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Emma discombobulator V2 opinions?

Musicman1901

Musicman1901

Jun 1, 2012
2,190
2,183
Rochester, NY
#1
Anybody try this pedal out? I’m in the market for a new filter and I’m torn between this and the 3 leaf proton V3. The only real audio I can find of this is the video of Juan alderte showing it and he does not really do that much playing with it. Would love to hear thoughts from anybody that’s played one, especially how you feel it stacks up against other pedals. Here are some of the previous ones of tried and my gripes with them...

Dod fx25: volume problems. Cool sounds but cheap quality garbage.

MXR BEF: good at everything, great at nothing. Versatile, easy to use, the current filter on my board.

Robot Factory Meatwad: overwhelmed the crap out of me. I’m not a knob tweeker. I like to find settings I like and leave it.

Source audio manta: same as meatwad, just too much.

IE xerograph deluxe: absolutely loved the tone. Too finnicky for live shows. It’s the type of pedal where I would get the perfect tone and if I do so much as breath too hard near it everything would be changed. Tiny volume adjustments would affect it like crazy. An outstanding sounding pedal but very difficult to work with in a live scenario in my opinion.
 
#2
I love mine but like your issue with the Xero, the attack and sensitivity controls are very finicky. I have attack set near but not quite maximum, and sensitivity around 9 o'clock and I feel that the tiniest turn off the dial makes quite a big change, I don't gig with it but would be wary of it if I did.

One other thing, the Discumbobulator filter is quite noisy when fully open, so when set to down sweep you hear quite a lot of white noise being filtered which sounds like a kinda sci-fi laser gun effect. But on the up sweep it gives a nice squelch right at the top of the filter, a bit like the MXR. The Proton is much cleaner and more subtle.

That said, I think it sounds much better than the Proton which I moved on, yet have kept this!

My number one is the Fwonkbeta, I have a Mojo Hand Wonder Filter inbound to try next...
 
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#3
dannybuoy said:
I love mine but like your issue with the Xero, the attack and sensitivity controls are very finicky. I have attack set near but not quite maximum, and sensitivity around 9 o'clock and I feel that the tiniest turn off the dial makes quite a big change, I don't gig with it but would be wary of it if I did.

One other thing, the Discumbobulator filter is quite noisy when fully open, so when set to down sweep you hear quite a lot of white noise being filtered which sounds like a kinda sci-fi laser gun effect. But on the up sweep it gives a nice squelch right at the top of the filter, a bit like the MXR. The Proton is much cleaner and more subtle.

That said, I think it sounds much better than the Proton which I moved on, yet have kept this!

My number one is the Fwonkbeta, I have a Mojo Hand Wonder Filter inbound to try next...
Click to expand...
Thanks for such a detailed response. From what you describe...it turns me off a little I guess. I forgot about the fwonkbeta! I remember when it first came out and I never got around to getting one. Maybe I’ll look into that too. Also considering the Aguilar filter twin seeing as there’s one in the classifieds right now and I’ve heard good things about it.
 
#4
The Discombobulator is the best filter I've tried. I love mine. The V2 adds the boost which is entirely separate from the filter. I personally have little need for the boost but the V2 also adds cool graphics!!!

I don't experience the issues described above. The only one the resonates with me is, not that small movements of the controls make a big difference, but that I only find useable sounds in a small proportion of the dial, if that makes sense. But I'm the sort of guy who only needs or wants one great sound in a pedal rather than several average ones. And the settings are easily repeatable.

Hope that helps.
 
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#5
I’ve had the Disc v2 for quite awhile...NOT leaving my board. :)
F11D9753-60CA-4066-BC1E-497B827EF8C4.jpeg

I’d characterize the tone/quack capability as more of a “one trick pony”...but it’s exactly the filter tone I was after, and it’s pretty much a “set and forget” pedal for me.

I completely agree with the comment above regarding the extreme down-sweep white noise...I can only use the (fairly quiet) up-sweep mode.

The separate boost option, has actually been useful to drive more gain into my dirt pedals (it works independently from the filter...)

I don’t find the knobs too touchy on mine...but again, not a lot of significant tonal options...it is, what it is.

Btw, it plays very, very well with the 3Leaf Octabvre Mini...
 
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#7
kevk said:
I’ve had the Disc v2 for quite awhile...NOT leaving my board. :)View attachment 2898302
I’d characterize the tone/quack capability as more of a “one trick pony”...but it’s exactly the filter tone I was after, and it’s pretty much a “set and forget” pedal for me.

I completely agree with the comment above regarding the extreme down-sweep white noise...I can only use the (fairly quiet) up-sweep mode.

The separate boost option, has actually been useful to drive more gain into my dirt pedals (it works independently from the filter...)

I don’t find the knobs too touchy on mine...but again, not a lot of significant tonal options...it is, what it is.

Btw, it plays very, very well with the 3Leaf Octabvre Mini...
Click to expand...
One trick pony doesn’t really bother me if it does that trick well. I’m a set it and forget it person, not a knob fiddler. I just need it to be easy to use live
 
#9
Musicman1901 said:
Thanks for chiming I guys. I wish I could try one someplace. I posted this deciding between this and the proton and now it’s between this, the proton, the fwonkbeta, and the Aguilar filter twin
I’m weak.
Click to expand...
I personally wouldn’t waste money on the proton. I’d put the Josh Wah in the running. It’s a simple and great filter that has a lot of versatility without being unruly like the xerograph. It’s my personal favorite filter and I’ve tried most. I’ve not tried the v2 discombobulate though.
 
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#10
willsellout said:
I personally wouldn’t waste money on the proton. I’d put the Josh Wah in the running. It’s a simple and great filter that has a lot of versatility without being unruly like the xerograph. It’s my personal favorite filter and I’ve tried most. I’ve not tried the v2 discombobulate though.
Click to expand...
I’ll check out the josh wah now, haven’t heard of it but I’m always excited to hear new suggestions. Why do you say you wouldn’t waste money on the proton? Bad experience with it?
 
#11
kevk said:
Filters are so “personal”...tough to find the right fit! Since playing technique (and what’s in the rest of your signal chain) have tremendous influence on filter performance...imo, it becomes such a huge “rabbit hole” pedal category! ;)
Click to expand...
That’s exactly what the problem is haha. You so much as change your bass or a few minor settings and everything changes. It’s brutal haha.
 
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#12
Musicman1901 said:
I’ll check out the josh wah now, haven’t heard of it but I’m always excited to hear new suggestions. Why do you say you wouldn’t waste money on the proton? Bad experience with it?
Click to expand...
I have found the proton to be an extremely limited filter. It's quite tame. I just don't think its worth what they go for. The JW is cheaper and better in every way in my opinion.
 
#14
Musicman1901 said:
I just looked up a video of the josh wah and it indeed sounds pretty awesome. They’re sold out right now though.
Click to expand...
Oh bummer. I know he continuously works and adds stock. You could PM the builder @Azure Skies and ask what the lead time might be. I honestly think it's the perfect filter for most people, especially at that price point. Good luck either way though!
 
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#16
willsellout said:
Oh bummer. I know he continuously works and adds stock. You could PM the builder @Azure Skies and ask what the lead time might be. I honestly think it's the perfect filter for most people, especially at that price point. Good luck either way though!
Click to expand...
JoshWahs will be in stock in about a week!
 
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