The Steel Guitar Forum

Guys:

What's the BEST volume pedal on the market today?

I just bought a vintage EMMONS single neck on a double frame.

I want to get the best sound out of this guitar.

Also, want something that will attach to the pedal bar

Recommendations? Anyone? Anyone?

THX
BRUCE TERRY

Where's the Poll ?
Irrespective, I go for Hilton.

can i vote NOT goodrich?
the pot in mine lasted about 8 hours of playing time

Simply put HILTON!!!!!!!!!

I much prefer the sound of a passive pedal over the Hilton. Goodrich is my favorite.

Without a doubt the Hilton. I would never go back to a pot pedal or a photocell after using the Hilton. My personal pedal is almost 7 years old and works just like a new pedal. I would have probably gone through a dozen or more pots in that time. Also Hilton makes a great bracket that attaches to an Emmons pedal bar. I might mention that I am also a dealer and have pedals and brackets in stock, but I would still be using one even if I didn't sell them.

Herby Wallace

Another vote for Hilton

Bruce,

IMHO: HILTON....HILTON....HILTON.....call Herby as soon as you can!! TX
Rgds,

Ron

I have a Goodrich LDR potless pedal that sounds great! No problems with it at all. Plug in and go. No pesky pots to worry about. And the LDR/Hilton active pedals give your sound a nice push that adds clarity and definition.

The Hilton and the LDR seem to be top of the heap these days, although some players still like to use pot pedals. IMO, they all sound fine.......but the scratchy pot can be an issue if you have to send away for these things and change them yourself.

As much as I like Goodrich, I'm going to have to say the Emmons volume pedal. It took on a lot of dance floor dust and still lasted almost two decades before I had to replace the pot. J.C.

My good friend and former Principal builds the best Volume pedal ever built!

He has other inventions too and was the first I ever knew to write steel guitar courses. He was marketing them as early as 1976 at the St. Louis Convention. He paid his road dues like the rest of us!

What's his name/His pedal Hilton Pedal to the metal!

GOD bless!

Terry Wood

THANKS FOR THE INFO AND OPINIONS GUYS!!!

I guess I'll go with the HILTON. Herby, I'll be in touch shortly.

THX
BRUCE

deleted

I have Goodrich and ShoBud pot pedals and the Goodrich LDR and Hilton pedals. The potless pedals will be your future as the great AB pots of yesteryear are no longer availiable and the pots from Canada are only good. I have the Goodrich LDR pedal on a sit down gig for standard guitar and have had not one problem with it.

If you are looking for potless then either the Hilton or the Goodrich LDR.

In my opinion, there should be no such thing as a "best sounding" volume pedal. I do not want a pedal that changes my tone. In my opinion, the pedal should be transparent.
The Hilton gets my vote. It passes everything my guitar gives it. I then have the total frequency range which I can EQ to my liking with my electronics.
Hilton ... It don't get no mo betta.

I'm in agreement with John Daughtery even though he's from Rolla!

Terry

Oops! Sorry John didn't check my spelling. Again, I think John's right about what a Volume pedal should do.

Terry

I use and prefer a Goodrich 120 with a good pot - admittedly, that's getting to be more and more of an issue. I have tried some active pedals, and they work fine, but I still like the Goodrich.

To me, it's more or less equivalent to the difference between passive vs. active or single-coil vs. humbucking pickups. They're all fine, it's just a matter of personal preference and taste. There's no "best", except to somebody in particular. My opinion, of course.

Be good if someone would make a potless pedal that mimics the tone thing that pot pedals do.

It just don't sound right without that swell in brightness. Isn't that part of the classic pedal steel sound?

edit: PS - I use a Ernie Ball with a Clarostat EJ pot. Its very well built.

HILTON

I totally agree with you, Jeremy. The best part of a pot pedal is the slight tonal change. I really like it.

I'll bet Brad Sarno could design an electronic pedal that imitates a pot. I think it's worthwhile.

Im still plugging in my Goodrich and its been a wonderful workhorse for a long long time. It would be nice not to do the plug in bit. If it aint broke , I'm not gonna fix it.

I just cannot understand why they cannot make a durable potentiometer for these things??!! or at least one that lasts more than 8 hours.

why is that so difficult with the current technology available? all the wonderful things and complex devices and sytems and components we are able to build...microchips, artificial hearts, rockets to the moon..and we cannot build a durable potentiometer?

..and yet that doesnt stop the manufacturers from selling you a metal casing with a defective potentiometer and a couple inches of string for $185

Goodrich 120 pot pedal with a Dunlop replacement pot. Totally dead quiet and easily rated to last many years with a carbon impregnated plastic pot. This pot is easily more durable than the ORIGINAL Allen Bradely pot and the orginal pot lasted me 7 years the 1st time and 10 years the second time. High quality. long lasting pots have been make for years and there's no need to avoid the simplicity (no power supply) and low cost of a pot pedal to get a reliable unit.

IF you started with a pot pedal and went with a Hilton or an LDR2, it WOULD be changing your sound and vice versa. Tone is a personal preference and I can't say one is BETTER. They are just different and judging by all the classic recordings in existence, there's been no lack of good tone or highs in pot pedals.

It certainly is possible to build a voltage controlled resistor with no amp, essentially a pedal where the pedal position controls an electronic variable resistor, not an amp with variable gain. Essentially it would look just like a 500K log taper pot to the guitar. It would required a power supply though and I think most people would prefer to have a buffer amp if they are going to spend the extra money.

I love the sound I get out of a pot pedal. You may not and that's fine! I certainly like the lower cost and not having to plug in a power supply cord. Either type of pedal can get the job done.

Greg

Goodrich LDR..........