Volume Pedal Change

Howard Smith · From: Callison, South Carolina, USA

I just swapped my Hilton Lo Pro, for a Goodrich 120 today, just to see how it would affect the sound of my guitar. It doesn't seem to have as much output, and the taper is different, but I believe I like the tone of it better. Don't know what to do.....maybe I need both. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Also I'm not using anything else expect the Goodrich Pedal, no sustain box. I talked to Keith Hilton about this once concerning his pedal, and he told me the digital sustain was built into the my Hilton pedal.
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Carter D10 8/5, Hilton VP, BJS Bar, Sonic Research Strobe Tuner, Elite' Powered Speakers, Fender Telecaster, Traynor YCV40 Tube Amp

Bud Angelotti · From: Larryville, NJ, USA

It's not you imagination. Unless I'm mistaken, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong, the goodrich doesn't have the same output. The way the string turns the pot on the goodrich, it doesn't allow for full rotation of the pot. Depending on how the string is set, if the pot is turned all the way off, it won't open all the way on. And if it's set to turn all the way on, it won't pedal all the way off, to no volume. The taper on the goodrich can also change depending on what type of pot is in there. Thats just the way it is. This is not to be-little the Goodrich. The Hilton just has more features. Apples & Oranges.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Howard, if you read most of the posts here on the subject, both Paul Franklin and one other Nashville guy (I want to say Tommy White, but I am trying to relinquish my motto of "Often in error, seldom in doubt") have reverted to the good ol' Goodrich. I like mine, although I do use a Lil' Izzy in front of it.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Howard, I had exactly the same reaction with the Hilton and Goodrich. The Hilton is a great pedal, but it sounded too edgy for me. I do think I get a better (cleaner?) tone if I put a live pedal of some sort (in my case reverb and delay) between the vp and my amp. It is a buffering issue (which is something you can find a tone of info on by doing a search on the site). I also remember a post from someone who managed to get the full sweep from off to full volume on passive pedal by making the shaft around which the string wraps a larger diameter somehow. I forget how they did this.

Dan

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Umm, you'd make the brass collar smaller, so it would spin faster as the string moved across it. A lathe (or perhaps a drill and a tight fitting bit) and some sandpaper could do it.
If you have a long-shafted pot, I don't recommend eliminating the collar, a naked shaft is too small, and you can break the internal stops as the pedal range will exceed the range of the pot. I broke stuff so you don't have to.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Ooops! Bigger, smaller, what's the big deal (and this is why I am not an engineer, haha!)

Tommy White · From: Nashville

Lane, bingo! You're correct. The collar would need to be smaller.
My Goodrich and old Sho-Bud pedals are adjusted so they just barely turn off, allowing for more use of the center of the pot, which again, to me is the sweet spot. I have plenty of travel and volume without any kind of buffer or preamp.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I suppose if someone REALLY wanted full range from his/her pot pedal, I'd suggest replacing the brass collar with a long-shaft pot with the shaft wrapped in duct tape.
If the women don't find you handsome ...
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Tommy White uses pot volume pedals, and he does not use buffers (impedance matching devices) or preamps.

More proof that tone is in the hands, not the gadgets.

Howard Smith · From: Callison, South Carolina, USA

This is real good information ya'll. Being a new player on PGS, you guys certainly make learning this instrument much easier...many thanks.
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Carter D10 8/5, Hilton VP, BJS Bar, Sonic Research Strobe Tuner, Elite' Powered Speakers, Fender Telecaster, Traynor YCV40 Tube Amp

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

I have no need for a volume pedal that goes all the way off. I think it sounds hokey to fade in from total silence.
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Ray Anderson · From: Jenkins, Kentucky USA

Ditto! b0b. Cool

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

Dan...I had the same problem with my Hilton sounding slightly "edgy". Turning back the volume setting located on the base of the pedal smoothed it out nicely.

Sonny Priddy · From: Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA, R.I.P.

I Had A Hilton Traded It For A Pot Pedal I Like The Pot Best. Sonny.

Kenny Radas · From: Edwardsville,IL,USA

Are most players using the GL or Bill Lawrence cable with the pot pedals? I would guess the cable would have less effect on the sound with the Hilton or with a buffer??? Anyone like cable that roll off more highs??

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

Tell you what, I prefer the pot pedals either an Emmons style or the Goodrich whichever is in my seat at the time. I have a Hilton and have always liked it too and it's got more than enough features to make me happy but the old pot pedal just hooks up a lot faster cause you don't have a chord to mess with. I like the way the old pot pedals respond better too and there never was anything wrong with the tone in them. All that said last night a nearly new Derby (Emmons style pedal) just bit the dust and the pot started scratching. Last week the pot got loose in there and I tighted it up only to find it was cutting out so I took it apart and shot some cleaning fluid in it and then a drop or two of some thin oil kinda like sewing machine oil and it was back to working fine. That lasted for one very loud gig downtown and since it was so loud I may have never noticed it was scratchy so I'm back to using the Hilton again. I let a Goodrich electronic pedal get away from me a while back and now I wish I had it back. I used the pot pedals for over 20 years and then all of a sudden it seems there isn't a decent pot to be found! I can say the Hilton has never failed me and Keith even said if it ever did he'd fix it free so it's hard to beat that. He's a good ole boy and will explain it to you if you don't know how it works. I'm not getting rid of the Hilton but I'm back to hunting a good pot for that Emmons style pedal.

Brendan Mitchell · From: Melbourne Australia

Claire Winter · From: Washington, USA

As a retired pro audio mfg gal, my opinion is that it is a design shortcoming that doesn't allow the pot to make its full swing on these pedals. Lane is right, making the brass collar smaller increases the pot swing (smaller trailer wheels turn more times per mile!). If I were to design a passive volume pedal, it would allow full pot swing AND have an easily adjustable low stop to set the minimum level.

I'm considering fabricating a design that lets the player select minimum level from the guitar itself (with pedal off, turn a knob to set minimum sound). I'm not experienced enough playing steel to know if this would be desirable--I won't pursue it if y'all pan it. But it seems to me that it would be nice to come in from full off on some tunes, and then with a twist of a knob at the guitar jack set the low end to your "attack" volume and then bring it up from there for max sustain. Seems to me this would allow a very consistent picking volume since this is done with the pedal full "off"--very repeatable. I'd probably put a flip switch to select between full-off and a preset minimum.

Am I one of the few female Red Green fans out there? Hilarious show!

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I don't think that makes much sense, since you'd be adding a resistor before the pedal, but would want it to go away when you drop the hammer.
Making a collar sized to allow the full swing makes more sense
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Claire Winter · From: Washington, USA

I'm not talking of a blocking resistor, Lane, that wouldn't make sense I agree. I'm taking a signal mixing approach instead. I'm going to build up a passive version this week and try it out. I'll let you know the results and describe the signal path.

BTW Bobbe Seymour's site sells the smaller diameter pot collar for full pot swing, for a bit over $12 + SH. I can't make one that inexpensive in my own shop! That way you get full power on and full off as well. (Still feel the mfr should have shipped them that way!) Here's a link: http://www.steelguitar.net/volpedal4.html

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

No doubt, variety is the spice of life as can be seen here regarding choice of pedal. I prefer the Hilton myself. stevet

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