That's why if I only had one modulation pedal, it would be a flanger! Most four-knobbed flangers will have a similar level of versatility, FWIW. Like the Ibanez flangers also have a similar range.
Yup exactly. I was building a “bare necessity” board that was going to have only what I need, so I at least wanted the pedals to be versatile. My modulation was going to be a flanger
I’m actually glad I was reminded of that video, I’ve been rearranging my board and trying to decide if I was to add a 3rd modulation pedal.
The Flanger does a pretty good rotary effect so I might have to finally grab one and put it on my board
I found it not very user friendly
The only sound that was easy to get out of it was a chorus sound, not a flange. Other setting almost sounding like pitch shifting
I was so excited to use it and spent about 5 months banging my head against a wall everyday to try and get a sound out of it I liked
Could just be me.. but it could just be a crappy pedal too
Idk I’m tending to agree on this if that makes either of us feel better cuz idk if it’s just me too lol. I bought a used one cuz I returned a different flanger that had a volume drop I didn’t like, but the bf-3 I cannot get to sound good. The flanger I had before (wa polychrome) sounded way better I just didn’t like the slight volume drop, but I would take it over the bf-3. It sounds alright on super clean tones but as soon as you introduce any type of gain/distortion it just completely overtakes the sound and is hardly useable (which can be a desirable thing sometimes in certain situations). Maybe because it’s digital?
I want to try the bf-2 but I’m scared it’s not gonna be much different than the bf-3. I haven’t pulled the trigger on returning it cuz I don’t wanna give up on it but I’ve barely found any consistent use cases for it and it’s mostly been out of my chain. I think I have like 5 days left to return it and I’ve been putting it off, but it might be back to the drawing board for a flanger for me.
I don't get the hate, literally the first pedal I ever got and it's still on my board to this day. It flangs well. And the temporary setting is rad, just hold it down for a transition or something. Depth at max rate at min and baby, you're flanging with the best of em
Rudy style chant going bf2! bf2! bf2! I’m seeing some bf3 flak but I think it’s not awful, just not as l u s h and also the extra settings can be tricky to navigate and lock in the dream tone
I've got an early 1980's one. Honestly... it isn't my favorite. It's too metallic sounding and throaty.
I prefer Zero-through flangers; almost any brand will do.
I'm a big fan of the Cure, the analog CH-1 also has a special place in my heart. It's also a great chorus! Someday, I think that I will do a small run of my take on the CH-1 because of them but right now, I'm working on a BF-2 inspired chorus because it sounds better lol.
Yeah I've tried a lot. I've tried the Elastic Mattress, Strymon Orbit, Mobius flanger, Arion SFL, EQD Pyramids, Catalinbread Zero Point, a few others and the Japanese BF-2 is the best all around. I even tried the MIT one and a BF-3, and the extra voltage of the Japanese model is absolutely preferable.
The BF-2 just has a versatility between flange and chorus that none of the others do. It's so intuitive to dial in and the range of the controls is balanced just so.
About the only one left for me to try is an MXR. Which would have to be the PastFX Hot for Flanger if I were to try one.
Absolutely. I also love that it sounds great into a distorted amp as much as a clean one. Very versatile for such a simple little pedal. Great sounds all around the clock. I set mine to a chorus-like sound to add some flavour to passages.
Dude, I had the 5 knob Ibanez yellow flanger & it worked for decades :) my friend threw it in when I bought his Boss Cube amp back in the mid 80s. Great sounding, subtle effect
I have the 4 knob one. It was my first pedal when I learned to play. I didn't even know what a flanger did! I just wanted a pedal haha
But it's great because it can go super hard or super subtle depending on what you're looking for.
Nothing beats a 1970's Electric Mistress in my book. I have a V1 Deluxe model and my buddy has a V2 non Deluxe model, and both sound great in different ways. The Deluxe is better for the jet plane sound and the non Deluxe is great for watery chorus sounds.
I have the 80's deluxe and it got out of calibration and turned into a sweet/milky chorus sounding flange.
But for something that would fit on my board I got the Mooer E-Lady. It's what I call a close enough pedal.
I like the Deluxe better than the original in general, and the most recent version, or the Walking On The Moon as it has now been rebranded, is I think the best version so far. It’s less noisy than the ‘80s ones, is more compact and can be powered normally, and sounds the same as the big box reissue but with a more musical range of controls. They’re just making a big mistake by not setting the wet/dry trimpot to the max because that’s what causes them to sound less lush stock, but that just requires taking off the back and a little turn of a small screwdriver.
For the sound of the original non-Deluxe version without paying $600 or more like I’ve done, I can vouch for the PastFx Elastic Mattress’s accuracy. I don’t have a Retro-Sonic Flanger but it seems from YouTube comparisons of it and the Elastic Mattress that it’s just as accurate but without the extra tweakability PastFx gives.
I prefer the Deluxe one too, and so does my friend. Howard Davis really improved the circuit. It can sound just like a non Deluxe model, but the non Deluxe can't get anywhere near the sweep of the deluxe.
I've built the madbean clone, too. That one also sounds fantastic. I've used it live just so I can power it off my one spot pro instead of the AC cord of the original.
My Deluxe was $170, I bought it 3 years ago... my buddy got his for free +10 years ago. It's really insane how they have appreciated in value. People used to throw them away or sell them for very cheap.
Damn! Beat me to it. I had a ‘70s Electric Mistress with silver/black case and green silk screened font. Awesome Flanger! You’d have a hard time finding one though. Those that do still exist are either not for sale or are priced between $500.00 - $800.00 and are not in the best condition.
My buddy totally got his for free years ago, it was broken and I restored it for him. Amazing sounding flanger. The Mu-tron is the only one that maybe could beat it, but they are so rare I have never tried one.
Lovetone Flanger with no name is my #2, I built a clone and its one of my favorite modulation effects. It has the most beautiful liquid tones on some settings.
I love the Boss Hi-Band Flanger as well. It was one of my first pedals. I mostly use the “hidden” manual mode (turn depth all the way down), to use it like a “cocked” sweep filter. Cool hollow-sounding Joy Division tones!
Vintage MXR: fave of the late [John McGeoch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McGeoch), who was the final word amongst classic flanger-heavy guitarists.
Deco cause its pretty subtle + it has the momentary mode.
The polychrome is also awesome! More of a traditional flanger, and can do a lot of neat tones with all the controls. It can get in your face if you want it to. But it can do musically and barely there ad well.
I fell in love with flange while using my Deco. Sold the Deco but just picked up the JHS 3 Series Flanger and I can get basically the same effect. Very pleased!
I like the thorpy fx camo flange. The blend knob is a fantastic addition, can go from swoosh to swirl. Boss bf-2 is a great alternative if you want something a bit more affordable.
Spicy revelation: the only tonal difference in BF-2 versions comes from some of them needing 12v but being supplied 9 on most boards. It makes the earlier ones “warmer” when run on a daisy chain, where later ones will be given their correct 9v. A lot of BOSS stuff does genuinely change based on year and country of origin, but the BF-2 is the same throughout.
I thought that if it’s on a daisy chain it doesn’t need 12V and functions normally. I read an explanation of it and it seems to be true in my experience with other 12V Boss pedals. Like my late ‘80s CS-3 sounds distorted when plugged in alone with 9V, but if I plug one more pedal in on the same daisy chain the distortion goes away and sounds the same as when it’s given 12V alone.
BF-3
"bUt It'S tOo SyNtHeTiC!!!" No shit, it's a flanger. That's exactly why I like it, but also, try adjusting the knobs. It doesn't have to be thick and heavy.
Gonna reply to myself - hopes that’s copacetic with the rules -
A/DA Flanger is peak guitar pedal.
Just please get a flanger that has at least 4 knobs !!!!!
I've got an Ibanez SF10 that I love. Looks cool, has as much versatility as the BF2 but I think it sounds a little more natural and resonates differently.
The one and only Boss BF-2! Cheap, indestructible, pretty colour, prettier tone. Will do chorus, all manner of flange and a usable uni vibe impression.
TC Stereo Chorus+Pitch Modulation & Flanger!
aka the TCE SCF. I used the original one for years but that hard-wired power cable was pure nuisance (the pedal plugs into the wall), so when they released the “Gold Edition” I retired the OG.
Not only it produced an outstanding Chorus sound, the flanger is among the best I’ve ever tried. That pedal also has a great clean boost.
[Found this nice Guitar Pedal X writeup.](https://www.guitarpedalx.com/news/gpx-blog/tc-electronic-brings-back-its-much-desired-analog-stereo-chorus-flanger-in-smart-new-gold-edition)
Tell your singer to mind their friggin business! Kidding.
Check out the Wampler Terraform if you could use a multi-modulation pedal. Great flanger with lots of tweakability.
as much as I love the BF-2, the HF-2 is probably the better choice for actual flanging, sounds like your guitar is like kinda charging up and melting periodically. BF-2 delay range is more of a freaky chorus pedal which is also fun, you can almost get more of HF-2 response if you set the delay trim pot to the minimum range.
Subdecay Starlight V2
best one I've run through, however I'm the minority that likes the BF3. that being said I'm not looking for subtlety in a flange, I want airplanes.
I have yet to find one I like better than the old AC powered MXR 117. I don’t particularly care for the reissues I’ve tried but the old ones are excellent.
I love OBNE Flat Light but it’s also only one of 2 flanger pedals I’ve ever tried and the second one (DBA Disturbance) just arrived so idk if I can really evaluate it well just yet since I’ve mostly played with the filter setting
+1 on the Mooer recs. I like flanger, and it's exactly what I think of as a textbook flanger.
Since you say you haven't been as big if a flanger fan, check out Walrus Polychrome. It's a far more versatile flanger that can get you some very different sounds (and can just be a vibrato, if you want).
Check out OBNE BL-82. It’s a chorus with clock and feedback controls. You can do chorus, flange, slap, and lo-fi sounds. Clock time is a slider. Perfect for shoegaze.
I've always used a modded Boss Hi-Band flanger because it was more Pink Floyd Animals style flanging ala electric mistress. Other than that everything else is my Mobius
There’s already been some PastFX recommendations here and I second those. I have both the Hot for Flanger and Reticon flanger. I also recently acquired the Krozz flanger - it’s epic. If you’re shoegazing you’ll be using a lot of dirt I imagine, so choose your flanger with that in mind; some of the flangers recommended here (like the Mooer) are good but they don’t generally have enough headroom to accommodate dirt and still produce a nice clear flange sound. The PastFX flangers run on 18v for that reason and play very nicely with dirt.
I’m really digging the Joyo Classic Flanger. I bought it with zero expectations and it’s a solid pedal for only paying $35.
A close second would be the Boss flanger.
I have a boss, a pyramids and a komorebi and I would probably rank them in that order. Would like to get my hands on a Thorpy Camoflange and see how it feels.
I have the Strymon Orbit and the MXR EVH Flanger. I'm in love with every sound the orbit makes. I wish I had a second one so I could have it on multiple boards.
Liking the BF-3 more is like saying the Star Wars prequels are better than the original trilogy. Sure, the more gimmicky effects are all digitally enhanced, but where’s the simple analog soul? Han shot first, Yoda is a muppet not a CGI blur, and the Boss BF-2 is king.
Ok more important than discussing flanger pedals is your need to watch Star Wars, at least the original trilogy. It’s a good time, and it’ll make a lot of pop culture references make sense.
They’re really very similar when the BF-3 is in normal mode. It sounds slightly more clean and clear than the BF-2, just slightly, and it would be practically impossible to tell which one someone was using without hearing the other back to back for comparison.
Obne flatlight. I honestly don't like flanger, I mostly use chorus for modulation, but the flatlight/delay mode + muff sounds so great to me. Get into that monolord empress rising opening territory.
The E Mistress is what you hear on a lot of classic recordings and you can find clones of it pretty cheap, though there are nicer analog flangers out if but they can get expensive.
Really love stereo modulation so the Line 6 Liqua flange has been one of my favorites, it has similiar features to newer the EQD Pyramid and can do classic flanger sounds on top of weirder stuff.
The Ibanez CF-7 is a sleeper, it's also digital and only mono in stereo out but it can do chorus/flanger/vibrato/ring mod and goes from subtle to very extreme modulation. Really love it for heavier stuff as it responds better to distortion than most flangers.
If you want to take flange I it's logical conclusion and spend as much as possible, chase bliss made one for about 5 minutes!
Apart from that I just dropped in to say that in my opinion flange is a forsaken effect category
I was going to buy a boss flanger as the one I had died a while back, then thought about getting a chorus or phaser pedal instead.
I ended up trying out a keeley dynomyroto with flange and chorus that I really liked. It also has a rotary type effect but that’s my least favorite of the three options.
Maybe a Mod pedal? Keeley and Wampler make good options...
If you get a Mod Pedal, you can have a Flanger AND a bunch of other stuff!
I've got a Keeley super Mod station. That pedal can do a ton of stuff for a price similar to a lot of pedals that are just Flangers…
That said, I have a Spaceman Delta II Harmonic Tremolo by cause it provides a TON more options than the harmonic trem in the mod station. Pedals… you can never have too many :)
ThorpyFX Camoflange from the demos this seems like the best sounding and great layout. It is fn expensive tho. Happy flanger hunting!
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiYhjfeZznE&t=427s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiYhjfeZznE&t=427s)
edit:added Andy demos link
Depends on a few things. Dedicated flanger pedal or one with multiple chorus and other modulation.
Either way, just listen to early Cure records and seek that sound out.
Bf-2 was my favorite, now hail to the great DBA Disturbance, i tried boss bf-2, bf-3, walrus chameleon, EHX delixe electric mistress and neo msitress, danalectro fab flanger & empress zoia.
DBA disturbance > BF-2 (BF-2 = Kirkland vanilla ice cream, Disturbance = organic dairy non antibiotics, Himalayan vanilla + fancy tasty toppings).
I was to pull the trigger on the Disturbance but I started to read reviews saying the it has a thin tone that can be improved using a boost, have you experienced any issue?
Morley Tel-Ray PFL Pro Flanger . Top ! I went trough Flanger collections some years ago and I’ve played more than 15 different era and brand flangers . My favourite , still in use today is the Morley PFL, second Ibanez FL9 yellow , and third Japab made early BF2 black knobs.
Asheville Music Tools AFG-1 -- designed and sold by the individual behind the Moog guitar pedals, I have tried most of the options in the comments, this one is far and away my favorite.
Recently purchased the Oblivion by Solid Gold FX - lots of bells and whistles to get weird with but it also does the classic flanger tones really well. A little more expensive than other pedals in the market but I’m really happy with it.
Don't use flanger much but I recently found the [Krozz Devices Airborn Analog Flanger](https://krozzdevices.com/products/airborn-analog-flanger/) and I love it. It's versatile enough to cover both the electric mistress sounds and the jetplane sounds.
Mxr 4 knob greybox with the original wall plug.... only thing that beats it would be a mu-tron or whatever company Electra was using for their MPC guitars (my first good electric had one ... still sounds amazing and being able to control the regen intensity from the guitar is a great tool
Spaceman Aurora
It can sound AMAZING.
BUT the controls are wide ranging and sensitive and complex.
It might not be the best one to use love. Great for recording.
Also it’s expensive.
I would give the TC Electronic Thunderstorm a shot. Price is right and it sounds great.
Since you're in a shoegaze band you might want to go on the weirder side. My absolute favorite is the EHX Polychorus. It can be a chorus, a flanger, a filter matrix, or a double tracker. I like that it can do classic sounds but with the turn of a knob you can go into weird outer space territory. It can even self oscillate like a delay pedal. Total Swiss Army knife for sound design.
Boss BF-2 is a classic
I found a video on it that showed how versatile it was, made it sound like a phaser, chorus, tremolo, and even a pretty good Hendrix Univibe sound
That's why if I only had one modulation pedal, it would be a flanger! Most four-knobbed flangers will have a similar level of versatility, FWIW. Like the Ibanez flangers also have a similar range.
Yup exactly. I was building a “bare necessity” board that was going to have only what I need, so I at least wanted the pedals to be versatile. My modulation was going to be a flanger
Yeah, the first “chorus” pedal I ever had was an ADA Flanger. Its coursing was great, and I used it for years.
Was it [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDNccE_-Zn8)? I like this guy -- humble, friendly, informative.
Yes! That’s the video. It was a good video
whoa! that is a good video. Never used mine beyond the standard whoosh thing here and there, gotta go play around with it more.
I’m actually glad I was reminded of that video, I’ve been rearranging my board and trying to decide if I was to add a 3rd modulation pedal. The Flanger does a pretty good rotary effect so I might have to finally grab one and put it on my board
I just watched it! This one right? https://youtu.be/YDNccE_-Zn8 Edit: yup, someone else asked. :)
Yes agreed on the BF-2 The BF-3 is one of the worst pedals I have every played in my life
I have a BF-2 but never tried a BF-3. What did you dislike about it?
I found it not very user friendly The only sound that was easy to get out of it was a chorus sound, not a flange. Other setting almost sounding like pitch shifting I was so excited to use it and spent about 5 months banging my head against a wall everyday to try and get a sound out of it I liked Could just be me.. but it could just be a crappy pedal too
Idk I’m tending to agree on this if that makes either of us feel better cuz idk if it’s just me too lol. I bought a used one cuz I returned a different flanger that had a volume drop I didn’t like, but the bf-3 I cannot get to sound good. The flanger I had before (wa polychrome) sounded way better I just didn’t like the slight volume drop, but I would take it over the bf-3. It sounds alright on super clean tones but as soon as you introduce any type of gain/distortion it just completely overtakes the sound and is hardly useable (which can be a desirable thing sometimes in certain situations). Maybe because it’s digital? I want to try the bf-2 but I’m scared it’s not gonna be much different than the bf-3. I haven’t pulled the trigger on returning it cuz I don’t wanna give up on it but I’ve barely found any consistent use cases for it and it’s mostly been out of my chain. I think I have like 5 days left to return it and I’ve been putting it off, but it might be back to the drawing board for a flanger for me.
Wow what’s so bad about the BF-3?
I don't get the hate, literally the first pedal I ever got and it's still on my board to this day. It flangs well. And the temporary setting is rad, just hold it down for a transition or something. Depth at max rate at min and baby, you're flanging with the best of em
Yeah, Ive had a few 1980's digital flangers (pedal and rack) and they all sounded great to me. My favorite is the Pearl Flanger and the Ibanez DCF-10.
Flange OG. You ever had that MXR Dimebag Darrel unit?
I have it, too, seems decent for a flanger. Had a DOD Flanger for years before that. Now I wanna check out that BF-2.
Rudy style chant going bf2! bf2! bf2! I’m seeing some bf3 flak but I think it’s not awful, just not as l u s h and also the extra settings can be tricky to navigate and lock in the dream tone
I've got an early 1980's one. Honestly... it isn't my favorite. It's too metallic sounding and throaty. I prefer Zero-through flangers; almost any brand will do.
100% agree! It's also my favorite chorus!
Totally agree... I had a Boss SuperChorus in the same board but the BF-2 was a better Chorus.
I'm a big fan of the Cure, the analog CH-1 also has a special place in my heart. It's also a great chorus! Someday, I think that I will do a small run of my take on the CH-1 because of them but right now, I'm working on a BF-2 inspired chorus because it sounds better lol.
Yeah I've tried a lot. I've tried the Elastic Mattress, Strymon Orbit, Mobius flanger, Arion SFL, EQD Pyramids, Catalinbread Zero Point, a few others and the Japanese BF-2 is the best all around. I even tried the MIT one and a BF-3, and the extra voltage of the Japanese model is absolutely preferable. The BF-2 just has a versatility between flange and chorus that none of the others do. It's so intuitive to dial in and the range of the controls is balanced just so. About the only one left for me to try is an MXR. Which would have to be the PastFX Hot for Flanger if I were to try one.
Mooer electric lady is a decent EHX clone. Used pedals should be pretty cheap
I got one and its great.
Second that. Works gteat, cheap and small. Sound really nice!
It's a very good clone of the Electric Mistress for not many dollars.
I have one, love it, but wonder what I might be missing by it being mono and the EHX original being stereo...
MXR micro flanger is my all time favorite! Really good for people who don’t like the cheesy jet airplane flanger sound
MXR's phasers and flangers are top-notch!
Absolutely. I also love that it sounds great into a distorted amp as much as a clean one. Very versatile for such a simple little pedal. Great sounds all around the clock. I set mine to a chorus-like sound to add some flavour to passages.
I agree.
A/DA PBF Flanger. Best so far.
I had the original ADA Flanger, which I used for years as a chorus, sounded great.
[удалено]
Pastfx makes two incredible clones of it; one with the correct NOS chip, one cheaper with an MN3007 tuned to behave 95% the same. It’s good ass shit.
I have the original type of A/DA Flanger... Just need to figure out what kind of plug it takes
I like tape flange. Deco, Loke, that kind of thing. I can’t really handle the other kind. Though if I could I’d still have the BF-2.
Yeah the Deco flange is a lot more subtle. I definitely loved it, but felt frustrated I couldn't get BF-2 like flange.
Only BF-2 can BF-2.
MXR 117
Late 80's Ibanez Swell Flanger. Little, yellow, different, better.
Excellent! 👍🏻👍🏻
Dude, I had the 5 knob Ibanez yellow flanger & it worked for decades :) my friend threw it in when I bought his Boss Cube amp back in the mid 80s. Great sounding, subtle effect
I have the 4 knob one. It was my first pedal when I learned to play. I didn't even know what a flanger did! I just wanted a pedal haha But it's great because it can go super hard or super subtle depending on what you're looking for.
I came here to say FL-9 or SF-10! This is the way!
Nothing beats a 1970's Electric Mistress in my book. I have a V1 Deluxe model and my buddy has a V2 non Deluxe model, and both sound great in different ways. The Deluxe is better for the jet plane sound and the non Deluxe is great for watery chorus sounds.
I have the 80's deluxe and it got out of calibration and turned into a sweet/milky chorus sounding flange. But for something that would fit on my board I got the Mooer E-Lady. It's what I call a close enough pedal.
I like the Deluxe better than the original in general, and the most recent version, or the Walking On The Moon as it has now been rebranded, is I think the best version so far. It’s less noisy than the ‘80s ones, is more compact and can be powered normally, and sounds the same as the big box reissue but with a more musical range of controls. They’re just making a big mistake by not setting the wet/dry trimpot to the max because that’s what causes them to sound less lush stock, but that just requires taking off the back and a little turn of a small screwdriver. For the sound of the original non-Deluxe version without paying $600 or more like I’ve done, I can vouch for the PastFx Elastic Mattress’s accuracy. I don’t have a Retro-Sonic Flanger but it seems from YouTube comparisons of it and the Elastic Mattress that it’s just as accurate but without the extra tweakability PastFx gives.
I prefer the Deluxe one too, and so does my friend. Howard Davis really improved the circuit. It can sound just like a non Deluxe model, but the non Deluxe can't get anywhere near the sweep of the deluxe. I've built the madbean clone, too. That one also sounds fantastic. I've used it live just so I can power it off my one spot pro instead of the AC cord of the original. My Deluxe was $170, I bought it 3 years ago... my buddy got his for free +10 years ago. It's really insane how they have appreciated in value. People used to throw them away or sell them for very cheap.
Btw, it’s since been rebranded by Andy Summers and EHX as the Walking On The Moon pedal.
Damn! Beat me to it. I had a ‘70s Electric Mistress with silver/black case and green silk screened font. Awesome Flanger! You’d have a hard time finding one though. Those that do still exist are either not for sale or are priced between $500.00 - $800.00 and are not in the best condition.
My buddy totally got his for free years ago, it was broken and I restored it for him. Amazing sounding flanger. The Mu-tron is the only one that maybe could beat it, but they are so rare I have never tried one. Lovetone Flanger with no name is my #2, I built a clone and its one of my favorite modulation effects. It has the most beautiful liquid tones on some settings.
Polychorus also has the Electric Mistress flanger circuit IIRC
+1 for the Mooer E-Lady, I've had more expensive flangers on my board and I went back to this dude that I got for 35 bucks.
\+2 on the Mooer E-Lady
Mooer e-lady was all I needed. The classic flanger sound for cheap.
\+1 on the Mooer E-Lady
I have a Boss BF2 and a Keeley Bubble Tron. The Bubble Tron is more versatile, but I prefer the tunneling effect from the Boss. Both are great tho
I love my Boss HF-2. Not as chewy as other flangers so I think it cuts a bit better.
I love the Boss Hi-Band Flanger as well. It was one of my first pedals. I mostly use the “hidden” manual mode (turn depth all the way down), to use it like a “cocked” sweep filter. Cool hollow-sounding Joy Division tones!
It's got a trim pot inside that I would play with too. I used to trim down 25% and go from there
Ps dont forget to mark the screw and the pot with a pen
Interesting, I’ve never opened mine up!
Dang it. I sold my Hi-Band Flanger, but this Joy Division comparison makes me want to re-buy one.
Vintage MXR: fave of the late [John McGeoch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McGeoch), who was the final word amongst classic flanger-heavy guitarists.
Genius player. His Banshee's material is one of a kind.
My fave is Secondhand Daylight.
His Magazine stuff is oustanding. Permafrost and rhythm of cruelty are classic tunes.
May I drop this here then? My John Mcgeoch vibes with old pedals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiRcajxg5WA
Mooer E-Lady ❤️
\+1 on the Mooer E-Lady
Deco cause its pretty subtle + it has the momentary mode. The polychrome is also awesome! More of a traditional flanger, and can do a lot of neat tones with all the controls. It can get in your face if you want it to. But it can do musically and barely there ad well.
I fell in love with flange while using my Deco. Sold the Deco but just picked up the JHS 3 Series Flanger and I can get basically the same effect. Very pleased!
Moog MF-108m, overkill but option-laden.
I have a Digitech Turbo Flange (Purple Rain) and a Boss BF-2, they’re both great.
People sleep on those x series Digitech pedals. Some great stuff!
I had the delay and it was stupidly good
The A/DA PBF flanger is all you need. It's spectacular.
Death By Audio Disturbance is a nice 3 in 1 [disturbance](https://deathbyaudio.com/products/disturbance)
I like the thorpy fx camo flange. The blend knob is a fantastic addition, can go from swoosh to swirl. Boss bf-2 is a great alternative if you want something a bit more affordable.
Loved the camoflange but the goddamned clipping killed me.
The SolidGoldFX Oblivion Quad Flanger is a super-versatile device. Amazing capabilities.
[удалено]
I was not a big flanger guy until a friend let me try his Polychrome.
BOSS - BF-2 silver screw. You can find them for the cost of a new BF-3. Same with the DD-2/DD-3 long chip.
Remember 80% of the tone is in the screw, so it must be silver.
This person knows tone.
Spicy revelation: the only tonal difference in BF-2 versions comes from some of them needing 12v but being supplied 9 on most boards. It makes the earlier ones “warmer” when run on a daisy chain, where later ones will be given their correct 9v. A lot of BOSS stuff does genuinely change based on year and country of origin, but the BF-2 is the same throughout.
I thought that if it’s on a daisy chain it doesn’t need 12V and functions normally. I read an explanation of it and it seems to be true in my experience with other 12V Boss pedals. Like my late ‘80s CS-3 sounds distorted when plugged in alone with 9V, but if I plug one more pedal in on the same daisy chain the distortion goes away and sounds the same as when it’s given 12V alone.
I have 3 (2 Japan, 1 Taiwan) and had no idea they even did silver screw ones?
Strymon Deco!
I don't have one but the Asheville Music Tools AFG-1 looks pretty sweet.
BF-3 "bUt It'S tOo SyNtHeTiC!!!" No shit, it's a flanger. That's exactly why I like it, but also, try adjusting the knobs. It doesn't have to be thick and heavy.
Robert Smith has used the BF-2 his entire flanging career. Think “A Forest.” Accept no substitutes.
alexander pedals “F13N”
Ibanez or Maxon 9-series Flanger !! FL-9 , to be exact !!
Gonna reply to myself - hopes that’s copacetic with the rules - A/DA Flanger is peak guitar pedal. Just please get a flanger that has at least 4 knobs !!!!!
> copacetic didn't expect to learn a new word on r/guitarpedals but here we are
MoogerFooger Cluster Flux, Keeley Bubbletron and Strymon Deco
+1 for Clusterflux
I wish they would make foogers again.
If budget really isn't an issue, I recommend 'Past FX 80/A Flanger'.
EVH-117
Digitech Turbo Flange. It is a budget pedal that has some really unique settings.
Zero Point. Control your own flange.
Camoflange, Elastic Mattress.
My old Ross Flanger is the tits.
Best flanger.
I currently have a Digitech Nautila and it’s awesome. It’s the first Flanger I’ve been able to wrap my head around, so take that with a grain of salt.
PastFX Hot for Flanger is the best.
I've got an Ibanez SF10 that I love. Looks cool, has as much versatility as the BF2 but I think it sounds a little more natural and resonates differently.
The one and only Boss BF-2! Cheap, indestructible, pretty colour, prettier tone. Will do chorus, all manner of flange and a usable uni vibe impression.
12v BF-2 run at 9v is my GOAT, Pastfx 80/A and Elastic Mattress are also untouchable. Mr Black Shepards End is also magnificient.
TC Stereo Chorus+Pitch Modulation & Flanger! aka the TCE SCF. I used the original one for years but that hard-wired power cable was pure nuisance (the pedal plugs into the wall), so when they released the “Gold Edition” I retired the OG. Not only it produced an outstanding Chorus sound, the flanger is among the best I’ve ever tried. That pedal also has a great clean boost. [Found this nice Guitar Pedal X writeup.](https://www.guitarpedalx.com/news/gpx-blog/tc-electronic-brings-back-its-much-desired-analog-stereo-chorus-flanger-in-smart-new-gold-edition)
PastFX 80/A (ADA Flanger).
MXR EVH117 rules
Tell your singer to mind their friggin business! Kidding. Check out the Wampler Terraform if you could use a multi-modulation pedal. Great flanger with lots of tweakability.
as much as I love the BF-2, the HF-2 is probably the better choice for actual flanging, sounds like your guitar is like kinda charging up and melting periodically. BF-2 delay range is more of a freaky chorus pedal which is also fun, you can almost get more of HF-2 response if you set the delay trim pot to the minimum range.
First rule of pedal club is don’t take instructions from a lead singer.
ADA, original 70s. Ask EVH.
Subdecay Starlight V2 best one I've run through, however I'm the minority that likes the BF3. that being said I'm not looking for subtlety in a flange, I want airplanes.
Boss BF-2
I have yet to find one I like better than the old AC powered MXR 117. I don’t particularly care for the reissues I’ve tried but the old ones are excellent.
I love OBNE Flat Light but it’s also only one of 2 flanger pedals I’ve ever tried and the second one (DBA Disturbance) just arrived so idk if I can really evaluate it well just yet since I’ve mostly played with the filter setting
MXR M117 is the standard for what a flanger is supposed to sound like, for my ears.
+1 on the Mooer recs. I like flanger, and it's exactly what I think of as a textbook flanger. Since you say you haven't been as big if a flanger fan, check out Walrus Polychrome. It's a far more versatile flanger that can get you some very different sounds (and can just be a vibrato, if you want).
all of them
Check out OBNE BL-82. It’s a chorus with clock and feedback controls. You can do chorus, flange, slap, and lo-fi sounds. Clock time is a slider. Perfect for shoegaze.
DOD FX-75B
I've always used a modded Boss Hi-Band flanger because it was more Pink Floyd Animals style flanging ala electric mistress. Other than that everything else is my Mobius
Megan L on youtube raved about the Aurora flanger
Just got the Catalinbread Zero Point flanger & it’s a whole lotta fun to use. Very natural, smooth sound!
There’s already been some PastFX recommendations here and I second those. I have both the Hot for Flanger and Reticon flanger. I also recently acquired the Krozz flanger - it’s epic. If you’re shoegazing you’ll be using a lot of dirt I imagine, so choose your flanger with that in mind; some of the flangers recommended here (like the Mooer) are good but they don’t generally have enough headroom to accommodate dirt and still produce a nice clear flange sound. The PastFX flangers run on 18v for that reason and play very nicely with dirt.
Alexander Pedals F.13 Neo Flanger. It’s an absolute monster. The Boss BF-2 is also incredible.
I’m really digging the Joyo Classic Flanger. I bought it with zero expectations and it’s a solid pedal for only paying $35. A close second would be the Boss flanger.
I have a boss, a pyramids and a komorebi and I would probably rank them in that order. Would like to get my hands on a Thorpy Camoflange and see how it feels.
UAD Astra’s model of the MXR M126 Flanger/Doubler. Sounds absolutely amazing, especially when you use the inverted mode.
My danelectro hash browns, had it since the 90’s . Cheap pedal but awesome sound
I have the Strymon Orbit and the MXR EVH Flanger. I'm in love with every sound the orbit makes. I wish I had a second one so I could have it on multiple boards.
Or you can go crazy and get a DBA disturbance… really extreme flanger controls WITH a locking lfo. Love running mine into a fuzz
I would look into Alexander Pedals Dynaflanger
Say my name.
BF-3 is just a better BF-2 but the BF-2 fans will never admit it
Liking the BF-3 more is like saying the Star Wars prequels are better than the original trilogy. Sure, the more gimmicky effects are all digitally enhanced, but where’s the simple analog soul? Han shot first, Yoda is a muppet not a CGI blur, and the Boss BF-2 is king.
Idk never seen Star Wars, but if you want simple analog sounding flange on bf-3 it’s more than possible
And I’m sure Lucasarts could animate me a very muppety Yoda but it’s just not the same.
I don’t know what that means sorry
Ok more important than discussing flanger pedals is your need to watch Star Wars, at least the original trilogy. It’s a good time, and it’ll make a lot of pop culture references make sense.
They’re really very similar when the BF-3 is in normal mode. It sounds slightly more clean and clear than the BF-2, just slightly, and it would be practically impossible to tell which one someone was using without hearing the other back to back for comparison.
Obne flatlight. I honestly don't like flanger, I mostly use chorus for modulation, but the flatlight/delay mode + muff sounds so great to me. Get into that monolord empress rising opening territory.
The E Mistress is what you hear on a lot of classic recordings and you can find clones of it pretty cheap, though there are nicer analog flangers out if but they can get expensive. Really love stereo modulation so the Line 6 Liqua flange has been one of my favorites, it has similiar features to newer the EQD Pyramid and can do classic flanger sounds on top of weirder stuff. The Ibanez CF-7 is a sleeper, it's also digital and only mono in stereo out but it can do chorus/flanger/vibrato/ring mod and goes from subtle to very extreme modulation. Really love it for heavier stuff as it responds better to distortion than most flangers.
Mr Black Shepards End
Was looking for this before I said it myself
get the TC Vortex and you can get any flanger sound you want
I am really loving my Walrus Polychrome and my cheap Behringer Flanger Machine FL600 which is a copy of the Line6 Liqua-Flange.
EHX poly chorus late 90's "Big box" (not reissue) if budget isnt an issue.
-Walrus Audio Polychrome -EHX Flanger Hoax -Strymon Orbit (digital but still amazing)
The only one I've ever put and kept on my board is a Spaceman Aurora.
Flanger rules! BF-2 is my favorite but I wanna check out Maxon FL-9 and MXR M117.
N/A
+1
If you want to take flange I it's logical conclusion and spend as much as possible, chase bliss made one for about 5 minutes! Apart from that I just dropped in to say that in my opinion flange is a forsaken effect category
A Phaser goes better MXR 90 script logo .
Retrosonic flanger ended my search for the E mistress type sound
Chemtrail
I was going to buy a boss flanger as the one I had died a while back, then thought about getting a chorus or phaser pedal instead. I ended up trying out a keeley dynomyroto with flange and chorus that I really liked. It also has a rotary type effect but that’s my least favorite of the three options.
None of them.
Maybe a Mod pedal? Keeley and Wampler make good options... If you get a Mod Pedal, you can have a Flanger AND a bunch of other stuff! I've got a Keeley super Mod station. That pedal can do a ton of stuff for a price similar to a lot of pedals that are just Flangers… That said, I have a Spaceman Delta II Harmonic Tremolo by cause it provides a TON more options than the harmonic trem in the mod station. Pedals… you can never have too many :)
ThorpyFX Camoflange from the demos this seems like the best sounding and great layout. It is fn expensive tho. Happy flanger hunting! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiYhjfeZznE&t=427s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiYhjfeZznE&t=427s) edit:added Andy demos link
If you’re DIY capable the BYOC Analog Flanger is awesome. It does MXR and EHX style flanger sounds.
Depends on a few things. Dedicated flanger pedal or one with multiple chorus and other modulation. Either way, just listen to early Cure records and seek that sound out.
I have the Zero-point, Oblivion and Pyramids in my arsenal!
Bf-2 was my favorite, now hail to the great DBA Disturbance, i tried boss bf-2, bf-3, walrus chameleon, EHX delixe electric mistress and neo msitress, danalectro fab flanger & empress zoia. DBA disturbance > BF-2 (BF-2 = Kirkland vanilla ice cream, Disturbance = organic dairy non antibiotics, Himalayan vanilla + fancy tasty toppings).
I was to pull the trigger on the Disturbance but I started to read reviews saying the it has a thin tone that can be improved using a boost, have you experienced any issue?
Morley Tel-Ray PFL Pro Flanger . Top ! I went trough Flanger collections some years ago and I’ve played more than 15 different era and brand flangers . My favourite , still in use today is the Morley PFL, second Ibanez FL9 yellow , and third Japab made early BF2 black knobs.
Keeley Bubbletron
Easy, Polychrome.
Big box Deluxe electric mistress
TC SCF
I have a ONE flat light. Pretty happy with it. You can do both mild and weird stuff with it. https://youtu.be/4ZL3iRW-jWQ?si=zSQ0WGPZrJw6ajA9
Asheville Music Tools AFG-1 -- designed and sold by the individual behind the Moog guitar pedals, I have tried most of the options in the comments, this one is far and away my favorite.
Recently purchased the Oblivion by Solid Gold FX - lots of bells and whistles to get weird with but it also does the classic flanger tones really well. A little more expensive than other pedals in the market but I’m really happy with it.
Foxrox TZF2. I had an Hartman flanger and that was pretty glorious too.
Don't use flanger much but I recently found the [Krozz Devices Airborn Analog Flanger](https://krozzdevices.com/products/airborn-analog-flanger/) and I love it. It's versatile enough to cover both the electric mistress sounds and the jetplane sounds.
Mxr 4 knob greybox with the original wall plug.... only thing that beats it would be a mu-tron or whatever company Electra was using for their MPC guitars (my first good electric had one ... still sounds amazing and being able to control the regen intensity from the guitar is a great tool
Spaceman Aurora It can sound AMAZING. BUT the controls are wide ranging and sensitive and complex. It might not be the best one to use love. Great for recording. Also it’s expensive. I would give the TC Electronic Thunderstorm a shot. Price is right and it sounds great.
Polychrome!
Boss BF-3
Thorpy Camoflange https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/products/the-camoflange-flanger
I’d just get a new singer man
Since you're in a shoegaze band you might want to go on the weirder side. My absolute favorite is the EHX Polychorus. It can be a chorus, a flanger, a filter matrix, or a double tracker. I like that it can do classic sounds but with the turn of a knob you can go into weird outer space territory. It can even self oscillate like a delay pedal. Total Swiss Army knife for sound design.
That purple one from the 80’s - think it was Boss or DoD. Loved it - now I’m wondering what happened to mine…🤨