paul_5 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Been through quite a few personally. Groove Regulator - brilliant; should definitely be on your 'must try' list. DOD FX 25 (and - much less versatile, and you'll need to spend some time learning to play them to get the most out of them. The FX25 has a real volume spike towards the bottom of its sweep, so best used of fast notes or in conjunction with a compressor. Q-Tron - Funky filters, but have a tendency to produce said volume spikes. Bassballs - not one that I got on with personally. Kind of fun to play with, but not the classic 'quacking' sound that most players associate with filters. Various Wah pedals - you'll lose mobility as you need to be working the pedal whenever you need a filter. Good for sweeping over long, repetitive passages. Also not good if oyu fall over a lot when stood on one leg... Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 I've been on filter hunts for years and always keep coming back to my Electro Harmonix Mini Q-Tron's. Big boxes which is a pain in the butt, but there's just something about them that makes it all worthwhile and I just can't find in other pedals. Had a 3LeafAudio Proton, an EBS Bass IQ (twice), an EHX BassBalls, an MXR Bass Auto Q, DigiTech SynthWah and probably more that I've forgotten. My one reservation with the Mini Q-Tron is that, like so many EHX pedals, they're just not the most reliable. (The volume spike issue is easily resolved with a volume pot mod). So, what's been satisfying me the most lately, and available brand new for the measly sum of about £68, is the Carl Martin Classic Optical Envelope pedal. Makes me smile. A lot. Not well known - couldn't find any bass videos on Youtube. Already have a Carl Martin Optical Compressor and love it, so took a punt on the Envelope pedal - was so not disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='alstocko' timestamp='1357292646' post='1920364'] As the title says, I've been looking at getting an envelope filter to fill up my pedalboard and give that funk into my tone. The problem is, there's so many! Janek is swearing by the DOD FX25 (older version without blend) but I'd like to see what you guys think. I'd like to spend less than £100 in the preowned market, and another notable point is that I use flatwounds on my bass, anyone here used that with a funk box? [/quote] were you willing to up the price point, an Iron Ether Xerograph deluxe would be the darkest and funkiest of choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.i.stein Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 oooohhh ! but, how about that for a bargain ! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/197695-3leaf-audio-groove-regulator-i-75l-posted/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/197695-3leaf-audio-groove-regulator-i-75l-posted/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskimoBassist Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 (edited) Loved my 3Leaf Proton (want one again tbh...) and still rocking my Iron Ether Xerograph Deluxe. Could get both around £100 second hand. Edited January 24, 2013 by EskimoBassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 [quote name='phil.i.stein' timestamp='1359064454' post='1949450'] oooohhh ! but, how about that for a bargain ! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/197695-3leaf-audio-groove-regulator-i-75l-posted/"]http://basschat.co.u...r-i-75l-posted/[/url] [/quote] I saw that too - nice piece of kit for little monies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Owned a lot of them and always came back to my trusty old 3Leaf GR1. Let me see if i can remember the entire list... Digitech BSW Boss AW-3 EHX Bassballs EHX Bass MicroSynth 3Leaf GR1 3Leaf Proton 3Leaf Wonderlove MXR Envelope Filter Zoom 506 Multifx ...i'm forgetting a couple of them... In sum the key factor here is for you to discover the kind of sound you're looking for. For me the Lovetone Meatball is the sound i love and the reason i always came back to the GR1, the other pedals are modded on the Mutron III sound and i find it too harsh (quacky) for my taste. The Lovetone has a phatter and groovier sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 My favourite is the EMMA DiscumBOBulator. I've got a few envelope filters,but that's the one that lives on my pedal board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alstocko Posted January 26, 2013 Author Share Posted January 26, 2013 UPDATE: I just bought the bargain Groove Regulator! SOOOO excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 You'll love it. Don't know why I ever sold mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muri Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 [quote name='Gareth Hughes' timestamp='1359063102' post='1949417'] I've been on filter hunts for years and always keep coming back to my Electro Harmonix Mini Q-Tron's. Big boxes which is a pain in the butt, but there's just something about them that makes it all worthwhile and I just can't find in other pedals. Had a 3LeafAudio Proton, [u][b]an EBS Bass IQ (twic[/b][/u]e), an EHX BassBalls, an MXR Bass Auto Q, DigiTech SynthWah and probably more that I've forgotten. [/quote] Hi Gareth, I’m after an envelope filter myself. Do you think the EBS Bass IQ keeps the low end well? I’m after a very subtle sweep on top of my sound really, and was wondering if that’s something you can control with the Threshold knob. Cheers mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 [quote name='Muri' timestamp='1414149789' post='2586405'] Hi Gareth, I’m after an envelope filter myself. Do you think the EBS Bass IQ keeps the low end well? I’m after a very subtle sweep on top of my sound really, and was wondering if that’s something you can control with the Threshold knob. Cheers mate [/quote] Sounds like you need something with a clean blend... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 The MXR is great for keeping the low end. I've got plenty of filters but the MXR seems to work best in a band mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razze06 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 If you have a passive or not-too-hot output bass, a good and cheap option is the Ashdown Envelope Filter. I use it for a couple of covers, and sits very well in the mix for me. Not good with high output basses though, can't modulate the effect too well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 [quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1357314660' post='1920880'] Whereas I think the low-pass on a Q-Tron is the funkiest sound you can get from just a filter on bass. [/quote] I really like the Q-Tron model from the Zoom B1Xon (also B3, MS60-B, etc). Anyone directly compared the digital model to the real thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo0tsy Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 I'm a bit of a filter junkie. I finally got my hands on the Mu Fx Mu Tron 3x recently, and that's such a powerful and flexible filter. Love the Chunk Systems pedals too, and the Emma Discumbobulator! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 The best Filter I've used (and still do) is the MXR BEF, sounds great, very versatile, love it. A surprise for me was the DOD FX-25B, not so versatile, and a very slight gain drop, but excellent sound, it's my go-to backup. That said, I've yet to gig a Groove Regulator, and very interested to do so! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 The MXR rocks. And if you order one from Prymaxe you can get one delivered for well under £100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Indeed, mine should be arriving soon! I really should try more Mutron clones though, I love the Zoom Z-Tron model of the Q-Tron, sounds awesome and has a blend too. The 3Leaf Proton was ok but not quite there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 I've had a fair few filters over the years. Some I've sold: EHX Q-Tron 3Leaf Bassballs Mooer Bass Sweeper Digitech Dod I also had an original 70s Mutron III in its original box (with warranty cards) which I actually gave away to a friend about 3 years ago. I'm interested in the MXR Filter. Has anyone tried the Carl Martin Optical Envelope Filter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0175westwood29 Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 my fave and what i currently have on my board is the lateral sounds "primer" has the envelope filter and can be turned into an lfo at the flick of a switch, bloody love it! http://lateralsound.com/pedals/primer/ andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Is that Mutron based, with it's hi/lo switch and switchable LPF/BPF? I'd consider getting a custom one, getting rid of the LFO, and adding a blend and expression control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 (edited) I have a micro Q-Tron, which is a superb sounding envelope filter but as others have said, the volume spike makes it pretty much unusable in a live setting. It also developed some kind of fault where it will drain a battery from new within a few hours, even when the cable is disconnected and not in use. Edited October 29, 2014 by 40hz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratman Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I solve the volume spike by putting my Q-Tron in a loop with an MS60B set to tame the volume. I also use the Zoom to fine tune the EQ of the Q-Tron. A blending loop pedal could work well here too. Volume spikes & drops from pedals are no reason not to use them, there's always a solution to make them useable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I e always loved my original FX25 but as others have said it's a one trick pony. It also reacts very differently to different instruments so when I had several basses it sounded great with the active Vigier but quite thin and subtle on my Marleaux. The main reason I like it is that when the signal going into the pedal pushes the unit it makes a nice squelch rather than some filters like the Q-tron that tend to whistle. The resale on them is good so I'd say buy one and try it. If you don't like it you can sell it again. I'm on my mobile so can't see your full profile but if you're in or near York you're welcome to borrow mine. Cheers Edit: ah just noticed the dates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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