EHX Bass MicroSynth Question...

[gtmattz]

I finally broke down and ordered this pedal after wanting one for quite some time. I initially learned about the pedal from various youtube videos, and pretty much everything I know has come from those videos. However, the pedal I received from musicians friend is broken I think. Every sound it makes is either so quiet it sounds like a hiss, or it is super distorted. Every time I pluck the string I get a loud pop, similar to unplugging the cord from thr guitar. I thought that maybe the active electronics on my bass was overdriving it after reading the manual, but adjusting the preamp on the pedal does nothing but make the pedal make quieter nasty distorted noises. I know one thing for sure, the sounds coming from my pedal are horrible in comparison to what I am hearing in these youtube videos. Did musicians friend send me a broken pedal, or am I doing something wrong?

[OhulahanBass]

This is exactly why my functioning BMS XO is the only EHX pedal I will own. If it didn't sound sooooo good I wouldn't have any. My first BMS was the trapazoid model, It would only work when it wanted to, I opened it up to find the ground wire floating around! This was after I sent it in for repair.

Things to try:

-Lowering your input volume to rule that out
-Check your power supply, you can not daisy chain this effect! Most 9V wall warts should work, I use my T-Rex Fuel Tank.
-Try playing notes above A on your low E string, It doesnt track well below it
-Test: Trigger 100%, Sub 50%, Guitar 50%, Octave 50%, Square 0%, Attack 0%, Res 100%, Start 0%, Stop 100%, Rate 100%

If you check and try the above, you should experience a nice, long, lightly fuzzy sweep from low to high. If you don't experience such a sweep your BMS might be broken.

FYI: The trigger only effects the filter section (up, down, res, rate). Its not a pre for the pedal. I have an active bass and I keep it around 60-80%. If the trigger is %100 I believe the filter should activate on any input attack. Trigger at 0% should turn the synth into an octave fuzz machine. The trigger is a variable threshold to allow you to decide how hard you must pluck before the filter kicks in.

Edit: I am so sorry if it is broke, I've been in those shoes before and it is a huge bummer to look forward to an epic $200+ synth box and get it broken. EHX has done this to me on the Trap model and they're Tube Comp, It took me years to try the XO version. I've had zero issues with the XO.

[kevteop]

Send it back, it's not right.

[MetroBass]

I know the rep here with EHX's QA is bad, but that doesn't sound to be a working pedal. Musician Friend isn't above the rest of the webjems out there trying to pass on a busted pedal to someone else, instead of returning it back to EHX the first time.

The other thing to check is the pre-amp gain located in the box. Take off the over and turn it all the way up. If that doesn't do it - return it.

[markjazzbassist]

adjust the gain trimpot is all i got. if that doesn't work send it back and get another.

i have one and it works great, sometimes it takes a minute to warm up and be at full tilt (i have a vintage 70's one), but other than that it sounds killer.

moog and arp sounds out the yang, i lost my appetite for envelope filters after i got the BMS. i can get a lot wetter with it.

[OhulahanBass]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

adjust the gain trimpot is all i got. if that doesn't work send it back and get another.

i have one and it works great, sometimes it takes a minute to warm up and be at full tilt (i have a vintage 70's one), but other than that it sounds killer.

moog and arp sounds out the yang, i lost my appetite for envelope filters after i got the BMS. i can get a lot wetter with it.

I remember years ago you telling me how lucky I was in getting a Mutron III and that it was the best filter out there. The BMS let you say goodbye to the Mutron??? I agree entirely on the BMS being an amazing synth machine and wetter than most filters if you increase that rate. The only thing I've owned that could get that wet was the WMD Super Fatman.

My operating BMS and Mutron are never leaving my board! Problem is I think there are allot of non operating BMS and other EHX pedals out there. Looks like me and gtmattz have both seen some non working ones.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by OhulahanBass

I remember years ago you telling me how lucky I was in getting a Mutron III and that it was the best filter out there. The BMS let you say goodbye to the Mutron???

pretty much. i could never get over the volume spikes with envelope filters, and with the gain down on the mutron, the effect was blah.

i've always loved synthesizers (keyboard ones) and after i got my moog little phatty i realized that sound i wanted from the filters wasn't a filter sound, it was a synth sound. hence why my search has ended with the BMS.

i still think the mutron is the best envelope filter for tone only. it's got it, just not for me anymore.

[OhulahanBass]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

pretty much. i could never get over the volume spikes with envelope filters, and with the gain down on the mutron, the effect was blah.

i've always loved synthesizers (keyboard ones) and after i got my moog little phatty i realized that sound i wanted from the filters wasn't a filter sound, it was a synth sound. hence why my search has ended with the BMS.

i still think the mutron is the best envelope filter for tone only. it's got it, just not for me anymore.

Last high jack post from me. I think you would like the Source Audio BEF, with a Mastotron in front it can be very BMS. And at $120 new its worth the digital risk. It sounds sooo good I've since tried two other digital pedals with much less luck, but the BEF sounds great. You can get all kinds of tronish to synth filter noises without the dirt of the BMS. The Mutron, BEF, BMS are the filters I just cant get enough time on.

[gtmattz]

Originally Posted by OhulahanBass

-Test: Trigger 100%, Sub 50%, Guitar 50%, Octave 50%, Square 0%, Attack 0%, Res 100%, Start 0%, Stop 100%, Rate 100%

If you check and try the above, you should experience a nice, long, lightly fuzzy sweep from low to high. If you don't experience such a sweep your BMS might be broken.

Tried this (after putting the preamp gain back where it was when I first opened the pedal), and got a more than lightly fuzzy sweep, but the beginning of the sound had a definite crackle and at the low end it sort of warbled a bit, then as the frequency rose I could hear definite 'steps' (if that makes sense?) as well as some other odd sounding artifacts. It doesn't matter where I play a note, it sounds pretty much the same every time. I did find that if I decrease the low end of of the EQ on my bass the warbling decreases a little, but is still present. If I drop the sub to 0% the warble goes away completely, if I drop the octave and square to 0 most of the artifacts go away but the sweep still sounds 'steppy'.

I am thinking I got a bad pedal. I was sort of suspicious from the beginning to be honest, as, first of all, there was supposed to be a 2 week backorder, but suddenly the pedal shipped, then when I got it I found that the pedal came with an incompatible power supply (a dunlop which had a connector that was in no way compatible with the pedal), so I had to call up customer service and have them send the right power supply. Then when I started trying it out and it sounded funny, when I went to take the cover off to try adjusting the preamp gain, I noticed that the screws were dogged out a little, as if someone had already been inside the box a few times... So it looks more and more like they just shipped me a broken pedal that someone else returned, looks like I will be shipping it back to them so they can send it to someone else

Anyway, Thanks for the help guys, it is good to know that for the most part these are good pieces of equipment. I am half considering just calling it quits with musicians friend and sending the pedal to EHX to repair under warranty, as I suspect I am going to be paying to ship this broken pedal back to musicians friend anyway, might as well just pay to ship it to the guys who know what to do with it to make it work, and thus avoid getting another bunk pedal from MF.

[chokeslam512]

Originally Posted by gtmattz

Tried this (after putting the preamp gain back where it was when I first opened the pedal), and got a more than lightly fuzzy sweep, but the beginning of the sound had a definite crackle and at the low end it sort of warbled a bit, then as the frequency rose I could hear definite 'steps' (if that makes sense?) as well as some other odd sounding artifacts. It doesn't matter where I play a note, it sounds pretty much the same every time. I did find that if I decrease the low end of of the EQ on my bass the warbling decreases a little, but is still present. If I drop the sub to 0% the warble goes away completely, if I drop the octave and square to 0 most of the artifacts go away but the sweep still sounds 'steppy'.

I am thinking I got a bad pedal. I was sort of suspicious from the beginning to be honest, as, first of all, there was supposed to be a 2 week backorder, but suddenly the pedal shipped, then when I got it I found that the pedal came with an incompatible power supply (a dunlop which had a connector that was in no way compatible with the pedal), so I had to call up customer service and have them send the right power supply. Then when I started trying it out and it sounded funny, when I went to take the cover off to try adjusting the preamp gain, I noticed that the screws were dogged out a little, as if someone had already been inside the box a few times... So it looks more and more like they just shipped me a broken pedal that someone else returned, looks like I will be shipping it back to them so they can send it to someone else

Anyway, Thanks for the help guys, it is good to know that for the most part these are good pieces of equipment. I am half considering just calling it quits with musicians friend and sending the pedal to EHX to repair under warranty, as I suspect I am going to be paying to ship this broken pedal back to musicians friend anyway, might as well just pay to ship it to the guys who know what to do with it to make it work, and thus avoid getting another bunk pedal from MF.

I would send it back to MF and not EHX. If someone messed with the insides, they may not warranty it.

[Stringmaster]

sounds like a bad solder on a jack to me, specifically the grounds. Might be as easy as reheating the solder joints, if the screws have been out, the warranty is already probably void from EHX, but if this doesn't work even after you play with the jacks, it was already opened when you got it and MF probs wouldn't know you were in there anyway. I'm no expert in this area, but I have fixed a few pedals in this way...

[The Lurker]

Originally Posted by chokeslam512

I would send it back to MF and not EHX. If someone messed with the insides, they may not warranty it.

+1. You may have gotten something a MF guy swept together at the last minute, not something EHX sent out as new. I've never heard of EHX shipping Dunlop power supplies, which makes me think someone's sold you used goods.

[OhulahanBass]

The solder on the jack is a good lead, that was one of the problems with my trapazoid unit.

However, I'd send it back and make a stern phone call, might get something extra for all the trouble.

Originally Posted by gtmattz

Tried this (after putting the preamp gain back where it was when I first opened the pedal), and got a more than lightly fuzzy sweep, but the beginning of the sound had a definite crackle and at the low end it sort of warbled a bit, then as the frequency rose I could hear definite 'steps' (if that makes sense?) as well as some other odd sounding artifacts. It doesn't matter where I play a note, it sounds pretty much the same every time. I did find that if I decrease the low end of of the EQ on my bass the warbling decreases a little, but is still present. If I drop the sub to 0% the warble goes away completely, if I drop the octave and square to 0 most of the artifacts go away but the sweep still sounds 'steppy'.

I am thinking I got a bad pedal. I was sort of suspicious from the beginning to be honest, as, first of all, there was supposed to be a 2 week backorder, but suddenly the pedal shipped, then when I got it I found that the pedal came with an incompatible power supply (a dunlop which had a connector that was in no way compatible with the pedal), so I had to call up customer service and have them send the right power supply. Then when I started trying it out and it sounded funny, when I went to take the cover off to try adjusting the preamp gain, I noticed that the screws were dogged out a little, as if someone had already been inside the box a few times... So it looks more and more like they just shipped me a broken pedal that someone else returned, looks like I will be shipping it back to them so they can send it to someone else

Anyway, Thanks for the help guys, it is good to know that for the most part these are good pieces of equipment. I am half considering just calling it quits with musicians friend and sending the pedal to EHX to repair under warranty, as I suspect I am going to be paying to ship this broken pedal back to musicians friend anyway, might as well just pay to ship it to the guys who know what to do with it to make it work, and thus avoid getting another bunk pedal from MF.

[gtmattz]

Thanks again guys, I will give MF a call tonite and see what I can make happen.

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i have one and it works great, sometimes it takes a minute to warm up and be at full tilt (i have a vintage 70's one), but other than that it sounds killer.

I've had a few reissue models and found the same thing - they need a couple of minutes to warm up and then they sound really lush. Does that make any electronic sense at all? They definitely sounds better to my ears when they've been run in for a little while.

I still don't like the XO model. If I had room for an old one I'd still have one on my board, but the XO is not an adequate replacement IMO.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I've had a few reissue models and found the same thing - they need a couple of minutes to warm up and then they sound really lush. Does that make any electronic sense at all? They definitely sounds better to my ears when they've been run in for a little while.

I still don't like the XO model. If I had room for an old one I'd still have one on my board, but the XO is not an adequate replacement IMO.

yeah i don't know what it is. sometimes i'll get crackling and stuff (and i have it in a TB loop), i'll switch it on/off and it's gone and signal is back to new. i live with the small issues cause it sounds so cool, i love it.

[OhulahanBass]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I've had a few reissue models and found the same thing - they need a couple of minutes to warm up and then they sound really lush. Does that make any electronic sense at all? They definitely sounds better to my ears when they've been run in for a little while.

I still don't like the XO model. If I had room for an old one I'd still have one on my board, but the XO is not an adequate replacement IMO.

I disagree, and if I could tell a difference in tone the lack of issues and size would make minor short comings forgivable. I never felt I could depend on the Trap model.

[gtmattz]

In case anyone cares, I received my replacement yesterday and it sounds great, now I just need to come up with some good settings

[OhulahanBass]

It's not hard to find a good sound, just give yourself plenty of time because it is hard to put it down after you get into it.

I had the trigger at 75% and the res at 100% for a long time...this was a MISTAKE because so many sounds exist past (or below) those settings. Don't limit yourself, tweak everything!

[taurus1]

I've had mine for about two years, it took a while to get used to it and I wasn't initially blown away. at first I thought it was limited but once you figure it out it's an amazing pedal. I do two things that make this pedal far more useful to me. I run an eq directly after it and boost the bottom end quite a bit. I run the BMS+ the eq pedal in a true bypass loop pedal to make it a dedicated synt+eq combined loop.