A design question...

**grygrx** · #1 10-30-2008, 04:08 PM

Imagine you are putting an expression jack on a Fuzz....

1) Controls Clean Blend in all settings, which in-the-end is pretty subtle
2) Controls a Filter Sweep, which can add a neat wah-like sound in some settings, and does nothing in others.
3) Controls Drive Level of entire pedal in all settings, allowing trem-like effects.

Not a poll, because I'm more concerned with people's well considered opinions rather than their vote.

bongomania · #2 10-30-2008, 04:21 PM

Filter sweep. I agree that clean blend in this case is too subtle a shift to be worth an expression pedal- let a smaller switchable blender handle that. Drive level could be cool, except trem-like effects are damnably hard to pull off using an expression pedal. Let a Molten Voltage Toggle, other LFO device, or momentary tap switch handle that. Or a modded Fuzz Probe. Filter sweep is the only function of those three which I believe would have real-world musical applicability, from all perspectives: tone, real estate, ergonomics, and results-per-effort.

**bassman314** · #3 10-30-2008, 04:29 PM

I'm agreeing with bongo on this. I don't think I could have put it better.

rcubed · #4 10-30-2008, 04:38 PM

Out of those three, filter sweep.

**grygrx** · #5 10-30-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

Out of those three, filter sweep.

Is there something else?

rratajski · #6 10-30-2008, 04:46 PM

On point w/ what Bongo said. I tried putting an expression on the Tone pot for a big muff clone...It does the trem effect and I'm not happy w/ it. If it worked like I wanted it to, it would be like a filter...

Go with the filter! It allows more expression rather than volume play.

TOOL460002 · #7 10-30-2008, 04:58 PM

am i missing something- or is the assmasters sensitivity knob not filter sweep? those have an expression option.

Joe Gress · #8 10-30-2008, 04:59 PM

Filter.

**grygrx** · #9 10-30-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOL460002

am i missing something- or is the assmasters sensitivity knob not filter sweep? those have an expression option.

Technically it's the "Sensitivity", and for me (I have one) it responds very trem-like.

rcubed · #10 10-30-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grygrx

Is there something else?

You could make the expression control how gated the fuzz gets.

jucas · #11 10-30-2008, 07:18 PM

Filter sweep if any of those. I can't really think of a time that I'd want to invest the space or use of an expression pedal for a control on a fuzz... For my limited uses I think I'm happy switching drive settings when I'm not playing.

And, I think that I'd probably be happier with a separate filter than one in the fuzzbox that only worked at certain settings.

I think that the starve knob like the fuzzprobe suggestion is probably my favorite option. Move into oscilating weirdness and back seems pretty usefull while playing compared to the other.

bongomania · #12 10-30-2008, 07:20 PM

You know what would be a cool effect, would be an expression-pedal controlled trem where the sweep controlled both depth and waveform, such that at heel-down the signal would be lightly pulsing with a gentle triangle wave, and at mid-point the signal would be in full surf throb, and at toe-down the signal would be chopped hard with an extreme square wave. Maybe there could be an increase in gain along with the increase in trem effect, both to keep the average signal level up and to make the most extreme setting that much more aggro.

Then of course you could make the fuzz version where instead of overall signal level changing it would be the amount/flavor of fuzz changing.

Deluge Of Sound · #13 10-30-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Then of course you could make the fuzz version where instead of overall signal level changing it would be the amount/flavor of fuzz changing.

That would be the one for me.

Nyarlathotep · #14 10-30-2008, 07:30 PM

I'd have to say filter sweep out of all 3. With my POD I was able to set any variable to the exp pedal, and I experimented around with different things. My fav was intense fuzz and the pedal set to control the "tone" var. Some interesting times

CliffD · #15 10-30-2008, 07:39 PM

I'd say a filter sweep or a drive control. I think either would be cool, maybe a filter sweep would get more use, just because a drive setting is something that I personally find a specific sweet spot and stick with it most of the time.

BTW, I can't wait for the new fuzz Grygrx, the sound samples sound great.

RCCollins · #16 10-30-2008, 07:55 PM

The tremolo idea sounds cool, but a filter sweep is what's gonna get used.

Maybe the filter sweep could be combined with drive? I guess that would have to be switchable.

or you could have expression input for ALL the controls at the expense of clean bypass, but your name is grygrx, not moogerfooger...

irvinz · #17 10-30-2008, 09:26 PM

filter sweep for sure. or intensity control?

**grygrx** · #18 10-30-2008, 10:32 PM

Thanks guys, I think this reaffirms my original inclination.

roflol · #19 10-31-2008, 05:25 AM

having a clean blend on an expression is pretty cool i was going to do one for myself.

JohnDavisNYC · #20 10-31-2008, 06:20 AM

I would like to see expression for transistor bias, which would probably change a lot about the sound... from wide open fuzz to gated to totally broken...

John