Similar pedals to the Broughton Filter FX Loop?

[Verticos]

I've had my eyes on an FFXL for a while, but I keep missing them on the classifieds and it seems like the man isn't going to make another batch any time soon. I've got a wanted ad posted looking for one (hmu) but I'm also starting to think about alternatives.

My usecase: I'd use it to chop some of the super high end off of my drive pedals without doing it to my entire signal chain, or as a freq split/blend to affect the low and high sides of my signal differently.

I'm willing to bend a little on features if the basic functionality is similar, but ideally I'm just looking for an identical pedal from a different company. The only other solution I can think of is putting my drive pedals in the loop of something like an HX Stomp, but I don't really want to buy one of those just for this - way overkill.

Any ideas, TB?

 

[davelowell2]

Damnation Bloop?

 

[Verticos]

Damnation Bloop?

I've seen that one before, it blends but doesn't split frequencies / have LPF+HPF IIRC.

 

[tidbits]

XO Variable Crossover – Signal Splitter & Parallel Effects Loop

The XO splits your signal into high- and low-frequency bands for separate processing via two independent effects loops. Use it on guitar, bass, synth and more. 100% analogue and hand-built in Cambridge, UK.

www.greateasternfx.com

Doesn’t have the nice built in LPF/HPF or a full clean blend but no reason you couldn’t add standalone HP/LP filter pedals into either loop.

Edit: for your example with the drives, you could run clean on the low side, drives on the high side with an LPF to trim off the OD fringe.

 

[Tweea]

I use the XO Crossover and it works really well. The description above is not quite accurate as it does have a clean/dry blend. Easy to dial in the crossover frequency for the point you want to split the highs and lows and has the ability to switch the sends for the high and low frequencies if you want to change the frequencies a pedal effects (without having to disconnect the pedal). It also has a phase switch, which can help for pedals where that is an issue. This topic comes up quite a bit on TalkBass and I'm surprised this pedal isn't discussed more often. I really like what it does in a very pedalboard friendly size.

 

[Verticos]

The XO is certainly a contender. Ideally I'd love to not need an additional pedal to chop the highs off the drive half, but I could always pick up a tiny Broughton always-on one and call it a day. Good contender, but not perfect.

I also just thought about the possibility of DIYing one - I don't have circuit design experince but if there's a premade board out there I have plenty of soldering experience.

 

[warptheory]

I do something similar with the HX Stomp and one of the effects loop. I have chorus and phaser in the loop, and a cross over path so that only frequencies above 350 Hz get the chorus, and everything below is clean. Also use it for all the effects I don't want a dedicated pedal to, like reverb/delay/flanger, and it's my tuner. I've thought about using the FFXL, but the HX just does so much more in almost the same footprint as the FFXL and a tuner.

 

[Zbysek]

There are several crossover blenders on the market which allow clean lows to be blended with effected higher frequencies: XO, Byte Heaven Sugar Britches, KMA Machines Tyler Deluxe, Cross Mix from JohnK. None of them features LPF on the loop though. You will need to get standalone LPF pedal.

I am using FFXL and Sugar Britches on my pedalboard myself.

 

[Fourstrfury]

EHX

TRI PARALLEL MIXER​

Tri Parallel Mixer | Effects Loop Mixer / Switcher - Electro-Harmonix

A powerful effects creation and mixing hub with flexible controls for multiple configurations!

www.ehx.com

Allows three different effects loop and allows you to blend your dry signal in. Great for dirt pedals that sap the low end.

 

[jfiver]

VFE is currently taking orders for the Klein Bottle, which is also complete overkill - but it does have HPF + LPF on each loop.

XO plus a small LPF could be a winner.

 

[Verticos]

Lots of different options have been thrown around there. A crossover pedal of some sort + LPF seems to be the next best thing in lieu of the Broughton.

However, it seems the FFXL might be the only single-box solution that does this (besides multifx units, but those are in a category of their own). Kudos to Josh for the unique design and implementation.

Less than 24h later and my search is over due to a kind TBer who was willing to sell me their FFXL. But if in the future anyone needs the same functionality and is having trouble finding a solution, I hope this thread will be helpful.

 

[never-enough]

I agree that the FFXL is pretty special in terms of functionality/footprint.
Glad you found one!

Lots of different options have been thrown around there. A crossover pedal of some sort + LPF seems to be the next best thing in lieu of the Broughton.

However, it seems the FFXL might be the only single-box solution that does this (besides multifx units, but those are in a category of their own). Kudos to Josh for the unique design and implementation.

Less than 24h later and my search is over due to a kind TBer who was willing to sell me their FFXL. But if in the future anyone needs the same functionality and is having trouble finding a solution, I hope this thread will be helpful.

 

[sunbeast]

A kit company called Schalltechnik in Germany designed a crossover looper called the Omnilooper that is still the most versatile take on this I’ve seen, unfortunately they shut down a few years ago. I built a few and kept one, was considering buying a bunch to assemble and sell in the US but then he closed down unfortunately before I followed through: OMNILOOPER – Schalltechnik_04

It has separate frequency controls for both the high-pass and low-pass loops as well as switches to move the filter before or after the loop (which can make for a completely different response, especially from gain pedals), a third parallel full-range FX loop, the ability to turn the filters off per loop, phase switches per loop, and a footswitchable bass boost circuit. Super well thought out and I wish he’d bring them back (or license the design out to another company as he doesn’t have time himself anymore).

 

[Verticos]

A kit company called Schalltechnik in Germany designed a crossover looper called the Omnilooper that is still the most versatile take on this I’ve seen, unfortunately they shut down a few years ago. I built a few and kept one, was considering buying a bunch to assemble and sell in the US but then he closed down unfortunately before I followed through: OMNILOOPER – Schalltechnik_04

It has separate frequency controls for both the high-pass and low-pass loops as well as switches to move the filter before or after the loop (which can make for a completely different response, especially from gain pedals), a third parallel full-range FX loop, the ability to turn the filters off per loop, phase switches per loop, and a footswitchable bass boost circuit. Super well thought out and I wish he’d bring them back (or license the design out to another company as he doesn’t have time himself anymore).

Wow. If I hadn't been able to get my hands on an FFXL, this would be the winner for sure. Great looking project, and super well thought-out and documented. I may have to make one in the future just for fun.

 

[sunbeast]

Wow. If I hadn't been able to get my hands on an FFXL, this would be the winner for sure. Great looking project, and super well thought-out and documented. I may have to make one in the future just for fun.

As I mentioned, he stopped selling the kits when he got a job that sucked up too much time. I’d hope he does something with the design though, like just share the design docs or license it out to a different company, as it is too great to just be forgotten!

 

[Verticos]

As I mentioned, he stopped selling the kits when he got a job that sucked up too much time. I’d hope he does something with the design though, like just share the design docs or license it out to a different company, as it is too great to just be forgotten!

I missed the part about the kits not being available anymore, what a shame. Hopefully he open-sources the design for the PCB so that others can get it made!