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Whistling Bassballs
- Thread starter biscuithead
- Start date
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
That doesn't sound like the BassBalls I have at all. Mine is a first generation (recommended to me by Bobby Vega ca. 1992), so maybe it's different. While it can do some whistling it has a lot more filter sound.
It sounds like maybe your bass is noisy and it's filtering noise as well as the bass signal, but I'm really not hearing what I hear with mine, as in this example from 1998 with my band, Skin. I think it sounds amazing with a fretless.
Dropbox - 02 History.mp3 - Simplify your life
It sounds like maybe your bass is noisy and it's filtering noise as well as the bass signal, but I'm really not hearing what I hear with mine, as in this example from 1998 with my band, Skin. I think it sounds amazing with a fretless.
Dropbox - 02 History.mp3 - Simplify your life
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
See my sample. You might change your mind. Unless the new ones are drastically different.
When I read the subject line of this thread, I thought it would be on stuff Robin said on the Batman tv show. 
A lot of envelope filters make that whistle when a filter is thrown wide open. It’s something that puts me off many filters. My favourite ones splatter instead of whistle. One way you can remedy this is to adjust the internal trim pots to lower the response of whichever filter of the two is being too sensitive. I have three Bassballs pedals from a green Russian to a standard US version and with most of my basses they sound best with the trim pots right down and a light touch. You can leave the back of the pedal open whikst you play a low string hard to adjust it until it sounds best. As other have probably mentioned, you can mod the pedal to make the trim pots adjustable from the outside.
Thanks that’s very kind! I do find the Bassballs is one of the pedals that you have to ‘play’. I had one when I first started playing and hated it. Only years later did I come back to appreciate the sounds when it’s played just right. Each of mine sounds different but the green Russian one has the nicest response.
That would be the Miku Stomp. Here's an early Emily on it. And I can say definately that the DrQ changed many times in quality and usability over the years. Never cared for bassballs m'self.
From what I have experienced, my Bassballs whistled a little at first. The whistling occurred with basses with an higher output like my beloved G&L L-2500. A small adjustment (I’d say decreasing of…) of the internal pots made the whistling go away. Sounds awesome ever since… I think I had that pedal for 20 years or so…
Update!
I adjusted the internal pots and EQ on my bass amp (Hartke HD150) and the whistling is down to a minimum. Thanks for your help guys!
I adjusted the internal pots and EQ on my bass amp (Hartke HD150) and the whistling is down to a minimum. Thanks for your help guys!
