Envelope filter

Depends on what type of filter sound you want and what you consider a reasonable price.

 

EHX Bassballs
EHX Micro Q-tron

 

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).

 

i use the el cheapo micro q tron from ehx

 

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.

 

If you're willing to go a little over your budget, look into an EBS Bass IQ.

 

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.

 

Ashdown has one for about $40 AIRC

 

ehx bassballs
ehx qtron


get em both, used and you'll be happy.

 

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 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.

 

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.

 

id hop on that offer, the dod sounds very nice. not very mutron-ish, but all the while just as funky.

 

I agree. I loved my Q-Tron despite the huge footprint, the only pedal that displaced it was my...

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.