The FUNK MACHINE is a synthesizer that can be used with any amplified musical instrument. Bass Guitar … Guitar .. . Fender Rhodes … Harmonica … Horns .. . Clavinet.
The FUNK MACHINE is primarily designed for use with Bass Guitar, but you will find that all other instruments will work very well. On Bass Guitar you get a sound that Is heard everywhere in recording these days. The unusual sounds coming from the Basses of Larry Graham, Sly Stone, Tower of Power, and Stanley Clarke are characteristic of the sounds of the Funk Machine.
On Guitar the FUNK MACHINE gives an effect similar to a WA WA pedal, the difference being that the FUNK MACHINE is electronically triggered by the players attack on the strings as opposed to the mechanical and foot action on the WA WA. The FUNK MACHINE gives a fender Rhodes a sound similar to a Clavinet, but because of the very low output of the Rhodes in some cases the signal generated by the piano is not strong enough to trigger the FUNK MACHINE on the extreme high notes on the piano.
Unlike most control knobs that are associated with electronic apparatus the FUNK MACHINE does not get its best effect by turning both controls to their full on position. In fact the FUNK MACHINE would get its worst effect by doing so. To get the best results read the instructions carefully.
1. Turn both controls on the FUNK MACHINE off.
2. Turn the volume control on the instrument to its full on position.
3. The FUNK MACHINE is voltage controlled meaning that the harder the note is struck the greater the FUNK EFFECT. Bear this in mind because as you adjust the controls you are as much responsible for the sound as the FUNK MACHINE.
4. Strike a low note on your instrument in a repetitive manner, (Bass Guitar “D” string, Guitar “A” string). At the same time you arc striking a low note on your instrument in a repetitive manner slowly turn the FILTER RANGE control clockwise until the FUNK EFFECT is heard. Remember that the further the FILTER RANGE control is advanced, as well as how hard the note is being struck determines the amount of effect.
5. It you play Bass Guitar the FREQUENCY SHIFT control will move the range of the FUNK MACHINE into a lower frequency range that will easily accommodate the open “E” string on a Bass Guitar. A little experimenting with the FREQUENCY SHIFT and the FILTER RANGE control will yield great results.
6. NOTE FOR BASS GUITAR: The FUNK MACHINE can be used as a sub-harmonic bass filter which will cleanly lower the bass response by two full octaves. To accomplish this simply turn the FILTER RANGE control off and use the FREQUENCY SHIFT control only.
7. Unplug the unit when not in use to increase battery life.
A helpful hint for the FUNK MACHINE as well as your other effects is to use a Y cord from your guitar into the second channel of your AMP. By splitting the signal you don’t loose any of the natural response from your AMP while using effects.
Demo of the V1 Funk Machine without the Frequency Shift conrol, but should still give you a good idea of what to expect.
