Volume pedals question

Dave Wright · Post by **Dave Wright** » 17 Oct 2008 1:51 pm

I need to buy a new vol pedal and have a question anwsered.. Pots vs. photo thingies ??? Which 1 should i get.? Its a tossup between the Goodrich and the Hilton. Which is better, and will give me more life out of them.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 17 Oct 2008 2:15 pm

Considering the pot in my goodrich lasted less than a month I would say the hilton gives you a longer life-span. HOwever i dont own nor have I ever tried a Hilton pedal.

At the risk of offending the good people who make these pot pedals, I fail to see why they are so expensive when all they consist of is the pot, a peice of string and a metal housing!? At that price and with so few actual components in the thing, one would think that they could at a minimum afford to use quality components but sadly this is not the case.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 17 Oct 2008 2:20 pm

My take on the POT PEDAL prices are that they cost that much because WE, the steel playing community, are willing to cough up that much for an item that should cost much less.

Electronic pedals are obviously more expensive.

I would go with the Hilton. Is Goodrich still making the electronic pedal? I though they stopped after Phil died. I play a Goodrich LDR2 and it is a great pedal, as is the Hilton.

Gabriel Stutz · Post by **Gabriel Stutz** » 17 Oct 2008 2:53 pm

My 2 cents on this issue is that you should really look into the Hilton pedal. I got extremely tired of changing pots all the time, and I noticed a HUGE tonal improvement over the pot pedal when I got the Hilton. You don't lose any of the highs when you roll off the volume pedal. They are more expensive up front, but, when you add up all the $20 pots you're bound to go through over the life of the pedal, I'd bet the Hilton winds up being cheaper in the long run.

Gabriel

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 17 Oct 2008 3:16 pm

I use both the Hilton and Goodrich standard L120 pot pedal. I have been using the Goodrich mostly because I'm lazy. It is one less thing to plug in. I record with either one and both work great. I have not had a problem with the pots Goodrich is using for a long time now. I might give a slight edge to the Hilton for consistent tone.

As far as the money goes nobody is getting rich building things in the USA. I try to support them as best I can. The Hilton and Goodrich people are all we got and we are lucky to have them.

I have been making a point to buy most everything I can from mom and pop businesses these days. It costs a little more but I sleep better.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 17 Oct 2008 3:43 pm

Bob Hoffnar wrote: As far as the money goes nobody is getting rich building things in the USA. I try to support them as best I can. The Hilton and Goodrich people are all we got and we are lucky to have them.

I have been making a point to buy most everything I can from mom and pop businesses these days. It costs a little more but I sleep better.

I too try and support mom and pop businesses over big manufacturers. I was not aware goodrich was a mom and pop business. They ARE all we have tho so if they are a mom and pop there really is no choice BUT to support a mom and pop is there, since we cannot buy from big corporate manufacturers?

I beleive i read that these scratchy goodrich pots are made in china. As a mom and pop business could they not find a quality american made pot? maybe i am wrong about that, please correct me if so. Wherever the pots are made, my personal experience was that the pot lasted less than a month. To me that is not acceptable in a product costing as much as this one does and not something i could endorse regardless of the size of the company. its also something i just cannot really understand. How much money could possibly be saved by using these inferior cheapo pots? 68 cents a pedal? please charge me 68 cents (or however much..i dont care)more and use quality american made components if at all possible.

again sorry if this offends, but it was a real bummer to get my first guitar, pay $160 for a pedal and have it last less than a month

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 17 Oct 2008 3:51 pm

I hear nothing but good things about a pot that Tom Bradshaw sells. Seems to me that Goodrich could use the same pots.

I carry a Goodrich volume pedal as backup that has had the same pot for at least 20 years. Plays great.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 17 Oct 2008 4:00 pm

I have had a Hilton for 3 years with 0 problems. I plan to get another for backup just in case. I love em.

Todd Brown · Post by **Todd Brown** » 17 Oct 2008 9:32 pm

I bought a new Goodrich L120 about a month ago . It took about 2 weeks for the pot to start getting scratchy. I called Goodrich , they said they would replace the pot ,but I had to pay to ship it to Michigan!

I agree with Ben. This is unacceptable if this is a widespread thing. What exactly does it cost them to make these pedals $30-$40?

Dave Wright · Post by **Dave Wright** » 17 Oct 2008 9:48 pm

I thank you all for making your comments. After reading them so far. I believe I might be getting the Hilton. My only fear is that, when i get 1 the photo infered thingy will go out. Then im out 300 bones. Can you get new photo thingys if they do blow out?? Just another thought i had..

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 17 Oct 2008 9:48 pm

If Goodrich isn't willing to switch to a good reliable pot, just order one from Tom Bradshaw. I know this isn't the right way to handle this, but it beats sending your pedal to Goodrich every other month. If they don't get the message that their pots are garbage, they will eventually lose their following and go out of business. Some PSG manufacturers are building their own pot pedals and maybe it's time for them to take the front seat. Maybe some players using these other POT pedals could give their evaluation of them. Not everyone wants to step up to a Hilton.

EDIT: This is not meant to cause trouble with Goodrich. They are the only pedals I have used for over 35 years. It just bothers me that so many complain of early failure of their pots. Those pots should last for years.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 17 Oct 2008 11:29 pm

david..i'm no expert, but i've been totally satisfied with a goodrich L10K pedal..i think that's what it's called. low profile but not too low..the pot is a 10k which runs through low impedance circuitry basically like the lil izzy did so the signal is clean coming out of the pedal and through effects...changed 'maybe' two pots in close to twenty years...and uses a 9 volt battery good for at least a year at a time. not trying to sway you from anything, but if you could find a used one cheap it might be cool. i think mine cost around $120-$140 new way back when from Frenchy's music...has two output jacks..one input.

Aaron Gemmill · Post by **Aaron Gemmill** » 18 Oct 2008 2:00 am

my goodrich is older, sounds fine, but has some snags in the action. not something i really notice when i'm in a band situation, but at home it is distracting.

still, it's hard to swallow 3 bills for a volume pedal.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 18 Oct 2008 8:01 am

Dave Wright wrote:I thank you all for making your comments. After reading them so far. I believe I might be getting the Hilton. My only fear is that, when i get 1 the photo infered thingy will go out. Then im out 300 bones. Can you get new photo thingys if they do blow out?? Just another thought i had..

I dont know this for a fact but i dont think you have to worry about failure in a hilton pedal. I have never heard of a failure of the photo cell or whatever it is, whereas you can read countless accounts of the goodrich pot failures, here , harmony central, wherever.

That said, I have a Tom Bradshaw pot in my goodrich and have had no problems with it. I dont see why Goodrich couldnt use similar pots and avoid all this bad reputation and customer disatisfaction.

I am not positive on this, but i think I remember reading that Tom sells goodrich pedals with a new pot already installed? That might be something to consider if thats true.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 18 Oct 2008 8:33 am

Hilton, you wont regret it!

Chris House · Post by **Chris House** » 18 Oct 2008 9:11 am

My first pedal was a brand new Goodrich. It took three days for the pot to start to get scratchy. I bought a Hilton.

I've had it over five years now, and it's got thousands of hours on it. About six months after I bought it, I thought I might have a problem with it. I called Keith, he said send it back. I mailed it to him (five bucks, USPS) and a week later I got it back from him with a note that said "Chris, I couldn't find anything wrong with your pedal, in fact, I played a concert in Branson with it this last weekend and it performed flawlessly, but since I could not verify the problem, I'm sending you a new pedal. Thanks for using my product, Keith".

If I remember correctly, he didn't even charge me for the return shipping.

He's a member of the forum and posts often. Just do a search on the forum and you will see how he stands behind his stuff 100%. That kind of customer service and involvement means everything to me.

I'll never use another pedal, and as long as Keith is in business, I will continue to buy and support his products. IMHO it's money well spent.

Dave Wright · Post by **Dave Wright** » 18 Oct 2008 9:12 am

Again, Thanks to all for the comments. I just made the plunge and ordered a Hilton Lo Pro.What the heck its only 300 bucks right? I know (hope) you guys are steering me in the right direction.LOL...Thanks Again. Dave Wright

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 18 Oct 2008 9:58 am

Dave, i dont beleive there is a photo cell in these pedals, i have heard its more advanced than that.
You wont regret the hilton, i am, like Ben, so sick of junk pot

, mine went out in no time on my goodrich. I have replaced it with a the tom bradshaw pot, and i now use it on my home rig, and i will say those pots are great, but what can also make a regular pot noisy is the moisture, smokey bars, and hot, cold climates.
Guess what??? The Hilton loves to smoke, loves whisky, takes a shower in the rain, soaks up the summer heat, eats rodeo/county fair dust, and sleeps in -40 degree winters outside, and unlike the lead player, he loves to be stepped on, Eats it up!!

Steve Hotra · Post by **Steve Hotra** » 18 Oct 2008 10:26 am

"I am not positive on this, but i think I remember reading that Tom sells goodrich pedals with a new pot already installed? That might be something to consider if thats true."[/quote]

Yes, Tom does sell Goodrich pedals with a different pot installed. I bought a lowboy and am very happy with it.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 18 Oct 2008 11:34 am

There ya go. Buy from Tom. Great guy.

Tonu Timm · Post by **Tonu Timm** » 18 Oct 2008 12:04 pm

I use Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, as you just can't buy Goodrich or Hilton here. And if I'd purhase one from States, it needs 220 V adaptor. Ernie Ball VP needs no battery, no adaptor. I use also Czech made George Dennis Volume Pedals. They are great when new, but last usually no longer than 3 years. I never tried Hilton and Goodrich and am curious, are they better than for example Ernie Ball VP?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 18 Oct 2008 12:16 pm

If you're afraid of the pot pedals, you can buy the Hilton (or the slightly cheaper Goodrich) and be done with worrying about it for many years.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 18 Oct 2008 4:59 pm

Tonu Timm wrote:I use Ernie Ball Volume Pedal, as you just can't buy Goodrich or Hilton here. And if I'd purhase one from States, it needs 220 V adaptor. Ernie Ball VP needs no battery, no adaptor. I use also Czech made George Dennis Volume Pedals. They are great when new, but last usually no longer than 3 years. I never tried Hilton and Goodrich and am curious, are they better than for example Ernie Ball VP?

They are WAY better than the Erny ball pedal. Order a goodrich from Tom Bradshaw and you wont need to plug it in. You will see (and hear)the difference immediately.

Bob Graff · Post by **Bob Graff** » 20 Oct 2008 10:50 am

Dave I'd go with the Hilton I've had mine for 10 years now and haven't had a bit of trouble with and my personal opinion is they have a better sound than the pot pedal Bob Graff

Dave Wright · Post by **Dave Wright** » 22 Oct 2008 9:07 am

Well, i got my new lo pro Hilton today. All, i got to say is WOW

. This thing is awesome. About all the tone issues from going to pot to photo cell thingies. I can tell a big difference. You definetly keep the highs much longer. It will take some time getting use to. Thats just my 2 cents worth. Thanks to all who steered me to the Hilton.

D.Wright