• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Help Me Find an Envelope Filter

DavePlaysBass

DavePlaysBass

Mar 31, 2004
2,181
108
MI
#1
Hello,

Last week I was listening to Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik. Next thing I know I google on Flea and envelope and end up impulse buying a DOD FX25B. It sucks and is going back to MF. I did tweak the volumes enough to find a useful sound at last night's jam session for one number. It was da bomb, and I am hooked.

I have read just about every envelope thread and I am having a hard time making up my mind which one to get. I need to buy things before trying them unless I want to drive a few hours.

I am looking for an envelope that can be used live easily. I would like to be able to turn it on and off without a lot of volume change. I am primarily a finger style player but will do some slap. I mention this because I need it to be sensititve to finger style play. At this point I am using a G&L Climax which has hot active pickups. Also, I would like to maintain a respectable level of bass. The DOD pedal is not usable live unless you set up and use it for the whole song. I also have a hard time controlling the sub octave thing which could rip up some speakers at high volume.

I am leaning toward the MXR-188 Bass Auto Q. After reading the Dunlop website and manual on it, I am still not sure it is a envelope filter. But the good people on this forum assure me it is. For $120 from MF with a 45 day return policy, it seems like a logical choice. I would love to hear from anyone using this pedal live as an envelope?

I did get to play an Ibanez AF9 for about 2 minutes. The AH guitar player would not let me use it any longer because it is falling apart. In high pass filter mode it was very anemic. In bass filter mode it had a thick almost synth like feel. I have read that it drops volume live which is not something I want. I see the Maxon AF9 is an exact reissue with the addition of a true bypass. Cost a bit though.

The Bass IQ may be a logical choice. I am intimidated by the price and what many say is not so funky pedal. Plus I do not see any stores that will let me buy and try like MF. Bass Northwest has them for $200 plus shipping which seems to be the going rate. Used the approach $150 so I would just buy a new one with warranty for the $50.

I have also wondered if I should just buy a Dunlop 105Q wah pedal. I have an old Crybaby that drops a lot of bass but the 105Q seems to address that issue. But I am lazy and would prefer to have something I do not have to work with the foot. But on the other hand the foot equals control...

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave
 
#2
I too was looking into the BassIQ until recently. Now im set on a digitech bass synth wah. Ive heard it used in a live setting (the mars volta, juan alderete) and i like the way it sounds. A lot funkier than the bassiq, and cheaper.
 
#3
DavePlaysBass said:
I am leaning toward the MXR-188 Bass Auto Q. After reading the Dunlop website and manual on it, I am still not sure it is a envelope filter. But the good people on this forum assure me it is. For $120 from MF with a 45 day return policy, it seems like a logical choice. I would love to hear from anyone using this pedal live as an envelope?
Click to expand...

IMO, look no further. Seems to be exactly what you want. Good Env. Filter, has a great auto-wah, no loss of bass, and of course a volume knob so you math levels. It's the best filter out for that kind of money.
 
#4
Higgie said:
IMO, look no further. Seems to be exactly what you want. Good Env. Filter, has a great auto-wah, no loss of bass, and of course a volume knob so you math levels. It's the best filter out for that kind of money.
Click to expand...

All right. All right. I did it. MXR on the way from MF :hyper: Second impulse buy of the week. Hope to have it by the four day week end. If this does not fit the bill :confused:, I will probably go for the 105Q wah pedal next.

Thanks,

Dave
 
#6
Figjam said:
What was your first impulse buy?
Click to expand...

DOD FX25B. But it's going back. Probably about $10 in postage loss both ways.

I really don't have any cash I should be spending with XMas and two kids birthdays. But for $40, The FX25B seemed like a good buy. That's the GAS trap. Now I am up to $120 :hmm:

Dave
 
#7
Figjam said:
I too was looking into the BassIQ until recently. Now im set on a digitech bass synth wah. Ive heard it used in a live setting (the mars volta, juan alderete) and i like the way it sounds. A lot funkier than the bassiq, and cheaper.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info on the Digitech. I tried one a while back and could not find a great sound. Probably because I was playing with all 7 options rather than focusing on the pure envelope. That and I have a bias against digital effects (sent back the Boss GT-6B). Also, the Digitech site does not have any sound samples of the straight envelope either. Seems odd.

But, the Digitech may be OK.

Dave
 
#11
seaKamp said:
Eat 1 meal a day for a month and buy a Lovetone Meatball. You won't regret it... even if your body hates you for a little while.
Click to expand...

He has more important things:

DavePlaysBass said:
I really don't have any cash I should be spending with XMas and two kids birthdays. But for $40, The FX25B seemed like a good buy. That's the GAS trap. Now I am up to $120
Click to expand...
 
#12
If you'd like to hear the Digitech Bass Synth's envelope in action, here's a link to a song my jazz band recorded this past summer.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=374067&songID=2864024

I used to hate this thing, thinking it sucked cuz most of the settings were useless to me. I managed to find a couple of great settings that just rocked. Live, that tone is even better. I like to run it on setting 2, which is Envelope + Octave Down, just to give the low end a little more oomph.

The Digitech is a great filter, if you can get over the settings you most likely WON'T use.
 
#13
syciprider said:
He has more important things:
Click to expand...

I'd still do the whole starving thing for a Meatball, but I'm an idiot. Sorry, I should read a little more before I posted my stupid comment. On that budget... I think Dave is right on with the MXR-188, I've never tried one but from what I've heardand read... I don't think you could go wrong there. Looks like a great pedal, the clip on the website is very nice. That would be the pedal I'd go for in that price range without hearing it myself. Let us know what you think of it!
 
#15
Mr_Dave said:
I've just ordered a EMMA Discombobulator. i'm hoping this will be my fat sounding, reliable, gig friendly beast!

also, a more expenisive option i've just recently become interested in is the pigtronix EP-1... sure can do some weird stuff with that thing!
Click to expand...

I'll give a review of the EP-1 when I get it... Should be in by today or tomorrow. I got mine for $200 shipped to me with the expression pedal. I thought that was a prety good deal.
 
#18
FYI - They can do some mods to the EP-1 that take that pedal over the top including:

- Expression pedal jack for Resonance - sometimes you'll have the pedal dialed in nicely for EF but when you switch to LFO [or vice-versa] the resonance needs adjusting - the pedal lets you do this without having to bend down and manually adjust the dials.

- Expression pedal jack for Sweep control - makes it work like a normal wah pedal in addition to auto-wah and phaser.

- "Marv" switch - this is my fave cause it runs both the phase and wah circuits simultaneously giving you a nice phase but still responding the the auto-wah attack.
 
#19
Received the MXR-188 Bass Auto Q today. After messing around with it for a while I would say it is not a true envelope filter. It is not attack sensitive. But it does have some nice funky sounds. The range adjustment can give it a mid kinda of wah with a ton of bottom or it can get into the more traditional ultra treble range with minimal bottom end loss. All the sounds are usable. With the range dialed low, the E slapped with a nice full funky tone.

I am not sure I like the whole shimmer thing. Maybe in small doses but it can be dialed out with the blend. The rate adjustment on the wah gives you a range of different sounds.

Even though the pedal does not do exactly what I was looking for, I really like the bottom end that all of the settings maintain. The volume setting is very handy as well. It is pretty wet and will help with the funk. I am not sure it is the holy grail but for the money I am pleased (I think). I have 45 days to play.

My 11 year old daughter thought it sounded cool.

Dave
 
#20
Played with a drummer on Thur. Jammed with the boys on Fri. I was using my Sadowsky RV5 favoring the bridge pup. I received compliments all around from a pretty particular bunch.

I like the range set low (about 9 o'clock). This keeps the bass sounding like a bass and is a low mid throaty sort of thing. I like the shimmer effect with the rate set low (9 o' clock). Set the Q high and the blend is either 50/50 or all the way to the shimmer (5 oclock). Decay was in the middle I believe. And the volume adjust is icing on the cake.

If you are looking for a useful effect to play in the pocket with a band, this will do it. I don't think I have enjoyed hanging on a single string as much as I have with this effect.

Dave
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back