BOSS BF3 vs. Stereo Electric Mistress

[mwalle1]

What is a better flanger on bass in your opinion? I just got the BF3 yesterday and am having second thoughts on it and love EHX, I have 30 days to return it and was considering swaping for Stereo Electric Mistress instead...thoughts??? Sorry if this has been posted before, new to me.

[varunkapahi]

ask boo, he would tell you about the Electric Mistress

[Valerus]

I own the Mistress. It's a...different beast. I don't even know how comparable it is to the BF3...or any other flangers for that matter.

It has the flanger and the chorus and the rate knob. that's it. you can activate the awesome matrix mode by flipping it counterclockwise past 10 o clock ish and that's a whole different beast.

It's unlike any flanger I've used.

[mwalle1]

Thanks for your info...I think they are different too, I guess I want to know about the flanger side of the SEM, is it all the liquidy goodness you get out of a BF3 or more low key flanging, I am not a BOSS guy, not that I think they make bad gear I just have a thing got EHX and If I can get my flange out of the SEM, that is the only thing I would use it for. Is the SEM very present in a live situation?

[Boneless]

I have tried the Stereo Electric Mistress, I didn't really like it AS A FLANGER: as Valerus said, it's not a "proper" flanger, it's... a Stereo Electric Mistress
I found that the using the flanger by itself wasn't any good (for MY taste, anyway), it's best by combining chorus and flanger. Or the matrix mode, which is kinda weird (but in a good way).
If you're looking for a CONVENTIONAL flanger, I'd suggest to stick with the BF-3 (or, better yet, try to find a BF-2, or buy the MXR flanger, which is phenomenal), try the SEM though, it may be just what you're looking for

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

ask boo, he would tell you about the Electric Mistress

Originally Posted by mwalle1

I guess I want to know about the flanger side of the SEM, is it all the liquidy goodness you get out of a BF3 or more low key flanging

It's something else entirely. It can be very mild or very intense, but it's not like the BF-3 AT ALL. This is seriously something else. It can be mild, colorful, and swirly, or it can be a raging metallic sweeper, but it's not the "jet-plane swoosh" you can get out of the BF-3 or most other flangers.

The flanger alone can be intense (big, pronounced sweeps!), but not "thick" - that's where the chorus section comes in. In parallel, they compliment each other rather nicely. And the chorus is great by itself, too - much better than I had originally given it credit for, now that I've done some live/recording testing with it.

But again, nothing like the BF-3. Or the MXR. Or really, any flanger.

The Filter Matrix is one of the SEM's "prize" features... but it's bizarre. I'd recommend it for fans of ring modulators and frozen flanging.

Originally Posted by mwalle1

Is the SEM very present in a live situation?

I use it live all the time, so I'd say yes. Everyone knows when it's on.

BUT...

Be careful when you decide to use it, though. Because of its unusual sound and behavior, I've found it to be best suited in "cleaner" situations. I use it in a few songs where I'm providing a melody/counter-melody to follow the lead's solo, while the second guitar is clean and sparse.

It'll stand out elsewhere, but its presence will rise and fall as it makes its cycle, which could possibly work against you in a thick mix. On a lower flanger depth setting, it's not a problem, and the chorus and filter matrix sections don't have this issue. It's the high-depth flanger sounds that do.

Against distorted guitars, I think the BF-3 would likely cut through better because of its tone and behavior. The SEM needs a little sonic space to really appreciate what it can do.

Overall, the SEM is a "niche" pedal. It's for those who weren't thrilled by the usual fare, and want something bizarre.

[Valerus]

Very good, Boo.

[mwalle1]

Thanks for all your help on this pedal, I went after work and swaped it out, I just was not into the traditional flange of the BF3 and the SEM is just as you described, big kudos to you BOO, very helpful and to all thanks, I got what I needed and I am glad. This thing is very different in the flange world...

Peace & Bass

[Valerus]

awesome, enjoy it