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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
 Posted - 04/28/2009 : 20:56:49
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Hi!
I have my mij BF-2 in my pedalboard to produce finger on the tape effects. Im not much of an jetsound guy. I like it smooth. Thats where the problem comes in. The BF-2 is quite strong at the effect level. Even though there is none. It kinda boost the signal through the effect and muffles the tone a bit. So, is the HF-2 the solution here? I got a mij HF-2, but im not sure if its worth the extra job to change. I tryed it yesterday while rehearsing but couldnt really tell.
Do you have some inputs or thoughts abot these two and the differences about them?
Im after a finger on the tape sound that sounds good and are not too heave with nice dynamic but with a lot of warmth. |
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ChristoMephisto
Platinum Member
Canada
1288 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 23:30:14
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The HF2 is a great pedal, while being at half the rate as the BF2, the doubled sound is an octave higher than the standard detuned.
Its more suited to rhythm than the screaming Van Halen leads.
Guessing the bass flanger is about half way between the two.
The electro caps maybe bad from age and can cause undesirable effects, especially along the tone path. I changed out the electro caps in my PH1r, for the same value with metal film caps, and the sound was cleaner and better sounding. Its not really modding, its repair.
There are mods out there if search.
Haven't tried any other flangers but Boss, except for a Dano, so can't really suggest another brand. |
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 05:40:41
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which generation MIJ do you have? there's ~4 era MIJ's that all sound slightly different.
the earliest MIJ's (use a coin to unscrew) ones have a more subtle, open, and organic tone from my experiences.
the flange becomes a lot more pronounced the later you go in generation. have you tried tweaking the manual and res? there's a limit to what you can do with it but it helps a lot.
i don't think the HF-2 is going to do what you are looking for. i've found it's more of a swirly tone than a true flange.
an '80-81 MIJ is about the only thing i can think of from boss that will do that kind of performance you are wanting.
another trick you might want to try if you have an ACA era BF-2 is to run it separately on its regulated power supply (and not on a power daisy chain)... under-volted it will dull out a lot of the "in-your-faceness" of the swoosh. |
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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 08:00:24
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quote:
Originally posted by zentropa
which generation MIJ do you have? there's ~4 era MIJ's that all sound slightly different.
the earliest MIJ's (use a coin to unscrew) ones have a more subtle, open, and organic tone from my experiences.
the flange becomes a lot more pronounced the later you go in generation. have you tried tweaking the manual and res? there's a limit to what you can do with it but it helps a lot.
i don't think the HF-2 is going to do what you are looking for. i've found it's more of a swirly tone than a true flange.
an '80-81 MIJ is about the only thing i can think of from boss that will do that kind of performance you are wanting.
another trick you might want to try if you have an ACA era BF-2 is to run it separately on its regulated power supply (and not on a power daisy chain)... under-volted it will dull out a lot of the "in-your-faceness" of the swoosh.
Thanx! Well, the BF-2 is from 82 and the HF-2 is from 88. Maybe it�s the BF-2 that is the shit! I�ll try them more in a/b-test this weekend. |
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 09:44:49
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guessing your BF-2 is a green label w/ paper serial #?
if so, those are 3rd most overbearing in terms of the effect strength (out of 4).
i've had about 7 MIJ BF-2's and my favorites were by far all from '80-81. black label MIJ's were next in line, then green MIJ's. i have had a dark grey label MIJ w/ serial # on the bottom label as well that sounded pretty much like an MIT.
the earliest ones were definitely the most subtle and i always preferred to under-volt them with a regulated power supply.
i'm not sure how much an A/B will yield since they're very different pedals. it's more of a question of whether or not they drill what you are looking for. |
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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 09:48:47
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quote:
Originally posted by zentropa
guessing your BF-2 is a green label w/ paper serial #?
if so, those are 3rd most overbearing in terms of the effect strength (out of 4).
i've had about 7 MIJ BF-2's and my favorites were by far all from '80-81. black label MIJ's were next in line, then green MIJ's. i have had a dark grey label MIJ w/ serial # on the bottom label as well that sounded pretty much like an MIT.
the earliest ones were definitely the most subtle and i always preferred to under-volt them with a regulated power supply.
i'm not sure how much an A/B will yield since they're very different pedals. it's more of a question of whether or not they drill what you are looking for.
It is actually a black label one with paper serialnumber and old black knobs. The A/B-test was only for me to figure out wich one to use. It�s mostly chordplay when using flanger, so maybe the HF is the better. I don�t know. Interesting reading about the BF soundchanges. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 17:50:15
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Scotty Moore(the original elvis guitarist from the 50's) and Les Paul both use a CH-1 and a DD-3 to get that chewy tape effect from photos i've seen and from and interview i read with scotty somewhere on the net..... |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 18:19:14
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Hi Shoegazers Anonymous
For a more finger on the tape reel sound.
Set your res. control to off or near off,
if you think about it in real world terms,
there is no resonance when you slow down a tape spool with your finger/s.
& it's difficult to emulate the pitch change with small BBD Chips.
The BF-2 and almost all flangers are clocked with a "Sawtooth" waveform,
to try & approximate the a slightly stronger pitch change.
Where most chorus pedals use a symmetrical "Triangular" or close to "Sine wave" waveforms, to get their swooshing sounds.
The Res controls, were added in later years,
to get a more synthy-swirly effect,
& to make the flanger sound more metallic.(ahh the 80's).
Any of you other Tech guys, please feel free to add your comments here.
Getting true finger on tape reel flange sounds, may be more difficult
that you think.
But setting the res. to off or near off, will go a long way to helping you out.
Another trick to try is to combine a CE-2 & a BF/HF-2.
You might have to try to reverse the order of the two pedals. (BF2-CE-2)
It's not Flanging, but it's a sound made in heaven.
Set both to Slow & Deep, especially the CE-2, and set them at slightly different speeds.
Good luck
Regards Dr. Bob 
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Shoegazers Anonymous
Silver Member
Sweden
257 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 19:22:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
Hi Shoegazers Anonymous
For a more finger on the tape reel sound.
Set your res. control to off or near off,
if you think about it in real world terms,
there is no resonance when you slow down a tape spool with your finger/s.
& it's difficult to emulate the pitch change with small BBD Chips.
The BF-2 and almost all flangers are clocked with a "Sawtooth" waveform,
to try & approximate the a slightly stronger pitch change.
Where most chorus pedals use a symmetrical "Triangular" or close to "Sine wave" waveforms, to get their swooshing sounds.
The Res controls, were added in later years,
to get a more synthy-swirly effect,
& to make the flanger sound more metallic.(ahh the 80's).
Any of you other Tech guys, please feel free to add your comments here.
Getting true finger on tape reel flange sounds, may be more difficult
that you think.
But setting the res. to off or near off, will go a long way to helping you out.
Another trick to try is to combine a CE-2 & a BF/HF-2.
You might have to try to reverse the order of the two pedals. (BF2-CE-2)
It's not Flanging, but it's a sound made in heaven.
Set both to Slow & Deep, especially the CE-2, and set them at slightly different speeds.
Good luck
Regards Dr. Bob
Thanks Dr!
Nice tips there. I will test it. Cheers! |
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Topic |
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BF-2 v.s HF-2
