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Envelope filter
- Thread starter simmering_flow
- Start date
DOD FX-25
DOD FX-25B
Ibanez SB-7
Had & liked all of these, the FX-25B's my fave.
Had a Bassballs, didn't like it(not a bad pedal, just didn't *do it* for me).
DOD FX-25B
Ibanez SB-7
Had & liked all of these, the FX-25B's my fave.
Had a Bassballs, didn't like it(not a bad pedal, just didn't *do it* for me).
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,233
- 45,120
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Hard to argue with that...
There are a number of nice filters for sale in the TB classifieds. In fact, I've got a DoD FX25 up for sale there, myself...
- Jul 23, 2007
- 617
- 13
- Disclosures
- Endorsments: Aguilar, Hartke, DR strings, Analysis Plus "Oval" Cables
reasoable price...anything under $300 NZD, which is about $180 USD. What type of filter sounds are there? I'm not very knowledgable on the subject.
EHX BassBalls comes in under that, but it is a unique and VERY distinctive sound.
The DOD FX25 or FX25B is a cheap (tons of 'em on eBay where I got mine) nice sounding unit to get started with, but there is a volume drop (on mine, anyway) when it's kicked on and it's a bit of a one-trick pony soundwise. If you want to get an idea of what it sounds like,
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SHXBZCqeUp8
In this vid, he's using an FX25.
The DOD FX25 or FX25B is a cheap (tons of 'em on eBay where I got mine) nice sounding unit to get started with, but there is a volume drop (on mine, anyway) when it's kicked on and it's a bit of a one-trick pony soundwise. If you want to get an idea of what it sounds like,
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SHXBZCqeUp8
In this vid, he's using an FX25.
Ok, $180 gives you a pretty good ceiling to work with.
Here are the main questions I would ask:
What kind of music are you playing? Generally, people looking for envelope filters are planning on using them for funk, but not always. For spacy sounds, or rock sounds I'd recommend something different than I would for funk.
Also, do you want a thick or "wet" sounding filter, or do you want something a little more subtle where more of your bass tone comes through?
There are filters that are smoother and others that are "quackier" but you almost need to play a few before you can really say what you want.
There are a lot of pedals below your limit that I could suggest (even more if you are willing to buy used) but a little more info from you and I could give a more specific recommendation.
Here are the main questions I would ask:
What kind of music are you playing? Generally, people looking for envelope filters are planning on using them for funk, but not always. For spacy sounds, or rock sounds I'd recommend something different than I would for funk.
Also, do you want a thick or "wet" sounding filter, or do you want something a little more subtle where more of your bass tone comes through?
There are filters that are smoother and others that are "quackier" but you almost need to play a few before you can really say what you want.
There are a lot of pedals below your limit that I could suggest (even more if you are willing to buy used) but a little more info from you and I could give a more specific recommendation.
The Emma discumbobulator is my favorite envelope, when I bought mine the price new was $185. There has since been a price increase and every place seems to be selling them now for $225.
It is a unique and VERY organic sounding filter that really keeps your bass sounding like a bass. If you want an extreme, squelchy, filter sound, this is not the pedal.
It is a unique and VERY organic sounding filter that really keeps your bass sounding like a bass. If you want an extreme, squelchy, filter sound, this is not the pedal.
It so depends on the sound you want. I have the Ashdown Envelope, EHX Micro Q-Tron, EHX Q-Tron Plus and the EHX Bassballs Nano.
The Ashdown (do they still make this???) is a totally different sound than the EHX's and seems more subtle overall. It has in and output level controls so you don't get the volume increase when you switch between straight signal and effect on.
I like the sound of the Micro Q-tron better thant the Q-Tron plus overall. The three knob layout is simple and easier to work with than the knob layout on the Plus version. But I do like the effect loop on the plus. I run my Frantone fuzz thru it and get some weird @ss synthy sounds with it.
The bassballs is interesting but I rarely use it. I just can't see a practical use for it in my setup.
The Ashdown (do they still make this???) is a totally different sound than the EHX's and seems more subtle overall. It has in and output level controls so you don't get the volume increase when you switch between straight signal and effect on.
I like the sound of the Micro Q-tron better thant the Q-Tron plus overall. The three knob layout is simple and easier to work with than the knob layout on the Plus version. But I do like the effect loop on the plus. I run my Frantone fuzz thru it and get some weird @ss synthy sounds with it.
The bassballs is interesting but I rarely use it. I just can't see a practical use for it in my setup.
I think different people have different ideas about how an envelope filter should sound - it's quite a personal choice, you need to try a few.
I'd recommend buying used, so you can re-sell without losing money if you get a box you don't dig. Start with the Q-Tron.
As I said in a thread only yesterday I think, the Bassballs is a really neat effect and very unique, but it doesn't sound like what most people think of when they think "envelope filter". Give that a miss for now and try one in a store one day.
I'd recommend buying used, so you can re-sell without losing money if you get a box you don't dig. Start with the Q-Tron.
As I said in a thread only yesterday I think, the Bassballs is a really neat effect and very unique, but it doesn't sound like what most people think of when they think "envelope filter". Give that a miss for now and try one in a store one day.
Hard to argue with that...
There are a number of nice filters for sale in the TB classifieds. In fact, I've got a DoD FX25 up for sale there, myself...
id hop on that offer, the dod sounds very nice. not very mutron-ish, but all the while just as funky.
1 Start with the Q-Tron.
QUOTE]
+1
I started my filter quest with an Ebs IQ which didn't quack enough for my personal taste and so got a Q-Tron which I much prefered. Only reason I got rid of it was cos it was almost as big as my pedal board but it's a very decent, cheap filter and a good place to start.
(got a Meatwad now....it's the daddy!)
If I did have a decent envelope filter I'd use it to play mainly funk. I'm really into chilis so I'd like a filter which would make sounds similar to flea's. I'd probably be looking towards a 'quackier' filter which is wet? I'm not quite sure what wet means, but saying it sounds like something I'd want to play. I had a look at the DOD FX25B and it had good reviews on ultimateguitar. I'm quite interested in that one for now.
I agree. I loved my Q-Tron despite the huge footprint, the only pedal that displaced it was my...
(got a Meatwad now....it's the daddy!
Meatwad!
Flea very much strikes me as a "I'll use whatever I have lying around" type of player and has used quite a few different filters over the years from the original DOD FX25, EHX Bassballs, MXR Auto Q, Boss Autowah, Mutron III (with dying batteries no less), and a EHX Qtron. Currently he uses a Qtron (still one of the old school ones I believe) when playing live. I never compared them side by side, but I recently played one of the old Qtrons and liked it better than the new XO Qtron+.
I haven't tried it myself, but the consensus seems to be that the new FX25B isn't as good as the old FX25s. It does have a clean blend though, which is nice as the DOD can get a bit thin sounding. I have one of the old versions and it sounds phenomenal for slap and has an extreme sweep. But the drawback is that it can be hard to control both because of volume spikes and because it can be tough to trigger consistently.
Personally I think you should check out the new Qtron+ (again, not for me but a lot of people dig it) and the Maxon AF-9 which I think is fantastic. You'll probably have to find one used for it to be in your price range though.
