Author Topic: Any stompboxes out there that can do what an SF2 does? (Read 257 times)

glocke · « **on:** April 27, 2013, 02:57:37 PM »

Sat in with a friends band last weekend and brought my SF2 with me...Throughout the gig I kept tweaking bandpass filters in order to get different tones....

Got me to thinking that it would be cool to have some kind of stompbox that does something similar so that you control different frequencies with your foot instead of reaching back and flipping a switch...

sonicus · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2013, 04:38:20 PM »

About 30 years ago there was a very limited production of a State Variable Filter pedal called PLUTO FILTER . I knew the gentleman who built them. They have not been in production for a long time.
There have been other attempts made with filters but I think the SF-2 has the most useful musical approach.
In my opinion you are best off getting an SF-2 and setting up A/B foot switch signal routes.

hb3 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2013, 05:07:22 PM »

But there are a lot of eq in a box pedals out there that may or may not be useful. Of course, with such a good tone to begin with, it's hard to find something useful to stack on top of it. You'd probably have to experiment and try some stuff out, but no, I don't think there's anything out there that either replicates or is as apparently good as the SF2.

sonicus · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2013, 05:43:49 PM »

Yes , there are parametric EQ's ,Paragraphic EQ's , Graphic EQ's in a pedal . Some noisy some OK . But I have not yet heard one that can substitute an Alembic SF-2 Super Filter .

lbpesq · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2013, 06:19:31 PM »

Another option would be to wire the SF-2 into the signal chain with a looper so it can be pre-set and inserted or bypassed with a foot switch.

Bill, tgo

edwin · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2013, 03:06:36 AM »

Parametric and graphic eqs are fundamentally different from what the SF-2 does. They always have the unfiltered signal at the output and the eq curve comes from adding the filtered signal to it in or out of phase. This creates a very different sound (to my ear) from the SF2, which seems to retain a lot more of the phase integrity of the signal. So, nothing I've heard will sound quite the same. It's one of the reasons I'd love to have an onboard Superfilter!

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2013, 12:48:46 PM »

What about a MIDI-programmable automated knobs SF2 a-la Fender's Cyber Twin? No need to really modify the SF2 audio circuitry, but adding the moving knobs thing and a MIDI memory module, so presets can be created and recalled (even via a MIDI footswitch) and knobs will turn to get to the exact point for each preset? A friend of mine has a Cyber Twin and it's stunning to see them knobs moving when you change presets

... shame it isn't a real twin (No tubes, for an instance), although it sounds real nice!.

jseitang · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2013, 04:11:54 PM »

no
there is nothing out there that sounds like the super filter.

hieronymous · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2013, 06:44:13 PM »

I've been thinking about this too. An SF-2 in a stompbox would be awesome, even just one filter (SF-1?) with a footpedal to control the filter cutoff.

One option would be to still use the rackmount on the floor, and control the knobs with these:

Third Hand pedal

It mechanically turns the pot! I actually have one of these and was using it to control the feedback on my vintage Space Echo.

gtrguy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2013, 09:20:43 PM »

Actually a Fender Cyber Twin has a 12AX7 preamp tube in it. In addition and perhaps more importunately, the knobs move but all the inner parameters also change with the various presets, and there are more internal parameters then there are knobs settings.

I just bought a used one and am having tons of fun with it! I can actually get it to sound like various real Fender amps if I spend enough time tweaking on it! It is a cover band players delight and going for reasonable money used these days!