oldslapper Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Only had one pedal in all my days playing bass. A BBE Optical Comp, lovely pedal. But have compression on my amp. But 12 months into a jazz/fusion project, I’m admitting that a bit o’envelope/wah would fit nicely. So I’m not looking to invest in anything boutique, at least not at first. And not wanting a multi fx box either. Thinking (as an inexpensive intro to the pedal rabbit hole) along the lines of: Ashdown Filter Malekko E.FILTER ( EHX nano baseballs I'm using a 5 string ray through Ashdown Neo 2x10 combo for reference. Any experience of the above peeps? Comparisons? Thanks, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 I have never found an Ashdown envelope I could use. And the Bassballs is a very acquired taste - even its biggest fans admit it can work on one bass and not another. Dont know the Malekko so I'll refrain. If I had to recommend one, guaranteed to work whatever the bass, and whatever sound you seek it would be the MXR Bass Envelope Filter. Utterly reliable, easy to dial in. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verb Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 I've been looking at envelope filters recently, have you considered the Q tron? It is available as a nano size, but the slightly bigger micro is cheaper. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, stewblack said: Dont know the Malekko so I'll refrain. @E sharp is selling one, hence the reference. I’d not heard of them before either. As the effect will be used in an originals setting, I have no “sound” to chase. Edited December 19, 2021 by oldslapper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeed Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 I've used several envelope followers over the years.. 1st was a doctor Q by Electro Harmonix ..(pre nano) Then a Dod 25B (I believe it was used by Flea on sir Psycho sexy) then a bottomfeeder..(which was a boutique clone) Mooer envelope & Mooer sweeper.. Sweeper has a character of it's own!.. envelope is generic but usable... I now have the EBS IQ 3 knob new version.. which is very versatile & works for me... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 Looking at the Carl Martin opto envelope filter and the Eden too. Blimey there’s a lot of choice. Pedals are a rabbit hole you could disappear down for a loooong time 🐰🤪😳 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 1 hour ago, oldslapper said: Looking at the Carl Martin opto envelope filter and the Eden too. Blimey there’s a lot of choice. Pedals are a rabbit hole you could disappear down for a loooong time 🐰🤪😳 And spend an awful lot of money too.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 The nano bass balls has just one sound and it's.... Ok. If that's what you want. The best bargain autowah I know of is the EHX Mini Q Tron. I think you could get one secondhand for about sixty quid and they're really flexible, subtle to ridiculous and loads in between, great for guitar or bass. If an actual wah pedal is your thing I'd recommend the AMT bass wah or the Jim Dunlop cry baby bass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee650 Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 2 hours ago, oldslapper said: @E sharp is selling one, hence the reference. I’d not heard of them before either. As the effect will be used in an originals setting, I have no “sound” to chase. I have that Malleko filter that E sharp was selling, he hasn't updated his Ad. It's based on a DOD 440 so its a Band pass filter, which appears to let a nice amount of your clean signal through. The sound is very subtle and polite (Not loads of resonance) but that works well in some situations as your note definition us very strong. It has two controls, but they can give a surprising amount of variation. It has no sensitivity control, but seems to be tuned fairly high, so there's no triggering issues, although some basses can be used with a softer touch than others. It is very well made and looks brilliant. All in all a nice filter and for jazzy stuff, isn't too in your face. The bassballs is a very unique and vocal sounding filter, doesn't really sound like a traditional filter at all,so I'm not sure it'll work for you. It's a great sound,particularly with an Octave in front of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 3 hours ago, oldslapper said: Looking at the Carl Martin opto envelope filter and the Eden too. Blimey there’s a lot of choice. Pedals are a rabbit hole you could disappear down for a loooong time 🐰🤪😳 Never tried the Carl Martin, but don’t waste your money on the Eden. I’ve tried a lot and it’s amongst the most useless! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 The EHX Bassballs is cool but it's a pretty unique sounding filter and does what it does. It's not the most versatile filter. I'd be more inclined to look at one of the Q Trons instead. I haven't tried the big Ashdown filter, but I've got their Dr Green Doctors Note. As a standalone filter it's ok, but it really comes alive if you stack it behind an OC2. Personally, my favourites are the Emma Discumbobulator for an up sweep, and the Seamoon Funk Machine for a downsweep. I really like the old DOD FX25 too. You can sometimes find them pretty cheaply, especially the FX25B, although I think the older FX25 (without the B) is a better sounding pedal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 The Carl Martin one has a great sound, but to my ears there was too much of a volume drop and low end cut for it to work without an external blend/boost pedal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 14 hours ago, Doddy said: I really like the old DOD FX25 too. You can sometimes find them pretty cheaply, especially the FX25B, although I think the older FX25 (without the B) is a better sounding pedal. Like the one @ped is selling? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 11 minutes ago, oldslapper said: Like the one @ped is selling? Yeah. Great little pedal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 I've had the Bassballs (hated it), the MXR (liked it), the 3 Leaf Proton (liked it) and the Aguilar Filter Twin which was my favorite by quite a distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 I’ve just seen a video demo of the digitech bass synth wah pedal. That looks very interesting and I can see me using it in the trio definitely. Thoughts/experience anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 I've had several Bassballs - for me, they do everything I've wanted them to. I've sold them because, though I like to play with them at home, I don't think I'd use one in the real world. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 38 minutes ago, oldslapper said: I’ve just seen a video demo of the digitech bass synth wah pedal. That looks very interesting and I can see me using it in the trio definitely. Thoughts/experience anyone? I have 3 of them. Superb pedals. As a straight filter the MXR and the more expensive Source Audio Spectrum are probably better, but the Digitech can do many things those other 2 cannot. It will do a very good filter, some fantastic synth tones (Deeper Underground etc), and octave effect if you set the controls right etc. It's one of the most fun pedals I've ever had. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boodang Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 I bought 3 envelope filter pedals recently; the Seamoon Funk Machine is maybe a bit niche but the Solid Gold FX Supa Funk and the Mr Black Fwonkbeta are worth considering. I've reviewed them here on BC including some sound clips. The Supa Funk emphasises the 'vowel' type sounds and has some classic funk settings, the Fwonkbeta is massively thick and juicy but maybe not as versatile. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 On 20/12/2021 at 04:33, stewblack said: MXR Bass Envelope Filter. The only pedal I ever sold and replaced. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 4 hours ago, Downunderwonder said: The only pedal I ever sold and replaced. Not surprised. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 20 hours ago, oldslapper said: I’ve just seen a video demo of the digitech bass synth wah pedal. That looks very interesting and I can see me using it in the trio definitely. Thoughts/experience anyone? Its one that if you buy second hand you won't lose your money selling on if you don't like it. I personally didn't get on with it but I know others love it. Trial and error is the way with these things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 Agree that the MXR is a great place to start - good value and a really sweet sound. I had the Digitech years ago, I don’t remember the envelope filter very well but remember it being a fantastic octaver ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quatschmacher Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 On 19/12/2021 at 17:54, bottomfeed said: Then a Dod 25B (I believe it was used by Flea on sir Psycho sexy) That was a MuTron III with a dying battery. He said so himself in a bass player magazine interview. There are scans of the article online if you look for them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quatschmacher Posted December 21, 2021 Share Posted December 21, 2021 Can only agree with checking out the MXR as a starting point. It’s a bandpass filter but supremely funky. Plenty of nice lowpass filters out there too: qtron, qballs, Fwonkbeta, Discumbobulator, filter twin… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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