Frequency Distiller Special Blend: Powerful Tone Shaping
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The Frequency Distiller Special Blend is a dual state-variable filter pedal for bass, inspired by the legendary Alembic Super Filter (SF-2), and built for modern players. Housed in a compact, rugged enclosure, it delivers a wide range of tone-shaping possibilities—from deep sculpting to subtle contouring—whether you're playing bass or guitar. The Special Blend incorporates an enhanced filter design that is more faithful to the original, delivering classic resonant tone.
Use Channel A on its own with a clean signal blend, Channel B on its own with a clean signal blend or activate Channels A+B in parallel and blend both filters along with your clean tone. The result is a highly customizable and musical EQ experience, ideal for studio, stage, or experimental setups.
A stereo input mode enables connection of an instrument with a TRS output jack so that two pickups are each processed by a different filter channel. The result is blended together into a mono output. When bypassed in stereo mode, the tip signal is switched to the output via true-bypass switching.
Features:
Super-flexible, dual-channel tone shaping for bass (or guitar)
Controls that go to “11” to give that little bit extra
Four filter types per channel: low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch
Variable cutoff/center frequency: 40 Hz to 6 kHz
Adjustable resonance (Q): 1.0 (wide) to 5.5 (narrow)
Internal input gain selectors: 0 dB, +10 dB, +20 dB
True bypass switching with long-press mute function
High-quality jacks, switches, and potentiometers
9V external power supply, boosted internally to 26V for massive headroom
LED indicator: lights when pedal is engaged. Flashes when the pedal is muting.
Rugged Hammond 1590BB aluminum enclosure
Controls:
A | B | A+B Switch – Choose single-filter (A or B) or dual-filter (A+B) mode. In single-filter mode, only one channel is active; in A+B mode, both filters run in parallel (and both clean mix controls are active).
Mono | Stereo Switch – Selects mono versus stereo input operation. Note that in stereo mode, only the “tip” signal is switched to the output when the pedal is bypassed.
Clean Mix (A or B) – Adjusts the amount of clean signal blended with the filter’s output. This control now goes to 11, giving you one extra!
Gain – Controls the output level of each filter (A or B).This control now goes to 11, giving you one extra!
Frequency – Sets the center or cutoff frequency (in Hz) for the selected filter type.
Resonance (Q) – Adjusts how sharply the filter attenuates frequencies outside its passband (sometimes called “quality factor” or Q). Setting ranges from wide (0.5) to narrow (5.5).
Filter Type – Selects the filter shape: low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, or notch.
Footswitch – Tap to toggle between bypass and active. Hold to mute the output.
Power Supply Requirements:
The recommended power supply is a high quality (regulated), 9-volt (tip-negative, sleeve-positive) at 300 mA minimum.
Note that a power supply is not provided with the pedal.
Internal Gain Switches
The Frequency Distiller Special Blend has two internal gain switches, one for the “tip” signal and one for the “ring” signal. These switches can be used to compensate for basses (or other instruments) that have widely varying output levels. The factory setting (10 dB gain) is best for most situations. However, if you have a very high output bass (or synthesizer), you may want to reduce the gain to 0 dB (no gain). Alternatively, if you have a very low output bass (or other instrument), you can increase the gain to 20 dB. These switches are intended as a “set and forget” adjustment. The diagram below shows the switch positions for each gain setting.
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