help your friendly neighborhood admin decide on a sugar high.

[john turner]

ok. i'll be the first to say that i'm a complete distortion/overdrive/fuzz junkie, but i think i may actually have that aspect of my jones handled.

to provide for those fixes i have :

ada mp1
marshall jmp1
sansamp rbi
mxr blowtorch

all rigged up with the switchblade, so i can stack/mix-and-match em if i so desire. (use an aguilar db680 as my main preamp, it's always the last stage before the poweramp, since i use the internal x-over to go to the 4x12's and 1x18 cabs i'm using.)

ok.

so, now i'm looking for the fun and skunky stuff. i've really been impressed with the eventide pedals - shoot i've been jonesing for an orville, or i guess now it's the eclipse, but with my recent mac pro purchase i'm not really in the market for a $2k effects unit this year heh. i've also got a serious craving for a bass murf to put next to my fooger. i also have a black bassballs and a digi bass whammy, in the pedal dept, and a boss se70 rack unit. (i also have an axon ax100sb and a roland jv1010 that i use as sound sources for my rmc piezo/synth equipped basses).

what i'm intrigued (And even a little intimidated) by are the boutique pedal builders (considering my basses i guess that's not a big surprise).

so. my questions for all you experts here are the following :

1. you guys that have multi-effect pedals like the eventides - do you stack effects in the pedal itself via internal programmable patches, or do you generally use the pedal for only one effect at a time? trying to fathom the logistics of how i'm going to rig things up.

2. what boutique builders are known for having low noise, clean, great sounding effect pedals that play well with (hot) active erb basses (specifically lower frequency stuff, down to low F#/E an octave below the low e string). if you could suggest some specific pedals that would be great.

i'm really not looking for any fuzz/distortions/OD's, unless they are either really epic or they have other things going on with em that are not, in your estimation, available with the ones i've got already.

again, i'm really digging the bass murf (definitely gonna own one eventually) and the eventide pedals (Specifically the pitch factor), but i'd like to broaden my horizons. i'm also not adverse to cheaper pedals at all, as long as they play nice with active extended range basses and aren't too terribly noisy.

so yeah, toss me some things to check out .

[Mo'Phat]

I'll toss the Line 6 M-13 out there. It's a programmable multi-effects unit that has zero amp modeling. From what I hear, the effects are great, and the range of effects will be a good start for you.

But, you already have a Boss SE-70, which serves your 'variety' purposes well. How much do you use it? What don't you like about it?

To answer your questions, 1- Multis like the Eventide or the Line 6 "big modeler pedals" are internally programmable, but whether they're switchable with something like the Switchblade, I'm not sure. Also, the Line 6's only have something like 4 programmable patches, and they're only one sound each: you dial in the sound you want, program one button, and that's it. You can't turn on or off certain parameters within the patch. (caveat: I've never owned one...that's just my understanding of how they work; and I'm not 100% certain this is how Eventides work)

2-If you browse through the Post Your Pedalboards threads (all nineteen of them), you'll see that there's not just one boutique manufacturer that covers all the bases you need - great sounding, works well with actives, works well with sub-bass, low-noise, etc. Most boutique builders have one or a few pedals that excel, but other pedals that fall well short of what you'd need. So, many pedal users will shop different manufacturers to find the best of their products and have a mish-mash of different makes on their boards.

However, EBS is pretty solid across their entire line. Nothing is too ground breaking or earth shattering, but they're built solidly, work with all basses, sound great, are dead silent, and have enough of a variety to satisfy most effects guys.

For more cash, Zvex is very popular.

However, I would definitely isolate what types of effects you want, then search for the best of what's available for that specific effect.

Hope that helps.

[Mark Latimour]

If you want to borrow my Octavius Squeezer to have a play with it I can probably send it over to you John for a while. I don't use it so much as I am not very technically inclined. However, I will want it back!

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Mo'Phat

I'll toss the Line 6 M-13 out there. It's a programmable multi-effects unit that has zero amp modeling. From what I hear, the effects are great, and the range of effects will be a good start for you.

But, you already have a Boss SE-70, which serves your 'variety' purposes well. How much do you use it? What don't you like about it?

it's a little thin sounding, to my ears. i like it for some things like delays, but it's not very low-freq friendly, and a little too "digital" sounding.

i also use it for a vocoder, which it actually does very well, but i'll be getting a voice box eventually, so i'll be able to dedicate this to effects. probably end up using it for a phaser or chorus or something like that.

To answer your questions, 1- Multis like the Eventide or the Line 6 "big modeler pedals" are internally programmable, but whether they're switchable with something like the Switchblade, I'm not sure. Also, the Line 6's only have something like 4 programmable patches, and they're only one sound each: you dial in the sound you want, program one button, and that's it. You can't turn on or off certain parameters within the patch. (caveat: I've never owned one...that's just my understanding of how they work; and I'm not 100% certain this is how Eventides work)

well, the switchblade is mainly just a 16x16 router, so i use that to handle the inputs and outputs, build loops on the fly. i also have a 16 channel roland line mixer that i can use to mix the pedal returns, so i don't have to worry about noise that much (don't have to daisy the pedals together).

2-If you browse through the Post Your Pedalboards threads (all nineteen of them), you'll see that there's not just one boutique manufacturer that covers all the bases you need - great sounding, works well with actives, works well with sub-bass, low-noise, etc. Most boutique builders have one or a few pedals that excel, but other pedals that fall well short of what you'd need. So, many pedal users will shop different manufacturers to find the best of their products and have a mish-mash of different makes on their boards.

However, EBS is pretty solid across their entire line. Nothing is too ground breaking or earth shattering, but they're built solidly, work with all basses, sound great, are dead silent, and have enough of a variety to satisfy most effects guys.

For more cash, Zvex is very popular.

However, I would definitely isolate what types of effects you want, then search for the best of what's available for that specific effect.

Hope that helps.

that helps a ton, tyvm. i guess i need to browse that thread some more. .

[CrispyDelicious]

Originally Posted by john turner

that helps a ton, tyvm. i guess i need to browse that thread some more. .

I would advise against that. The Post Your Pedalboard threads induce more GAS than a spicy bean burrito eating competition.


Oh, and get a Prunes and Custard.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

If you want to borrow my Octavius Squeezer to have a play with it I can probably send it over to you John for a while. I don't use it so much as I am not very technically inclined. However, I will want it back!

oh man. that's really tempting. thanks for the offer. might take you up on it.

[Mo'Phat]

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

I would advise against that. The Post Your Pedalboard threads induce more GAS than a spicy bean burrito eating competition.


Oh, and get a Prunes and Custard.

Perfect example of how it's tough to just say one manufacturer is great for everything. Crowther Audio makes the Hotcake, the Double Hotcake, the Hotcake Bluesberry and the Prunes and Custard. Not a full effects line at all...and all I see people using at Talkbass is the Prunes and Custard...which is a distortion/od anyway.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

I would advise against that. The Post Your Pedalboard threads induce more GAS than a spicy bean burrito eating competition.

i'll equip myself with suitable amounts of bean-o, sir. ty for the warning.

Oh, and get a Prunes and Custard.

hmm. i sorta can get that kind of thing now when i daisy some of my other distortion preamps together.

[Mo'Phat]

PS - if you're in the market for an envelope filter, the 3 Leaf Groove Regulator is sweet.

[Joe Gress]

I do believe all the Eventide stompboxes have MIDI sync capabilities. Ie: you can program a few patches on it and switch them with a MIDI controller. The Pitchfactor thread is quite enough to cause GAS in anyone:

Eventide Pitchfactor Review. The answer to the Bass Whammy substitute?

There was also a very useful MIDI switcher demo from Bryan in that thread. But probably stuff you already do.

[Joe Gress]

Oh, and since you already have a moogerfooger, I do believe all the rest of their pedals are very good on bass, synth or otherwise. Plus being able to link them with CV is kinda neat.

[Mark Latimour]

Originally Posted by john turner

oh man. that's really tempting. thanks for the offer. might take you up on it.

Just PM me if you want to borrow if for a while. You might like the tweakability, but I just don't have time to invest in getting good patches up and running at the moment.

[Chronicle]

John I've done quite a few fuzz reviews and you can also check out http://bassfuzz.com

Here's the fuzz/overdrives I've had experience with..

Supercollider
Tonebender Jumbo and MKII
Polish Hate http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7349060
Devi Ever Cherry Pop http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7387687
Malekko double germ extended freq BASSMASTER http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7399487
ElectroniX Geminidrive http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7473276
Way Huge PorkLion http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7598146
Polish Love


There's more but I'm still waking up

[jucas]

Since it sounds like you've got a moog already (lowpass filter?), sticking with them is a decent thought... lots of conectivity and they should be good for a buch of input levels. If their ringmod/tremolo might be usefull to you, its a less filtery option than a murf for a total change of pace (thats a "this is what I'd like" suggestion more than an answer to your original post). They aren't really known for low noise though.

Otherwise, I can't think of any builders that specifically are known for low noise/ high headroom/wide frequency response other than someone like frostwave (not currently in production) who makes a product that'll work with just about anything you can plug into it. (IMO) it really depends on the particular effect more than the builder.

With the mixing/routing you described, I'd assume you can mix in as much clean signal as you feel like for retaining lows, so are you wanting something to have a noticible effect on those really low frequencies? Would it be possible to use the mixer or something else to attenuate the your signal a bit before you put it through effects to get around the hot signal, or is that getting too complicated to be worth while?

Anyway, I'll just do the usual "post what I like" and suggest a flanger. I've always been a huge fan of flangers, and re-bought one almost a year ago. I think that they're great for a wide range of frequencies (well, I've only used 'em down to a low B and up to a guitar frequency. I can't comment below 30-ish Hz). A good one should cover lots of teritory from standard jetplane-y swooshes to subtler, less sweeping and metallic sounds, and more. I think they're great for percussive playing as well and just generally a lot of fun. Look at the HBE frostbite... there were some recent posts by nad about it. I'm not sure about headroom, but I think it has a minimal gate to stop excess swooshes/etc while not playing and looks really tweakable. I think something like that would be a good, versatile compliment to all the dirt and filters you described.

If you give some more direction, maybe we can suggest a builder with something close that will be able to alter the frequency response for you (and maybe the input range if you're lucky) since it sounds like you want something a little outside the needs of the average/boutique effect buyer. I recently picked up a bitcrusher from a small "company" and the service was phenomenal as far as offering mods to frequency responses and answering questions about input.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by jucas

Since it sounds like you've got a moog already (lowpass filter?), sticking with them is a decent thought... lots of conectivity and they should be good for a buch of input levels. If their ringmod/tremolo might be usefull to you, its a less filtery option than a murf for a total change of pace (thats a "this is what I'd like" suggestion more than an answer to your original post). They aren't really known for low noise though.

Otherwise, I can't think of any builders that specifically are known for low noise/ high headroom/wide frequency response other than someone like frostwave (not currently in production) who makes a product that'll work with just about anything you can plug into it. (IMO) it really depends on the particular effect more than the builder.

With the mixing/routing you described, I'd assume you can mix in as much clean signal as you feel like for retaining lows, so are you wanting something to have a noticible effect on those really low frequencies? Would it be possible to use the mixer or something else to attenuate the your signal a bit before you put it through effects to get around the hot signal, or is that getting too complicated to be worth while?

Anyway, I'll just do the usual "post what I like" and suggest a flanger. I've always been a huge fan of flangers, and re-bought one almost a year ago. I think that they're great for a wide range of frequencies (well, I've only used 'em down to a low B and up to a guitar frequency. I can't comment below 30-ish Hz). A good one should cover lots of teritory from standard jetplane-y swooshes to subtler, less sweeping and metallic sounds, and more. I think they're great for percussive playing as well and just generally a lot of fun. Look at the HBE frostbite... there were some recent posts by nad about it. I'm not sure about headroom, but I think it has a minimal gate to stop excess swooshes/etc while not playing and looks really tweakable. I think something like that would be a good, versatile compliment to all the dirt and filters you described.

If you give some more direction, maybe we can suggest a builder with something close that will be able to alter the frequency response for you (and maybe the input range if you're lucky) since it sounds like you want something a little outside the needs of the average/boutique effect buyer. I recently picked up a bitcrusher from a small "company" and the service was phenomenal as far as offering mods to frequency responses and answering questions about input.

ooo, thanks for the info, i'll check into some of your suggestions.

the switchblade i have is a 16x16 midi controllable programmable router, so i can send however much of whatever signal i need (direct instrument, x-overed preamp out) to whichever output i want. i am planning on having certain effects only work on the higher frequencies, while others i'm hoping i can get to be "full spectrum".

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Chronicle

John I've done quite a few fuzz reviews and you can also check out http://bassfuzz.com

Here's the fuzz/overdrives I've had experience with..

Supercollider
Tonebender Jumbo and MKII
Polish Hate http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7349060
Devi Ever Cherry Pop http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7387687
Malekko double germ extended freq BASSMASTER http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7399487
ElectroniX Geminidrive http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7473276
Way Huge PorkLion http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7598146
Polish Love


There's more but I'm still waking up

While I can't speak for others, the Supercollider is definitely not low noise. It is however a great muff clone with some improvements.

[Jared Lash]

The Frostbite is nice. One of my basses is a super hot active (18V Aggie pre) and I didn't have any problems with it. It's a four string, but there was no issue with Drop D so I can't imagine a low B would be an issue either. It's got an 18V power supply which I imagine aids it in terms of headroom.

Anyway it's based on the old (and incredible) A/DA Flanger and is capable of a wide range of interesting tones.

What about a Subdecay Noisebox for crazy sounds? No problem with ERBs or actives, but it does sound different with actives. Not better or worse, just different. A fun little box of chaos.

You mentioned Eventides. What about the Pitchfactor?

[nad]

I was going to post a picture of the Frost Bite earlier, but then forgot. Now that it has already been mentioned, here are some live clips. You can hear it at the beginning of the first and at the end of the second:

Quadrance - fiujksadv
Quadrance - fasdijkl

It does subtle very nice as well, but is really meant for insanity. Either way it is extremely versatile, as well as being awesome. In crazier settings the LFO sweeps pretty low in the frequency range, I only play 4-bangers but can't imagine it not working well with an ERB. Oh, and it plays very nice with distortion.

[Chronicle]

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

While I can't speak for others, the Supercollider is definitely not low noise. It is however a great muff clone with some improvements.

mine isnt noisy..if you mean when you're not playing...

[warwick.hoy]

Originally Posted by Chronicle

mine isnt noisy..if you mean when you're not playing...

I chuckled