Bassballs VS. Dod FX25B Envelope Filter

jhines77 · #1 09-01-2010, 03:13 PM

I just got a Bassballs pedal and I love it. I can't wait to gig with it. I'm not crazy about the fuzz so I doubt I will ever use it. But the other sound is just cool. I like it at about 7:00. It seams like it will cut through the mix and give solos that extra little funkyness I'm looking for.

I had a DOD FX25B Envelope Filter and it just plane sucks. The effect itself is ok but when you turn it on the DB goes down so much I get lost in the mix. Also it doesn't have true bypass. It's for sale cheap if anyone wants it.

John

Bassmike62 · #2 09-01-2010, 03:19 PM

I also have these pedals. The Bassballs is a rather unique gadget and gets better when modded to have the trim pots inside accessible from the outside... becomes way more tweakable !

I recently took the fx25b off my board, for the same reason. For that type of sound, I prefer the original FX25, which I kept on the active line-up.

jhines77 · #3 09-01-2010, 03:21 PM

How do you mod the bassballs?

cheapbasslovin · #4 09-01-2010, 03:25 PM

Nano Bassballs Trimpots Mod

I concur, do the mod if you can.

Here's a clip of my modded russian bassballs.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8846704

**TheMutt** · #5 09-01-2010, 03:29 PM

The Bassballs and the FX25-variant pedals are completely different from each other.

The Bassballs is two filters that gives a formant (vowel sounding) filter shape.

The FX25 (I've not played with a FX25B, but from what I hear the FX25's are better anyways) is a single up-sweeping filter with a range control.

If you're getting a huge drop in volume with the FX25B, try upping the sensitivity. You probably have it set so the filter isn't opening. That was my main problem with the FX25's I owned in the past. The filter sounded amazing when it opened, but it wasn't sensitive enough to open with my passive bass. Worked great with a fuzz in front of it though.

If you're looking to mod your Bassballs, you'd need to remove the guts from the case, drill two holes for the new pots, desolder the trimpots from the PCB, solder the new pots to the PCB, and fit everything back into the case. If you're not handy with a soldering gun, you might want to have someone else do it for you. I'm sure you could ask one of the many pedal builders on here for help.

Rip Topaz · #6 09-01-2010, 03:32 PM

I did the mod to my Bassballs, very easy btw, and now I actually use it. Once you get those trim pots on the outside, it becomes a very versatile filter. Without it, I never used the pedal.

I prefer the non-fuzzed tone too.

Bassmike62 · #7 09-01-2010, 03:36 PM

I've never used the fuzz either. My usual setting is around 10 o'clock.

jhines77 · #8 09-01-2010, 03:46 PM

I meant to say 10 oclock. I guess I was drunk when I looked at the "clock". It just sounds really cool at that spot. I am going to try that mod. I'm not too bad with a soldering iron.

Bassmike62 · #9 09-01-2010, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhines77

I meant to say 10 oclock. I guess I was drunk when I looked at the "clock". It just sounds really cool at that spot. I am going to try that mod. I'm not too bad with a soldering iron.

Cool, dude. Let us know how it turns out for you !

One Bad Monkey · #10 09-01-2010, 07:09 PM

Man, that's one of the things I liked about the BassBalls was that distorted filter sound. I don't have one anymore, but mimic that sound with a distortion and filter.

Rip Topaz · #11 09-01-2010, 07:15 PM

I prefer to use a separate distortion pedal. The fuzz on the Bassballs to me sounds like an afterthought. With the tweakability afterthe mod, I haven't found a setting that works for both. In other words, I get a great filter setting but when I kick the distortion on, t sounds terrible. So I just use it clean and get my grit elsewhere.