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Getting more pedals, what should be my first filter? (Xerograph)

M

MarkyDynaBass

Mar 19, 2009
79
1
Melbourne
#1
Got some cash coming in (yippee!) so gonna treat myself to some new pedals to add to my BBM, Small Stone, Small Clone & CEB-3.

Already decided to get an MXR bass octave deluxe. Considering an Overdrive but not necessary – used to have a Bad Monkey but never really got happy with the loss of bottom end. <edit> just started looking at the Samsamp BDDI/VT Deluxe!

Definitely will get a filter of some kind, I’m not a funky player generally and see that I’ll use it mostly for long sweeps in my Post Rock Instrumental outfit, so wondering what I should get.

Been looking at:
QTron
MXR M82
Iron Ether Xerograph (+ expression pedal?)
Source Audio Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter (not pro)
or even a Wah pedal.

From what I’ve listened too I really like the Xerograph but have some questions. Does it have to have an expression pedal attached to ‘activate’, and will this essentially make it a really good wah pedal? How does it work without an expression pedal, is it an Envelope Filter? Would I have to get the Deluxe model to have both, and can the envelope function be turned off and used just for tone shaping? The only issue with the Iron Ether is the price.

Of the rest…
Soundblox seems like a good start being cheap and flexible, although haven’t been blown away by the sound files I’ve heard, and can it do long sweeps?

M82, well regarded, quite affordable, but again hows it for long sweeping stuff?

QTron… probably off my list atm. I think one of the above 2 would probably be ok and cheaper too.

Wah pedal, good for sweeps I imagine, will have to be a LP wah as I used to have a BP wah which really did nothing much and was long ago sold.

On a side note, considering upgrading the Small Clone/Stone, any suggestions?
 
#2
The M82 is a great pedal, the Xerograph Deluxe is freaking amazing! It does not require an expression pedal. I believe the Xerograph is a Low Pass Filter with envelope controls (somebody correct me if I am wrong). The Xerograph can definately shape your tone as well; by turning sensitivity off and turning resonance down you can cop the ultimate dub tone for sure. In essence I guess the envelope is on but not triggering. The pedal is also great for synthy sounds, as well as being able to cover a lot of the same ground as a Mu-tron, Moog MF 101, and can do a lot of the M82 as well.
I can't really tell you much about the SA BEF, I did have their Multiwave Bass Distortion Pro. It had a lot of features but just did not sound right for me. Their product is good and gets a lot of love from some people. Personally I would consider the BEF Pro for my electronica project because of the ability to have midi clock control sweeps and it's ability to step sequence. In that situation the digital-ness would be fine. The non-Pro model does not seem like my cup of tea. So for my Garage/Punkish/Post rock band the Xero Deluxe wins, as well as for my electronica project.
 
#3
Since you rule out the SA BEF Pro, I'd recommend the 3Leaf Audio Proton, a MuTron iii clone. I haven't tried the SA BEF, just the Pro, and I absolutely love it. It does do long sweeps, and does some pretty crazy LFO, and an expression pedal maximizes it, though you would also get a free Hot Hand certificate with it, so you could use that.
 
#5
Be careful, the Xerograph Deluxe is freaking intense and will make you fall in love with it the second you jam your bass into it.

Actually that's not true..there is a SHORT figure-out-what-does-what phase, but after that, PURE LOVE. Very dynamic, expressive, and POWERFUL. I've noticed people (including the master wizard, Taylor Livingston) used the adjective "powerful" for the Xero. I don't play funk either (though I'd absolutely love to), but blast a fuzz into it, and some modulation after it (delay, 'verb, phaser), and instant synthy swelling goodness.
 
#10
MarkyDynaBass said:
Got some cash coming in (yippee!) so gonna treat myself to some new pedals to add to my BBM, Small Stone, Small Clone & CEB-3.

Already decided to get an MXR bass octave deluxe. Considering an Overdrive but not necessary – used to have a Bad Monkey but never really got happy with the loss of bottom end. <edit> just started looking at the Samsamp BDDI/VT Deluxe!

Definitely will get a filter of some kind, I’m not a funky player generally and see that I’ll use it mostly for long sweeps in my Post Rock Instrumental outfit, so wondering what I should get.

Been looking at:
QTron
MXR M82
Iron Ether Xerograph (+ expression pedal?)
Source Audio Soundblox Bass Envelope Filter (not pro)
or even a Wah pedal.

From what I’ve listened too I really like the Xerograph but have some questions. Does it have to have an expression pedal attached to ‘activate’, and will this essentially make it a really good wah pedal? How does it work without an expression pedal, is it an Envelope Filter? Would I have to get the Deluxe model to have both, and can the envelope function be turned off and used just for tone shaping? The only issue with the Iron Ether is the price.

Of the rest…
Soundblox seems like a good start being cheap and flexible, although haven’t been blown away by the sound files I’ve heard, and can it do long sweeps?

M82, well regarded, quite affordable, but again hows it for long sweeping stuff?

QTron… probably off my list atm. I think one of the above 2 would probably be ok and cheaper too.

Wah pedal, good for sweeps I imagine, will have to be a LP wah as I used to have a BP wah which really did nothing much and was long ago sold.

On a side note, considering upgrading the Small Clone/Stone, any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Can't recommend the SansAmp enough ! I've recently reverted back to factory settings and the fat tube is amazing, IMO.

Filter ? Someone suggested a Proton. That or the Groove Regulator, one of those is the next step for me.

Chorus upgrade: Analogman with deep switch is a great bass chorus by all accounts and so is the big MXR yellow chorus. Also, the Boss CEB-3 does a decent job, but is not as warm.

Phaser upgrade: might want to give the MXR 90 a shot. The block logo is frequently mentionned.
 

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