Auto-Volume Swell Pedal??

tombaker · #1 09-29-2010, 06:12 AM

Hey guys,

I'm after some kind of auto-volume swell pedal. Something that can swell after the note is struck and able to set it to swell every few seconds/BPM.

I know Boss did one a while back but i dont think they make them anymore.

Cheers,

Tom

Brubass · #2 09-29-2010, 06:17 AM

There are some multi-effects pedals that do this. My Digitech RP-200 (guitar multiFX) has the swell effect, but I've never tried it with my bass.

bigchiefbc · #3 09-29-2010, 06:25 AM

The Boss one is called the Slow Gear and it costs a fortune to get an old one now.

Behringer makes a clone of it, the Slow Motion.

Guyatone has the SV-2 and the newer SVm5

If you're handy at all with a soldering iron, you can build a BYOC Lazy Sprocket.

Other pedals do this as well as other stuff but are more expensive, such as the EHX POG2, Bass Micro Synthesizer, and many others.

kevteop · #4 09-29-2010, 06:36 AM

There's also the Pigtronix Attack Sustain.

tombaker · #5 09-29-2010, 07:12 AM

just checked out both the guyatone and pigtronix volume pedals. atm, the pigtronix attack decay looks like the one for me as it has a tremelo aswell. (was going to get a eventide modfactor for the tremelo, vibrato and chorus to replace my CEB-3.. maybe ill get this and buy a seperate vibrato and chorus

)

screaminglucy · #6 09-29-2010, 07:34 AM

i would not recommend the behringer. i used to have one and while it worked it was noisy

MoireBass · #7 09-29-2010, 09:32 AM

The Pigtronix unit looks real interesting. Would be interested in hearing how well it works for you if you get one.

Swimming Bird · #8 09-29-2010, 10:35 AM

The swell function on the Pigtronix Attack Sustain didn't work as well as the BYOC Lazy Sprocket I built -- shorter maximum swell time, and decay envelope (when you could retrigger the swell) took too long for my tastes. Also, their hype for the sustain side was BS.

I haven't tried the Philosopher King.

Explorer · #9 09-29-2010, 03:34 PM

It's worth noting that the swells on the Electro-Harmonix POG2 and HOG are polyphonic, and don't require space between a sounding note and the next note to trigger the swell on the next note. On my 8-string (bass and guitar on one instrument), I get amazing cello and flute tones out using either pedal. You can have a note sounding on one string, and then start another string swelling while the first note holds.

I've never run across any non-MIDI gear except the EHX pedals which do this. Does anyone know of one?

sillyfabe · #10 09-29-2010, 04:41 PM

i have a EHX BMS and ir works pretty good. ahd a POG2 and it was OK. my fav clone of all time is the VFE Echo Ohce it has a built in slow gear clone with a fast, med and slow mode. use the slow with a decent trigger and long sustain and it can pretty much cop a cello with my fretless

Robertron · #11 09-29-2010, 10:30 PM

The EHX BMS can do clean volume swells without distortion or synthy tones?? Really? GAS?

**TheMutt** · #12 09-29-2010, 11:19 PM

Also, even if you're not handy with a soldering iron, you can buy a pre-built Build Your Own Clone (BYOC) Lazy Sprocket via Axe and You Shall Receive.

Eric! · #13 09-30-2010, 12:11 AM

OR, a nicely-shaped tremolo pedal with envelopey goodness (is anyone doing one of these?? That's the biggest complaint I had with trem, you had to play in time WITH it)

cheapbasslovin · #14 09-30-2010, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertron

The EHX BMS can do clean volume swells without distortion or synthy tones?? Really? GAS?

It is still filtered, but you can get a pretty natural sound with the resonance at 0 and the stop freq maxed.

tombaker · #15 09-30-2010, 01:05 AM

Actually, seeing as the Pigtronix Attack is a fortune... i might go with the BYOC Lazy Sprocket. Looks like it would be a bit of fun to build and i could put my own design on the front like a few people have done on this forum. Then i could also get the BYOC Tremelo and Vibrato and do the same and have my own unique set of pedals

xikbastard · #16 09-30-2010, 02:49 AM

i got 1 on the m9, absolutely fun to play around with.

Swift713 · #17 09-30-2010, 05:38 AM

I had a lazy sprocket and found it had pretty much one setting that worked with my bass. It's a pretty subtle effect, especially because you have to play to it(restrain your dynamics) so much, IME. It might work better with a different bass. I really liked the sound of it running into a phaser. I'm kind of itchin' to try out the Philosopher King.

spufman · #18 09-30-2010, 10:22 AM

I picked up a used Guyatone SV-2 and am getting used to it. Works well for the basic thing it does, but not very versatile. Double-stops and harmonics sound really cool through it. It definitely rewards deliberate, slow playing technique, you need to mute off your notes.

strke-fender · #19 09-30-2010, 10:47 AM

Line 6 M9/13/DL-4 does it really well.

Swimming Bird · #20 09-30-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

It's worth noting that the swells on the Electro-Harmonix POG2 and HOG are polyphonic, and don't require space between a sounding note and the next note to trigger the swell on the next note.

Didn't know they did that, neat. I've already moved on from my 'perfect swell pedal' quest. Hopefully EHX will start selling this as a stand alone effect like they did with the Freeze -- it'd kill everything else on the market.