A good all around inexpensive envelope filter

[moon-bass]

There are tons of options, and like @JonathanPDX says, they are very particular to individual playing style and taste. I recently did a shootout of ef's, and posted a bunch of sound samples - this might help - Envelope filter/follower addict support group

 

[Pep]

Electro-Harmonix BassBalls. Been around forever. Used to have one and regretted selling it so I bought another one two weeks ago from Sweetwater.

 

[Hasty]

What kind of top 40 covers are you doing?

I went around and around on this and ended up with a Future Impact for 80s tunes. It either nails or gets super close to the synth sounds from that era.

As for new envelope filter pedals, I use a super cheap DOD Fx25b or a not-so-cheap Maxon filter.

A compressor after the DOD is key to tame the massive low sweep that wants to shred your speakers.
It gets a classic quack though and the blend helps keep the bass from getting totally lost in the mix.

An added plus is the super cool dub sound from the DOD when the sensitivity is set to never open.

I had an FX25-B and spent so much time just trying to dial it in on my passive bass. Never really sounded good to me so I sold it. Actually it sounded pretty decent, but it was just so hard to get the filter to open up.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I’d suggest a used Aguilar Filter Twin. I tried a handful of great filters, including the MXR, and this was by far my favorite. Most pedals were too quacky, stood out way too much in a mix, and/or were too finicky. But the filter twin just always sounds good no matter your settings or the bass you use. It doesn’t spike your volume but it also doesn’t get lost in a mix.

that demo made the Supa Funk seem the most interesting to me. its the only one that has a direction switch too, seems like. (although usually you gotta completely reconfigure the pedal when you switch directions (from bwa to baw) )

The Aguilar Filter Twin doesn’t only give you the option to switch the direction from up to down, it allows you to blend between them to any degree with a blend knob. Turn the knob all the way to the right and it’s an up sweep, turn it all the way to the left and it’s down, or set it to any varying degree in between for some really useful results.

 

[FilterFunk]

The Tone Factor Analogue 442 is a great choice if you can find one.

I really like the Mojo Hand Analogue Filter 443.

As for new envelope filter pedals, I use a super cheap DOD Fx25b or a not-so-cheap Maxon filter.

A compressor after the DOD is key to tame the massive low sweep that wants to shred your speakers.
It gets a classic quack though and the blend helps keep the bass from getting totally lost in the mix.

An added plus is the super cool dub sound from the DOD when the sensitivity is set to never open.

IME, the two-knob DOD FX25 has that "massive low sweep" issue more than the FX25B.

I haven't tried the EHX Nano Q-Tron or the MXR BEF, but both sound like solid choices.

A used EBS BassIQ v1 might be the ticket. I've actually tried one, and it's very easy to dial in good funky tones, especially in Hi-Q mode, and it has a Down sweep option. A quick Reverb search shows the prices all over the place, but BassIQs can be found for around $100-$110.

 

[DWBass]

$29 on Amazon. I bought one. Works good. It's tiny too.

 

[newfuture]

I have the Amazon flamma envelope follower and it's great for sporadic use and how little it costs.
I actually run a comp before it, which gives a nice slow - down to the release.
Bonus points for being the smallest pedal on my board

Edit- yep, the one above. posted this before I saw that.

 

[FilterFunk]

$29 on Amazon. I bought one. Works good. It's tiny too.

There are a bunch of inexpensive mini pedals like this out there that will do the basic envelope filter "quack" thing; the OP would have to decide whether or not the "quack" they provide is sufficient.

 

[sloppy_phil]

I had the MXR for 10 years, and it's pretty hard to beat in terms of features-to-price point. I eventually ended up going for something more specific to my current needs/wants, but that MXR was solid as a rock, and handled lots of years as a hard gigging musician around the city. It stood up to everything! Was it the perfect sound? Not exactly, but it was good at covering a wide variety of music/tones, and as others have said, it never got lost in a mix; always had plenty of booty if you needed it.

 

[HolmeBass]

I use the MXR, but I like a pronounced, juicy, resonant filter. The Filter Twin was too mellow for my tastes.

 

[Cazman]

I picked one up when I had an emergency surgery to a jack on my Broughton filter. Liked it enough to throw on my mini board.
$29 on Amazon. I bought one. Works good. It's tiny too.

 

[salmon256]

I like MXR - even then too nearly all brands but MXR especially you can find them used or make a deal for a used one for 20 to 50 dollars less - it is up to you but it just want something to have, I go that route.

If you really want new Harley Benton might work, Joyo and those off brand pedals, I forgot the name but an amazon brand with their copy of a Darkglass was very respected on here but a lot of debates as well...

 

[vvvmmm]

Live, I have the Aguilar on my board.

I have the Solid Gold and the Keeley (the Neutrino is great on bass or guitar) also on other boards.

I have a modified Bass Balls that's also very cool.

My fave for recording is the old, huge Source Audio BEF.

I have a cuppla different DOD/Digitechs that are good, but as I use 'em more niche - I like the Laswell thing with those.

I have the Lovepedal Rubber Chicken on my guitar board - altho' it's more like a auto-wah.

(I have a cuppla different auto-wahs and that's my fave.)

I have to admit that I try to avoid the quack.

 

[DWBass]

There are a bunch of inexpensive mini pedals like this out there that will do the basic envelope filter "quack" thing; the OP would have to decide whether or not the "quack" they provide is sufficient.

I don't play anything that needs a pronounced Q effect. I just wanted something that would give a bit of Q and this works good for me. Just enough Q to make it sound funky.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I have a MXR that works fine for my basic needs

i am very happy with my MXR bass envelope filter. Easy to use, lots of usable sounds, sounds good onstage, very road-worthy

 

[sunbeast]

I'd recommend the EHX Nano Q-Tron here for a no frills cheap plug and play mu-tron sounding envelope filter. Super easy to dial in using LP mode and the volume control can ensure no boost to your volume when you engage it. For a slightly higher budget, then I'd suggest the MXR BEF. That's a bandpass envelope filter but the ability to blend in your clean signal is a great feature, and, whilst it is up sweep only too like the Q-Tron, there's a bit more variety to the range of sounds you can get out of the MXR.

I drives me crazy that the nano Q-tron has a volume control while my big EHX Enigma Q-tron has no volume control!

 

[LowWay]

I know it doesn’t fit your parameters, but of all the filters I have and have had, I’d get an Artifakt.

 

[ClassicJazz]

Not so cheap, but hands down the MXR M82 Bass Envelope Filter Pedal. I first heard it on a rig rundown video with Will Lee and he has one on his pedalboard. Blew me away how great it sounded! Went and ordered one the next day. I actually have mine setup like Will's. Luckily they zoomed in on it and I was able to see how he had it set.

 

[winston]

...or Bill Lazwell and his customized DOD. Another modern good'n is Walrus Audio Kangra.
But come to think of it, in a function band the function of the MXR quack might function better

I'm a Laswell fiend and know he's used various DODs (I'm familiar with both the FX25 and the B) but didn't hear about the customization, do you have any details?

 

[Chop11777]

I like MXR - even then too nearly all brands but MXR especially you can find them used or make a deal for a used one for 20 to 50 dollars less - it is up to you but it just want something to have, I go that route.

If you really want new Harley Benton might work, Joyo and those off brand pedals, I forgot the name but an amazon brand with their copy of a Darkglass was very respected on here but a lot of debates as well...

Not to hijack the thread
But think back ... What is the Amazon brand of the dark glass !!!! I need to know is it a joyo??