Do I really need an Xotic X-Blender?

Ginsly · #1 08-05-2010, 03:25 PM

I'm looking to blend my dry signal with a fuzz pedal, and that's about it. I've heard that an invert switch is helpful with fuzz pedals, and I'd like to be able to control the overall volume (some people seem to think Barge has a volume drop). The Xotic blender looks great, but isn't there something simpler (cheaper) that will give me true-bypass, an invert switch, and volume control? Need one asap.. Thanks!

bongomania · #2 08-05-2010, 04:03 PM

The phase switch is the kicker. There are loads of cheaper blend pedals, including the versatile Boss LS-2, but aside from the Barge (not currently available) I'm not aware of any cheaper ones with a phase switch.

tigerbass · #3 08-05-2010, 04:06 PM

Personally I think if you're looking for all that anyways, you might as well get the Xotic. The EQ section I didn't think I'd need either, but it has been invaluable in really bringing out the best in pedals that are in the loop.
Besides with the boost button you can also use it as a booster pedal which I think is great.
Having just a plain loop footswitch and then being able to boost and eq with the other switch really brings alot of flexability to your whole set-up.
And like Bongo said, the phase switch is the icing on the cake!
I'm always screwing around and changing/experimenting with different set-ups!

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #4 08-05-2010, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

The phase switch is the kicker. There are loads of cheaper blend pedals, including the versatile Boss LS-2, but aside from the Barge (not currently available) I'm not aware of any cheaper ones with a phase switch.

The GigRig Wet Box has a phase switch. Not the typical blender though as there are no footswitches- you have to blend with an expression pedal.

Ginsly · #5 08-05-2010, 05:00 PM

Great feedback - thanks a lot, everybody! Looks like the X-Blender it is. I was going to go the LS-2 route, but I feel I may regret it..

bongomania · #6 08-05-2010, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

The GigRig Wet Box has a phase switch. Not the typical blender though as there are no footswitches- you have to blend with an expression pedal.

Gig Rig Wet Box + Expression pedal bundle: $249 plus shipping from the UK.
Xotic X-Blender: $176 including shipping.

tigerbass · #7 08-05-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginsly

Great feedback - thanks a lot, everybody! Looks like the X-Blender it is. I was going to go the LS-2 route, but I feel I may regret it..

I also have a LS-2 and it is great and all that. But compared to the Xotic, it is a doorstop, or a paperweight, depending on which way the wind is blowing!

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #8 08-05-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Gig Rig Wet Box + Expression pedal bundle: $249 plus shipping from the UK.
Xotic X-Blender: $176 including shipping.

What's price have to do with another blender having a phase switch?

I think the X-Blender is a much better deal as well- I was just mentioning another blender with a phase switch. FWIW, the Wet Box+expression pedal is $224 at Analogman here in the US.

chicago_mike · #9 08-05-2010, 08:05 PM

Build your own. I did. Easy as pie.
http://klaas.homeip.net/wb/media/pdf...nder_EQ_V2.pdf

Did mine on radioshack perfboard and runs like a champ. Use OPA ic's and you have a great little unit.

bongomania · #10 08-05-2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

What's price have to do with another blender having a phase switch?

I think the X-Blender is a much better deal as well- I was just mentioning another blender with a phase switch. FWIW, the Wet Box+expression pedal is $224 at Analogman here in the US.

Right, but he was specifically asking for something cheaper than the Xotic, and the post of mine that you quoted said I didn't know of any cheaper options. You responded by naming a more expensive option.

Don't get me wrong--we're cool, no hassles, I'm only clarifying just to clarify, not to argue.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #11 08-05-2010, 08:50 PM

I LOVE YOU MAN!!!

You can actually use the Wet Box without the exp. pedal, at which point it's pretty cheap ($155), but as I've said elsewhere, it wouldn't be something I'd suggest for regular pedalboard use as it's a plastic box.

To the OP- there's a used X-Blender on TheGearPage right now for $135- a hell of a deal.

1kinal · #12 08-05-2010, 09:39 PM

There's also the Radial Bigshot Mix...for $140.

I had this one before the x-blender. The xotic is so much better and versatile. The volume knob on the x-blender became invaluable for me in order to get that perfect level matching. I can even use the x-blender as a boost pedal for gigs where I don't use effects in its loop. Finally, being able to switch from 100% wet to xx% mix is wonderful. For example, when using octave I prefer a 75% wet (25% dry) but when I use the enveloppe filter alone it respond better with a 100% wet signal. Being able to get both without touching the mix knob is really useful.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #13 08-05-2010, 10:16 PM

Not to mention it looks awesome.

Ginsly · #14 08-05-2010, 11:22 PM

Hmm.. being able to use the X-Blender as a boost pedal really sweetens the deal. Thanks for the heads up - I'll check out the gear page!

Ginsly · #15 08-05-2010, 11:30 PM

Can't seem to find that $135 X-Blender.. got a link? Thanks!

bongomania · #16 08-05-2010, 11:37 PM

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/sho...hlight=blender

Ginsly · #17 08-05-2010, 11:39 PM

Thanks! Hopefully he still has it..

Munjibunga · #18 08-05-2010, 11:52 PM

With gear, if you think you need it, you need it.

TaySte_2000 · #19 08-06-2010, 04:55 AM

X-Blender really is the tops when it comes to blenders, I got one of the first Barge units and had them make me the now highly used impedance control and I though wow this is awesome, can't possibly see a blender being better than this, I mean all it does it blend right?

Well got the X-Blender and they were like worlds apart the Barge made my Fuzz's sound like overdrives when blended the Xotic was like hearing 2 different amps. I mean you wouldn't know this until you had both as you'd always think a blender was a blender.

LS-2 is a great pedal, bit of a swiss army knife but it's better as a small 2 channel mixer than it is as a clean blend. Also if you put an LS-2 with 2 chains of fx in it in an X-Blender you can blend your clean signal with some parallel processing and get 3 signal chains going and 3 sounds all mixed down to mono and sounding awesome.

I know, I know you all glazed over by the end of the post

dabber · #20 08-06-2010, 08:50 AM

Do it, do it.
I just got one last week, haven't put too much time into it yet but you IMMEDIATELY hear an improvement with dirt/fuzz/etc. I didn't think I'd use the 'foot knob' for on the fly blend control too much... wrong! It's my new favorite toy.
It's been a great 2 weeks for new pedals... Xotic x-blender, followed by a VisualVolume10 pedal & the the VTDLX. My head is still spinning from the multiple-new-pedal-high, not to mention I'm shocked my wife didn't kill me.
FWIW, I looked for weeks, doing the obsessive comparison thing with many brands/types of blenders, this was the best choice IMO.