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Pete Hilton Bass Owners

ceerod

ceerod

Dec 27, 2012
303
349
Deep in the heart of Texas
www.facebook.com
#1
I just picked up a (new to me), Pete Hilton bass. Only had it a couple of days but by first impressions, I'm absolutely blown away! Craftsmanship, playability, tone are absolutely awesome IMO!!! Bass is very different from any bass I've owned before but I mean that in a very good way.

Before buying I did some digging around here on TB and the interwebs for info on the builder and couldn't find a whole lot. Also didn't see that there was an "owners club" thread so figured I'd start one for current owners and anyone interested in his instruments.

So fellow Hilton owners please feel free to share your pics and comments.

The seller didn't have all the build specs sI wanted so I reached out to Pete and he got back to me right away providing all the info I requested as well as answering my other questions. Cool dude, great customer service.

Below are some pics I borrowed from Pete's website, haven't had a chance to take any new pics yet.

5 - STRING 35" SCALE (REVERSE-SCROLL)
Tuners & Bridge: Hipshot
Pickups: Kent Armstrong soapbars
Body: Mahogany core with redheart top & back, macassar ebony center with ebony and black walnut stripes
Neck: Curly maple with bloodwood fingerboard and ebony stripes
Headstock: Mahogany core with ebony top & redheart back
Nut: Ebony
Truss Rod Cover: Redheart
Input Jack Cover: Redheart & mahogany
Knobs: Redheart & ebony
Pickup covers: Redheart & ebony
Controls: Neck Vol/Bridge Vol/Tone
Front switch: Pickup selector (neck/both/bridge)
Rear switch: Standby/Full/High cut

d0AuZy5.jpg


mmwF9Rr.jpg


You can see him making this bass and its 6-string sister in this video:

 
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Reactions: P. Aaron, TolerancEJ, RedMoses and 4 others
#9
Randyt said:
Pete Does some crazy work!!!!...look at these pickups!!!..Found these pics on Instagram!!
Click to expand...

He sure does Randy, thanks for sharing! I follow him on IG too but missed those new pics.

Been having some GAS pains lately...considering selling/trading my Hilton but I know I'll regret it if I do.

Thanks for keeping the thread alive.:thumbsup: With any luck hopefully some of the other Hilton owners on TB will share pics of theirs here.
 
#10
I will be in the Us for about 6 months from august, i've already talked with Pete by email last year, now i'm seriously considering, once there, to place an order, waiting list should not to be that long...hopefully!!

Pj_Jotaquest on Ig has at list two amazing Hiltons, is a TB member, maybe he don't know about this thread!! Ceerod, you should post a video!!
 
#13
ceerod said:
I just picked up a (new to me), Pete Hilton bass. Only had it a couple of days but by first impressions, I'm absolutely blown away! Craftsmanship, playability, tone are absolutely awesome IMO!!! Bass is very different from any bass I've owned before but I mean that in a very good way.

Before buying I did some digging around here on TB and the interwebs for info on the builder and couldn't find a whole lot. Also didn't see that there was an "owners club" thread so figured I'd start one for current owners and anyone interested in his instruments.

So fellow Hilton owners please feel free to share your pics and comments.

The seller didn't have all the build specs sI wanted so I reached out to Pete and he got back to me right away providing all the info I requested as well as answering my other questions. Cool dude, great customer service.

Below are some pics I borrowed from Pete's website, haven't had a chance to take any new pics yet.

5 - STRING 35" SCALE (REVERSE-SCROLL)
Tuners & Bridge: Hipshot
Pickups: Kent Armstrong soapbars
Body: Mahogany core with redheart top & back, macassar ebony center with ebony and black walnut stripes
Neck: Curly maple with bloodwood fingerboard and ebony stripes
Headstock: Mahogany core with ebony top & redheart back
Nut: Ebony
Truss Rod Cover: Redheart
Input Jack Cover: Redheart & mahogany
Knobs: Redheart & ebony
Pickup covers: Redheart & ebony
Controls: Neck Vol/Bridge Vol/Tone
Front switch: Pickup selector (neck/both/bridge)
Rear switch: Standby/Full/High cut

d0AuZy5.jpg


mmwF9Rr.jpg


You can see him making this bass and its 6-string sister in this video:

Click to expand...

Congratulations and enjoy!
 
#16
BostonJazz72 said:
Those are really great looking basses. Do you have any sound clips or videos. Seems to be a shame that there are only a few of these videos on YouTube.
Click to expand...

I agree, I've only found a couple of videos of Hilton basses on YouTube. Not the best sound quality, just a point & shoot camera in front of the PA but here's some video of me with my Hilton. My cover band was playing PYT and there happened to be a Michael Jackson impersonator in the crowd so he jumped on stage with us.



Sent mine back to Pete last month and had him install an active pre-amp. He installed a Kent Armstrong 3 band pre and sanded/buffed out a few scratches on the underside left from the original owner.

idTkDvs.png
 
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Reactions: Randyt
#20
BostonJazz72 said:
Is the Pete Hilton your main axe,then? What made you choose the Hilton over other basses like a Carl Thompson?
Click to expand...

No I wouldn't say the Hilton is my main axe, but it is a FANTASTIC instrument! I have a Ken Smith I tend to grab for most gigs but do like having a second bass to switch things up. I honestly bought the Hilton on a whim last year and luckily ended up loving it. I do admit to being a full fledged GASaholic (I blame TalkBass) and love trying new basses.

Not sure if you're in the market for one but I saw a 4 string Hilton in the classifieds a week or so ago.

Anywho, thanks for checking the thread. I was hoping some other Hilton owners would chime in and share pics/videos of theirs but not much luck so far.
 

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