When Hiltons go bad !

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

For the third time in as many months my Hilton has stopped working. I've tried to contact Keith but to no avail. Luckily my Allan Bradley pot came thru today( thank you John Widgren ) and is working perfectly in my Emmons pedal. What's the point in spending hundreds of dollars on a pedal but can't get it fixed when it goes wrong without having the expense of sending it back to the US. With my AB pedal working well the Hilton is consigned to the bottom drawer. Shame, because they are great when working. I don't expect the AB pot to ever go wrong my last one gave up after twelve years, I'll settle for that again.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

With the thousands that Keith has sold and has backed up, it's strange to see a negative report. I can't say why Keith hasn't responded to you but that is not like him.

Electronics will go bad, and if there were never a need for repairs many of us, myself included, would have had to seek another profession.

Give him one more chance.

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

Sometimes us repair folks take a vacation! Maybe Keith is out or on family business.

When I go on a trip I find it hard to get away from the cell phone and emails. Most folks think you are there 24-7. I get phone calls while in the grocery line sometimes. Folks never ask if you are busy, they just go right into their questions!! I do my best to answer and take care of other business at the same time.

However there are times when you have to just call back the next day! I get calls from morning until late in the evening. That is the nature of running your own business.

When I worked as a Union Electrician I went home and never worried about being called at all hours (if I did get a call it was an emergency and I was well compensated for my time)

All I am saying, is give the man a break. He sells a great product and has great service. But he may well have personal things that have prevented a speedy reply! Stuff happens!!!

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

I agree with you Ken and of course I make allowances for Keith knowing that he is a very busy man and yes his pedal is a great unit. I've just checked my sent Emails to Keith and find I last mailed him on 20/12/09 and my request was for a new circuit board for which I was prepared to pay and asked him if Mark Dunn here in the UK could fit the board to my pedal.It's a pity Keith doesn't have a designated repairer here in the UK. Having not heard from Keith from that date, I, in the meantime, acquired a NOS A/B pot from John Widgren and have settled on that for now. I'll contact Keith again in the near future and get the pedal up and running again.

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

James, please read this post as Keith details some issues recently. He is a good guy who really cares about his products. It's unfortunate your in this situation.
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=175058&highlight=keith+hilton

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

Thank you David for your interest in this topic. My post is not an attack on Keith himself, but, I'm sure you will agree that a wait of some six to seven weeks is quite a long time and not knowing when I would get a reply I've just gone for a solution to my problem to tie me over for the time being. I have every intention of getting my Hilton fixed and back under my foot.

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

James, I totally agree with you and if I were in this situation I would be very discouraged. Customer service is a very strong factor when I choose to make a purchase whether it be equipment or going out to eat.
Dave

Kevin Mincke · From: Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA

I guess if it's not working it is of no value but to be placed in the bottom drawer. Quite frankly, I would have mailed it back to Keith right away with an email sent describing the problem and enclosed a letter also. I suspect you'd have it back by now and probably only having to pay overseas shipping.
Keith is one of the best for customer service and questions/help in general.

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

I have been made aware that Keith is having some problems at the moment and I think it would be a good idea to drop this subject . Bob, will you do just that? Thanks.

Keith Hilton · From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721

James, thanks for using my pedal. Sorry you have had problems. This is the first I have heard about you having problems. I have not received any e-mail from you. You can always reach me by e-mail, if your e-mail is working. My email is-- klhilton@aol.com, or you can email me through my web site www.hiltonelectronics.com James, you mentioned that this is the 3rd time your pedal has stopped working. James the first thing I would check would be your guitar cords and the second thing I would check would be your power connection. Approximately 65% of the pedals I get in for repair have nothing wrong with them. Just by un-plugging a guitar cord and plugging in an old pot pedal you can cause a defective guitar cord to start working. Not long ago I was fooled by a defective guitar cord. I thought my amplifier was going bad, turned out to be a defective guitar cord. James, I can understand your frustration, but please understand your e-mails have not made it to my computer. If I can help you, please let me know?

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

Thanks Keith for your response. Without touching anything on the pedal I've just tried it again and it's working! Same George L leads and same power supply. I suppose, because the pedal works perfectly when it is working, rules out the pedal electronics being faulty if that all makes sense, which means, as you say, the fault lies elswhere. I have tried quite a few leads and my amp has recently been serviced at Peavey in Corby. If I find later that the power adaptor is faulty is there a suitable adaptor I can buy here in the UK to replace it? Thanks for your valuable time. James

Malcolm McMaster · From: Beith Ayrshire Scotland

James believe from a previous post by Billy Murdoch, that you can get one at Maplins, also Basil gave details of another supplier, I am sure he would be happy to supply address.Think it always a good idea to have a spare supply for any of the "gadgets" you use.Regards Malcolm
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MSA Millenium SD10, GK MB200, Sica 12inch cab, Joyo American Sound Pedal/ Jay Ganz Straight Ahead amp, Telonics 15inch in Peavey cab, Digitech RP150, Peterson tuner.Hilton volume pedal.Scott Dixon seat and guitar flight case.

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

Hi Malcolm. Thanks for the info. Pedal is still working as we speak. I will probably contact Mark Dunn when he takes a break from working on his new project - he's the man.

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

I had a gig where when my volume went up I got crackling distortion. Bypassed my rack of gear and stompboxes, same problem. Finally went straight from guitar to amp, problem gone. Concluded it was my Hilton. But the sound man mentioned i might check my main cord going to the amp, and sure enough, one end of a George L cord was the culprit. Cut an 1/8 inch off, reconnected, problems gone, Hilton was fine.

So check your cords, guys!
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James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

Thanks John, Because I play every weekend I'm very particular with maintenance and replace most leads plugs fuses etc on a regular basis. My Hilton is still working as we speak, just as well, because I'm not getting any response from Keith after mailing him again last week!

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

It's me again. The saga continues. While attempting to adjust the volume on my Hilton this morning touching the volume adjuster brought on the ear splitting high pitched noise from the amp.Thinking this is where the problem lay I removed the circuit board again and unsoldered a couple of wires with the intention of replacing the volume control, but, changed my mind, it looked too complicated, and soldered them back again and would you believe it, the pedal is working perfectly again. Sorry to bore you all with this topic but can't get a reply from Keith. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

James, I had a pedal doing exactly that, too. Send it to Keith, he'll remedy the problem. I'll send you his working phone # in a PM.
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▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net

James Martin (U.K.) · From: Watford, Herts, United Kingdom * R.I.P.

John, thanks for your help with this problem. I have this gut feeling that it might have been a dry connection on the volume control wiring and I may have accidently found the problem. If it happens again I will send it back to Keith, so, fingers crossed.

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