JTEX Electronics and Combinator announce Distiller CE onboard low-pass filter

July 23, 2024 · 3 sources

JTEX Electronics and Combinator announced the Distiller CE (Combinator Edition) variable low-pass filter on July 23, 2024, describing it as a modular onboard tone shaping solution for bassists and guitarists¹².

The Distiller CE is a small onboard low-pass filter with 3-way resonance control custom tuned by Combinator, offered as a revision of JTEX's stock Distiller circuit, which was originally based on Alembic's 12dB-per-octave filter¹². According to the announcement, the CE edition differs in its range of adjustability, operating more as a top-end "tuner" of pickups' resonant peaks than a full-range filter¹². Combinator, identified as bassist, vocalist and producer Sean Fairchild, uses it in place of a typical preamp's active treble or passive tone control, shaping his high-end response between 1 and 10 kHz while adding up to +12dB of peaking boost at the cutoff frequency, which the announcement says allows emulation of many classic and modern pickup voicings¹².

Both the Distiller and Distiller CE have a 3-way selectable boost control with settings for flat/no boost, +5dB and +12dB¹². The announcement compares an active low-pass filter with adjustable peak gain to the small peaking boost a passive tone control can create at its lowest range of adjustment, saying the behavior can be replicated anywhere along the filter's range¹².

Bass Magazine lists a price of $87.00². The announcement directs buyers to linktr.ee/combinator for more information and purchase¹². Bass Musician Magazine carried the same announcement on August 6, 2024³.

The Distiller CE sits among filter pedals in onboard and pedal form.