Keith Hilton

Chuck Cusimano · From: Weatherford, Texas, USA

I was playing with The "Ace Of Diamonds" Band tonight, and on our break, a really nice man came up and introduced himself to me as Keith Hilton. I found out he is the feller that builds the Hilton Volume pedal. I've been kicking the idea around of using a volume pedal again, and noticed a lot of Steel Players using them, and they all sing high praises about them. (Hilton Pedals)

I play Lead Guitar, and it takes a worry off my mind if I can controll my volume without taking my hands off the strings to adjust my volume in the middle of a ride. I've had, (and always loved) a Goodrich pedal, and they're fine, but I happen to catch myself without one anymore. I'm really thinking about getting a Hilton, and especially after meeting Keith. Like I said, he's a nice man.

Keith if you read this, thanks for introducing yourself tonight. Chuck Cusimano (The guy with the yellow Telecaster)
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They call it FILL 'cause it goes in the holes. Don't cover up the singer.

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

I adore mine chuck, been going strong for 5 years now, 'road beaten and raped and hung up wet' it is electronic though, so you might have to warm up to it.
Awsome addition!
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A.K.A Chappy.

Terry Wood · From: Lebanon, MO

Chuck,

I have been using mine for about the past 7 years and I don't think there is a better volume pedal.

Also, I have known Keith Hilton since he was my Jr. High School principal and math teacher many years ago, 1969. He will tell you like it is, and his products are excellent. He stands behind his products too.

Terry Wood

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

My understanding (I learned this from The Forum, but might be wrong) is that the Hilton pedal is the only one currently on the market that keeps the same tone at every volume setting.

It is definitely true that potentiometer pedals, and some if not all light beam pedals, change the tone when they are not fully depressed. (And sometimes even then the tone is compromised!) The only thing I'm not sure of is if anyone else besides Keith makes an impedance-matching vp. I sure love mine! And yes, it is a great thing to have on a guitar as well as on a psg...
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

Barry;
Mine has the wall wart, did he re-design that or something to a plug in style??
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A.K.A Chappy.

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

No, it still has the wall wart. But no big deal; I just take a power strip with me to every gig and plug in the amp and the two wall warts for the volume pedal and my little reverb unit. Although it is true that it takes me longer to set up the wires than it takes to set up the steel itself. But still I can get to a gig and be tuned and totally set up in ten minutes...

What I like about the Hilton is the sound. The difference between it and my old Goodrich light beam pedal was quite noticeable, especially when the pedal is hardly pressed at all...
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

Thanks barry, i actually use one of those 'Octopuss' exstension power strip,[walmart i think] where you have 5 seperate wires coming off, it runs my whole rig.

What is the difference between the old one and the new one?
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A.K.A Chappy.

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

I used Goodrich pot pedal, for years and then I got my Hilton from Bobbe and I love it, I will never use another pedal...

Db
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www.steelguitarsonline.com

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

Larry -- do mean the difference between my old (~1974) Goodrich light beam pedal and my 2009 Hilton? The Goodrich seemed to cut the highs, and as the volume got softer on the pedal, the tone got thinner and thinner in the bass and midrange as well, or so it seemed to me.

Somebody on The Forum -- might have been the esteemed Mr. Doggett -- explained to me that when a normal volume pedal cuts the volume, the impedance of the instrument and the amp no longer match properly so the tone is compromised, and that the Hilton solves this problem. I am a musician, and I know how to use electronic equipment but almost nothing about how it works, but what I hear is that the tone through the Hilton sounds the same at every position of the pedal, and that it sounds better than the Goodrich at every position of the pedal.

(Not to knock Goodrich -- that old pedal worked flawlessly for 35 years and hundreds of gigs, and I'm sure the new Goodrich pedals are even better.)
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Chuck Cusimano · From: Weatherford, Texas, USA

Hey guys, Thanks for the great info. I'm convinced. I'm saving for one starting today. First, I got to get the air conditioner working in my car. (2006 KIA Optima)
I bought an extended waranty, and I'm hoping It (the money to fix it) don't have to come out of my pocket. Anyway, Thanks to all who helped with the fine comments about the Hilton Pedal. Keith, You done good!
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They call it FILL 'cause it goes in the holes. Don't cover up the singer.

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

Chuck, it was a pleasure to hear your Ace of Diamonds band. We listened to your CDs on the way back to Missouri. Chuck, you play guitar really good, and you are a great singer. As your band played I was wishing I could be up on stage with you, behind my steel guitar. I have heard a lot of guitar players and you rank right up there with the best. Only wish you lived back in Missouri, as we would do some picking together. The people at St.Francis village loved your music and danced to every song.

Chuck Cusimano · From: Weatherford, Texas, USA

Hi Kieth, Thanks for the nice words of encouragement. I wish you would have had your steel with you that night!! We would have enjoyed your fine playing. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back on line to check the web. My car was in the shop for a week getting the air conditioner fixed. I don't have internet at home, so I come to Mac Donalds for the free Wi-Fi, or go to one of the librarys locally. It was a true pleasure to have met you, and hope we meet again soon! Take care, and please feel free to recomend one of your Volume pedals that you think would work best with a Telecaster. You can email me through my web-site
www.chuckcusimano.com, or through the Steel Forum either one. Thanks again, and keep in touch.

Sincerely, Chuck Cusimano
_________________
They call it FILL 'cause it goes in the holes. Don't cover up the singer.

Ronnie Green · From: Des Moines, New Mexico, USA

Hey there Chunk. I still have my Goodrich 120 I traded from you or Dave Parker, been so long I can't remember. I've put more pots in it than your dads saddle has had horses under it. In the long run, a Hilton is cheaper. Noiseless also. I use a Hilton Digital Sustain and love it. Keith builds a great product. Take care my friend.

Chuck Cusimano · From: Weatherford, Texas, USA

Thanks Ronnie, Good to hear from you. I have not talked to ONE Steel Player that hasn't said how great the Hilton Pedal is. I first noticed them at the Dallas Steel Show, and ever since, I see almost every steel player using them. I worked a few jobs with Junior Knight, and he sure had a lot of good things to say about them. Steve Lamb loves his. Our Reno steel playin' buddy, Duane Brown, loves his. After meeting Keith, and hearing all the great things about his product.... well, like I said, I'm savin' up for one!

How about you Ron, You still playin' a bunch? How's things in the old Stompin' grounds?
Thanks for chiming in on this! Take care my friend, Chuck ( well, "Chunk" to you and my other brother, Dino)
Say howdy to everyone back home.
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They call it FILL 'cause it goes in the holes. Don't cover up the singer.

Ronnie Green · From: Des Moines, New Mexico, USA

Things up here are good. Practicing every night. Bout' time I got off my Kahoose. Playing alot with our old drummer Tony. He's has got so good on those tom toms. You would be proud of him. He is every bodies dream drummer and we are lucky to have him. I sure wanted to come to the Dallas show this year and visit you, but Audrey graduated this year and the funds were short to be held. I'll email later.

Jeremy Threlfall · From: now in Western Australia

this is not for guitar players - i'm sure - but

some steel players (me included) prefer the sound of the highs swelling in as the volume is increased on a potentiometer pedal. It is a characteristic of the classic pedal steel sound.

There is probably an electronic pedal that emulates that sound, in the modern bizarre way.

like I say, not so much as issue for guitar players who want a step change in volume for a discreet period of time, unlike steel players who sometimes are continually sustaining their volume.

I get the best of both worlds and use a Hilton Digital Sustain with my pot pedal.

Jeremy Threlfall · From: now in Western Australia

Keith - there's an idea (if you haven't already had it)

Make a pot pedal with your digital sustain built into it

I'd buy one of those, if you could batteries into it, like your Digital Sustain

(I hate wall warts)

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