Maestro Filter, Sample & Hold - FSH-1

[markjazzbassist]

I've heard some clips of this thing and it sounds pretty awesome. just wondering if anyone here owns one or has played through one.

plus there are some great mods you can do to it like adding attack, decay, and resonance controls as well as a filter up or down switch.

thinking of building the one from tonepad.

thoughts?

[Jared Lash]

I've tried the old Maestro on guitar but not on bass.

But my Robotalk (which I just sold ) was based on the FSH-1

The filter isn't super wet - I'd describe it as cutting or aggressive. And the sample & hold is cool, but I'd run it through a blend loop to get some clean signal with it or can sound very thin. But with a blend loop and an octaver?

Keep us posted if you build one.

[speak_onion]

I've never had 1st hand experience, but I hear that the s/h results in a volume drop that makes it unusable in a live setting.

[moosapotamus]

It's not a simple build, but it is a great project. I built the GGG version with all of Tonda's mods plus a wet/dry mix control.
http://moosapotamus.net/THINGS/fsh-1a.htm

Use sockets for the transistors so you can change them out without doing any soldering, especially for the "noise" transistor. You might want to audition a few different ones. And definately use multi-turn trim pots.

When not playing, there is a little bit of audible LFO bleed-through on mine when it's in sample/hold mode (faint ticking). But it's not noticable when playing. I never noticed a volume drop in S/H mode, but that might vary from pedal to pedal depend on the specific "noise" transistor used and how the trim pots are set.

If I was going to build another one, I'd try increasing the value of the input & output caps too, to make it let a bit more of the low end through.

~ Charlie

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by moosapotamus

It's not a simple build, but it is a great project. I built the GGG version with all of Tonda's mods plus a wet/dry mix control.
http://moosapotamus.net/THINGS/fsh-1a.htm

Use sockets for the transistors so you can change them out without doing any soldering, especially for the "noise" transistor. You might want to audition a few different ones. And definately use multi-turn trim pots.

When not playing, there is a little bit of audible LFO bleed-through on mine when it's in sample/hold mode (faint ticking). But it's not noticable when playing. I never noticed a volume drop in S/H mode, but that might vary from pedal to pedal depend on the specific "noise" transistor used and how the trim pots are set.

If I was going to build another one, I'd try increasing the value of the input & output caps too, to make it let a bit more of the low end through.

~ Charlie

cool. thanks for the info and suggestions. it was in fact your soundclips that made me want to build one

i think the wet/dry blend is a great idea.

[niftydog]

This one's been on my list for several years now... just can never find time!

[Chronicle]

Sounds like the Subdecay Prometheus killed this thing....I'll have to hear it

[Toasted]

It's a really nice filter . . . but there's a fairly hefty volume drop. I've got one working on my bench, and I do like it. It just got to be a case of boxing it up.