DOD FX25 Pedal-Good?

Bassmann135 · #1 02-07-2009, 10:27 AM

I was considering getting the DOD FX25 pedal for bass. I heard Flea using it in some videos and it sounded awesome plus it only cost 45 bucks or something like that. I've heard rumors that you loose the low end, but what do you guys think?

Thanks.

RCCollins · #2 02-07-2009, 10:30 AM

haha well you won't lose any low end with a lowpass filter.

The original FX25s STILL cost 45 bucks in cruddy shape. There are several "b" models out there as well, which include a blend knob, and while many players prefer the older ones, I find that the "b" models are still pretty darn good, especially as cheap as they are!

Mudfuzz · #3 02-07-2009, 10:33 AM

If anything they add lowend.

Jared Lash · #4 02-07-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

haha well you won't lose any low end with a lowpass filter.

I always thought the FX25 was a bandpass filter that just had a huge sweep range.

It CAN make you lose low end if you are hitting it rapid-fire it with a hot signal. So if you are doing some fast slapping, it will stay in the high end of its range which sounds quite thin. It's also why it's not a great filter for following a high gain dirt pedal.

It also has a huge sweep and cranks out some pretty big volume spikes.

All that said, it is a super wet and funky little box. I needed something more versatile/a little easier to tame but I liked mine when I had it.

kevteop · #5 02-07-2009, 11:23 AM

The only thing I don't like about the FX-25 is the weird resonant "hump" it's got halfway through its sweep. You only notice it on longer notes really, but it goes really wolfy for a moment as the filter's closing. Bloody irritating.

lowbass68 · #6 02-07-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

The only thing I don't like about the FX-25 is the weird resonant "hump" it's got halfway through its sweep.

Mine does that too, as well as other FX-25's I have tried. Still a good pedal for the price, just not the sound I want from an envelope filter

cybersnyder · #7 02-07-2009, 02:34 PM

Maybe I tried a bad one, if not, it's one of the worst pedals I've ever touched.

kevteop · #8 02-07-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowbass68

Mine does that too, as well as other FX-25's I have tried.

So does the DOD 440 and its clones. I wonder if all DOD filters do it...

Deluge Of Sound · #9 02-07-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

Maybe I tried a bad one, if not, it's one of the worst pedals I've ever touched.

I had a similar experience.

bigblondeafro87 · #10 02-07-2009, 02:43 PM

Yeah I own one and it sounds insane and very non-cheesy when tuned to just open on your loudest notes. As others said, there is a loud resonant frequency in the sweep. Maybe running it through compression/ limiter will help this? I am getting a compressor sooner or later, so I'll be able to test this.

cybersnyder · #11 02-07-2009, 02:49 PM

It may sound good through an X-blender or similar blend pedal.

fightthepower · #12 02-07-2009, 04:46 PM

The FX25 is a cool pedal, but by todays standards it is a bit sloppy. If you come at it with all you've got or just a really hot signal, it will have a very high sweep that eventually bottoms out(or stays open in front of too much gain)- Anytime the filter opens, there is a corresponding bottom out if you hold the note (too long).

It's really a pedal that you have to play. Given the right input and timing, you get a fat funky filter with thumpin bass at the bottom of every sweep. Still, no matter how you play it, it's not for everyone.

My Promethues is reminiscent of an fx25 style filter (not in step mode obviously) in that it's a fat filter but not dripping wet like a mutron/meatball etc and they're very touch sensitive in controlling sweep. The prometheus is much tamer and you can sweep a note as high as you want and hold it, and there won't be any bunker busting drop outs(for better or worse, they can be quite theatrical hah).

The FX25b has a volume drop where as the first gen FX25 has a slight volume boost if anything., For the closed filter dub thing, the FX25b has thundering lows especially from low E to Aflat, and the FX25 thumps the hardest from about the Gflat up... and the GFX25 is the same pedal as the FX25b--- This has been my experience with these pedals. I'm not sure which one I like better, as the fx25b really does go deeper in the lowest notes- I have a 2nd or 3rd gen fx25 coming monday- In a perfect world it would be something of a cross between the two I have now.. we'll see

benagainnn · #13 02-07-2009, 06:39 PM

If you want a dod fx25 get the old ones. You can get some on ebay. Flea used the old ones. The new ones aren't like the sound of flea. That a good auto wah though, it is cheap and worth the money

bongomania · #14 02-07-2009, 07:11 PM

Each different filter needs different playing. Yes, you have to play the filter, not just the bass. The FX25 is especially sensitive to correct and incorrect playing. It does have a massive resonant peak, and while I would not say it loses any lows in proper use, it is a fact that if you peg the filter open too much with constant high amplitude input then your lows are filtered away.

I do use both a blender and a limiter with mine. That plus minding my input levels and playing technique makes it the best filter sound I've ever heard outside a Bootsy record.

I'll freely admit that it's reasonable to not want to buy a blender and a limiter just to get good results from your effect pedal. But all other complaints are largely due to not playing it the way it needs to be played.

kevteop · #15 02-07-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I do use both a blender and a limiter with mine. That plus minding my input levels and playing technique makes it the best filter sound I've ever heard outside a Bootsy record.

I'll freely admit that it's reasonable to not want to buy a blender and a limiter just to get good results from your effect pedal. But all other complaints are largely due to not playing it the way it needs to be played.

Even with a limiter on it, it still does that WOOF! on the way down. It's not so much a peak in level, but an unpleasant (or at least unusual and obvious) lump of resonance part-way through the sweep.

I suppose if you only play short notes you won't hear it, but that's too much of an adjustment in technique for a filter IMHO.

bongomania · #16 02-07-2009, 10:03 PM

Ah but see, I love that sound. That's a big part of its appeal, if you like Bootsy type filtering. If you like it polite and tight, then you want a different filter for sure.

Mudfuzz · #17 02-08-2009, 09:39 AM

My real only complaint about it is the the opening speed, for the setting I like it opens too slow for the songs I need a filter on so it stays in the for recording only pile.

jimmothy.green · #18 02-26-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevteop

Even with a limiter on it, it still does that WOOF! on the way down. It's not so much a peak in level, but an unpleasant (or at least unusual and obvious) lump of resonance part-way through the sweep.

I suppose if you only play short notes you won't hear it, but that's too much of an adjustment in technique for a filter IMHO.

This...

That's what I use this filter for. Finger funk...

That bring up an interesting point though. What do you guys use your envelope filters for aside from the funky funk funk? Maybe I'm being a little closed minded about its application.

bigblondeafro87 · #19 02-26-2009, 11:21 AM

Personally, I use the FX25 for stuff with a reeeeel heavy groove with a more electronic edge to it. It fits very well in dub, and drum and bass kinda stuff, but fits in well all over the place. What it won't do is the obnoxious quacking that only bass players like to listen to and call funk

jimmothy.green · #20 02-26-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigblondeafro87

Personally, I use the FX25 for stuff with a reeeeel heavy groove with a more electronic edge to it. It fits very well in dub, and drum and bass kinda stuff, but fits in well all over the place. What it won't do is the obnoxious quacking that only bass players like to listen to and call funk

I like that because it's kind of why I got rid of my bassballs.