One pedal for funk?

[Jim Nazium]

I may have some gigs coming up soon with a friend's funk / R&B / go-go band, and I'd like to try a pedal or two to thicken / funkify my sound, at least on some songs. My background is mostly in jazz and I've never used effects before. I is ignorant. What's good to start with? Mutron? Envelope filter? Fuzz?

[millsbass5]

All three!

[fettbass]

An envelope filter would be a good place to start. 3 Leaf Audio makes two really good envelope filters, the groove regulator and the proton. Iron Ether's Xerograph Deluxe can do some pretty funky things, in addition to tons of synthy filtery goodness. EHX makes the Qtron, which is pretty good, apart from its lack of volume control and 24 V power requirements. I'm using an EHX Enigma, which I'm enjoying, but it seems to be better at making synthy kindy of filtery sounds, and isn't as "wet" sounding as some of the filters I mentioned above. Might get a Xerograph deluxe, hehe.

You could also try an octave pedal, those thicken things up nicely, and are great to make a groove sound absolutely gigantic. I'm using an MXR BOD, and it's great for those purposes, though if you want a polyphonic octaver, I'd recommend the EHX POG2 or MicroPOG, or the T rex Octavius.

[Ewo]

Maybe a VT bass, for the R & B thickening...

[ksandvik]

Envelope filter. Helps if you have compression, too.

[kb9wyz]

If you need one pedal to rule them all, Envelope filter. Big time.

[Von Felgenhauer]

Source audio envelope filter with an overdrive pushing it. Tons of different filter sounds and a phaser/flanger

[odin70]

CORON FUNK BOX 95 - Custom-Sounds

[punkinfantry]

if you combine the xerograph deluxe with the oxide you can pretty much paint the air with more funk than anyone can handle

[kb9wyz]

Originally Posted by punkinfantry

if you combine the xerograph deluxe with the oxide you can pretty much paint the air with more funk than anyone can handle

I can do the same thing with garlic and baked beans.

[dannybuoy]

If we're talking Motown and not freak-out Bootsy P-Funk, then this:

Catalinbread SFT: Quadrant #3, Motown Bass Tone - YouTube

[HolmeBass]

Mutron *is* an envelope filter, at least in common parlance. I'd go w/ the envelope filter, and an octaver as a second. Lots of EFs to choose from, but the xerograph, Groove Regulator, and the Source Audio BEF are all "hot" right now.

[darius8]

A little envelope filter goes a long way in funk and RnB.
"Funkin is my business and business is goooood"

[Mound of Sound]

Since when is funk defined by an envelope filter?
See: Rocco Prestia.

[Outlaw_son]

This

[tedsalt]

Forgive me for my lack of knowledge of envelope filters. Does anyone use a Moogerfooger MF101 for this? What are the pros / cons of using a MF101 compared to the xerograph, Groove Regulator, or Source Audio BEF?

[Slackerprince]

Source Audio Bass Envelope Filter: TONS of different sounds and easily available used for under $100 in the classifieds.

S

[Kwesi]

Yoooo, you gotta tell me what band and when! It would be pretty sweet to see a fellow TB in action especially in a genre so unique to the area!

Anyway, my two cents: If you really want a pedal or two for funk, go-go and R&B go with a envelope filter and an octaver, in that order. I would recommend the MXR Bass Envelope Filter and Bass Octave Deluxe. They go hand in hand and sound great on their own too. Spencer (3Leaf Audio) really knows what he's doing with his filters too so he's most definitely worth a look. Fuzz would be after those two on the list of importance considering what you'll be playing. Like folks have said (and I'm sure you know), you don't need pedals to sound good but they can make a world of a difference if you use them right .

Here's me messing around on my BEF:

Bobby Proud & The Disfunkshun Junction - So Disfunkshunal (The Proud Family) Bass Cover - YouTube

Now here's the infinitely funkier Uriah Duffy tearin' it up with a BEF and a BOD, respectively:

MXR M82 Bass Envelope by Uriah Duffy - YouTube

Using the new MXR 288 Bass Octave Deluxe - YouTube

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by tedsalt

Forgive me for my lack of knowledge of envelope filters. Does anyone use a Moogerfooger MF101 for this? What are the pros / cons of using a MF101 compared to the xerograph, Groove Regulator, or Source Audio BEF?

They all sound VERY different. I won't get into it here just because I tend to ramble when it comes to filters but there's plenty of info to be had with a search or three. The MF-101 sounds great and can be used as a normal envelope filter but the bypass is awful. A lot of folks seem to use a true bypass looper with it.

[darius8]

Kwesi, that MXR M82 did sound pretty funky indeed. I was thinking Brothers Johnson when I was watching those youtubes, good stuff bro.