The Trickfish Signal Filter is a filter pedal aimed at bass players, made by Trickfish Amplification. Trickfish describes it as a smart tone shaping tool with variable high-pass and low-pass filters, built to "pocket" your sound in a mix. Where an EQ pedal boosts or cuts bands across the spectrum, the Signal Filter works at the edges: it trims the deepest lows and the highest highs while leaving everything in between untouched1.
The pedal was released on 30 May 2024 as one of four bass effects pedals Trickfish launched together, alongside the VCA Compressor, External Pre Amp, and Overdrive Preamp2. It lists at $219 USD1.
What it does to your sound
The Signal Filter uses dual, independently selectable filters, each with a steep cut of 24 dB per octave. That slope is what separates it from gentle tone controls: once you set the cutoff, everything beyond it drops away fast rather than fading gradually. As Trickfish puts it, this lets you curb the highs and/or the lows while keeping the remaining inside frequencies fully intact1.
For a bassist, the practical uses are cutting sub-bass rumble that muddies a mix or PA, taming harsh top end, or both at once. Because the two filters are independent and each has its own footswitch, you can bring either one in or out mid-song12.
The controls and footswitches
The pedal carries two latching footswitches: one for the high-pass filter plus its gain stage, and one for the low-pass filter2. The maker's product page lays out the controls in order1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| OUT | 1/4" phone jack output |
| DC IN | 9V DC power input, center pin negative |
| IN | 1/4" phone jack input |
| HI PASS FILTER (bass range) | Sweep from 38 Hz to 310 Hz |
| HI PASS FILTER (treble range) | Sweep from 330 Hz to 15 kHz |
| HI PASS GAIN | 15 dB of gain for the high-pass filter |
| HP+GAIN footswitch | Toggles effect on/bypass |
The Gain control is the detail that makes the high-pass side practical for bass. Trickfish explains that it "ensures that any perceived volume lost from cutting the deep low end can be added back in"1. Cutting the deep low end removes a lot of energy from a bass signal, and the 15 dB of make-up gain lets you restore the level so the effect engages without a volume drop.
The pedal also ships with adhesive-backed removable rubber feet, useful if you plan to mount it to a pedalboard and later want it freestanding1.
Power and connections
The Signal Filter runs on 9V DC with a center-pin-negative plug, drawing only 7 mA1. That low draw means it shares a daisy chain or an isolated supply's output with plenty of headroom to spare. There is no battery option; power comes through the DC input only.
Signal connections are simple: one 1/4" input and one 1/4" output. The input impedance is 1M Ohm and the output impedance is 100k Ohm1, figures Bass Gear Mag's spec table confirms2. The 1M Ohm input preserves high-end detail from passive bass pickups, and the 100k Ohm output drives most amp and pedal inputs without issue.
Physically, the pedal is a steel chassis measuring 2.29 inches high at the top, 1.96 inches at the bottom, by 2.72 by 5.08 inches including knobs, and weighing 0.98 lbs / 0.45 kg1.
What reviewers said
Bass Gear Mag reviewed the Signal Filter on 30 May 2024 as part of its coverage of Trickfish's four launch pedals, with the review written by Sean Fairchild2. The review's spec table confirms the analog circuit, the two latching footswitches, the 1M Ohm / 100k Ohm impedances, the one-year warranty, and the $219 USD price2.
The reviewer's one feature suggestion concerned the low-pass filter:
"I'd love to see an additional resonance control included to work in conjunction with the LPF"2
Sean Fairchild, Bass Gear Mag2
He called that an eventual evolution of the design rather than a flaw: a resonance control would let the low-pass filter emphasize the cutoff point itself, the way many synth-style filter pedals do. As shipped, the Signal Filter is a clean, transparent cutter rather than a sweepable envelope or resonant wah-style effect21.
Videos
Trickfish Amps
Phil Mann | With Bass In Mind
Trickfish Amps
Questions
Does the Trickfish Signal Filter have a resonance control?
No. The Signal Filter has no resonance control. Bass Gear Mag's reviewer, Sean Fairchild, noted this as the one feature he would add, saying he would like an additional resonance control to work with the low-pass filter, calling that an eventual evolution of the design.
Is the Trickfish Signal Filter analog?
Yes. Bass Gear Mag's review lists the Signal Filter's circuit as analog. It is a steel-chassis pedal with two latching footswitches, one for the high-pass filter plus gain and one for the low-pass filter.
What frequency range does the Signal Filter cover?
The high-pass filter sweeps from 38 Hz to 310 Hz in the bass range, and a second high-pass control sweeps from 330 Hz to 15 kHz in the treble range. Both filters cut steeply at 24 dB per octave.
Can you use the high-pass and low-pass filters at the same time?
Yes. The two filters are dual and independently selectable, so you can curb the highs and the lows at once while keeping the remaining inside frequencies fully intact. A Gain control on the high-pass channel adds back up to 15 dB of level lost from cutting deep low end.
What is the warranty on the Trickfish Signal Filter?
Bass Gear Mag lists the warranty as one year. The pedal is made by Trickfish Amplification and carries a list price of $219 USD.
Sources (2)
- Signal Filter, Trickfish Amplification
- Trickfish Amplification Pedals: Signal Filter, and more..., Bass Gear Mag, 2024-05-30
