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A Powerful Envelope Filter or Auto-Wah

Kwesi

Kwesi

Sep 19, 2007
8,150
161
35
USA; Mitchellville, Maryland
#1
Both of my basses are Spectors and they run HOT!! With both an active preamp and active pickups the bass tends to over power some effects. I have a EHX Q-tron+ XO and I love it but sometimes I hear more bass than effect and I want the opposite. I have set it so that I get what I want but then I dislike the tone I get from my bass when I switch the effect off. Basically, I just haven't found the balance between bass tone and effect sound that I'm looking for. I'd like to keep this pedal but is there another with similar functions that would give the presence of the effect itself more "meat"?
 
#4
What's happening with your high-output bass is the amplitude of the signal is over the threshold of the envelope follower almost constantly. The solution is to turn down the level of your bass. With most filters (I can't say "all") you should be able to get unity gain between the effect and the bypassed signal level, even if you turn down the instrument's level. If you are having trouble getting unity gain, it may be because you're turning up the effect's output level in an attempt to get "more effect", but it doesn't work that way. (I don't know that you're doing that, but it sounds likely.)

If you do not want to turn down the output level on the bass, then your best option might be to put the filter in a separate loop pedal, and put a pad (volume pot or resistor) at the input of the loop, so that your bypassed signal is full-strength but the level going into the effect is reduced.

IMO the EMMA pedal is the last thing you want in this situation. It will make matters worse.
 
#7
If you can't get a fat funk filter sound out of a Q-Tron then your bass needs sorting out, because it will thrash the crap out of any other filter for sure.

There are lots of other extremely cool filters worth trying, but if you like the Q-Tron sound (and why shouldn't you, it's great) and functionality then leave the others alone or you're in for an expensive ride trying out the alternatives.
 
#9
Oh yeah the FX25 is one of the fattest filters ever made- but one of its weaknesses is identical to the Q-Tron: if your bass output is too hot or too low, it won't work. That's the one I use, and I put it in a loop with a level control.
 
#12
Bongo, you mentioned that the problem may be that I'm turning up the effects output level and your absolutely right, lol. I turn the gain on the Q-tron up but then the signal peaks before the filter actually has time to act on it. You also suggested (and if you didn't your post made me think of it, lol) sticking a volume pedal between my bass and the Q-tron which is probably the perfect solution. The problem with Spectors, as much as I love them, is that because of the 2 band EQ they have 2 volumes and if I alter one or both too much I lose the low-mid growl that I love so much. If I could turn down the overall output of the bass without having to touch the knobs I'd be set and a volume pedal is probably the way to do that.

I guess I'll have to shop around. I don't want to spend over $200 but I also want to be able to try the pedals out before I buy them. I'm really interested in that 3Leaf Groove Regulator. If anyone near DC has one they don't mind me getting at let me know :p. My local music store has a bunch of stuff so maybe I'll go there some time. Thanks for your input everyone.
 
#15
I just used my DOD FX25 at a gig for the first time today and the thing is SICK in a band context. Set the sensitivity so it just opens on your loudest notes so you get dubby smoove lows on quiet sections and vowel like madness on accents. And unlike many envelope filters, it doesn't sound cheesy at all :bassist:
 
#18
Wah pedal: Wilson 12-position Q-Wah. It's an awesome wah pedal that has a 12-position knob to select what frequencies to sweep.

Envelope Filter: Lovetone Meatball/Robot Factory Meatwad/Barge Concepts Grinder
The Lovetone is the original, and the Meatwad and Grinder are clones. These envelope filters have a control for gain, filter intensity, filter frequency, filter color, and depth. I have the Barge Concepts, and am quite happy with it. Going to be making a review of it once I get the hang of everything that it can do. :D

edit: Oh yeah, my bass is an EBMM Stingray 5'er so I can confidently say that it plays well with active basses.
 
#20
I have several... but I'd have to say that I'm too knew at filters to be able to express my opinion on that.

I have EH Qtron Micro, EH BassBalls, DOD FX25 and a MXR Bass Auto Q on the way.

all but two of my basses are active, but I'd say I just turn the volume down on my bass to get the right sound with the filter.
 

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