Volume pedal of choice ?

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Dec 2001 3:20 am

Ok , what Volume pedals do you all use and is there any logic to your choice.

Goodrich 120, vs low profile, Sho-Bud, Cobra, Emmons...others....

I am currently using a very old Goodrich light beam pedal but will replace it very soon with what I'm thinking would be a Goodrich 120 or low profile, but before I do...lets see what the minions think...
Thanks
TP

PS, Bobbe I'll be calling soon....

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 2 Dec 2001 3:49 am

I still use a Fender pot pedal. I have bought and tried the powered types, but find them all too inconvenient.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 02 December 2001 at 03:58 AM.]

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 2 Dec 2001 5:50 am

I use a Goodrich 120 and I´m happy with it. When I started out, I had a cheap Italian-made pedal that started to scratch after just a few months (maybe that´s why it was called "The Cat"). I needed something decent and some players I knew all used Ernie Ball´s but those looked just way too big for me; the guitar I was playing then (Dekley) was built very low and with one of those huge pedals my leg wouldn´t have fit under it. So I ordered the Goodrich which even in the standard version that I have is quite "low-profile". The guy I bought the ShoBud from told me that it slightly accentuates the midrange compared to others. I don´t know, anyway I like it fine. No reason to change for me.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 2 Dec 2001 7:34 am

I flip-flop between the stock Emmons and the Hilton volume pedals.
(Whoops, I forgot to post the reasoning)
I did normally use the Hilton pedal, but I found that because it's longer and I'm so used to the Emmons pedal, that I go back to it for comfort and ease of use. Just my two cents...

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My best,
Ernie

The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com[This message was edited by Ernie Renn on 02 December 2001 at 07:37 AM.]

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 2 Dec 2001 8:27 am

Ditto Ernie. I too go back and forth although I like the Hilton by far. The Emmons is cordless and is easier to pack away but the Hilton has the tone. Tony, if you're looking for a pedal, get the Hilton. There's nothing like it out there.

Bob Mainwaring · Post by **Bob Mainwaring** » 2 Dec 2001 12:00 pm

I just use the Hilton as there seems to be more power reserve plus the tonal quality is always where a person sets it on the amp.
My old Fender tone/volume is used for any problem that might just occur on any booked night - otherwise it's for practicing with.

Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things.

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chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 2 Dec 2001 3:12 pm

I have a small collection, from Bigsby to Hilton, and I usually use a Goodrich with the taper adjustment.

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 2 Dec 2001 3:30 pm

Tony...on the Goodrich, try the 120 & the L120 before you buy.The low profile L120 has a different hinge point and you may find it cramps your ankle. On the Emmons pedal, you can actually adjust the rear height of the pedal to get what is most comfortable for you. The only drawback I find with the Emmons pedal is in the design on the front tongue where the stop mechanism is mounted. It bottoms out before you get enough travel on the pot. I haven't looked into the Hilton pedal yet, but next time I see Herby in Saluda I'll probably test one out.
Roger

Tim Rowley · Post by **Tim Rowley** » 2 Dec 2001 9:43 pm

Emmons or Derby crossbar-mounted volume pedals are my favorites for pedal steel, with the heel angled slightly to the left for comfort.

For stand-up playing I like the standard Sho-Bud pedal. I modify the inner workings to operate like the Emmons pedals because in my more than 25 years of experience they are far less prone to failure that way.

I've either owned or tried a number of volume pedals that I don't like. For instance, I don't care for the feel of Goodrich nor Ernie Ball volume pedals, and can't stand the DeArmond pedals.

Haven't had the opportunity to try a Hilton yet. The players that have 'em sure seem to like 'em.

Tim R.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 4 Dec 2001 2:00 pm

The Hilton rocks. Perfect clean tone, what goes in, comes out. Utterly reliable and solid. Love 'em. love 'em, love 'em.

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Mark van Allen-"Blueground Undergrass" Pedal, Non-Pedal, Lap, and Dobro - c'mon by: <A HREF="http://www.markvanallen.com

" TARGET=_blank>www.markvanallen.com

</A>

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Dec 2001 2:31 pm

Why don't you contact Goodrich? I thought my light beam pedal was giving me trouble so I sent it to Goodrich. They gave me credit on another pedal and wouldn't return the light beam model to me because of liability. The light beam plugs into 120 volts and evidently somebody got zapped in the past using the pedal. I was happy to get a new pedal and opted for the 120 low profile and am very satisfied. They are very nice people to deal with.
Erv

B Bailey Brown · Post by **B Bailey Brown** » 4 Dec 2001 2:56 pm

Actually, I use my 20+ year old Blanton volume pedal. In the early years I used a Sho-Bud, DeArmond and then the Blanton pedal. When I bought my new guitar 4 years ago I got a Goodrich. All are good volume pedals. I no longer have the Sho-Bud or DeArmond pedals. The Goodrich is much like the old Sho-Bud pedal, and is up on a shelf as a ‘backup” in case I ever need it. On the other hand, nothing Jerry Blanton ever built for me has crapped out yet!

Please do not interpret this as a knock on the Goodrich pedal, because it is really not. When I first got it, I had to open it up and do some “adjusting”, as it would not shut off completely. I think that was the problem. I am not much of a “technical” person, and while I got it to work, I probably didn’t do it quite right. As a result, after about 5 jobs, the string popped off one night in the middle of the first song of the first set! Now, I have seen several posts here that indicate that playing without a volume pedal is great practice. That very well may be the case, BUT I hate “practicing” on the bandstand during a set.

I was not happy…

The next day I got up, drove to my new guitar builders shop (Carson Wells), and did one of the best temper tantrums I had done in years! I demanded that he figure out some way to attach my Blanton pedal to his guitar. The Blanton pedal has to attach to the pedal rack. He did…laughing his butt off, because Carson thinks he is the ONLY guy that is temperamental and obnoxious!! Fooled him!!

I am just one of those people that likes a gear drive pedal, as opposed to a string drive pedal. The Blanton pedal is gear drive and the Goodrich is a string drive pedal. They are both good pedals so it is just a matter of personal choice.

B. Bailey Brown

Lincoln Goertzen · Post by **Lincoln Goertzen** » 4 Dec 2001 3:52 pm

I use a Goodrich H-10-K. I like it a lot, even though I have never tried any others.(except for one made by LINKON.) I don't see any reason to change pedals.

Lincoln

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 4 Dec 2001 4:01 pm

I've used Goodrich pedals for years, and really like them. But I have just acquired a Hilton pedal and couldn't be happier with the sound I'm getting with it. To my ear there is really a difference in clarity.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 4 Dec 2001 8:14 pm

BBailey, I also have a gear driven Excel pedal with 2 amp inputs and 2 instrument
out puts.
I dont have to worry about a string breaking or if it has the right tension, etc...
I don't know if the new Goodrich-CD-2 or the Hilton has that feature or not but it would be nice to have...al

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 4 Dec 2001 10:33 pm

TONY!!! I'm waiting!

Michael Garnett · Post by **Michael Garnett** » 5 Dec 2001 1:54 am

I'm gonna buy me one of them low-profile ones, cause my legs are too durned long to fit under a normal sized gee-tar, and I wear these big-heeled cowboy boots, cause that's all I own. That and the extra long leg stands should do me just fine and dandy, i guess.

Garnett

Andy Alford · Post by **Andy Alford** » 5 Dec 2001 5:34 am

Goodrich 120

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 5 Dec 2001 8:01 am

Tony,

Goodrich 120's. I've got two of 'em. One is a back-up for the other (in case the pot craps out during a gig). The oldest one is almost 24 years old and has never busted a string and the pot has been replaced maybe four times. That pedal has seen an average of about 15 hours of duty per week during that time. My newer pedal is the back-up.

While the newer technology pedals may have an edge on the total sound of a guitar, I'll prescribe to the adage that if your hands are doing the right thing then your sound will be pretty good. Check out some of the older "benchmark" recordings by the greats (Emmons, Green, Hughey, Franklin) in all cases their sound is in their technique not their volume pedal.

If you already have good technique and you just want to get that technological edge go for the Hilton or the Goodrich CD-2 pedals. But as far as reliability is concerned, I think the Goodrich 120 gets more bang-per-buck than any other pedal around.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 5 Dec 2001 10:50 pm

Yep, Bang for the buck, The Goodrich 120 AND the just as good but slightly smaller and lighter, Cobra Coil model - U2. You want to pay bigger bucks? Double your money and you can have the great Hilton, but for less than half, Cobra Coil U2 every time. I don't sell the Hilton just yet,but hope to soon,however, the Goodrich and the Cobra Coil are on sale for Christmas.(just thought you might want to know)
www.steelguitar.net

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 7 Dec 2001 12:51 pm

Be careful on the Goodrich "low-profile". I used it for awhile, but found that because it is so low, it gave me too much leverage on my leg on the RKR knee-lever where I have my E9 second string "feel-stop". The additional leverage made it harder to feel the stop, so I use the regular 120 instead.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 7 Dec 2001 2:21 pm

For what it's worth...I have a Hilton low profile and a pedal-bar mount Sho-Bud pedal. I use the Bud at home for practice, and the Hilton on the job, and have no problem going from one to the other.

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 7 Dec 2001 6:44 pm

I use the Goodrich 120 Low Profile...and I reeaaaally like it...The Moon uses Goodrich 120 regular and reeaaally likes it.
regards, fred

Graham · Post by **Graham** » 8 Dec 2001 6:20 am

I use a left-footed Fulawka that Ed built for me when he built my new left-handed steel in June. Works quite well.

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Rebel™
ICQ 614585

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Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 8 Dec 2001 11:02 am

I have recently given up using the standard Emmons pedal rack attached model in favor of the Goodrich 120 low profile-it enables me to use the right knee levers more comfortably