Auto wah help

[JBass1]

Okay I'm starting up a funk/rock/hip hop band and I would love to get an auto-wah effect..the problem is, i know NOTHING about effects and pedals and all that so i figured i'll just ask you guys a few things

1) does anyone know what auto-wah Flea uses at live shows..i love the sound of it

2) what brands should i be looking at and what prices should i be expecting (i know there are probably cheaper models but i want something that will perform well in a live situation)

3) any other knowledge you have about the situation helps

thanks
-j

[DeliriumTremens]

Flea uses a DOD FX25B. I recommend a Electro Harmonix Q Tron, a normal one the + sounds worse to me

[niftydog]

A quick search will turn up oodles of discussions about Fleas gear.

Be aware that there's two main types - what I call "auto wah" is an oscillator based, continuously, steadily varying wah filter. An "envelope filter" tends to refer to a signal-amplitude-controlled wah filter. The sound they produce is much the same, but the envelope filters react to your playing intensity.

[JBass1]

Originally Posted by niftydog

A quick search will turn up oodles of discussions about Fleas gear.

Be aware that there's two main types - what I call "auto wah" is an oscillator based, continuously, steadily varying wah filter. An "envelope filter" tends to refer to a signal-amplitude-controlled wah filter. The sound they produce is much the same, but the envelope filters react to your playing intensity.

i need one that i can press with my foot and it will stay wah-ing until i turn it off with my foot...so i'm guessing no envelope (i'm asking becasue it says that the DOD is an envelope)...like every time i play a note i want it to WAH and the same wah for every note....so no stuff that like would play one of my notes at the "W" and one at the "AH"...every note says "WAH"

i really suck at explaining things

[Higgie]

To me it sounds like it actually IS the envelope filter you want.

The filter opens and closes depending on how hard you hit the note, therefore every note will trigger the wah sound.

The auto-wah, you set the rate, and it will just wah open and closed by the rate you set, so what you play will be effected at different times unless you play straight 8th notes at the right tempo.

[JBass1]

Originally Posted by Higgie

To me it sounds like it actually IS the envelope filter you want.

The filter opens and closes depending on how hard you hit the note, therefore every note will trigger the wah sound.

The auto-wah, you set the rate, and it will just wah open and closed by the rate you set, so what you play will be effected at different times unless you play straight 8th notes at the right tempo.

k then yea its the envelope....thanks for being clear

[Higgie]

No problem. I believe Flea uses the EHX Q-Tron live, but in the studio in the past he's used the DOD FX25 (NOT the FX25B), and an original Mu-Tron, as well as an EHX Bassballs and a couple of Boss Filters.

There's many to choose from so just make sure you do your research and try a bunch of them out.

I personally would recommend the Maxon AF-9. It costs about $180 new I think, used ones go for about $130ish, they pop up in the For Sale section here pretty often.

[Swimming Bird]

EHX puts out very good filters for the most part, but steer clear of the Mircro Q-tron.

I use an Ibanez AW-9 and like it very much and it should run you about $90.

If you can, try a bunch out at the same time so you can get a feel for the difference between pedals.

[Zappstorius]

There are tons of envelope filters out there. I would seriously recommend playing some before making a decision. Different people have different tastes, IMO. I tried out a few pedals that people recommended here (and I really do value their opinion) and it sounded like arse to me. Do you're research, but try to demo one before you buy.