one home one night.

Larry Behm
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Eric West


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 25 Dec 2007 2:02 pm    
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Larry.

So does it use a common 500ma or therebouts wall wart?

I too like the thick cord, and haven't had a problem with anything but that one 'back out' which I easily fixed.

You know I'm so stuck on what I use when it comes to equipment, and I never even used an effect fort 20 years. The pot style EB was my most stubborn thing. I should've gotten a Hilton when they first came out. (A Pod xtLive and Fender Tube Amps tying for second, and 1/8" L cables somewhere in there..)

I haven't ever been more happy with a piece of equipment than my Hilton.

Merry Xmas.

Smile

EJL
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David Nugent

 

From:
Gum Spring, Va.
Post  Posted 25 Dec 2007 4:01 pm    
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I must add my endorsement. I sent my pedal back to Keith for a minor problem and he completely rebuilt it at no charge. Craftsmen such as this who stand by their products are a vanishing breed. You would not regret this purchase.
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Larry Behm


From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
Post  Posted 26 Dec 2007 7:08 am    
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Eric, I just bought another wall wort from Keith as I did not want to get the wrong thing.

David your are correct, Keith stands behind his products no questions asked.

Larry Behm
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Ron Page

 

From:
Penn Yan, NY USA
Post  Posted 26 Dec 2007 12:08 pm    
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Mine is a Goodrich LDR. It has the wall wart. I haven't played the Hilton so I can't give you a comparison. The Goodrich LDR has both Normal and Full Frequency inputs. There is a tone adjustment (inside) for the Normal input. I prefer the Full Frequency input with my setup -- Boss RV-3 Reverb/delay and Nashville 400.
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Emmons Lashley LeGrande II
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George Redmon


From:
Muskegon & Detroit Michigan.
Post  Posted 26 Dec 2007 7:18 pm    
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LDR2 has my vote.
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