Final Purchase: Electric Mistress XO, BF-2, or Nano Stone

jufros · #1 04-25-2009, 02:23 AM

I'm looking for something that can do ambient as well as funky.

I realize these pedals are all a bit different but I'm about to add the LAST piece of gear to my board for the year. I have a great board at the moment that consists of (in order):
EXH Micro POG
EXH Micro Q-Tron
Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive
Electronix Gemini Drive
Boss ODB-3

I love every single one of these pedals. The ODB-3 and Sparkle Drive are probably my favorites. But despite the fact that I LOVE the sound that I'm getting out of the ODB, tragically, it just doesn't fit with my band at the moment and I'm keeping my pedal board to 5 pedals. After I got the Gemini, I was able to get a high gain distortion/OD that was much more usable for our material, so the ODB is leaving the board for the time being.

I'd like to add a modulation effect to take its place. I've read great things about the EM and Nano Stone. Some of our material is funky, some is heavy, and some is ambient and spacey. With the Q-Tron in my arsenal, I'm leaning towards the XO Mistress to fill out my ambient needs. However, I'm worried that it's a little too "soft" and delicate for quicker passages and that I wouldn't be able to get an articulate sound of it if I wanted to use it for funkier riffs. Any thoughts?

The BF-2 definitely seems more articulate and it is a bit cheaper as well. I don't have a chorus though and despite the fact that I doubt I'll use it nearly as much as the flanger, it might be nice to have. Still, I'm willing to sacrifice a chorus for a more flexible effect.

The Nano Stone is completely different but it sounds amazing. I'm just not sure whether I'd rather have a flanger or a phaser but I think I'm leaning towards flanger. I would rock both the Mistress and the Stone but I'd have to get another daisy chain and my board is absolutely tiny. Plus, I'd rather keep it small anyway.

JimmyM · #2 04-25-2009, 03:03 AM

The Boss flanger is nice and small, but I was never a fan (too electronic sounding IMHO). I'm a huge fan of my old Electric Mistress and Deluxe Electric Mistress, but they're big and unwieldy. Haven't tried the XO version, but looks somewhat less big and annoying. Small Stone is wonderful, but a flanger can do what it does for the most part.

My vote is get a Mistress.

Jimbob Jones · #3 04-25-2009, 03:52 AM

I would reccomend the BF-2, I like the core sound you get from it, but it's also very, very tweakable and very noticable in the mix if you set it right!

jufros · #4 04-25-2009, 04:51 AM

Is the XO too soupy for general use? If you all think you can use the XO's flange for runs and such I'll probably snag one. It seems versatile but I haven't heard any bass sound clips that weren't aiming for maximum swirliness. If anyone has any recorded or would like to throw down a quick and dirty and one, please don't be shy. Ah decisions.

Couvy · #5 04-25-2009, 08:46 AM

I prefer the DOD FX72, myself. They're cheap, too.

jufros · #6 04-25-2009, 08:49 AM

Any particular reasons why?

Couvy · #7 04-25-2009, 08:54 AM

Sounds more organic, less clanky to me.

bigchiefbc · #8 04-25-2009, 09:00 AM

To answer your question, yes the Mistress is indeed capable of subtle flange tones for articulate passages. Just keep the flange depth knob no higher than noon-ish for that sort of thing.

The reason that most people use extreme settings in their clips is that the Mistress is such a unique sounding flanger, that sometimes its hard to make yourself just set it subtly and play.

I know that I always want to crank the depth and make the "ball-bearings going down a pipe" sound.

Also, the chorus on it fantastic. Nice warbly, wet chorus; it doesn't know that its digital and supposed to sound sterile and cold.

Azarus · #9 04-25-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jufros

Is the XO too soupy for general use? If you all think you can use the XO's flange for runs and such I'll probably snag one. It seems versatile but I haven't heard any bass sound clips that weren't aiming for maximum swirliness. If anyone has any recorded or would like to throw down a quick and dirty and one, please don't be shy. Ah decisions.

Here's a quick and *dirty* one:

http://rapidshare.com/files/225618922/46_2.mp3.html

Rate, Flanger and Chorus knob are all slightly before noon.

rcubed · #10 04-25-2009, 10:24 AM

Nano Stone? Do you mean Small Stone Nano or Small Clone Nano? Definitely not the latter. The former I like having after dirt pedals.

jufros · #11 04-25-2009, 01:02 PM

I just bought an Electric Mistress XO. Stoked for it.

fightthepower · #12 04-25-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

Nano Stone? Do you mean Small Stone Nano or Small Clone Nano? Definitely not the latter. The former I like having after dirt pedals.

Nano Stone = Nano Small Stone

J. Crawford · #13 04-25-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jufros

I just bought an Electric Mistress XO. Stoked for it.

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JanusZarate · #14 04-25-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jufros

I just bought an Electric Mistress XO. Stoked for it.

You'll enjoy it.

If you're interested in more clips in different situations, there are old decent clips I made which can be found in my review thread (in this forum) and in the TalkBass Wiki.

Additionally, check out my band's YouTube for the song "Thick" - I use it extensively in that song. You can't miss it - I use it in the beginning and later on as well.