Filters again...

Why are those your options? Is it that a local store just has those three, or you read reviews of those three and decided they had the best reviews, or what?

FWIW, I think the Ibanez AF9 spanks all three of those, and I also like the EBS BassIQ.

Of the three you list, the Emma looks the coolest but has kind of a weak sound IMO. The Moog and the Mutron are good, but too large on the pedalboard, and both of them are resting on the legacy of better-built and better-sounding products made in the 70s.

 

I bought the Emma for playing Guitar, then when I switched to bass -- it wasn't strong enough for me... I wanted the FUNK, and it didn't have it. So, I bought a really expensive Chunk Systems '00' Funk... it has the FUNK.

Never used it at the gigs, never could find a spot to turn it on.... and now, back to the Emma. It works better for me... smoother & more musical. The Chunk is a beast to control, but once you get it -- it will do anything at any volume.

 

Anybody have any experience/recommendations for the Maxon AF-9, since the Ibanez is no longer made?

 

I own the following...

EBS BassIQ
Maxon AF-9
Robotalk (not the newer bass version)
Maestro Filter/Sample & Hold (same as Robotalk)
Boss SYB-3
Akai Deep Impact
Lovetone Meatball
DOD FX25B
Studio Electronics ModMax Envelope Phaser
Electro Harmonix Bass Micro-Synth
Electro Harmonix PolyPhase

...and, they are all totally cool in their own right.

But, the one I choose to gig with is the EBS BassIQ, with the internal trimmer set 100% wet. It's simple and easy to dial in the sounds I need, it sounds great... real nice, wet, funky sound, feel, it's small, compact and it's built like a friggin' brick.

Others I'd still like to check out include the Emma Discombob., MXR M-188, and the Korg G5.

~ Charlie

 

The Moogerfooger wins in terms of modularity ;P

 

Yeah,

people have said that the EMMA went off the market for a short time while the changed it a little bit, some people who have used them say they are a bit weak in the bottom end but my new one is fat IMO...

The Maxon/Ibanez AF9 is watery and cool.

i didn't like the Mutron III+ reissue...

the EBS bassIQ is cool but a little less transparent...

my 2 cents...

also the moogerfooger is rad but, doesn't have a down mode for the filter, and also has one of the worst bypasses of any effect, you'll wanna use a loooper.

 

i want a filter that has almost no sweep to it at all...kinda like a keyboard sound, ya know?

where could i find such a thing?

 

do you mean something like this? probably not but what the hey!

"QZ1 CRYBABY® Q ZONE
Many guitarists use our Crybaby pedals in stationary positions, to get a quickly selectable nasal, vocal or flange-like tone. The Q Zone stomp box performs this job even better than a pedal, because it's less susceptible to accidental bumps. Features the same tone controls as the 95Q pedal, but with "stay-put" knobs to keep your settings stable.

Features: Footswitch toggles the effect from on to bypass (red LED indicates on). Adjustable volume knob controls output gain with boost up to +18 dB. Adjustable "Q" knob modulates frequency breadth of effect. Peak knob manually selects the frequency center of the effect, serving the same function as the wah foot pedal."

 

Chunk Systems Agent 00Funk Mark II has a good rep, it's currently topping my envelope filter list, pity I'd have to order it untried but chunk's UK distribution is pathetic.

 

go with maxon af-9 its got to be the closest to the mutron, it sounds amazing, i treid all the others, not tha agent funk but the rest and the af-9 is how i imagined the effect to sound, i dont know what the Q tron is all about, its got the same filter sound as the bassballs, you can't get that thick, rich sound wah that the mutron and af9 give you. go with the Maxon you wont be funked off with it!

 

I've heard that the Maxon is good for both guitar and bass because there is a range switch for high/low, as well as a switch for highpass, lowpass, and bandpass. Another plus for the Maxon AF-9 is true bypass. I'm sure if the Emma was true bypass they'd list that in the specs. I've heard reports of the Emma being a bit weak sounding. Can anyone back this up, and can anyone give a direct comparison of the Emma and the Maxon? These two are on the top of my list, but I'm leaning more toward the Maxon because of the true bypass and smaller footprint. Thanks for any insight anyone can give.

 

What's the consensus on the MXR 188 Auto Q? I'm about to order one I think.

 

I love the pigtronix ep-1. It's a killer expressive pedal, and has a great phaser in it to boot.

 

Personally I'd go for the Maxon. One trick I've found with it is that if you are using a passive bass, try putting a gain booster/preamp/active EQ type pedal in front of the AF9, and you'll get some super fat funky boom.