March 2001

GUYATONE FLIP FUNKY BOX FB-X

By Ned Torney

Play the funky music? Want that authentic auto-wah sound that's so prevalent on many of those 70's funk hits? Does your synth's clav or electric piano patch lack the expressive filter signal processing power you desire? Or, perchance, do you own a real Clavinet and want an automatic wah that fits within your budgetary constraints? Well, look no further: The Guyatone Flip Funky Box FB-X could be your answer.

A tube-driven envelope-controlled filter designed to be used with a variety of instruments, the Funky Box is housed in a sturdy and compact metal-cased floor pedal that's a very cool shade of purple, and powered by a 12-volt AC adapter (included). There are three knobs that control threshold, decay, and level, a wah switch, and a red LED effect status indicator.

When the Funky Box is powered up, the eye is immediately drawn to the orange glow of the 12AX7 tube beneath the louvers on the lower right side of the unit. This is the only tube-driven envelope-controlled filter on the market. The tube circuitry is designed to add warmth and "grit" to the signal, and according to the manufacturer, the tube can be substituted to change the gain structure of the pedal. Control over threshold (depth of modulation) and decay (speed of modulation) allows the filter's sweep to be specifically adjusted to achieve the desired effect, while overall volume is controlled by the Level knob, which can also be used to overdrive the amplifiers input.

The Funky Box is actually a bandpass filter and has switchable peak frequencies that allow it to be used with various instruments. Wah 1 cuts lows and mid-range frequencies and accentuates the higher peak frequencies that the filter sweeps, while wah 2 acts like a lowpass filter by cutting highs and has a lower peak frequency. When you switch from wah 1 to wah 2 or vice-versa, the output level must be adjusted accordingly, as there is a significant difference in volume (my only complaint). A switch to reverse the wah direction would also be a nice addition.

I put the Funky Box through its paces using assorted keyboards and guitars. I was immediately struck by how dynamically sensitive and musical the filter is. By tweaking the Threshold and Decay controls, I was able to achieve a variance in tonal shadings that ranged from subtle nuance all the way to harsh, over-the-top harmonic emphasis that was downright wicked. If you want to accent certain parts of a groove, the Funky Box can definitely add to the funkification.

Pros: 12AX7-tube preamp. Extremely sensitive filter response.
Cons: Dramatic volume difference between wah 1 and 2 sounds.
Bottom Line: A reasonably priced auto-wah effects pedal with quality sound.