frequency-selective od/distortion

[heavyfunkmachin]

How did you get the wall of bass distortion on "Making Plans for Nigel" [Miscellaneous Debris]?

LC: We recorded that song as a B-side for Japan, but we hated the way it turned out. So I went into the studio with an old Syntrex Harmonic Energizer, which is the coolest pedal in the world, ran my bass track through it, and cranked it. You can distort specific frequencies with that pedal, and that's what gives the bass that strange buzzing sound.

that was a les claypool interview, and reading it i realised that i've been thinking of a dist/od pedal to be able to distort only specific frequencies … like only distorting low mids…

so the question is… Is there a pedal to od/dist specific frequencies??

Aside from the Syntrex Harmonic Energizer… wich is vintage oscure and, I guess, absurdly expensive if you find one…

[groooooove]

i cant remember the name or brand, but there was one with a few threads about it recently, i know victor wooten had the prototype of it for the SMV tour. someone else will prob chime in with the details..

[bongomania]

Akai made one a while back; they show up on Ebay sometimes. Plus there are a few ways to do this with software plugins, while recording.

[Smurf-o-Deth]

It's not an exact science, but the Markbass Distosore has both a high pass and low pass filter on the distortion and wet/dry blending, so something similar could be achieved with it.

[bass.bert]

…just a guess, but can't the source audio multiwave distortion pro do this?

[dannybuoy]

The Ashdown James Lomenzo Hyperdrive does it - but not very well.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by bass.bert

…just a guess, but can't the source audio multiwave distortion pro do this?

+1. hot sounding pedal on demos.

[grovest]

Originally Posted by groooooove

i cant remember the name or brand, but there was one with a few threads about it recently, i know victor wooten had the prototype of it for the SMV tour. someone else will prob chime in with the details..

Victor Wooten was testing / promoing the Source Audio pedals for a while (if not to this day?)- their hook is band specific processing.

I think the EQ on the EHX Graphic Fuzz is "post-fuzz", but maybe it's close enough for what you want.

But surely in a studio situation it would be easy enough to filter specific frequencies using any number of production tools, then reamp (or not) into whatever fuzz you pleased.

[takfar]

Doesn't the Blowtorch only distort the mids?

Me, when I want this sound, I sorta-kinda do it by running my distortions into a "stuck open" wah (the weeping demon. *VERY* tweakable, basically allows me to choose which band of frequency I want to pass), or a very sharply EQ'ed VT Bass, and keeping my clean signal blended in with an LS-2.

[groooooove]

Originally Posted by bass.bert

…just a guess, but can't the source audio multiwave distortion pro do this?

bingo

[agomes]

ok so i've read les uses blue steel nickel coated rounds, and i can def hear them in all the other albums, but listening to 'making plans for nigel' and 'have a cigar' my ears keep thinking he could be using flats? am i way off? could it just be the harmonic equalizer?

[Darkglass]

If my ear doesn't betray me, he is distorting around 500Hz...
Try with locating a graphic EQ with some band within that range before your favorite fuzz... It sounded pretty low gain, but really focused on the mids...

Regards

Doug

[karter2000]

I just found the schem, layout, etc on freestompboxes.org. It doesn't look like a difficult pedal to build. I'd be interested enough in something like that to attempt a build....

Edit: Actually, reading further in the thread I found that Madbean sells a pcb. Definitely have to try it now.

[tehbassist]

FEA labs dual band distortion. Sorta in the ball park of what you were talking about.

http://www.fealabs.com/products/DBD-0001.html

[DiscoFreq]

He probably means the Systech Harmonic Energizer:
Systech Harmonic Energizer | DiscoFreq's Effects Database

As you can see on that page both Fredric Effects and Totally Wycked Audio make pedals based on that design:
Fredric Effects Do The Weasel Stomp! | DiscoFreq's Effects Database
Totally Wycked Audio TK-01 Triskelion | DiscoFreq's Effects Database

I heard the Triskelion at NAMM, really impressive!

[takfar]

Well, nowadays if one wanted a multi-band distortion, it would probably be a good idea to try out the Iron Ether QF2 Copper. I'm curious about getting one myself, the samples sound pretty good. Not on the cheap side, tho.

[DeltaPhoenix]

The IE QF2 does this perfectly. I love mine. It divides the input into 4 frequency bands and the amount of gain added is your choice for each band. Plus a mix knob to keep it full. Each set of frequency has a Band pass filter and the highs also have a high pass filter. Simply an amazing pedal.

[Lowbrow]

You could use a Boss LS2 + an EQ pedal + your favorite distortion/OD.

Using A+B Mix mode:
Create an 'A' effects loop, send the loop signal thru the EQ and separate out your preferred frequencies, thru the dist./OD, mix the effect 'return' (signal A) back in with your clean signal (signal B).