The Steel Guitar Forum

Do you guys that play Sho Buds have an opinion on whether a Sho Bud VP gets a better tone out of your guitar, or do you think a Hilton is better for tone? Or, do you think it matters one way or the other?

Also, do ya'll carry any extra parts for your Bud, like the little springs on the cross shafts, extra nylon tuners, return springs etc?
I've just recently switched to Sho Buds, I have an 84 Pro II with aluminum necks, and a 78 Pro II with wood necks. IMO- I don't think you can beat these old Sho Buds for tone. And both of mine are set up to where they play almost as good as the newer steels.
terry

Sho-Bud's really hit the mark for the classic country sound. Plus they look cool too.

If you want more highs, go for the Hilton. If you want the real classic vibe, use a tube amp and the Sho-Bud pedal.

For live work, the Hilton is a god send, no maintenance, a bit brighter, as danny said above!

I am very happy now that I have gone back to the older Sho-Buds! Just took the '75 Pro II Custom I bought from Randy of Amber Digby's group to Mike Cass. Spent 3 days there in beautiful TN while he set up the guitar like I wanted KL's,ETC--I couldn't be more pleased! And you are right on; What a sound! I am running signal thru and Emmons pedal, but the Hilton sounds lush too! WO

Pot Pedal any time. SONNY.

Thanks guys. I have to agree with the Sho Bud pedal giving the guitar more of a classic sound. I also agree that the Hilton can't be beat for a problem free pedal. I have a Hilton and a Sho Bud pedal.
Just put a new Dunlop pot in my Sho Bud pedal, and it sure seems to me that the old clarostat pot gave a more classic tone than the new Dunlop.

terry

I play a '77 Pro-II Custom. Since Allen-Bradley quit making pots, the Sho-Bud was no longer dependable. The Mexican pots are no comparison. My Hilton pedal takes the worry out of the operation.

Allen, I bought the Dunlop pot from Tom Bradshaw. Most all pot pedal players, or PPP including Tom Bradshaw say the Dunlop is the best pot made now. Just repeatin what I've heard.

terry

Ernie Ball been very good to me....

I just finally had enough of pots that got scratchy in less than a year. When I switched to the Hilton, a guy I'd been playing with remarked on how clean it sounded.

Hey Terry, you sound good anyway, don't even use a volume pedal. Glad you like them Buds.---Henry

Awe shucks Henry Appreciate the flattery though.

Henry, do you remember the name of the man you bought the Pro II from, that I bought from you?
There was a guy from Arkansas that posted on the forum not long ago, telling everybody that wanted to know, what year their Bud was made, using the serial#. I thought he might be the guy you bought the bud from. Anyways, from the chart that was posted using the serial numbers = the year made,
It showed the bud I got from you was about an 84 model. I was thinkin you told me it was a 77 -78 model. Don't matter, it sounds awesome whatever year it was made. Would just kinda like to know in case some body asked.

terry

Sonny Priddy wrote:Pot Pedal any time. SONNY.

Sonny, would you mind sharing with us where you get your pots, and what brand these days are any good?

Terry, I was told it was a late 70's. Carl Chandler said he thought he built it around 78 or 79. Never checked the serial numbers. Sometimes they can be wrong on the years. I was told my Emmons was a 67 but have seen higher serial numbers that say they are 66's. I think you have maybe the only ProII with aluminum necks---Henry

Hilton pedals for me no matter what brand of guitar . It'll help a good guitar sound even better .

Here's what ya want>
http://cgi.ebay.com/Allen-Bradley-JA1N0 ... 51910ffb00
or here>
http://cgi.ebay.com/500-OHM-AB-ALLEN-BR ... 5ad803977a

Ricky, Wouldn't an "Audio Taper" be better than a "Linear Taper" for a volume pedal?

Why do I want used pots?

Thomas, guys salvage these pots from old radios and record players etc.

The theory is that they haven't been used much, in fact, I'd say that a steel guitarist probably tortures them worse in one hour than the guy that owned the radio (or whatever it was) did in 20 years.

The theory is that the high quality pot is better than ones made today.

Sorry; I don't know the diff between Audio and Linear
and the Allen Bradley Pot I have in my pedal has been in there for 30 years.....>so they last longer than any Pot I've tried in other pedals...and are the clearest sound I've heard.
Ricky

Danny Bates wrote:Ricky, Wouldn't an "Audio Taper" be better than a "Linear Taper" for a volume pedal?

Yes, probably. Linear taper means that at half rotation, half the resistance is dialed in. An audio taper pot is balanced so that you get more volume (less resistance) on the front end of the rotation, and less volume increase on the back. (I think I've got that right...)

I never tried a Hilton, but I'm sure they're fine pedals. I scored a Sho~Bud pedal with an original Allen Bradley pot, and I'm not even slightly tempted to try anything else with my '74 Pro-II. As far as amps, I go back and forth between my '76 Session 400 w/15" BW and my '65 Twin w/15" JBL as far as which I think has the best tone. They're both outstanding, just a bit different. The Twin gives me a wonderful retro tone, but the Session... well, I guess I have to say it has more balls than the Twin. I also have a NV400 which I think is a great amp, but don't think it brings out the best in my Pro-II. It does fiddle gigs mostly.

Since I can't knock 'em out with my chops, I have to do it with tone.

Henry, the pro II I bought from you is sure-nuf a unique guitar. I don't think the tone can be beat
. I call it the Hal Rugg sound. Back when Hal was playin with the Wilburn brothers. Like I said, it really don't matter about the year model. It's a keeper for sure!

Thanks for the links Ricky.

terry

My Sho-Bud pedal really attenuated the highs and definitely changed the tone when I used it. I put in a 330pfd cap (high pass filter) which solved the problem. But later I did not like the height and went to the low-boy pedals (Dekley and Goodrich). I am probably in the minority, but the Hilton did not give me the tone I wanted.

As a reference, I have used the small caps for all of my pedals: Dekely and Goodrich 220pfd, DeArmond 100 to 220 pfd.

Thanx,
Jim

I was having problems with all my pot vp's, so I got a Hilton, and it's a fine pedal. It gives my steels a bit more top end, and more gain, which translates into more sustain. It feels natural, like a pot pedal and the no maintenance thing is a big plus.

Having said that, I get a sweeter tone from my pot vp's.
So the Hilton does the gigs, and the Bud & Emmons pedals do the sessions.