Heartaches By The Number - With ToneSuck In Line

[Bill Myrick]

Yep, that was me, Keith---Between that pedal and my Rains Guitar, I now pick about half as often--saves wear and tear on strings and picks ---

[Ben Jones]

I was surprised when a more experienced and knowledgeable player asked me about my tone, what pickups i used, etc. I jokingly told him the secret was my Goodrich with busted scratchty pot. He laughed and said there was more truth to that than I knew.

personally i dont beleive my tin ears could perceive the tonal diff...but i guess for some its like Hendrix's curly chord..tonesucks just the right amount off the right frequencies.

I'd love to own a Hilton pedal and at some point when i need something reliable and can no longer take the uber awesomeness of my scratch-o-matic, probably will switch to one.

[Bernie Gonyea]

Thanks for that fabulous rendition of an all time great country classic, Greg.A most interesting thread, indeed.I've used just about every brand pedal that's been put on the market in the past 50 years. The new hilton pedal is a first for me; Just purchased my new one from Fred Justice, just after he returned home from Dallas, in Mid-March.I have to admit I do like it very much,but I do feel content when using my Sho-bud pedal, just as much. But Keith has provided a great product for Pedal Steel Players, regardless. But as to date; no gals have launched an attack on me. Maybe a special bonus pkg. should be provided by Keith, with the purchase of a Hilton Pedal. [ He;He ]
Thanks for all your help, Greg..Bernie

[Chris Schlotzhauer]

I have 2 L120 Goodrich pedals. I now own a Hilton (thank you Fred Justice). My only issue with the pot pedals was replacing pots. I'm a lousy solderer and don't like taking the pedal apart to do it. The string adjustment is never the same when I'm done and a week later, I discover I have installed another sh***y pot.
The Hilton is smooth and the travel is wide and consistent. I don't really notice a lot of difference in the way I sound than I did with the Goodrich, as I have bad pedal technique. But I'm working on that.
The only down side is having to plug the Hilton in. I hate that. The cord seems too short to the wall wart. But I'm working on that too.

[Brint Hannay]

Amen on the inconvenience of the Hilton wall wart. I gather there's a new Hilton model with a smaller one, but on mine A) the wall wart is huge, B) the cord is short, and C) the cord is as stiff and UN-flexible as it's possible for a cord to be--it stays in twisty-turny kinks and bends that are impervious to gravity, and looks messy and unprofessional onstage without being taped down a dozen or more places. Hope Keith's improved that, too!

[Bo Legg]

Keith Hilton....

Women should flock around you like you are the herd bull.

Keith your pedal is a chick magnet. I think Brint Hannay quote tells us why.

is as stiff and UN-flexible as it's possible --it stays in twisty-turny kinks and bends that are impervious to gravity, and looks messy and unprofessional onstage without being taped down a dozen or more places.

That's what she said. Who needs a dozen roses and a pickup truck.

[Keith Hilton]

Now Bo, that is funny. I am still laughing.

[KENNY KRUPNICK]

Greg, Nicely done.

[Brint Hannay]

Bo,

You're welcome for the setup!

But Keith, I would still suggest a better (and longer) cord, if it's possible. Great pedal otherwise.

[Bo Legg]

Brint... I wasn't making light your constructive observation. I've come to expect stiff lines and cables, but customers making suggestions is the way things get improved. Then again I've never seen a wallwart that I liked. Stiff cords tangle less so you might be better off with this wallwart.
It never ceases to amaze me how the wallwart cord gets wrap around every cord in the building.

[Ben Jones]

couple things:
-Is the wall wart not interchangeable? cant you just grab any old one with a similar voltage? (I dunno, thats why I ask)
-I use a walwart to power my entire pedalboard (for guitar and now for steel too). The wart itself is velcroed to the pedalboard upside down with the plug end pointing up. The chord for the walwart is twisty tied up into a ball with just enough sticking out to reach that first pedal, then i use a daisy chain to power all the other pedals. A cheap and long extension chord is then used to connect the walwart to your outlet. Maybe a similar setup would work for some of you? you dont even need the pedalboard if you dont use a bunch of effects...I just find it so much more convenient to ball up the walwart and use a long extension chord because yes...the walwart chords are ALWAYS too short. Heres my guitar pedalboard in its most elaborate incarnation. You can see the upside down walwart in the lower left corner...just run a cheapo two prong brown 24 foot extension to it and your good to go from anywhere in the house.

[Brint Hannay]

Is the wall wart not interchangeable? cant you just grab any old one with a similar voltage? (I dunno, thats why I ask)

The Hilton wall wart is hardwired--it doesn't unplug from the pedal.

[Ben Jones]

Is the wall wart not interchangeable? cant you just grab any old one with a similar voltage? (I dunno, thats why I ask)

The Hilton wall wart is hardwired--it doesn't unplug from the pedal.

oh...ouch.
still...I'd twisty tie up that walwart chord, duct tape it to the walwart, set it a cuple inches from the pedal and use an extension chord to solve the stiff chord and lack of length problem..no matter what, ALL walwarts have chords that are just to short for every stage situation. lotsa stage dont have enough outlets, or front of stage outlets etc.

just how I'd do it, I understand everyone is different (thank goodness)

[Brint Hannay]

Ben, Of course a sensible solution.

But wall warts don't have to be that way--my Mesa/Boogie V-Twin pedal has a detachable wall wart with a 14-foot cord that's 3/16" diameter and quite supple.