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Synthy analog bass pedals that are designed to work together
- Thread starter moon-bass
- Start date
It's supposed to be here Friday, if I get a chance I'll make some recordings over the weekend.
The Pigtronix Mothership 2 is pretty cool - it's very responsive, excellent tracking, and controlled glitchiness. So far I'm digging it. Not sure if it will have a place on a board, but it's a pretty cool stand alone pedal for sure.
And that being said, I'm paring down my planned boards to a single board. After playing around with the setup quite a bit, I'm not seeing the advantage of multiple filters, too many fuzzes, etc. Not sure what it's gonna be yet, but definitely smaller
And that being said, I'm paring down my planned boards to a single board. After playing around with the setup quite a bit, I'm not seeing the advantage of multiple filters, too many fuzzes, etc. Not sure what it's gonna be yet, but definitely smaller
I picked up a fantastic Meatball clone this week, courtesy of Artisanal Effects - Vintage-Inspired Handbuilt Lovetone Replicas | Classic Guitar Pedals - I've owned a few Meatball clones in my time and never really cared for them, but this one is a keeper for sure. Thick, meaty, juicy, and tons of booty.
And then I hear about The Cheese Source fuzz pedal, and how well it goes with the Meatball, and Artisanal happens to make one, so I have one on the way! I am thinking it will be like the Agent 00Funk/Brown Dog combo .. gated type fuzz in to the effects loop of an envelope filter? Sign me up!!!
Once I get things set up and finalized, I'll make some recordings. I am curious as to how the Funky Puppy is going to sound as compared to the OG Chunk Systems pedals - from what I understand, the Funky Puppy is the closest thing out there, the builder was meticulous in the recreation.
And given that the Meathead is so much fun, I'm really looking forward to pairing it with some Cheese
The Mothership 2 pairs really well with some envelope filters - it goes exceptionally well with eh Xerograph Deluxe.
The XD is kind of an enigma to me - I think it sounds really good for a stand alone filter, but I prefer others - it's OUTSTANDING when paired with other pedals for synthy type tones.
And then I hear about The Cheese Source fuzz pedal, and how well it goes with the Meatball, and Artisanal happens to make one, so I have one on the way! I am thinking it will be like the Agent 00Funk/Brown Dog combo .. gated type fuzz in to the effects loop of an envelope filter? Sign me up!!!
Once I get things set up and finalized, I'll make some recordings. I am curious as to how the Funky Puppy is going to sound as compared to the OG Chunk Systems pedals - from what I understand, the Funky Puppy is the closest thing out there, the builder was meticulous in the recreation.
And given that the Meathead is so much fun, I'm really looking forward to pairing it with some Cheese
The Mothership 2 pairs really well with some envelope filters - it goes exceptionally well with eh Xerograph Deluxe.
The XD is kind of an enigma to me - I think it sounds really good for a stand alone filter, but I prefer others - it's OUTSTANDING when paired with other pedals for synthy type tones.
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The Dedalo came today, and I'm supposed to be working, but can't resist a new toy!
My first impression is that it's very straightforward and very easy to use. Turning the various knobs provides immediate changes, and it only took a few minutes to figure out all of the functions.
It's pretty cool. It essentially has three functions - a waveform generator (very easy to use - you turn the knob and the waveform changes); a sub (octave down with different waveform variations) and a "filter/alias" knob - that changes the sound, interactive with the above two.
What it's not: IMO, it's not a full featured bass synth, but it's a good basis for a phenomenal bass synth. In other words, I think of this as a waveform and sub generator, with a "bells and whistles" knob - so it's not going to be as flexible as the Mothership 2, but it's easier to use, provides more waveforms, and works great as a foundation. I like the idea of mixing and matching this with other pedals, especially an envelope filter and phaser - I'm getting some funky sounds. The fact that it has a number of waveform generation capabilities is gravy, and that's it's strength as opposed to other bass synths. I also think that the sounds are usable - unlike some other pedals that may be more flexible but also generate a lot of garbage.
My intent was to compare this to the Mothership 2 and the Banana, and keep one out of the three - but it's different enough from the Mothership that I can see me keeping this as a waveform generator for my synth board, and then use either the Banana or the Mothership as a stand alone pedal. I like the idea of 1-2 functions per pedal for the larger board, kinda keeps things simple.
I reserve the right to change my mind of course, and we'll see once the Banana comes in, but this does the waveform generation very, VERY well!
Edit: It's not often that I used the term "brutal" in reference to a bass pedal, but man, some of the waveforms coming from the Dedalo are downright BRUTAL!!
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I'm close to getting this figured out. I have room for the Funky Puppy (I do need to do some moving around, but it will fit just fine) and one more pedal. I've already decided that I won't keep the Bass Whammy on the board, that will be ancillary (and I'll add an effects loop pedal for easy adds).
After that, I will still have room for one more pedal. Is it the Banana Effects Matryoshka? Pigtronix Mothership 2? The Dedalo Byte Bass Synth?
Something else?
What would YOU put in the empty spot?
FYI, I have chorus and reverb covered with other pedals as add-ins as well, so I won't need those. I've taken a modular approach with my pedalboard set up, and I have a chorus and reverb with some dirt on another mini board.
Thoughts?
After that, I will still have room for one more pedal. Is it the Banana Effects Matryoshka? Pigtronix Mothership 2? The Dedalo Byte Bass Synth?
Something else?
What would YOU put in the empty spot?
FYI, I have chorus and reverb covered with other pedals as add-ins as well, so I won't need those. I've taken a modular approach with my pedalboard set up, and I have a chorus and reverb with some dirt on another mini board.
Thoughts?
Got the Banana Effects Matryoshka today and got a chance to play around with it. It's definitely smaller than I was expecting (although TBH I don't know what I was expecting). It's very cool - lots of sounds, and the tracking is superb.
It's more like the Mothership 2 than the Byte Bss Synth, but still different enough that it might warrant keeping two out of the three synth pedals. I was originally going to keep only one, but now I'm not so sure. The Bass Byte is definitely the best waveform generator, but the Manana and Mothership have more options. Decisions, decisions ...
It's more like the Mothership 2 than the Byte Bss Synth, but still different enough that it might warrant keeping two out of the three synth pedals. I was originally going to keep only one, but now I'm not so sure. The Bass Byte is definitely the best waveform generator, but the Manana and Mothership have more options. Decisions, decisions ...
The Mothership 2 is an interesting pedal given the selection of wave forms, I like to pair it with an envelope for a more complete synth sound. I find it similar to the all analog EHX BMS. I have also run my Donner B1 sequencer into the Mothership, modded EHX Bass Balls for some tweaking sweeping fun. The Digitech BSW is also fun in the same way. The B1 Sequencer will also drive the Future Impact via MIDI.
Indeed! It sounds killer with both the Xero Deluxe and the Proton - i find that it responds very well to minor changes in the filter in very, very cool ways!
So I decided that it's kinda overkill to have three stand alone bass synth pedals on the board, so it really came down to functionality and board space - so the Mothership squeaked by, but barely.
The Banana Effects is very cool, but it has some redundant functionality. I'm tempted to keep the Bss Byte, but it came down to size - in that I couldn't fit it on my board.
Plus, in all honesty, I'm kind of in love with the sound of the Mothership with the Xerograph D. That's about as cool as it get!
@Teryup just a heads up if you're interested in the Bass Byte, I'll give you dibs.
Now at this point, just waiting for the Funky Puppy to finish it all up!
The Banana Effects is very cool, but it has some redundant functionality. I'm tempted to keep the Bss Byte, but it came down to size - in that I couldn't fit it on my board.
Plus, in all honesty, I'm kind of in love with the sound of the Mothership with the Xerograph D. That's about as cool as it get!
@Teryup just a heads up if you're interested in the Bass Byte, I'll give you dibs.
Now at this point, just waiting for the Funky Puppy to finish it all up!
I appreciate the offer, unfortunately I got laid off a few weeks ago and I have a kid on the way, so my current gear acquisition budget is non-existent. Otherwise I would jump on the opportunity.
Oh man, so sorry to hear! Good luck on the job and kid front!
I ordered the Artisanal Effects Cheese (clone of the discontinued Lovetone Cheese .. goes well with the Meatball) and have been using it with the Meathead this weekend, and I gotta say it's a helluva lotta fun. The Cheese is what I would consider a "true" fuzz - it's not heavy, heavy distortion, rather it's a consistent fuzz (almost like a ripped speaker). Glorious. It is just a super cool combo, sounds that I hadn't heard before.
I also picked up a Barefaced Machinist - it's a different kind of fuzz, but I have that going thru the Wonderlove effects loop and also .. glorious.
I also picked up a Barefaced Machinist - it's a different kind of fuzz, but I have that going thru the Wonderlove effects loop and also .. glorious.
If you're looking for a versatile yet simple to operate envelope filter that pairs well with octaves and fuzz, don't sleep on the original Subdecay Prometheus. It's killer when paired with the Mothership 2, or any octave/fuzz pair (a la IE and 3 Leaf). I thought that the Xerograph Deluxe was about the best EF around for synthy bass tones, but the Prometheus might have it beat. It's a very, very nice filter, especially when used with other effect.
I love it when I come home from a business trip and I find a pedal waiting for me when I get home
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The Funkulator is pretty funky. The EF side is very synthy/poppy - very cool, and somewhat unusual, and it plays well with the octave/fuzz side as well.
So at first I thought that the Funkulator was going to be a sub octave fuzz and an envelope filter, and that it would somewhat duplicate what I already have.
I was wrong. It is WAY more than the sum of its parts. It works together so well, and almost counterintuitively - I mean, who would have thought that turning the "attack" knob up all the way clockwise would sound so damn FUNKY when paired with the fuzz and octave. The controls are very interactive, it's supremely tweakable - this is a very, very cool piece of kit. I mean, just so well done.
The fuzz never gets too fuzzy, the octave down is tame (but not TOO tame) and the EF side gets perky and drippy and all sorts of mwowy-juicy by itself and even more so when working together.
This might be the ultimate synthy pedal combo - dare I say it - even more so than the Chunk Systems (to be fair, tho, the Chunk Systems doesn't have an octave down).
It's also much lighter than I thought it would be and the VU meter is just uber cool. This is another pedal that I didn't think I'd like as much as I do.
I'm totally digging it.
I was wrong. It is WAY more than the sum of its parts. It works together so well, and almost counterintuitively - I mean, who would have thought that turning the "attack" knob up all the way clockwise would sound so damn FUNKY when paired with the fuzz and octave. The controls are very interactive, it's supremely tweakable - this is a very, very cool piece of kit. I mean, just so well done.
The fuzz never gets too fuzzy, the octave down is tame (but not TOO tame) and the EF side gets perky and drippy and all sorts of mwowy-juicy by itself and even more so when working together.
This might be the ultimate synthy pedal combo - dare I say it - even more so than the Chunk Systems (to be fair, tho, the Chunk Systems doesn't have an octave down).
It's also much lighter than I thought it would be and the VU meter is just uber cool. This is another pedal that I didn't think I'd like as much as I do.
I'm totally digging it.
