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changing direction--to synth

scottfeldstein

Roots and fifths and a little extra.
Jun 20, 2011
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4,412
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San Marcos, California
endlessblue.bandcamp.com
For months my plan has been to get the MXR envelope filter and then the MXR octaver. I like them both separately and I like the way they get kind of synthy when used in combination

MXR Bass Envelope Filter Pedal - YouTube

However, I'm starting to reconsider the whole strategy.

It seems likely that in my current band, the thing I need most is that synthy effect that is kind of a "bonus afterthought" with these two pedals. Why not just get a synth pedal?

Should I sell my beautiful EV and forget about getting the octaver and instead get me..., I dunno.. the

The Boss SYB-5?
SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer [BOSS Sound Check] - YouTube

God help me, even the Behringer sounds pretty cool
Behringer RSM guitar FX pedals review - BSY600 Bass Synthesizer - YouTube
 
Hm. The Ibanez doesn't sound good to me (finding stuff on youtube and listening with good headphones). I've seen the Digitech Bass Synth Wah before and it's pretty cool. But there's only one demo vid that intrigues me--some kid playing Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. Not sure I want to buy a pedal based on that alone. THe Markbass seems cool, but not all that much cooler than the Boss. And for a lot more money and a lot more board space. I want a pedal-sized pedal, not the dashboard of the space shuttle. And I want to be able to grab on the cheap, subsidizing it with the sale of my venerable MXR EV. (If I decide to do this.)

Other thoughts?
 
EHXmov - YouTube

I see one at GC for $150 used and I guess that's ok.

That's what I was going to ask before you modified your post. It's almost $300 new. BTW, that's the synth pedal I plan to buy when the time comes. The only extra thing I'd like it to have is preset storing, but only digital units can do that.
 
You should keep the BEF, get the BOD, the Micro Synth(or SYB-5 etc) and a gated fuzz. I have the Boss SYB-5 and I like it but it sounds completely different than my OC-2 into a filter or fuzz then filter. Plus there may be times when you want to just use an octave effect, envelope or fuzz independently.
 
The answer to your question hinges on what type of synth sound you're going for. The Micro Synth and the fuzz+filter combos are more of a 70's moog-ish stevie wonder synth sound, whereas the Boss/Behringer synths make more of a modern pop/techno synth sound. They're VERY different tones from each other. I go more for the latter sound, and I actually found that I liked the Behringer more than the Boss. Although I do also have a Micro Synth, for when I need those huge Moogy sweeps.
 
The Micro Synth and the fuzz+filter combos are more of a 70's moog-ish stevie wonder synth sound.

I was looking for a "stevie" synth sound and saw the recommendations for octab => fuzz => synth. I got an MXR for the octave and run it through my Stomp Under Foot Civil War and 3Leaf GR2. It really does a pretty good job, and I only had to add one pedal to the board. :cool:

I tried the Micro Synth and it was great, but definitely takes up too much pedalboard real estate.
 
Prunes and Custard into envelope, oh yeah, that's a synth tone I like. Or Octave into the both. Same with plain old mild distortion in place of P & C but less fruity.

I tried SYB-5, too much of too much, everything seemed harsh to me so I sold it. I'm going to try SYB-3 at some stage as I hear it's analog.
 
The answer to your question hinges on what type of synth sound you're going for. The Micro Synth and the fuzz+filter combos are more of a 70's moog-ish stevie wonder synth sound, whereas the Boss/Behringer synths make more of a modern pop/techno synth sound. They're VERY different tones from each other. I go more for the latter sound, and I actually found that I liked the Behringer more than the Boss. Although I do also have a Micro Synth, for when I need those huge Moogy sweeps.

I'm also more toward that pop/techno sound.

One option that I might do is.. not sell anything and just buy the Behringer out of pocket, see how these new sounds sit with me and the group I'm in. Then if I like it--and I'm wanting more than the Behringer can give--I can sell it and the EV and go Boss.