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envelope addicted

nostatic

nostatic

Jun 18, 2004
13,870
16,971
central coast
nostatic.com
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: FEA Labs
#1
*sigh*. Not too long ago I was doing mostly jazz gigs and just plugged my bass directly into the amp. Now this funk gig...

I've become envelope addicted! At first I figured, "oh, I'll just get a nice auto wah and call it good." Found an AF-9. All set, right? Well, except that I played a Mail Bomb and liked the weirder tones I could get. So I add that. All set, right? Well, I really like a more synthy sound sometimes, so maybe add a Micro Bass Synth. Oh, and maybe I should check out the Groove Regulator. And the Robotalk. And....

Argghh....make it stop!
 
#5
nostatic said:
Maybe I should ditch the envelope filters and just get a different compressor. That'll be an easy choice.

:hiding:
Click to expand...

Oh yeah ? Check out Bongo's page of compressor reviews and then come back here and tell us without laughing that it'll be an easier choice ;)

I'm also getting into the enveloppe filter la-la land. Just bought a DOD FX25B off e-bay and already trying to get my hands on an EBS BassIQ. I already have a Bassballs that is currently being modded, and I also gave a Robotalk a ride, and I'm gassing for the new MXR Bass Enveloppe and maybe if I really like the DOD I'll go really wild and get an old 2-knob FX25 and get it modded and add a limiter after it in my chain...and then I'll call my shrink. Again.

I'm one sick (and happy) bass player...
 
#9
kesslari said:
Another fretless player addicted to Envelopes for his funk band. Nostatic, I feel your pain.
I should warn you, many filters do not track unlined fretless bass well. :D :D :D
Click to expand...

Well, my brain doesn't track lined fretless well, so we have a bit of a Mexican standoff. Luckily I was born in San Diego and live in LA so I'm used to those. The solution usually involves tequila...

On a semi-related note, a Rob Allen fretless really kills for certain funk tunes. That big fat tone works well with horns.
 
#10
Nice. Tequila solves many deep philosophical problems, and gear mismatches.
I use a Gary Willis fretless in my funk band, and it also, most definitely, kills.
Kills 'em so dead their booties keep twitchin, all night long. :D
 
#11
Yeah, filters in general are some of the most fun effects ever. I think at most I had 4 at one time, but settled with my MailBomb, and a Boss Bass synth. Had to have room for flanger, chorus, delay, octave, eq, comp, and at least a couple of dirt boxes, oh, and a tuner of course. It'd be easy to end up with a board worth more than my amps and cabs- must limit myself to whatever will fit on a PT-1. So far, so good.
 
#14
I just got a decent filter, and I love it. But my band mates all make fun of it.

When I think about it, I can't really think of anyone using an env filter in a serious context, besides Bootsie.

It seems like the toy that everyone wants but no one ever plays with. Do people out there actually play music so cheesy that this effect is ok in every song? :D
 
#15
megadan said:
I just got a decent filter, and I love it. But my band mates all make fun of it.

When I think about it, I can't really think of anyone using an env filter in a serious context, besides Bootsie.

It seems like the toy that everyone wants but no one ever plays with. Do people out there actually play music so cheesy that this effect is ok in every song? :D
Click to expand...

Bite your tongue, sir! ;)

Envelope filter is a very versatile and varied effect. I imagine that your filter doesn't jive with your music the way you are using it, but I'd wager that if you found the right filter, you could make it work a lot.

I don't use any of my effects for every song (except my M80, but when you're using it for every song, doesn't it pretty much become a preamp?).

EDIT::: I'm hearing some filter potential on 'Action Doer,' but you admittedly aren't in a filter demanding gig. Sounds good, though.
 
#18
megadan said:
I just got a decent filter, and I love it. But my band mates all make fun of it.

When I think about it, I can't really think of anyone using an env filter in a serious context, besides Bootsie.

It seems like the toy that everyone wants but no one ever plays with. Do people out there actually play music so cheesy that this effect is ok in every song? :D
Click to expand...

Every song? If I'm using an effect on every song then it isn't really an effect :D

I'm playing in a funk/acid jazz thing right now and on certain songs a filter just sounds right. Plus, I rarely use it for the whole song. I'll kick it on for a breakdown or during a bridge for a tone change.

If your bandmates made fun of it, either you're not using it right or you need better bandmates :p

As for a serious context, is Headhunter "serious"? I've played that song with a straight bass tone, but it frankly doesn't really swing the same without the grease...
 
#19
XXL said:
Hey Cliff did you ever get that EP-2? If so, what do you think of it.

I have my fair share of filters:

Groove Regulator
Micro Q-tron
Bassballs
EP-2
105Q
Click to expand...

Oh dude I love it, I'm blown away by it!

My list:
Barge Grinder
Chunk 00funk
Subdecay Prometheus
Guyatone BR2
Pigtronix EP-2
EHX Enigma
EHX BMS
EHX Qtron+
Wilson Bass wah

Best effect EVER.
 

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