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Topic: Hilton pedal & fuzz problem |
kbdrost
From:
Prospect Heights, IL
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Posted 15 Jan 2005 11:14 pm |
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Whenever I use any fuzz or overdrive unit through my Hilton volume pedal, the volume pedal becomes completely non-responsive. I still get sound, I just get no volume control. Doesn't matter what unit I use or whether I put it before or after the Hilton. When I kill the fuzz, the Hilton works fine. Anybody else have this problem? Any solutions?
***NOTE--THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. SEE BELOW
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Ken Drost
steelcrazy after all these years
[This message was edited by kbdrost on 17 January 2005 at 07:15 AM.] |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 16 Jan 2005 4:48 am
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I dont use fuzz too often but when I do I use my VooDoo labs Super fuzz BEFORE the Hilton and it works just fine. After the pedal was a little noisey. Remember if you are gonna leave an effect"in line" if its not "true bypass" it can rob your tone of some of the highs, so you might want to try an A/B switch. Good Luck.
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Sho-Bud ProII, Pro III custom,
Fender Steelking,Hilton pedal,Tut Taylor "Virginian"
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2005 7:07 am
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Ken, this does not make any sense to me at all. I suspect a bad cable or a defective effects unit.
Does the effects unit work OK when you do not have the pedal in line?
The first thing I would do is: replace both cords connecting the effects unit.
The only other reason that comes to mind is: if the effects unit has a lot of gain, it could saturate the preamp in the volume pedal. Most effects units do not have that much gain..........JD |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 16 Jan 2005 10:49 am
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| Yeah, I agree with John, something ain't right. I have tried several fuzz or overdrive units both before and after my Hilton pedal. Before always sounds too wimpy. And after sounds good, but is way too noisy. I would prefer a unit before the pedal, because the "touch sensitivity" built into most units doesn't work well with a volume pedal screwing around with the "touch". The before-the-volume-pedal position gives an even effect, but it always sounds like it is in a tin can at the bottom of a well. Larry, is there anything special about the Voodoo pedal? |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 16 Jan 2005 12:37 pm
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David,
This is the only Fuzz type device I found that I like for steel. I'm sure there are other ones out there as well. These are hand made in Ca.,all analog circut, with true bypass switching. Basicly its a 1968
Jordan Bosstone Fuzz with added tone and resonance controls. Sounds Very nice w/single coils...check e'm out at
www.voodoolab.com
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 16 Jan 2005 7:53 pm
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| Thanks, Larry. The Voodoo fuzzes sound good, with a lot of variety. But my experience is that hearing a 6-string does not tell me enough about what a stomp will sound like for pedal steel. I'll definitely try to find one of these that I can try out with my Zum. |
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 16 Jan 2005 8:02 pm
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Ken,thanks for using my volume pedal. I would like to help you. Off the top of my head, I don't know why this is happening to you. The input of my pedal is designed to handled either a low level magnetic pickup ,or a stronger pre-amped signal. The fuzz signal is bound to be a pre-amped signal. The input of the pedal has little to do with the volume control, as signal goes to a pre-amp first, then to the volume control. All electronic effect units are made for 6 string stand up guitar players. The quality and design of these electronic effect units can vary greatly. When using these small box guitar effect units with other electronics in a signal chain, the inputs and outputs must be designed to work with either a low level magnetic pickup signal, or a stronger pre-amped signal. If they do not, it is possible to hook up where the units perform poorly, or don't work at all. You see some of the designers of these electronic effect units design them thinking "ALL" guitar players plug a cord directly from their guitar to the effect unit. Many of the designers of these effect boxes never dream their unit will be put in a signal chain with other effect units. These effect boxes should be designed to accept either a low level signal, or a pre-amped signal, but they are not all designed that way. They should be, but they are not. Many of them are designed to be plugged straight into a guitar. This means many of these units won't operate properly if fed a pre-amped signal. Case in point: I played a show with Tom Brumley and he was using my pedal with a box called the Holy Grail Reverb. The Holy Grail Reverb worked great when put before the Hilton pedal, and made noise when put after the pedal. This told me the Holy Grail Reverb was designed for a low level guitar magnetic pickup signal ----only. If anything were saturating Ken, I would suspect it would be the input, or output, of the fuzz units you are trying to use. It is possible these units are being saturated to the point of not making enough signal. If you have no signal, then the volume pedal can't control a zero, or close to zero, signal. If the fuzz is after the pedal, it would be the input of the fuzz getting overloaded. If the fuzz is before the pedal, it could be the output of the fuzz needs to see a lower impedance. The input impedance of my pedal is upwards of one meg. ohms. Another question is this: How many other things do you have in the signal chain?
It is possible that something else is being over loaded as the signal gets stronger from adding pre-amps. When several pre-amps are put in line, the gain is multiplication not addition. In other words 8 plus 8 equals 16, but 8 times 8 is 64. 16 is a long way from 64. If you can't figure out the problem, I would be happy to check things out for you. Just send the Hilton pedal and the fuzz to me here at the factory. That is the only real way I can tell you for certain what is going on. I have not heard of anyone else having this problem. Hope this information helps.[This message was edited by Keith Hilton on 16 January 2005 at 08:06 PM.] |
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kbdrost
From:
Prospect Heights, IL
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Posted 17 Jan 2005 7:18 am
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Sorry, guys, upon further review, it appears that my Hilton pedal is not working AT ALL. I disconnected the fuzz and get the same problem. I get sound, so there is power to the pedal, but it is completely unresponsive. There is no reaction when the pedal is depressed. If this was a pot pedal, I'd change out the pot, but obviously, that won't help here. This pedal is only about a year old, so I don't know what maintenance is otherwise required. I'm going to send an email directly to Keith to see if he can answer the question. Thanks.
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Ken Drost
steelcrazy after all these years
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Keith Hilton
From:
248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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Posted 17 Jan 2005 11:36 am
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| Ken, glad you got the problem figured out. Have not got your e-mail yet, so let me help you now. Service does not cost an arm and a leg, as I make it a point to treat people like I would want to be treated. This means that a majority of repairs only cost the customer return shipping which is $12.00. Send the pedal to me: Keith Hilton 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721 If you need to talk to me, here is my home number 417-581-4158. We have very few failures and there is nothing to service ever 3,000 miles. It is possible for anything to fail, even a car costing $35,000.00. The important thing is I am here to help you. Again, thanks for using my product. |
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kbdrost
From:
Prospect Heights, IL
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Posted 17 Jan 2005 3:27 pm
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Thanks, Keith, my email is really just a repeat of the above post. I'll just send you the pedal and let you figure it out. As I said in the email, this is the only problem I've ever had with it, and I like everything else about it. Let's figure out what happened. It may well be something I did.  Joey, you can close this thread.
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Ken Drost
steelcrazy after all these years
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Ernie Renn
From:
Brainerd, Minnesota USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2005 11:16 pm
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Before you send the pedal out, check the power supply. I had a bad one that caused me to remove the pedal from the chain. At one point it sounded like a tremolo unit. Make sure it's working properly.
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My best,
Ernie
www.buddyemmons.com
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