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  #1  
Old 08-16-2008, 09:57 PM
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Bassballs pedal

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Anyone out there use/used one of these?

I used one in the early 1980's and had some fun with it. I thought it had a unique, if sometimes cheesy sound. I don't think there has ever been a similar distortion pedal since (but I don't have a lot of experience with newer pedals, so I could be wrong).

Anyone else have fond memories of this oldie but goody?
  #2  
Old 08-16-2008, 10:06 PM
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The bass balls is still around. And it's more of an envelope filter, with a distortion circuit included. Definitely a cheesey sound though
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  #3  
Old 08-16-2008, 10:42 PM
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I bought one and thought it was fun but never actually used it for anything. Sold her off earlier this year and cant say i miss it.
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  #4  
Old 08-17-2008, 10:56 AM
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I've had one on my board for about a year and can't seem to take it off (although I did swap a reissue for a Nano, as a compromise to save some space). I switch mine on quite a lot, usually after other effects to add some vocal grunts and gurgles.

I don't know why nobody else likes them.
  #5  
Old 08-17-2008, 01:22 PM
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Funkadelic's Freak of the week. The bassline is all about the bassballs pedal. Thats why I bought one. and will be making my own clone in a couple days.
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  #6  
Old 08-17-2008, 01:24 PM
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I want to put one in a bass.
  #7  
Old 08-17-2008, 01:49 PM
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I use mine in the same way as kevteop. After my octaver on an effects loop along with my overdrive for a really synthy fuzz bass sound...

There's obviously a lot more versatile filters out there. I added a new switch in place of the distortion switch which disables the envelope and allows me to use the knob to sweep the filter (just about justifies the huge space it takes up on my pedalboard)
  #8  
Old 08-17-2008, 01:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crabby View Post
I bought one and thought it was fun but never actually used it for anything. Sold her off earlier this year and cant say i miss it.
Same exact thing here.
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  #9  
Old 08-17-2008, 02:14 PM
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i own the nano version and i love the sound.

I turn it on when playing some fast song intro, although the original song don't have it, i'll add the bassballs sound anyway, it just sounds better that way... to me of course
  #10  
Old 08-17-2008, 05:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kingsteven View Post
There's obviously a lot more versatile filters out there.
I don't really think of or use it as an envelope filter to be honest! Very rarely anyway. I mean it does quack away with whatever I give it, but I don't especially try to give it a decent envelope to work with. I have a Meatwad on my board to use for that sort of thing, and of course the filter on my BMS is nice because it's quite unique, so that sees a fair bit of use too.

I use Bassballs (and it seems you use yours) for colour, like the way a lot of people use an overdrive.
  #11  
Old 08-17-2008, 07:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kevteop View Post
I use Bassballs (and it seems you use yours) for colour, like the way a lot of people use an overdrive.
That's how I used it in the day.

I may sniff around for one, one of these days. Of my few effects, this one was fun to fool around with.

I used a flanger every now and then, too. If I recall, I got some strange sounds using the flanger/bassballs combo.
  #12  
Old 08-18-2008, 05:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OptimusPrime View Post
I want to put one in a bass.
damn sounds like a good idea i might have to put one in my synth bass it already has a ring mod.
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  #13  
Old 08-18-2008, 07:26 AM
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I like feeding delays into mine, you get a nice morphing effect, something like: BUUUUURP buuurp burp brp *

c-
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  #14  
Old 08-18-2008, 07:33 AM
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Had one for the longest of time. It was a great effect, just not he sound I was looking for. It does not have much of a regular envelope filter sound, but more like a distorted gargling fuzzy burp type sound. If you leave the distortion on, any quick and precise bass line (like a slap line for instance) became very messy. If it was a sustained flowing bass line, it worked pretty nicely growling up and ending with a clean finish. It almost sounded like it had a phaser in there or something.
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  #15  
Old 08-18-2008, 03:14 PM
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I still use one for several sounds that no other pedal can get and I like the simplicity.
  #16  
Old 08-18-2008, 03:18 PM
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I have a modified "US" version, the two internal trim pots are changed to pots on the chassi instead, quite funny gadget. I rarely use it and am thinking about getting rid of it.

D.Don
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