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Author
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Topic: Questions about Hilton Pedal
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Buck Dilly
Member From: Branchville, NJ, USA
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posted 23 December 2002 10:20 AM
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1) Can this or other "impedance matching" volumn pedals be used in series with Matchro or other impedance matching units?
2) The pedal I have borrowed to try, rocks back to the heel when I remove my foot. Is this adjustable so that the pedal stays where I leave it? [This message was edited by Buck Dilly on 23 December 2002 at 10:21 AM.] |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 23 December 2002 10:36 AM
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Well, I can answer #1 for you -- from personal experience. YES. I just recorded a couple of trax with the MatchBro -- actually a SuperBro (using the Hilton pedal like I ALWAYS do), planning to use it as a scratch track to be replaced with my old hound dog. It was cleaner, tone was right, and no pick/string noise -- so I kept both SuperBro parts and moved on.--------------------------
NOTE: I just reread your note and am confused. The MatchBro/SuperBro is a resophonic ('Dobro') simulator. Do you mean the MatchBox? If so, you can try it, but there is no added advantage to putting another buffer amp in your signal chain.
--------------------------- For #2 you will have to ask Keith. I love the way the pedal feels -- stock -- and, FWIW, mine does not have enough spring tension to pull it back when I take my foot off it. I haven't found the need to adjust anything other than the two trimpots on the bottom. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- it is the best volume pedal I've ever used and I've owned at least 6 different brands and models. And Keith listens to his customers and is constantly doing R&D to improve his product line. THANKS, KEITH ------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 23 December 2002 at 10:38 AM.] |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 23 December 2002 12:30 PM
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The Hilton pedal has this great device inside that is perfectly engineered to have the pedal stay wherever you leave it. What's great is that it does this with very little friction so the pedal is always super smooth. Much smoother than a string and pot pedal. Plus, the electronics in the Hilton pedal are truly audiophile quality. Far cleaner audio path than the matchbox type preamps. Wanna talk about over-engineered? Great work Keith! As far as impedance matching, the Hilton will take just about anything from a passive pickup to a low-impedance line signal. So, yes you can happily use the Hilton in line with the devices you mentioned.Brad Sarno
St. Louis, MO |
Buck Dilly
Member From: Branchville, NJ, USA
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posted 26 December 2002 04:38 PM
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I haved tried adjusting the set-nut on the rocker gizmo that maintains tension. It was very sensetive to adjustment, and seems to be working better but still not perfectly. The unit sounds stellar and the action is good, but I need it to stay in the toe position for C6 stuff. |
Scott Howard
Member From: Georgetown, TN, USA
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posted 27 December 2002 08:16 AM
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I just got mine a few weeks ago and it does the same thing. I was thinking that there must be some kind of adjustment where it will stay put if you lift your foot off of it. Other than that it is the smoothest I have ever seen. |
Keith Hilton
Member From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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posted 27 December 2002 12:36 PM
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Thanks to all for the kind words about my pedal, and thanks to all those using my products. Let me try and answer Buck's questions; There are only 2 moving parts inside my pedal. These 2 parts are a piece of nylon and a spring. These two parts make up the "clutch" that keeps the pedal in the same position when you remove your foot. The clutch is something I invented and have a patent on. The nylon piece is held by a aircraft lock nut.
If that lock nut is to tight, the spring can not pull the nylon piece back. If this is the case,that being the aircraft lock nut being to tight, the pedal will drop to maximum volume if your foot is removed. If this is the case, losen the nut 1/2 turn and the spring will again be able to pull the nylon. We have never "ever" seen a pedal that would shut itself off when a person's foot was removed. To do this would require a much stronger spring than we install at the factory. It could be possible someone has installed a stronger spring that did not come with the pedal. This aircraft lock nut is "NOT" a critical adjustment. The spring either pulls the nylon back or it is to tight. The aircraft lock nut can be to loose by 3 or 4 turns of the nut and it will still work fine. How can being off 4 turns, or more, and it still work be critical? Can't understand that? My pedal can be used with other pre-amps, although pre-amping a pre-amp is redundant. Some people like a very, very strong signal even though it is redundant electronically. Brad is correct, I use the best parts I can find. Remember the noisy days of the early transistor radios of the 1960's? Some devices "still use" these outdated discrete parts and designs. Lots of good things have happened in electronics in 40 years, soon it will be 2003! I am always here to help anyone with any problems they might experience. My home phone number is 417-581-4158. Call me and I will help!
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Buck Dilly
Member From: Branchville, NJ, USA
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posted 28 December 2002 10:18 AM
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Thank you for this valuable info. I have forwarded this to Pat Burns. Hopefully we will get it working perfectly. When I adjusted the nut, it required a very precise tension so that the plactic thingy would still move. It seems to be OK right now. It is without a doubt the best sounding pedal I have ever used. I am using it with a MatchBro to utilize Dobro sounds only. I wanted to insure that two devices would not cause any unwanted problems. Thank You. ------------------
Steels and Guitars. Emmons PP, Nationals, Dan-O's, ES 340, Tube Amps only! "Blue Sparks From Hell", "Kings in Disguise". |
Keith Hilton
Member From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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posted 28 December 2002 10:29 AM
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Buck, thanks for the kind words about my pedal. If you and Pat can't get the pedal working perfectly, send it to me and I will.
We have had really great luck with the 2 piece clutch system. |
Pat Burns
Member From: Branchville, N.J. USA
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posted 02 January 2003 08:39 AM
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..thanks to both Buck Dilly and Keith Hilton...Buck, the adjustment you made has it working like it's supposed to, the pedal no longer moves backwards, it now stays where you leave it. Thanks for asking the question and for making the adjustment...I sometimes do more harm than good when I start adjusting things, so I didn't feel comfortable messing with this pedal. Keith, thanks for building this great pedal, and more importantly, thanks for your offer to make it right if there was a problem. That's what separates the men from the boys. |
Keith Hilton
Member From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721
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posted 02 January 2003 10:01 AM
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Good Pat, glad to hear everyting is OK. Anyone that has a question or problem of any kind can always call me at: 417-581-4158. It is very important to me that my gear works perfectly for people. |
Ron Whitworth
Member From: Yuma,Ariz. USA
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posted 02 January 2003 11:00 AM
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Hello Everyone;
After reading this thread, i just had to say that Keith has made the most important statement that i have heard a manufacturer/vendor make in a long time & i quote: "It is very important to me that my gear works perfectly for people".
Sure wish we had more people like him in the business everywhere.I wonder if the business world will ever figure out the little fact that service counts as much as the product does to a lot of folks & not just in the music industry.Thank You Keith & BRAVO!!!!!
OK off my soapbox now-  |
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