gazgoldstar Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 (edited) Hi folks, I have just preordered a Sonuus Wahoo (www.sonuus.com) as they are on prerelease special offer for £200 inc vat. I think they will cost at least £50 more when they are widely available so maybe worth considering. Sorry if this seems a bit of a sales pitch, I'm not connected to Sonuus but am genuinely really excited about what I hope this pedal will bring and I want to share that with my fellow bass brethren! I am excited about this pedal for a number of different reasons but let me give you some background as to why. I am a bit of an FX junkie for bass but really when it comes down to it many FX just don't cut it live. I have pretty much given up on spacey fx (phasers and flangers), chorus doesn't really float my boat, reverb - great in isolation but can add so much mush to the mix etc etc However, filters really work for me. I have experimented with so many over the years seeking out that almost holy grail of low pass filter sweep. For years I used my White Dunlop Wah which can be great but is very peaky and recently I have been using an EHX Enigma with an expression pedal. This is a great all analogue pedal with tons of possibilities but is too twitchy to change live. For example on the EHX if you want to change tones with the envelope follower, slight differences can really ruin what was a great sound. This is very difficult because of the interdependent nature of the controls. What the Enigma really needs is presets.... Enter the Wahoo. This is an Analogue filter (well two actually - more later) that is digitally controlled. This really is the best of both worlds as the bass signal remains totally within the analogue realm whilst the operation of it can use all the benefits of digital control. I have messed around with many digital filters and although can be pretty good, seem to lack the warmth and smoothness of a real analogue one. The Wahoo has 100 presets and 100 user patches plus has a computer editor accessible via a USB port. Great! I will be able to back up my settings too. It's when you crack open the manual and start looking at what this can can do that's when it gets really impressive. I am going to bullet point the cool stuff:[list] [*]Analogue signal path [*]24dB lowpass or 12dB Bandpass [*]Two completely separate filters [*]100 user/100 presets plus USB editor [url="http://www.sonuus.com/products_wahoo_editor.html"]http://www.sonuus.co...hoo_editor.html[/url] (is this the best looking fx editor software?) [*]Battery power/9volt (pos or neg) adaptor or USB. Cool thing here is that either USB or adaptor overrides the battery [*]hold two buttons down and yes! battery life indicator - why can't more pedals/devices have this? [*]If battery fails, unit goes straight into true bypass mode [*]Effect can be induced by the footswitch or by toe down on the exp pedal [*]Expression pedal works as class compliant midi controller over USB - such a cool feature. You could use it to map any synth parameter on your computer [*]LFO can be clocked to tap tempo or midi sync over USB [*]Dry/wet mix essential for low end retain [*]Made out of metal, looks really sturdy. I'll post back once I receive mine to update on this. [*]Filter response curves. Now for me this is one of the killer features as it lets you tailor the shape of the filter. If like me you hate it when all the action on an expression pedal takes place in a really small part of the pedals travel, this should cure this. [*]Preset lock. With this enabled, presets can't be changed and footswitch acts as preset selector. Ace for live. Exp toe down = button goes up through patches, exp heel down is the opposite. [*]Updatable firmware over USB - always nice to be able to do this [*]Pitch tracking filter. This means that the filter can actually move around following the pitch of what you are playing. I have not experienced this before but am hoping that you could use it as a subtle frequency bump (in bandpass) that will enhance each note that you play. It is a monophonic effect (based on their pitch to midi technology). It won't output midi though (although maybe in a firmware update?) [*]Filter drive. Again analogue so hopefully it will function as a bit of a fuzz pedal as well. My Enigma has a switchable drive control which is great fun so hopefully it will sound nice. Filter drive is great for making that edge on the cutoff [*]British! (although prolly made in China) [/list] Okay I'm going to hold my horses there before I bore everyone there is still much more! Again I haven't got my unit yet but think that due to the prerelease offer some of you may want to take the plunge. As I said I will return to this thread with an update once I have one. I am planning on making a video about it too. Anyway I'll leave you with a link to the manual. Cheers! [url="http://www.sonuus.com/downloads/sonuus-Wahoo-Manual..pdf"]sonuus Wahoo™ Product Manual[/url] Edited September 12, 2012 by gazgoldstar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 I am going to post this up on Talkbass too. My little bit for the UK economy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Just had a look at the manual & looks like it could be a good contender. I think I would have liked to have seen either some CV or an exp pedal in at least, but looks like a good dubstep machine. Let us know how it is when you get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxm Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Yup, I'm also on the preorder list...sorely missed my ebs wah one - i'm a long time sonuus i2m user - so i pretty much trust whilst buying blind !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EskimoBassist Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Here's a demo, with guitar: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T_Ryrb_YPo&feature=share&list=PLE7E754184BAA237C[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Bloody clever stuff that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Not usually a filter fan but that looks really flexible and very interesting. I wonder how the bend setting would cope with a fretless..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted September 3, 2012 Author Share Posted September 3, 2012 [quote name='mxm' timestamp='1346433955' post='1789256'] Yup, I'm also on the preorder list...sorely missed my ebs wah one - i'm a long time sonuus i2m user - so i pretty much trust whilst buying blind !!! [/quote] Would love to hear your thoughts when you get it. I think it has the potential for people to use it in very different ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Lock function - really good idea! I wonder if that can be retro-fitted to EVERY guitar pedal to stop the tweaking inbetween songs? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxxwj Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 (edited) [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1346653590' post='1791478'] Lock function - really good idea! I wonder if that can be retro-fitted to EVERY guitar pedal to stop the tweaking inbetween songs? [/quote] That's impossible, you know guitarists have to tweak.. Very interesting pedal though. To me it sounds a little like the WMD Fatman, but I'm guessing you can probably change all the parameters of it to make it sound completely different. Definitely a contender for the envelope filter market alongside the Fatman, the Moog, and the Xero. The only problem I have with it is that it's a bit hard to hear the actual note coming through, so you'd probably have to clean-bend it for practical bass use. Edited September 6, 2012 by lxxwj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 Yes! it has arrived. I have made an unboxing vid for anyone interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XShXsldRhbo&feature=youtu.be First impressions? AMAZING! I'll post another vid soon. I'm going to discuss this live on the regular podcast I participate in today at 4pm www.sonicstate.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted September 12, 2012 Author Share Posted September 12, 2012 Here is a little vid I shot of it in low pass mode http://youtu.be/loaL8p3rKr0 Seriously, this pedal is great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted September 14, 2012 Author Share Posted September 14, 2012 Here is another vid I have made. This time in envelope follower mode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZmo8KoTMzk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxm Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 ...just gigged mine, bags of fun. I have kinda haphazardly thrown it into my PB chain first just to get my head round it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 Just made another video. This time it is showing how you can use the pitch tracking mode as a subtle enhancer. Very nice! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NncQ8UIdM2I&feature=youtu.be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 And here is another vid.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFfHjhKLFKU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichF Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 wow you're mental for this pedal mate. I hope Sonuus are paying attention and send you a T shirt or whatever. Great Ric too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 (edited) I can see that my forum post seems a bit suspect, like a spammy kind of thing but I honestly have no direct affiliation with Sonuus (yet!). I have been a bit OTT about this pedal, let me give you some background. I am a regular contributor at Sonicstate.com, this is a music tech website. I participate in the weekly podcast which covers all the latest music tech news and updates etc. We covered the Wahoo when it was announced in the winter Namm show in January this year. For me the Wahoo was the most interesting new product launched at the show and I was really keen to get hold of one. I contacted Sonuus and I was fortunate to receive an early model (which I paid for) but I said I would shoot some vids of it as a thank you for getting one of the first ones. I had been going on about the Wahoo on the podcast and I had extremely high hopes for it. Since receiving it this week, I have not been able to stop playing around with it (as evinced by my vids) and I am delighted to report that it more than meets my expectations. In fact it smashes them to pieces, this unit really is THAT good. Sonicstate have now asked me to carry out a full review (shooting tomorrow). I will post a link to the review when it is up online here asap. Cheers chaps (and chappettes) Edited September 16, 2012 by gazgoldstar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 Hi, finally! Here is the review I made for Sonicstate.com of the Wahoo. Any questions I'll gladly answer. http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2012/10/31/amped-review-sonuus-wahoo-filter-pedal/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskit_case Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Is this still on pre-order? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 [quote name='gazgoldstar' timestamp='1351704086' post='1854425'] Hi, finally! Here is the review I made for Sonicstate.com of the Wahoo. Any questions I'll gladly answer. [url="http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2012/10/31/amped-review-sonuus-wahoo-filter-pedal/"]http://www.sonicstat...o-filter-pedal/[/url] [/quote] Great stuff. Thanks for this. Mine is on pre-order... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazgoldstar Posted November 1, 2012 Author Share Posted November 1, 2012 [quote name='basskit_case' timestamp='1351717203' post='1854668'] Is this still on pre-order? [/quote] Yes it is still available at the pre order deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneknob Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Also pre-ordered - Thanks for all the demos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacker Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Yup, pre-ordered one last week. Looking good.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskit_case Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Whats the release date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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