HPF/LPF - how and where do they fit in?

[Jazzdogg]

I'm a big fan of the Broughton HPF/LPF pedal. I use mine last in my effects chain; I know some folks prefer to use separate pedals and place the HPF first and the LPF last but I wanted to keep my setup as simple as possible. I keep mine on all the time unless I'm experimenting.

When I'm running a clean signal, it's a pretty subtle effect. I can hear a difference if I know what to listen for, but it doesn't jump out and grab you. It's when I turn on the fuzz that the difference really shows up - with my LPF dialed in at somewhere in the 3-4kHz mark, a lot of the harsh overtones from my Big Muff just... go away. And with the HPF set to 40Hz, the subsonic mud goes away too, leaving only the creamy center. I have been meaning to make a video demonstrating this and just this morning it's come up twice, so I'll try to do that tonight and share it.

The passive tone control on my '73 Pass sounds to my ears like a variable low-pass filter.

I've been craving a two-pick-up bass with a master volume control, p'up blend, and variable high-pass and low pass filters. Simple controls that would enable me to solve problems with venue acoutsics from my bass.

Anyone know of a bass that's so equipped?

 

[Phaidrus]

I do ship world wide.

Yes, I've checked the Broughton website. Products look yummy! But the HPF (the one with the knob) plus shipping plus VAT and customs would cost almost $/€200. I'm sure it's worth it but I've spent way too much on gear recently. It's on my list though.

 

[Azure Skies]

Yes, I've checked the Broughton website. Products look yummy! But the HPF (the one with the knob) plus shipping plus VAT and customs would cost almost $/€200. I'm sure it's worth it but I've spent way too much on gear recently. It's on my list though.

Just wanted to clarify that I do ship to Europe. Assuming they do charge VAT (they don't always), the total would be 147.35 USD, or 144 euro, or 122 pound sterling.

 

[Skip Chucker]

I would not agree with this. Having the hpf up front will preclude your ability to tune for the room, because adjusting the hpf up front will affect the tracking of all the effects after it.

The first part of your statement about not being able to tune for the room has absolutely not been my experience. It's the first thing on a mixer channel after the gain for a reason.

The second part is absolutely true, and again, something that is desirable. You don't want your octaver or envelope filter or your compressor triggering off of the extreme low end. AND it still cleans up the low end and tunes for the room. You might want another HPF after an octave pedal if you're going low. But that's up to you and if you think you need it.

 

[Phaidrus]

Just wanted to clarify that I do ship to Europe. Assuming they do charge VAT (they don't always), the total would be 147.35 USD, or 144 euro, or 122 pound sterling.

Thanks. The Broughton HPF is highly regarded on TB and is on my list. And in fact I haven't found any other HPF pedal, aside kits, that is just that. Most times, it seems, HPF or LPF in pedal form come with other effect functions that I don't need.

 

[808P123]

This is a super easy build with well documented instructions. Its a great choice for a first time build, you will be playing with it in a couple hours

That is quite good. Lookin the price phenomenal good. But it's a kit. They have also mini LPF or HPF.
VONG-Filterung - Filter Bausatz, 33,00 €

 

[jnewmark]

TB member,Fdeck,also makes an HPF in pedal form. Some amps, like the Genz Benz Shuttle amps, have a built in one, although it is not adjustable. Over on the Amp Forum, there are many threads about the HPF.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

LPF can also be helpful to roll of those upper frequencies and mimic a bass cab roll off. Especially helpful for IEM gigs.

This has been a slight issue with me. The tone I get in my IEMs tends to be obnoxiously trebly. Not sure I'm ready to purchase a filter though because it's not that often I use the IEMs.

 

[ardgedee]

Some do and most don’t. I know Mesa have a few heads that have that feature. Some low powered heads have one built in. I don’t have a comprehensive list.

iirc, all the current Mesa bass amps have HPF. The frequency is fixed in the lower end models and adjustable in the higher end models.

 

[furym]

This has been a slight issue with me. The tone I get in my IEMs tends to be obnoxiously trebly. Not sure I'm ready to purchase a filter though because it's not that often I use the IEMs.

I am exclusively IEMs and use Amp and Cab sim, LPF, and a tube DI. My IEM tone is great. They’re worth it.

 

[FenderP]

I use the SFX Microthumpinator HPF last in my chain. It's great.

 

[willddd]

Thanks. The Broughton HPF is highly regarded on TB and is on my list. And in fact I haven't found any other HPF pedal, aside kits, that is just that. Most times, it seems, HPF or LPF in pedal form come with other effect functions that I don't need.

Broughton HPF is certainly well regarded. Source Audio EQ2 also has one (and I think maybe some other of their pedals). Many amps have them built in but not controllable. More and more amps (Bergantino Bamp etc) have them built in and adjustable.

 

[retslock]

I do ship world wide.

I had one sent to me in Sydney, Australia. It’s always on now for every gig.

 

[logdrum]

Some of my amps have HPF -- but i now have a Source Audio EQ2 pedal and the HPF on t is pretty dope.

 

[Isaac_James]

I'm a big fan of the Broughton HPF/LPF pedal. I use mine last in my effects chain; I know some folks prefer to use separate pedals and place the HPF first and the LPF last but I wanted to keep my setup as simple as possible. I keep mine on all the time unless I'm experimenting.

When I'm running a clean signal, it's a pretty subtle effect. I can hear a difference if I know what to listen for, but it doesn't jump out and grab you. It's when I turn on the fuzz that the difference really shows up - with my LPF dialed in at somewhere in the 3-4kHz mark, a lot of the harsh overtones from my Big Muff just... go away. And with the HPF set to 40Hz, the subsonic mud goes away too, leaving only the creamy center. I have been meaning to make a video demonstrating this and just this morning it's come up twice, so I'll try to do that tonight and share it.

Alright, so I did a quick little video A/Bing what the Bass Big Muff does with the HPF/LPF off and on. I don't think it comes through great on my phone mic, but you can hear a little bit of a difference. Personally, I think the first section without the filter sounds harsh and fizzy, while the filtered fuzz sounds heavier and bassier.

Please excuse sound quality, camera angle, lighting, and sloppy playing.



My pedals and how they're set up:

 

[Markyo]

Any other HPF/LPF pedal except for the Broughton? Looks like it is not available in Europe.

I ordered it from the USA recently. I'm in Scotland. Arrived no problem.

 

[andare]

The passive tone control on my '73 Pass sounds to my ears like a variable low-pass filter.

I've been craving a two-pick-up bass with a master volume control, p'up blend, and variable high-pass and low pass filters. Simple controls that would enable me to solve problems with venue acoutsics from my bass.

Anyone know of a bass that's so equipped?

The tone control is a low pass filter by definition but the threshold is fixed.

 

[crguti]

HPF in the beginning, LPF at the end.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Thanks all, that makes more sense now. So sounds like they're more for dealing with unwanted frequencies at either end of the spectrum, and something you'd have last in your chain, possibly always on.

The position of a LPF/HPF in your signal chain will always be a matter of "it depends".

I would personally want a HPF before the compressor as this will prevent the compressor from overshooting on low notes. Some compressors are more forgiving than others though and I believe many bass-specific compressors already have a HPF in the side chain (but not in the signal path).

I would want the HPF after any effects that add lows to the signal though. Some effects can add significant amounts of lows for "fatness" and kinda defeats the purpose of a HPF if you place such an effect after the HPF.

As for LPF it will depend on a lot of things. DI or amp? Clean or OD/distortion/fuzz? For example I might want to dial out some metallic "zing" (or string noise as I like to call it...) from the clean signal but also be able to get an aggressive, snarling "sizzle" when hitting the fuzz pedal. For that particular purpose I would place the LFP before the fuzz. Use your ears. If it sound good it IS good.

 

[ga_edwards]

My two pennies worth.

hpf/lpf and global eq are one of the things that made me start using the Line 6 Helix rather than a real amp. I have an eq block at the end of every preset with the hpf (called low cut in the Helix) set to the bottom of the flat range of frequency response of my Headrush frfr speaker (53hz). This is essentially to protect it from extraneous subfrequencies that could damage the speaker at high volume. Usefully, this also protects our FOH speakers (Yamaha DXR12) as we don't currently have a sub-woofer.

Because I use a full-range speaker, I set the lpf (aka high cut) to around 5hkz, to simulate the cut-off of a typical tweeterless bass cab. It's also particularly useful with taming high-end fizziness from fuzz pedals. With both high and low cuts, my frfr speaker feels and sounds like a powerful bass combo behind me.

I use another hpf in the global eq section of the helix. This is set to only affect my on stage frfr speaker and not the FOH. I can adjust it however high I need to compensate for boomy stages for example, without affecting the FOH sound. Think of it as sending a pre-eq DI signal from a real amp. So, the result is my on-stage frfr ends up getting 2 stacked hpfs for an extreme low cut. Works really well and sounds tight. And of course, I can easily bypass the global eq if required.

One of the benefits of the helix is you can have multiple instances of a single effect. I haven't thought to try it yet, but after reading the thread I might try adding another hpf at the start of the signal chain as well to tame filters and octave effects.

Lastly, I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but a very useful trick is to set the hpf at the same frequency or similar to the bass knob on the amp/preamp. You can then turn up the bass higher than you would normally and still get a tight bottom end. This used to drive me crazy with my old amps before I started using an hpf, particularly my old Markbass LM2 head which had a fixed bass frequency of 40hz!