Ok, so I play mainly funk music and I've decided I need to get more effects. Currently my only effect is a Mu-tron III envelope filter. For my next effect I've narrowed my choices down to either a Fuzz, Flanger, or Octave pedal. Which should I get next, and specifically what brand/model?
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What effect should I get next?
- Thread starter snogaws
- Start date
- Apr 3, 2007
- 108
- 3
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ashdown Engineering Amplifiers, Elites Strings and Cosmic Ears IEMs
I have and regularly use a BOSS OC-2 Octaver which I have had for years and it just keeps on ticking.
I recently read an article stating that every bass player should have an octaver in their arsenal and I tend to agree...although do get the Flanger and the Fuzz at a later date!
I recently read an article stating that every bass player should have an octaver in their arsenal and I tend to agree...although do get the Flanger and the Fuzz at a later date!
I recommend the Swollen Pickle. I got one last Christmas and I will never replace it(unless I need a new Swollen Pickle). Its awesome and when you get to a point where its not loud enough, you can mod the internal controls. Usually when you have to go inside, you can find what you want in ten minutes.
-For songs with more high end, you want less filter and scoop and more crunch and sustain.
-For your dirty low end songs, you want the same high end crunch and sustain but more filter and scoop.
-WARNING: that thing gets LOUD. The loudness is something that you crank up when you are outside and/or playing for a big crowd. its not the thing you want to "crank up to 11." If its not loud enough, leave the external dial where it is and go inside to turn it up.
-not for the prude, elderly, weak or faint of heart.
-For songs with more high end, you want less filter and scoop and more crunch and sustain.
-For your dirty low end songs, you want the same high end crunch and sustain but more filter and scoop.
-WARNING: that thing gets LOUD. The loudness is something that you crank up when you are outside and/or playing for a big crowd. its not the thing you want to "crank up to 11." If its not loud enough, leave the external dial where it is and go inside to turn it up.
-not for the prude, elderly, weak or faint of heart.
amazon has new swollen pickles for $120The only reason I'm hesitant to get an octaver right now is I've set my heart on the Mu-tron Octave Divider and if I buy that I'll have no money left.
how much are you trying to spend.
I voted "fuzz", but for your first fuzz I would start with something a bit more tame than the Swollen Pickle. Take "not for the prude, elderly, weak, or faint of heart" as the gospel! So my setup basically encompasses everything you're thinking about: I run a MuTron III+, a Boss BF-3 Flanger, a couple octavers (OC-2 with normal plus 1 lower, MXR BOD with just the low octave passing through), and a Fulltone Bass Driver and most recently- just in the past month- the Swollen Pickle.
I am having a hard time getting the Pickle to play nice with the other effects, like the MuTron and octavers, if does sound sweet feeding into the flanger. I find that too low, in a "textured" use, the Pickle just dies on the bandstand. Crank it up a bit - to the point that when you solo it alone it sounds *ridiculously* too loud - and in context on the bandstand it reaches out grabs attention like nothing else. So I am a pickle novice, YMMV, but...
I use my Fulltone set to a very mild distortion, actually on the "Clean Comp" setting, although it's not really clean, it is very subtle alone. But it does make every other effect "pop" a lot more. It's awesome with the MuTron, the Flanger, and either octaver. So I would suggest getting a fuzz that can do some lower-intensity stuff well, although go for something with more bass preservation than the Bass Driver, maybe a Pork Loin? Maybe the VT character pedal?
If on the other hand you just want to melt faces, then the Swollen Pickle isn't a blow torch, it's a blast furnace. All of this represents my personal experience, with an active bass into a Mesa/Genz rig (pretty full-range but EQ'd to a round sound).
Another contender for "set phasers to melt" is Fulltone's OCD, but I found the Pickle to have *a lot* more tonal options and variations, but the OCD was easier for me to dial in effectively on the gig and played better with the MuTron. There's many faves I have not personally tried but would if I could: Pickle Pie B, Red Ripper, Iron Ether's fuzz pedal (Iron Oxide IIRC?).
I find the Pickle to be *way* more extreme, and have a lot more deep bass too. It gets into fairly heavily gated territory, and can get pretty easily into virtually infinite sustain. At high settings w/ my active bass I get almost reverse gating, where the note starts out quiet and then blooms into full snarling volume.
I'd recommend a fuzz, but active basses, solid state amps, and horned cabs are the trifecta of fuzz crapification. Using fuzz with that kind of equipment qualifies as user error, but most people can't tell their fuzz sound sucks like that anyways so it's up to you and your ears. Octaver I says. Try the MXR Bass Octave Deluxe.
Definitely go fuzz. With a few exceptions most work well work with practically all applications. Muffs play well with all kinds of set ups, as an example.
For $200 bucks you could get a Swollen Pickle Fuzz (usually around $80 used), a Boss OC-2 Octave (usually around $50 used), and a Boss BF-2 or BF-2B or (my favorite) a DOD FX72 Flanger (usually around $40 used for the DOD, and $50 or so for the BF-2, proabably a little more for the BF-2B). Shop around.
-JV
PS - The Swollen Pickle is, indeed, a MONSTER, but it can be set milder, and it will teach you a lot about how the different parameters interact. Take your time with it. I think this is a pedal that people get frustrated with because there's SO much to tweak, but it's worth the trouble, IMO!!! It's not for everyone, but it's a very versatile pedal, so as a first fuzz I actually think it's a great choice.
-JV
PS - The Swollen Pickle is, indeed, a MONSTER, but it can be set milder, and it will teach you a lot about how the different parameters interact. Take your time with it. I think this is a pedal that people get frustrated with because there's SO much to tweak, but it's worth the trouble, IMO!!! It's not for everyone, but it's a very versatile pedal, so as a first fuzz I actually think it's a great choice.
The only reason I'm hesitant to get an octaver right now is I've set my heart on the Mu-tron Octave Divider and if I buy that I'll have no money left.
Oh come on, this one is in great shape for just $629!
Vintage Musitronics Mutron Octave Divider -AWESOME!!! | eBay
I'd say octaver. I LOVE the Musitronics Octave Divider but that is a chunk of change and I'm not sure the awesomeness of pairing those two is worth the price tag.
For half that price you could nab an Octron 2 which is awesome in its own right and captures some of that same vibe.
Or for $60 you could pick up an old OC-2 and have a fantastic octaver while saving money to get something else later.
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Congrats, that's a fantastic pedal.
The Green Ringer circuit can add some cool synth like tones but I don't think you'll be satisfied enough with it to not want a standalone fuzz.
But the Octave Divider and Mutron are an incredible pairing. Post pics when it arrives!
The Green Ringer circuit can add some cool synth like tones but I don't think you'll be satisfied enough with it to not want a standalone fuzz.
But the Octave Divider and Mutron are an incredible pairing. Post pics when it arrives!
Arrived 20 minutes ago!
Posted a pic here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/new-pedal-day-more-mu-tron-content-775842/
