For all the Envelope Junkies: Is anything else close to the Q-tron?

**TheFantod** · #1 06-23-2010, 07:42 AM

I love my old silver Q-tron. I can deal with the volume spikes, and I can deal with the odd power requirements. My only real issue with it is the large amount of real estate it takes up on the pedalboard. I put it away a few months ago to try out all the new whizz-bang pedals that everyone has been doting over.

Earlier this week I broke out the old Q-tron for nostalgia's sake, and I was blown away. I'm talking about playing finger style, not slapping. Oh, and my funk bass is a Music Man Stingray HH.

So here's my question: Is there anything else that comes close to the wet, drippy, oozy, absolutely funkalicious sound of the Q-tron, but in a smaller package?

I've tried the following: EHX Bassballs, EHX Q-balls, DOD FX-25, Boss AW-3, MXR Auto-Q, Groove Regulator, Subdecay Prometheus, Tonefactor 442, BYOC 440, and the EBS IQ.

Some of these I loved, some I hated. But none of them have come close to the Q-tron. Is there anything else I haven't tried that might come close to the Q-tron? From what I've read, the MXR M82 doesn't really come close.

The candidates I have left are possibly:
EHX Micro Q-tron (with trimpot adjustment!)
Chunk Systems 00Funk
WMD Fatman
Emma DicomBOBulator.

Of those four, do any come close to matching the big fat in-your-face sound of the Q-tron? Is there another I haven't listed? To reiterate, I'm just looking for a smaller pedal with the same sound.

All constructive opinions welcomed.

RCCollins · #2 06-23-2010, 08:13 AM

the smaller XO sized Q-tron/Q-tron+ sounds exactly the same and is somewhat smaller... and the plus has an effect loop as well. cheap to pick up used, worth it.

Smurf-o-Deth · #3 06-23-2010, 08:31 AM

The Chunk can get very, very wet and would be the best choice out of your list if the Micro doesn't have enough features for you. The Fatman is not a particularly funky filter in my opinion, and while the Emma sounds great, it is subtle and nothing like a Qtron.

Jared Lash · #4 06-23-2010, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

The Chunk can get very, very wet and would be the best choice out of your list if the Micro doesn't have enough features for you. The Fatman is not a particularly funky filter in my opinion, and while the Emma sounds great, it is subtle and nothing like a Qtron.

+1 to this.

The Chunk 00Funk has a huge range of tones available. It takes some patience as it can be tough to dial in because of that but it can get very wet and squelchy. It is a bit "hi-fi" but by far my favorite filter for synthy combos.

I'd also recommend checking out the Maxon AF-9. Very greasy and more organic sounding than the Chunk.

FilterFunk · #5 06-23-2010, 09:58 AM

I'm surprised the Q-Balls didn't do it for you. My Multivox Big Jam Spit Wah brings the wet, greasy old-school funk, and it's slightly longer and wider that a compact Boss, and about half as high. They're fairly rare, but they do show up on eBay from time to time, and they almost always go for under $100. I think that's because most people don't know about them, but under $100 for a Spit Wah is a steal, IMO. The Mars Real Sound Yesman+ is a good choice, too.

sikamikanico · #6 06-23-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

I'd also recommend checking out the Maxon AF-9.

+1... this also goes for old Ibanez AF9s of course!
and don't forget that they have trimpots inside to tailor your sound!

warwick.hoy · #7 06-23-2010, 10:46 AM

Maybe you can just rehouse your current Q-Tron

DannDubblewe · #8 06-23-2010, 10:57 AM

Haven't tried the original Q Tron, but I've had experience with the 00Funk and the Micro Q.

I sold my 00Funk, and now my Micro Q Tron is on my board to stay. Wet, dripping, squelch-mania. The 00Funk is FUNK-AY, I just didn't ever get enough of the squelch or wetness. It can provide it, I just felt that it wasn't the craziness I wanted. It took some quick tampering the day I got my Micro Q to get the sick-nastiness I have been searching for.

DiscoFreq · #9 06-24-2010, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FilterFunk

I'm surprised the Q-Balls didn't do it for you. My Multivox Big Jam Spit Wah brings the wet, greasy old-school funk, and it's slightly longer and wider that a compact Boss, and about half as high. They're fairly rare, but they do show up on eBay from time to time, and they almost always go for under $100. I think that's because most people don't know about them, but under $100 for a Spit Wah is a steal, IMO. The Mars Real Sound Yesman+ is a good choice, too.

The Spit Wah is one of my favorites too (that's why I have 3

).

The (incomplete) list of filters I tried with my (passive) bass is here:
http://www.effectsdatabase.com/type/.../envelope/test
(I still have them all

)

cheapbasslovin · #10 06-24-2010, 08:17 AM

Here's my Qtron+ rehoused:

And in context:

This was a total PITA, but it worked. I used a hammond sheet metal box that was 5x3x2. I did have to shave about 1/8" off of the circuit board but now it fits snug in its new home. The biggest trouble was pulling the switches off of the board without totally butchering the board. But if your interested and have some know how, you can shave a TON of size off of your board.

Bassmike62 · #11 06-24-2010, 09:09 AM

Already have a few filters on the board (Boss FT-2, modded Bassballs, DOD FX25b and FX25, Digitech Bass Synth Wah) and was considering the Micro Q-Tron (the other 2 will take too much space).

Now I'm intrigued by the spit wah and besides, I don't have that color yet on the board. How much does it go for new and used ?

DiscoFreq · #12 06-24-2010, 09:38 AM

They're not in production (for almost 30 years?), on eBay the average price is $120.

Bassmike62 · #13 06-24-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiscoFreq

They're not in production (for almost 30 years?), on eBay the average price is $120.

thanx !

burno70 · #14 06-24-2010, 04:16 PM

Like you I was a fan of the Q-tron sound but not the size. I replaced it with a Robot Factory Meatwad and never looked back. It can sound like the Q-tron - miles better in fact, and is a lot more tweakable.

**TheMutt** · #15 06-25-2010, 06:54 AM

The short answer is that there are many many many pedals that can sound something like the QTron. It is based off of a Musitronics Mutron III envelope filter. Other notable filters (not a comprehensive list by any means) built this way would include:
Musitronics Mutron III (of course)
Maxon AF-9
Robot Factory Meat Wad
Barge Concepts Grinder
Lovetone Meatball
3Leaf Groove Regulator (not as glorpy as a QTron, but IIRC a similar circuit)
Many many more, including clones that are DIY.

syciprider · #16 06-25-2010, 10:52 PM

My long search for the perfect filter (wet, small, easy to power and set) ended with the Maxon AF9. It's pretty close to a Qtron in sound.

Another very funky, greasy one is the Robot Factory Photron. Between these two I dont GAS for anymore filters.

**TheFantod** · #17 06-30-2010, 03:03 PM

UPDATE: DON'T FEAR THE MICRO-Q!

I finally got a Micro Q-tron in the mail today. And my search is at an end! It took about 5 minutes of knob fiddling while A/B-ing it with my old trapezoid Q-tron to find what I was looking for. Same sound, about 40% of the size, and no wacky power source.

So the old, trusty big-box Q-tron is going back in its wooden box. Not going to get rid of it though. It was my first pedal, ever. Plus I modded it with a nifty new blue LED and new switch which actually controls the nifty new blue LED as an on/off lamp. It will always hold a special place in my heart....

Thanks all for your recommendations and input.