3leaf audio Groove Regulator

[bobbass4k]

I've had this around a week now and I'm in love, everything I wanted from a filter, there's a pic up in the pedalboard porn thread, I figured it might be worth sharing my joy as these are regarded with near divine devotion on Talkbass but I've heard absolutely no mention of them here, never seen or heard of any others on these shores

Basically, it's a trimmed down Lovetone Meatball clone, fewer controls, more useable sounds and a smaller box. They're handbuilt (I think) by a fella named Spencer in seattle, 3leaf site [url="http://www.3leafaudio.com/"]here[/url]

He sells them new for $199 plus $30 international shipping, which is about £140, which I think is pretty good for a brand new boutique filter, unfortunately I bought it in a rush so I forgot to ask him if he'd gift it, so I got stung for tax and handling which ran me £28, but if you're gonna buy one shoot him an email and check, it's a one man operation (I think) so it's worth checking.

Soundwise I'm very impressed, it's basically what I've wanted for a while, a discumBOBulator with more versatility. It doesn't get crazy wet or squelchy like a mutron, like the dbob, your drytone shines through, but it's less subtle than the dbob, but like the dbob, this is it's upside, every sound this thing can make is useable, it's very tame no crazy speaker blowing spikes no need for a compressor, sounds glorious with a fuzz before it or in the fx loop, which reins in fuzzes that sound wild before it, unlike the tron models on my FM4 that just clipped at the first hint of fuzz

I should probably stop before I rant some more, I can record some clips if anyone wants them

Edited November 3, 2009 by bobbass4k

[51m0n]

Please do post sound clips!!!

Had the 3leaf site bookmarked for soooo long.

Love the Discombobulator (just call me mr big GAS) so a comparison would bake my cake and so on and so forth (hint hint)

Cheers!

[thisnameistaken]

It's a bit like my Meatwad but not as good.

[bobbass4k]

And about half the price and a lot more user friendly

gonna record some clips now, should be up soon

Edited November 3, 2009 by bobbass4k

[burno70]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='644688' date='Nov 3 2009, 08:37 PM']It's a bit like my Meatwad but not as good. [/quote]



But in all seriousness, despite having a Meatwad, I find myself gassing for this pedal. I'm not a major knob twiddler (fnarr fnarr) I find the major knobbage of the Meatwad daunting at times and have seemingly lost "that sound" on more than a few occaisions - I think less could be more in this case and that appeals to me. Although the sound it makes is always gonna be the bottom line.

Would love to hear some funkyass clips please!

[bobbass4k]

Right, I'm having some issues with recording, the monitored signal sounds great, but when I try to record it the low notes clip, I got a rough sample down, Turning the gain crazily low made it half ddecent quality but now it's very quiet. The sample follows some vague sense of logic, basically I fiddle with all the knobs L-R, then the switches L-R, then some random settings I like, then there's two fuzzes, the first one is my cherry pop in the loop, the second is my mastotron in front of the GR, then there's some cheesy synth sounds using some other pedals.

I apologise for the quality of the sound and the playing, I haven't had enough coffee today and I've just sepnt half an hour trying to MacGyver the audio into life. I'll try to fix it and record some decent clips tommorow

clips [url="http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=249504"]here[/url]

Edited November 4, 2009 by bobbass4k

[DanOwens]

Is there an expression pedal input, or is it just autofiltering? And does it follow the envelope of the input signal or trigger an envelope that you preset?

I'm not familiar with the meatball but it sounds like a good filter for a good price!

[Higgie]

No expression pedal input, and it's a standard filter, reacts to your dynamics. Because of the effects loop though there is a nifty little trick you can do. Plug whatever you want to trigger the filter (say the bass drum mic) into the input, then plug your bass into the return of the effects loop. It will be your bass sound coming through, but the filter will only be controlled by the kick drum So you can essentially sync the filter to be triggered by whatever you like, but have it effect your bass.

Edit: Here's a vid that shows you what I mean.

Edited November 4, 2009 by Higgie

[bobbass4k]

Yea, tbh an exp pedal option would be good, the sensitivity knob give's a really cool sweep, but it's not the end of the world without it, and I'm gonna be borrowing a drum machine to try the triggering trick soon

[bass_ennyday]

i´m [b]not[/b] related to 3Leaf Audio, but i want to let you know that the Groove Regulator is on "summer sale"
at the moment, until july 13th it´s 179 U$ (instead of 199 U$) .... i´m going to order NOW.

[pantherairsoft]

I own one... So does Bassnut62 on this very forum. It's good enough to give up my DiscumBOBulator for and the day I bought I also tried a Meatwad. I chose the GR simply as it triggered perfectly on the low B and tonaly, to me, sounded much nicer than the Meatwad.

The 3Leaf for me is a winner of a pedal. Fantastic value for money. A very very worthwhile purchase for anyone for under £150
Shipped to the UK.

[Bassnut62]

oh yes this pedal is the business - i've had mine for over a year now and love it to pieces. it i so useable and well funky. It has an fx loop too. So you can really embed other effects in the filetered signal, rather than after or before; which often sounds a bit too spikey to me.

still love my EHX Bass Balls tho and the Qtron is still a class act. But if i could only take one, it would be the Groove Regulator - it offers more tasty filter sounds than any other filter i've tried.

[kevin_lindsay]

I saw the review clip in Bass Player a while back and always thought the unit sounded cool. So, thanks to you guys, I've now ordered myself one - yippee!!

[deej]

This sounds like the kinda thing ive been looking for. Ive never really got on with my previous envelope filters because either I dont like the wet squishy sound, or it makes me signal sound thin to me. With what ive heard about this being a bit more subtle and more tweakable, it could be right up my street.

[Ghost_Bass]

I also have one and love it. Every setting i dial in is very musical and usable. I've only tried the EBS IQ before buying the 3leaf and it's a whole diferent world, the IQ it's very hard to find a soft spot with good sound. I'm waiting for a AW-3 i got in a buisiness and i'll post a A-B with the 3leaf but i'm sure it wont replace my GR. I recomend to any one looking for a auto-wah.
I'm curious about the new MXR envelope filter though, anyone has tried both MXR and 3leaf and can post a opinion?

[kevin_lindsay]

My Groove Generator arrived in the UK yesterday (Monday) and is currently still in UK Customs. All being well I should have it in the next few days - yippee!! Looks like I'm gonna have a fun weekend!

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' post='887129' date='Jul 6 2010, 11:30 AM']I'm curious about the new MXR envelope filter though, anyone has tried both MXR and 3leaf and can post a opinion?[/quote]

TBH the pair of them have almost identical features. If anything it will be down to how they generate the envelope from the input.

I used to prefer the "Meatball" style envelope like you get on the Groove Regulator and my Meatwad which is very versatile and easy to play, but I've since decided the steeper DOD style envelope is actually really nice when you get used to it. It just needs to be more tuned in with the output of your bass, but when it is, it's very expressive.

But if you swap basses, the Meatball style pedal is the only practical one, really.

[bass_ennyday]

after being stucked at customs for almost 10 days, i picked up my Groove Regulator this morning.

Sound = WOOOOW, but more testing NOW .... tbc

[kevin_lindsay]

I got a card through my letterbox yesterday saying there's a package at the sorting office So, it looks like I'll get my GR later today. Yippee!

[kevin_lindsay]

Went to the Post Office yesterday and found that it wasn't my Groove Regulator which was waiting, but a TW Steel watch - Now, I know they are "outsize", but this is mental - this thing is the size of my wrist!!



Anyhow, in regards to the Groove Regulator - I arrived home today and there's a letter from Parcelforce asjking for the VAT charge plus an additional £8 handling fee from Parcelforce!! Stealing pigs! Oh well, charge has been paid so the filter should be with me early next week.

Edited July 10, 2010 by kevin_lindsay

[Ghost_Bass]

I now own a GR and a AW-3. The GR sound is by far batter then the boss but i like the down sweep of the AW. The Boss unit has severeal different effects if you take the time to fiddle with the pedal but i can't seem to find a decent one... maybe i'm just so used to my GR sound that all seems poor to me! The filter in the GR is more musical, smooth and groovy as the AW has lots of high-end peaks and makes your bass sound sparkly (like a guitar)....

So now i have my GR set to up sweep and the AW to down. It's just the way i like, set and forget, lol! Both of them sound pretty cool with an octave (MXR BOD) before in the chain.

[kevin_lindsay]

Okay, for those folk who are curious about the unit - here's how it arrives - nicely packaged. I'm going to give the unit a run through and hope to post some soundclips or videos this weekend.