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Recommendation for a auto wah / envelope that is optimized for bass?

#41
I've been using an Ibanez AF-9 since ~1985 and I have never felt that it didn't respond perfectly to bass...and I've used it with at least four different basses over all those years, in a half dozen or more different pedalboard configurations.

I'm pretty sure Ibanez no longer sells their AF-9, but it's ostensibly the exact same circuit as the Maxon AF-9 (...which has been "sold out" for a while now, so maybe that too is discontinued?) :(
 
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#42
Bob_Ross said:
I've been using an Ibanez AF-9 since ~1985 and I have never felt that it didn't respond perfectly to bass...and I've used it with at least four different basses over all those years, in a half dozen or more different pedalboard configurations.

I'm pretty sure Ibanez no longer sells their AF-9, but it's ostensibly the exact same circuit as the Maxon AF-9 (...which has been "sold out" for a while now, so maybe that too is discontinued?) :(
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Yeah - the Maxon and Ibanez are the same pedal, and both discontinued, and both great for bass.

The Ibanez/Maxon AF-1 is an earlier version - it's a little stankier.
 
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#45
Of the ones available new:
Broughton Joshwah
Mr Black Fwonkbeta
Aguilar Filter Twin
SA Specture/C4 if you have time and patience

My favorite:
3Leaf Proton V3/V4
Mr Black Fwonkbeta is really great, needs a compressor behind it though bc it has major peaks
 
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#53
SpankBazz said:
Easy. DOD FX25.
Bought it back in the day.
It was great and I wish I still had it.
You can get one for under $100 if you look.

Lots of demos on You Tube. Here's one.
Click to expand...

I’ve tried the Broughton, the Aguilar, the MXR. All good. But the problem is, I had already heard the DOD and could not get that perfect quack out of my head. Only problem was, it ate all the low frequencies . So rather than settle for an inferior quack, I now run the DOD with a parallel channel for the low end and I’m a happy camper. Those other pedals sit unused.
 
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#54
Major_Rager_4MF said:
I’ve tried the Broughton, the Aguilar, the MXR. All good. But the problem is, I had already heard the DOD and could not get that perfect quack out of my head. Only problem was, it ate all the low frequencies . So rather than settle for an inferior quack, I now run the DOD with a parallel channel for the low end and I’m a happy camper. Those other pedals sit unused.
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There is an FX25B which might resolve that?
 
#55
@paticus the two envelopes you have are excellent and beloved by many, might I suggest that playing an envelope filter is different on bass from guitar, I find the each different one takes a bit to grok those differences to really get the funk going the way you want. I have one that continues to challenge my expectations the Seamoon Funk Machine, still trying to get a grip on that nifty little beastie.
 
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#56
Here is my verdict.

MXR 82: Easy to shape. Very versatile with all of the controls you would need out of an env filter. Responded super well to the bass frequencies and maintained a full sound. Controls are touchy and wide, meaning things will open or shut in extreme ways with small adjustments. I found myself adjusting the sensitivity more than I would like, particularly if I engaged my Doom 2 or OC-5 in front of it.

FWONK: Also easy to shape, It seems like the controls are less wide from 1-10. So it stays in a nice sweet spot and is less dimensional than the MXR. It's a GOOD sweet spot, and forgiving regardless of what you have it set to. It added a touch of grit to the signal. I thought this was going to be an unwieldily pedal based on user testimonials, but did not find that. Maintained a good low end bass signal. The lack of decay knob is disappointing, but I did really like default decay timing.

Proton (V2 I believe): I got this sounding pretty good on bass. It's definately more tame than the MXR and Fwonk. Too tame. Maybe it's just how it responds to the bass. I'm convinced the sweeps would not cut through a live mix. In comparison to the two pedals above, which WHOMP the entire bass signal (if that makes sense). This pedal is KILLER on guitar, but did not translate the same on bass.

Micro Tron IV: This pedal is infuriating on bass. It's like the bass evades all controls and/or sweeping frequencies. I was convinced it was broken, but it responded as expected on the guitar.

The FWONKBETA and MXR 82 are definately keepers for bass. They are exactly what I was looking for. I'll keep the Proton for guitar, but do I really need 3 env filters :angel:?? Absolutely selling the Mu Tron.

Screenshot 2025-03-17 at 6.38.43 PM.png
 
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#59
johnk_10 said:
i built quite few DOD FX25's and they don't have any low end loss (and can actually boost it). i recently bought their new 440 and it lost a ton of low end.
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I picked up a vintage DOD FX25B not too long ago, and I'm considering picking up a vintage (i.e. non-reissue 440). From what i understand, the reissue is basically a modified FX25. How are the vintage 440's?
 

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