Hilton Pedal - Can I Increase Resistance To Foot Pressure?

Richard Damron · From: Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

I thought that this had been covered in another thread. A search yielded nothing. I could have overlooked it.

Hilton pedal owners know that the "action" is super silky smooth. Too smooth for my tastes. I have the low-profile version. My uncalibrated right foot can get spastic on occasion giving rise to unwanted volume changes with the slightest twitch. Is it possible to adjust the "tension" or "resistance" to pressure of one's foot so as to require more effort to make a change? I have attempted to make an adjustment with the screw on the bottom of the unit only to have it creep back toward the "off" position if I take my foot off of it. Is this just inexperience and should I live with it or is there a simple fix? Please bail me out, folks.

Respectfully,

Richard

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I don't know about tension on the pedal, but if it is creeping one way or the other, take the top off and see if it has white grease on the plastic clutch piece (and on the top of the pedal. If it has, clean it all off as Keith has said he found it was not needed. When you put it back together tighten the two screws that hold the top on and you should be back in business.

That may even give it a little more resistance for you, especially how you tighten the two mounting screws (obviously don't over tighten them to the point something strips out).

Richard Damron · From: Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Jack -

Many thanks. I'll give it a look-see and do as you suggest.

Respectfully,

Richard

Adam Hay · From: Amherstburg, ON, Canada

Hi Richard,

I just received my Hilton low profile and as per the documentation there is a tension adjusting screw. You have to depress the pedal and go in through the now exposed back end. You should see a phillips screw head on the left hand side. Adjusting the screw clockwise will increase spring tension. I haven't adjusted this screw yet myself, but it is a recommended adjustment as the pedal breaks in more and loosens up or to suit the individual player. Hope that helps Smile

...

Adam

Richard Damron · From: Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Adam -

I don't recall having seen that adjustment when I purchased mine some months ago. Thank you so much for the info. Between you and Jack I may just have the solution.

Respectfully,

Richard

Adam Hay · From: Amherstburg, ON, Canada

Hi Richard,

The adjusting screw isn't evident on the outside of the pedal. It's through the small crack in the back with the pedal depressed and about an inch and a half in on the left side. Maybe this is a more recent upgrade if yours doesn't have that adjustment. I guess contacting Keith Hilton would be the next step...good luck...

Adam

Richard Damron · From: Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Adam -

You Nailed It!!!!!! Found the phillips head screw, followed your lead and it works like a charm! Many thanks for your help. Really appreciate it.

Respectfully,

Richard

Adam Hay · From: Amherstburg, ON, Canada

Hi Richard,

Well I'm new to the forum, so I'm sure glad that I could help out on my first posting. You sure gotta love these new low profile Hiltons! Very Happy

All the best...

Adam

Bill OConnor · From: Castle Rock, Washington, USA * R.I.P.

I got this latest lo Hilton two days ago. as you move the pedal on or off it sounds like a handsaw cutting cardboard .If you pick a note while it is ringing if you pump down or up. you will hear the noise while it rings. Hook up is guitar to pedal and pedal to amp pre amp set 3 and master 4. tried two steels and three amps different cords same thing .I have e-mailed Keith Hilton nothing back yet.Any suggestions .My goodrich LDR does not do this.

Richard Damron · From: Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Bill -

I use the same setup as you. Guitar to pre-amp to pedal to amp. My pedal is quiet as a mouse. Absolutely NO artifacts generated by the pedal. Keith Hilton's reputation, as cited by many members of the forum, is supposedly first rate. I suspect that you've done the right thing by contacting him. Be patient as others will testify that he'll do right by you.

Respectfully,

Richard

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

To Bill O'Connor:

I think I know what the sound is, I just discovered it last night when I took off my Hilton's treadle top (his new light version) to fully investigate how you adjust tension (Richard Damron, I'm with you, the action is too light, even with maximum tension dialed in).

The noise comes from a spring attached to a white plastic rocker "thingy"---when you back off on the VP, the spring not only stretches, but bends upwards, kind of against the white thingy. This causes a slight spring noise.

It's subtle, but if I mute strings and then rock the vp full off then on, I can actually hear the spring noise coming through the amp. It's not drastic, you'd probably never hear it when you're actually playing, but noise like that is not something anyone would desire, and I worry about it when doing session work.

I'll talk to Keith about it soon and see if there's a solution.

I never could get the spring tension stiff enough, so I cut a couple of winds off the spring, reattached, and it's better. Didn't like messing with my brand new VP, but just couldn't deal with the smooth but too-light action.

The sound of the pedal really is an amazing improvement, and with no pot noise to ever worry about, it's heaven. String separation is much improved. Very worthwhile product.
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Keith Hilton · From: 248 Laurel Road Ozark, Missouri 65721

Thanks to everyone using my volume pedal. If you have problems with your pedal, all you have to do is send it to me. With the instructions that come with each pedal I list my address, shop phone number, my personal home phone number and my e-mail address. There is a spring inside the pedal and I suppose one could hear it flexing. Out of 15 thousand pedals out in use I can only remember about 5 or 6 people saying they could hear the spring. So count yourself lucky to have hearing that good. After a few years of playing in a loud band, I guarantee you won't be able to hear the spring. Studio players in Nashville tell me most of the studios request the Hilton pedal, because it is not scratchy like a pot pedal. I will agree that my pedal is a lot more smooth than a pot pedal. You hardly notice it under your foot. It takes more foot pressure to move a pot pedal and I suppose some people get used to having to exert more pressure. Most people get used to the easy action very quick. Again, thanks to everyone using my product. Keep pickin.

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Keith, did the now "older style" pedals also use a spring for tension? Just curious.
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Dennis Wallis · From: Arkansas

I have two of them.One older & one newer. I've been using the older one in a smokey old club for almost 6 years with NO problems whatsoever. Wouldn't use anything else unless they come up with something better. Very Happy

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

John, ever pedal I have ever built had the same spring. The only difference is we started making the tension on the spring adjustable last year.

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I like my Hilton very much. The only problem I have with it is the bracket does not fit very well on my pedal bar so it still moves sideways. I don't know why but my VP always moves to the right when I play. Of course, that's not a fault of the pedal.

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