Best non-VH flanger for VH sounds

  • Thread starter Thread starter geetarmikey
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geetarmikey

geetarmikey

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.... particularly anything that's a mini pedal? Looking for that classic deep and chunky Unchained-esque sound.

I'm currently using this purple Chord one that almost does it but looking for something better.

Cheers!
 

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I use the regular 2 knob MXR flanger and it does what it needs to do. Those bigger ones are just too…well, big.
 
Sit and wait and an original flanger will pop up for cheap. Nothing sounds as good as them…especially for VH stuff.
 
Check out PastFx Hot for Flanger. Michael Nielsen and Leon Todd both have done demos on it.
 
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The Petrucci Dreamscape has 2 Flange settings one is preset to the VH "unchained" thing.
 
Past effect makes a cool flanger, but again, if you watch and wait, you can get an original for cheap. I found this one day while surfing. Sure it’s ugly, but it sounds incredible. For $127 total (taxes), it was a no brainer. I converted it to 18v and have a big smile.

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geetarmikey said:
.... particularly anything that's a mini pedal? Looking for that classic deep and chunky Unchained-esque sound.
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I've been where you are and I tried a whole bunch.... Donner Metric Bender, Mooer Elec-Lady, Ibanez Mini Flanger.... they're all more on the chorussy/warbly side of things, when it comes to nailing the "Unchained" tone.
Since I have both the full size vintage MXR Flanger as well as their Micro Flanger (both vintage and RI versions), lemme tell ya, the 2 knob Micro Flanger is probably your best bet for something affordable and easily available.
There WILL be a volume boost if you place it in the fx-loop. The RI version is true bypass and has the more common barrel 9V jack (center negative) whereas the vintage one either has NO 9V input (i.e. batteries only) or a 3.5mm mini-jack adapter input (center positive).

The PastFX pedal looks cool (they even used the MXR font...naughty boys. :unsure::p), but the 18V thing could be a deal breaker, depending on your pedalboard and power supply.
 
DMartin356 said:
The Pastfx Hot for Flanger is small and sounds really good.
https://www.pastfx.com/index.php/effects/flangers/hot-for-flanger
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This if you want VH in a small package.

I own the MXR EVH, the MXR 117 and the Hot for Flanger - they all sound great, the HFF nails the VH and MXR stuff. The HHF is not cheap but totally worth it IMO.

It's really too bad MXR doesn't put the larger Flanger footprint in a small box. The MXR Micro is decent but IMO it cannot do the VH stuff.
 
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Can I resurrect?
Don’t want to start a new thread.
Not trying to cop VH tones.

I’m looking at flangers and the PastFX Electric Mattress and the Retrosonic Flanger seem to sound great, you guys have any experience with these?

Looking for a little modulation, dont want another trem pedal and I never use my phaser.

Flanger seems the way to go and has a little chorus that I like.
 
The Strymon Orbit can do just about any Flanger sound you want and is quite rich and lush sounding. Around 200 bucks used. I wouldn't have let it go but FX outside OD are mostly just fun toys for around the house for me so they come and go.
 
VonBonfire said:
The Strymon Orbit can do just about any Flanger sound you want and is quite rich and lush sounding. Around 200 bucks used. I wouldn't have let it go but FX outside OD are mostly just fun toys for around the house for me so they come and go.
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I saw that one.
They are just fun around the house for me too!
 
dcburn said:
I saw that one.
They are just fun around the house for me too!
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Yeah that was a sweet pedal, so many options plus a mix control so you have final control over the intensity, which is needed cause the thing can kick out such a rich tone. I highly recommend it if there are multiple Flange sounds you are chasing. I don't do VH stuff so not sure how hard it hits the Eddie but there was enough parameter controls there that I can't see it not being possible.
 
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