Your thoughts on the Guyatone BR-2

beyondthe48 · #1 01-02-2009, 08:32 PM

searches and HC didnt yield much.

why do you like it?

why'd you ditch it?

can any one compare it to the XO Qtron+ ?

THANKS!

Jared Lash · #2 01-02-2009, 09:01 PM

I didn't like it. I don't know much about pedal design & principles and tone is very difficult to describe in words, but here goes:

It has a very thick sound before reaching the threshold and a very "pushing" sound once you do. The sweep seems to stay in the low frequencies as well. I'd call it "quacky" but it never gets to the high frequencies like say the Q-Tron (which is the epitome of quacky to me) does.

That doesn't make it a bad pedal, just not useful for my purposes. If someone said they wanted a funky filter, I wouldn't recommend it. But a lot of tool fans use it because Justin Chancellor puts it after his dirt and the things that I don't like about it make it ideal for getting a deep, wailing distortion tone.

Hope that helps.

Chronicle · #3 01-02-2009, 09:01 PM

Check my Chronicles of Effect Pedals link.

In short, if you understand how to use it right, it's pretty B.A.

excane · #4 01-02-2009, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I didn't like it. I don't know much about pedal design & principles and tone is very difficult to describe in words, but here goes:

It has a very thick sound before reaching the threshold and a very "pushing" sound once you do. The sweep seems to stay in the low frequencies as well. I'd call it "quacky" but it never gets to the high frequencies like say the Q-Tron (which is the epitome of quacky to me) does.

That doesn't make it a bad pedal, just not useful for my purposes. If someone said they wanted a funky filter, I wouldn't recommend it. But a lot of tool fans use it because Justin Chancellor puts it after his dirt and the things that I don't like about it make it ideal for getting a deep, wailing distortion tone.

Hope that helps.

+1
That's a great description based on the one time I tried one years back.

beyondthe48 · #5 01-02-2009, 09:10 PM

[quote=Chronicle;6757224]Check my Chronicles of Effect Pedals link.

cool thread!

Chronicle · #6 01-02-2009, 09:19 PM

Thanks. It's definitely a cool pedal...you just need to learn how to tame that volume boost it has. Most noticeable at higher volumes.

rcubed · #7 01-02-2009, 09:34 PM

How's the WR-3 compare? I've been thinking about adding an auto wah to my board. I'm also looking into MXR's Bass Auto Q Wah.

Chronicle · #8 01-02-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

How's the WR-3 compare? I've been thinking about adding an auto wah to my board. I'm also looking into MXR's Bass Auto Q Wah.

No. The WR-3 totally sucks. No matter what anyone else says, DO NOT GET IT.

The MXR Bass Auto Q is nice.

Jared Lash · #9 01-02-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

How's the WR-3 compare? I've been thinking about adding an auto wah to my board. I'm also looking into MXR's Bass Auto Q Wah.

I've never tried the WR-3 but I always assumed that it was a guitar tuned version of the same circuit in the BR-2 with a clean blend which to me would give the impression of being thin and "peaky" on bass. But again, that's just a guess without ever actually having used it.

As for the Auto Q, the first question is whether you want an envelope filter or an autowah as they are different. An envelope filter opens based on your dynamics. If you play hard enough the filter opens. An autowah on the other hand is controlled by an LFO. So you set the rate and that, not your attack controls the opening of the filter. The MXR can actually do both, but I liked it much more as an autowah.

The BR-2 has a very distinct voicing, so if you dig it then go for it. But personally, I think in terms of funk playing, the Auto Q is miles better than the Guyatone.

Racermech · #10 01-02-2009, 09:49 PM

The other thing that I find with the BR-2 is that it takes a really sharp attack to get the envelope to trigger, no matter what the sensitivity is set to.

Hence, for me, it sounds rad with a pick...but can't get it to work its magic with my fingers...

(that's what she said...)

Chronicle · #11 01-02-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racermech

The other thing that I find with the BR-2 is that it takes a really sharp attack to get the envelope to trigger, no matter what the sensitivity is set to.

Hence, for me, it sounds rad with a pick...but can't get it to work its magic with my fingers...

(that's what she said...)

Yeah, with a pick, it's easier to get the envelope to go. But if you have the right bass, finger strength, and set the threshold right, you can do it

rcubed · #12 01-02-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

As for the Auto Q, the first question is whether you want an envelope filter or an autowah as they are different. An envelope filter opens based on your dynamics. If you play hard enough the filter opens. An autowah on the other hand is controlled by an LFO. So you set the rate and that, not your attack controls the opening of the filter. The MXR can actually do both, but I liked it much more as an autowah.

The answer is, I want both.

I've almost settled on the Prometheus for the envelope filter and I want an auto wah as well (in the future). Still need to a get a flanger and tremolo as well.

Chronicle · #13 01-02-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

The answer is, I want both.

I've almost settled on the Prometheus for the envelope filter and I want an auto wah as well (in the future). Still need to a get a flanger and tremolo as well.

Well if the Prometheus was a choice, i would suggest that over anything

rcubed · #14 01-02-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

Well if the Prometheus was a choice, i would suggest that over anything

Hard to say. I have a $50 Guitar Center gift card burning a hole in my pocket and I'm going to get a pedal with it. Since they don't carry the Prometheus, I'm thinking Guyatone's VT-X tube tremolo or the MXR Bass Auto Q Wah.

NorCal Dog · #15 01-02-2009, 10:09 PM

loved it,,, made a nice profit on it when i sold it

Chronicle · #16 01-03-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

Hard to say. I have a $50 Guitar Center gift card burning a hole in my pocket and I'm going to get a pedal with it. Since they don't carry the Prometheus, I'm thinking Guyatone's VT-X tube tremolo or the MXR Bass Auto Q Wah.

Test it out and decide for yourself :] That tremolo is nice though too.

rcubed · #17 01-03-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

Test it out and decide for yourself :] That tremolo is nice though too.

Can't. They don't carry either and will make me order them.

Chronicle · #18 01-03-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcubed

Can't. They don't carry either and will make me order them.

30 day return policy my friend