SFX Sound micro-Thumpinator v1

The SFX Sound micro-Thumpinator v1 is a dedicated high-pass filter pedal designed for bass guitar. A high-pass filter cuts low frequencies below a set point and lets higher ones through, and RockBoard's PedalPedia says this one removes unwanted, inaudible subsonic frequencies that can cause amplifiers to clip and sound muddy¹. In practice, that means it sits on a bass board to clean up the very bottom of the signal before it hits the amp or recording chain.

What it does

The pedal's job is narrow and specific: strip out subsonic content, the frequencies below what a bass amp can usefully reproduce. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the problem it solves as unwanted, inaudible subsonic frequencies that can cause amplifiers to clip and sound muddy¹. Because those frequencies sit below hearing, a player does not remove them to change tone directly; the effect shows up as a cleaner low end and less strain on the amplifier.

It belongs to the wider family of filter pedals, though unlike a wah or an envelope filter it is not a tone-shaping effect you hear working. It is a utility: set it and forget it. Bass players looking at the broader category will find it covered under bass pedals.

Versions

SFX Sound has since released a micro-Thumpinator v2, which is listed alongside the v1 on the maker's product page¹. Players comparing the two should note that this page covers the v1.

Questions