Flangers that won't cost me an arm...

[AllHailDIO]

It can take my leg though haha (I'll just be a pirate)

So I know there's plenty of affordable flangers out there that sound great but what are some of the best sounding flangers that money can buy? Bonus points for Blend/Mix knob as I like them on the subtle side.

I want to hear what everyone has to say and see if there's an affordable option.

Context: I was watching That Pedal Show and Dan seemed impressed with the Thropy Camouflage. I need to hear more demos but having a Blend and Treble knob seems neat.

I use flanger mainly for solos. Think Gilmour, though I can never tell when he uses a flange or phase. Doesn't matter, great playing

 

[Securb]

You can get a BOSS BF-2 on the used market for $50 - $75 they are a great box

 

[PFDarkside]

If your reference is Gilmour, also look at the Mooer Elect Lady or whatever it’s called now.

 

[ErikH]

You can get a BOSS BF-2 on the used market for $50 - $75 they are a great box

My first suggestion right there. I will add, if you find one of the old BF-2B Bass Flangers (brown box) for a good deal, they work great with guitar too. Same exact circuit as the BF-2 but with a few cap changes here and there to make it work better for bass. I had one and sold it, stupidly. I swear, it sounded like the old AC powered MXR Flanger, which I also had at one point and stupidly sold. See a pattern here? LOL

The MXR Flanger is great too though I personally would lean towards the EVH model myself.

The old Ibanez FL-9 is really cool too, though can be pricey.

 

[GuitarStv]

The mooer e-lady is a really nice flanger. Way nicer than it should be for 30$. It sounds like it's based on the electric lady that Gilmour used.

 

[Securb]

The MXR Flanger is great too though I personally would lean towards the EVH model myself.

Agreed it sounds great but there is a volume drop when engaged that drove me crazy. That is when I bought the MOOG with the output control.

 

[AllHailDIO]

My first suggestion right there. I will add, if you find one of the old BF-2B Bass Flangers (brown box) for a good deal, they work great with guitar too. Same exact circuit as the BF-2 but with a few cap changes here and there to make it work better for bass. I had one and sold it, stupidly. I swear, it sounded like the old AC powered MXR Flanger, which I also had at one point and stupidly sold. See a pattern here? LOL

The MXR Flanger is great too though I personally would lean towards the EVH model myself.

The old Ibanez FL-9 is really cool too, though can be pricey.

Haha I do see a trend!

And yes... I actually had a FL-9 but sold it years ago. I had a very very long phase in my life where I found all modulation to not be my cup of tea... Often thinking of them as "cheesy". But after finding a new appreciation for chorus, I thought I should check out flangers too. My gut reaction was to get a FL-9 again but figured since the boutique pedal boom of the 00s, I'm sure there's more options now.

I'll definitely check out the BOSS and MXR!

 

[AllHailDIO]

Not to sound like a newb but do all analog flange have clock noise? Or is there some that have it filtered out, like how analog delay does (or so I assume).

 

[GuitarStv]

I don't get any clock noise running the e-lady, but am running isolated power to it. It's analog.

 

[NegativeEase]

Flangers won't cost you an arm..... they cost you your dignity....:32::32::32::32::32::32::32::32::32::32::32::argh:

Flanger Jokes.... I got em.

Sorry. I kid.

 

[Jacew]

I like them on the subtle side too, and too often it can sound pretty cheesy. I'd suggest you to try out HF-2. By far the best sounding flanger in my opinion.

Some say flanging is on thin side in it, but I like that. Especially since it also thickens the unflanged lower portion of signal , it sounds glorious and doesn't mess up the song at all, even if you're playing rhythm.

Elec Lady is good for clean EM style flanger surely too. I used to have real EM deluxe, but it was super finicky and very noisy.

 

[Jacew]

BTW: Joyo Classic Flanger is a real analog flanger, and copy of FL-9, if you want to try again that style out for cheap.

 

[Mincer]

Flanger is an effect that I have a hard time with. I would always reach for a phaser instead. Maybe this thread will make me aware of a flanger I will like.

 

[NegativeEase]

It's the one digital pedal effect I just can't get into.... but doing a real flanger effect with your thumb on the reel to reel is a lot of fun in the studio.

Used to do them all the time with artists looking for a "moment"

 

[Artie]

For those few times I use a flanger, I really like my DOD FX75C. IIRC, it's all analog. Very smooth and warm sounding. The 4-knob control, lets you shape the sound however you want. Can be found used for under a $100.

And, it has stereo out.

 

[Bill Dennis]

I use mxr flangers. The micro and the EVH. They get the job done

 

[Highway Chile]

I like the EVH flanger the best for the overall sound, but it takes 18 volts. I usually run mine using two batteries (or use one of my other flangers that can use 9v power supplies). Ymmv

 

[Francois]

I love Flanger !!! My fave is the MXR M117 but they is also cheaper ones. As somenone said the Boss BF-2 is nice.
The Mooer is very cheap (but I never tried it).

 

[devastone]

I'm a MXR fan too, although I'm currently using models in my Boss GT-1k. I had a MXR Micro Flanger and really liked it.

 

[PFDarkside]

It's the one digital pedal effect I just can't get into.... but doing a real flanger effect with your thumb on the reel to reel is a lot of fun in the studio.

Used to do them all the time with artists looking for a "moment"

The real deal tape flanging sound is awesome. I’ve been tempted by a Catalinbread Zero Point at the end of the chain for a little flavor like that. It’s a lot of money for a toy you’d use once in a set though. (Or maybe you’d just run it all the time and it would become my signature tone! )