127th AES Convention Coverage (New York, NY Oct. 9-12)
Can't find 'ElectroKraft Vintage-Style Strat Pickup'!

Please direct all questions, comments, or feedback about User Reviews to reviews@harmony-central.com.
Home > Effects > Effects Reviews > Guyatone > FL-3 Flanger

Guyatone FL-3 Flanger

Summary
Price New Guyatone FL-3 Flanger @ Musician's Friend
Manufacturer URL http://www.guyatone.com/
Ease of Use 9.7 (15 responses)
Sound Quality 9.3 (15 responses)
Reliability 8.9 (14 responses)
Customer Support 9.6 (5 responses)
Overall Rating 9.5 (15 responses)
Submit a review for this product!

Page: 1 2 (Show 10 | 25 | 50 | 100 reviews per page) Showing 1 - 10 of 16 reviews
Advertisement
Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 02/13/2008 at 12:46am by bong

Ease of Use : 10
2 knobs(rate and depth) and 1 switch with 3 different resonance settings to chose from. Gets great sounds right out of the box. Accepts Boss-style adaptors and battery (9 Volt) changes are easy with the "rubber gasket."(Its like a big rubber band holding the shell of the pedal and its bottom is like that of a crybaby wah; a thin metal sheet).
I can get chorus like flange in clean in first resonance setting with rate up. With distortion, back off the depth and turn the rate to near zero to get that jet take off fat sound in both the 2nd and 3rd resonance settings.

Sound Quality : 9
Washburn dimeslime usa into...dimebag wah into...front end of xxxpeavey combo. The fx loop includes analogman chorus, GUYATONE fl-3 flanger, ehx nano small stone, boss dd6 digital delay. I'll only knock a point off because a mix knob would have been nice to compensate for the volume boost that this pedal gives(although the fl-3 is advertised by Guyatone to do this on purpose). Also, though not true bypass, no tone deterioration taking it out of and putting it back in the chain. I can get the evh flange from aint talkin bout love, unchained, and hear bout it later.

Reliability : 8
I can only attest to home use and I have a pedalboard w/adaptor, so I don't have to remove the rubber gasket for battery change. Its a thick rubber ring, but its still rubber. Nonetheless, if worse came to worse, duct tape could easily fix the situation. The casing is solid pressed steel and the switch doesn't click, so you don't have to "stomp" on it to switch it on/off, a tap will do. For home use/pedalboard I would completely rely on it. For touring, I'd be more hesitant w/out a backup, but I think you could do without a backup.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A

Overall Rating : 10
I play rock and metal. I like this pedal in both clean and distortion...many usable sounds on this thing. I would buy it again used as you can find great deals on them used and I bought mine's used too. MXR sounded slightly better(bit smoother) but costs almost twice as much used. I do wish it had a mix knob, but otherwise smoker pedal. Looks like a little toy, but some of the fattest flanging sounds in distortion I've heard from a pedal, yet you can still hear your original guitar tone contributing to the sound. Overall I would give this a 9.5, but I'll round up to 10 for "fantastic value."


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: US $130
Submitted 06/20/2006 at 04:51am by Mike

Ease of Use : 10
2 knobs and a switch, how easy is that :)

Sound Quality : 10
Oh man! I have been use to Boss flangers and were never happy with the sound!! and went off this effect!! until I browsed about and came across the Guyatone site, read some reviews and took a chance! I had to order this from the USA because nobody seems to sell Guyatone in the UK! thats a crime! anyway, this pedal sounds so much better in the flesh than hearing sound demos on-line!! it sounds so clean, fresh, natural! your guitar tone shines with this pedal, I know what some people have said about a hiss but its not that bad, comes and goes! its a flanger! and thats so minor compared to the quailty flang effect :) you have to try one of these! forget the mighty Boss


Reliability : 10
built well

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 10
I have always been unhappy with flanger effects until this one came along :) it gets 10 for winning me over! it sounds great and looks cute! could even help get girls attention as its pink!! :)


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: US $45.00 used
Submitted 03/31/2006 at 06:45pm by Joe Spurrier
Email: jms6string<at>aol dot com

Ease of Use : 10
Two knobs and one selector switch and on/off button

Sound Quality : 10
See my other reviews for my setup info...a full list of my gear can be found under my rating of the dod milkbox compressor. Is it noisey? Are Flangers noisey? OFCOURSE IT MAKES NOISE IT'S A FLANGER.Never met a flanger that did not make noise. It does not matter does not effect my tone or my playing in a negative way. Buy a noise supressor or a gate of some sorts. Take your pick there are so many good ones out there now. My choice is the rocktron hush, however guyatone,boss and dunlop mxr are all now making very good noise supression devices. Find one you like and use it. Setting 1 on the selector gives you the exact chourse tone from Pink Floyds run like hell. It nails it Dead bang on. You could use the settings under 1 for a 70's chourse sound all the time if you wanted to. On setting one it's more like a chourse/phaser. Very lil Flanging going on. Setting 2 gets you into jet plane territory and swirling type sounds. Very 3d sounding and toneful for a flanger. Setting 3 gives you some hard core jet like sounds. At high volumes this effect is powerful. It has something toneful about it that makes it unusual from other flangers. I can't put my finger on it. This however is one heck of a powerful effect and to me sounds better than any other flanging device I have tried.I have had boss and dod flangers. This one burries them both.

Reliability : 10
Guyatone is top notch quality . You don't need a back up

Customer Support : No Opinion
nope never had to. had this one about 2 to 3 years now.

Overall Rating : 10
This bad boy was a steal on E-bay . I think they sell new for about 90 bucks. If it broke or were stolen I would buy another with out hesitation. It's worth the 90 bucks just for the 70's style chourse in the settings on 1 . Settings on 3 forget it. You will not find another flanger that sounds like this . If you want something unique ,this is the flanger to have. I'm surprised I have not heard it on any recordings yet. You will recognize it once you hear it,not something forgetable.


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: US $69.99
Submitted 07/27/2005 at 02:10pm by Flavio

Ease of Use : 10
I only just got this a short while ago, but I've already got that feeling like this little guy will be with me for a while...Its very easy to use and adjust. No need for a manual really, its pretty self explanatory.

Sound Quality : 10
I mostly use a Gibson SG or Blueshawk into a Carvin 2x12 tube combo. I have a string of effects, Maxon Comp. -> MXR Blue Box -> Modded boss bd-2 -> DOD Corrosion -> De Armond Weeper -> Boss CE-20 -> Marshall Vibra/Trem -> Guyatone Fl3 -> Boss DD-20.

I used to use an Arion Stereo flanger - the grey labeled Japanese kind which gets such good reviews. And it is a great pedal, but closer to a phaser than a real flanger sound. I'm going to use the arion with my organ now and see how that sounds. I can't not use the FL3, it sounds truly beautiful. I had kinda grown all "whatever" about flangers, but this thing is awesome. It is a bit noisy, that's true, but the range of sounds and quality of sounds are superb. I think this thing rules. And its really cute and pink and tiny.

Reliability : 10
Feels very sturdy, we'll see...certainly more so than the Arion SFL-1, my last flanger, and that was fine, so this one is solid.

Customer Support : No Opinion
??? Has 3 year warranty, so, well covered, but I give no rating for now.

Overall Rating : 10
I play guitar rock of all sorts; swirly, dark, repetetive, psych, garage, pop, what have you. This thing really sounds like metal. Not heavy metal, but actual metal. On the most extreme setting, its an otherwordly sound. On the milder settings, it makes really beautiful noise. I am so glad I found this little guy! Get one if you can and fulfill all of your flanging needs...


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: US $75.00
Submitted 06/19/2005 at 10:43am by AH
Email: oregoniv<at>myway dot com

Ease of Use : 10
Real easy to use. Easy to get great sound out of it.

Sound Quality : 10
I was on the Guyatone web site looking for a good overdrive pedal when I listened to mp3s of this Mico Flanger and their Micro Chorus and I was pretty much stunned! The sound was exactly what I have been looking for, for a long time, so I ordered one and I love it. It sounds so full and funky-it makes you laugh. Works beautifully with my guitars and tube amp. Absolutely the best! Nails much of the 70's sounds.

Reliability : 7
After a month, it's worked flawlessly. Yes, the wierd rubber gasket-open bottom thing is strange. I don't play out of the house so it's not a problem and it seems like it's sturdy however it should be handled carefully. NOTE: Everyone should note that you can easily use a HOTSPOT adapter/power chain with the FL-3, more reliable than a battery.

Customer Support : 9
They answered an email from me pretty quickly. No other need so far.

Overall Rating : 10
I am over 40 and play Allmans, Doobies, Clapton, Scandal, etc. This pedal fits is beautifully with everything. I would definately replace it in a heartbeat if I had to. I don't know how other flangers sound but this one is so cool. Its' so small too and easy to use. I do wish the battery compartment setup was more conventional, with a latch or screws, but otherwise, this one is a big thumbs up.


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: US $80.00
Submitted 03/13/2004 at 05:54am by Anonymous

Ease of Use : 10
The FL-3 has two knobs for rate and depth and a 3 way switch were the effect goes from mellow to really intense.I was able to get great sounds right out of the box.

Sound Quality : 10
I was using a Dano Hash Browns Flange and found it to be very one dimesionsal and noisy so I checked into the Guyatone FL-3 since I already own a Guyatone MD-3 and love it.Let me start out by saying the FL-3 sounds very warm and organic I really like the sounds from the first position where I can get anything from spacious chorus for clean rhythm work to a nice shimmer on solos when used with od and distortion.The intense settings are also good for the jet plane thing that flangers are popular for.The sweep is very human like as Guyatone have described on there website.

Reliability : 10
I've been using the Guyatone MD3 delay for a solid year of gigging and have had no problems and believe the FL-3 will hold up just as good.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with them.

Overall Rating : 10
I play many different stlyes of music from blues to classic rock and think this pedal definitely adds alot to my sound even though I use it sparingly,my setup is Vox wah Clyde McCoy reissue-Boss Tu2-Voodoo Lab Microvibe-Voodoo Lab Octavia-Marshall Guvnor Plus-H&K Tube Factor-Russian Big Muff Pi modded for true bypass-Guyatone FL-3-Guyatone MD-3 on a Furman pedalboard.The Guyatone flange is a great value and for the price is one of warming flages out there anyone considering buying one should check this baby out.


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: US $80.00
Submitted 01/08/2004 at 06:02am by "Uncle" Al
Email: crabrangoon at mindless<dot>com

Ease of Use : 8
Very easy to use, with "Rate" and "Depth" controls and instead of a Resonance knob, there's a small switch with three resonance presets.

The stomp switch is quiet and very smooth, but since this pedal is so tiny, it took a little getting used to--I was afraid I'd stomp on the knobs. The jacks are on top, saving space on my pedalboard.

Sound Quality : 9
Current Setup: MusicMan Silhouette HSS (Bill Lawrence PUs), Musicman Silhouette Special SSS. Guyatone compressor > Teese RMC1 Wah > Proco Rat Douchetone > Voodoo Sparkle Drive > Voodoo Analog Chorus > FL-3 > Ernie's Balls Volume Pedal > Boogie Mark 1 Reissue.

This is a very quiet pedal. Keep in mind that any noise finding its way into a flanger pedal will create swooshing. With my low output pickups, I get a good sound going through distortion and into the FL-3.

The sounds range from subtle on the lower settings to the classic Jet sounds. The assymetrical sweep gives this analog pedal an organic sound.

Overall, this is the best Flanger I've played. Doesn't have the range of a Ross or MXR, but it's quieter. This thing looks like a toy, but it's as good as any pricier boutique pedal out there!

Reliability : 7
Like most folks, I really hate the rubber gasket, but since this pedal is stuck to my board with a piece of industrial velcro and powered with a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power, I don't have to worry about it. Other than that, the FL-3 is solid. I gig without a backup because I'm po'.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 9
I'm currently playing in a heavy rock band, and it didn't take long for me to find a place for the FL-3. On lower settings, it adds a nice shimmer to an overdriven sound, and when I need a rhythym part to stand out, I turn the knobs clockwise.

I've been playing for 21 years and have played through hundreds of effects. This one is definitely a keeper. I love that it's quiet and that there's a good range of tones, all of them useable. I don't like the rubber gasket--maybe that's one of the reasons why the Micro series is so cheap?

I compared the FL-3 to my old red Ross and to a Boss BF-3. While the FL-3 doesn't have the extremes that those pedals have, it's cleaner than the Ross and much, MUCH warmer than the Boss. That and the true bypass are why I chose the Guyatone.

I wish it had a better battery compartment. A resonance switch would be nice, but I don't miss it.

This is a very musical pedal with great sounds. And it's pink. I've always wanted a pink pedal.

I don't give out a "10" unless something sounds perfect, works perfect, and will fetch me a beer, so my 9s are a sign of my deepest respect.


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 11/10/2003 at 05:33pm by Big Guns

Ease of Use : 10
Very simple to use - 2 knobs and a 3-position resonance switch. Easy to dial in the sound you're after.

Sound Quality : 10
This little guy is the bomb! Huge tone for such a small pedal. I'm a bass player and use this mostly for freak-out song endings and for some trippy chorus-type tones on slower stuff. I play an original Spector into a Bozz Tuner and Fuzz into this and a Guyatone MD-2 delay and my rig is a GK 800RB w/Ampeg 8X10 Cab. This does an immense-sounding jet plane effect and used in conjunction w/the MD-2's self-oscillation it sounds like the end of the world!

Reliability : 9
Been gigging with it for several years and no problem - originally had an FL-2 that I picked up in Japan but unfortunately it went down. I replaced it with this and haven't looked back...see below...

Customer Support : 10
The guys at Godlyke took my Bum FL-2 and replaced it with the updated FL-3 version at no addiitonal charge - Try to find another company that will do that for you!

Overall Rating : 10
I play good ol'rock n roll with an edge and I've been doing it for 15+ years. If I lost this or it was stolen I'd definitely get another - I love it's huge screaming sweep! Definitely a good value, although I can't remember what I paid for my orignal FL-2 (Yen exchange an all) - I know it was worth it, though!


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: US $85
Submitted 02/22/2003 at 07:42pm by Fiddler49

Ease of Use : 9
About as easy as flangers come. Two knobs, one 3 position switch. But like any flanger, you've gotta tinker with it to get the sound you like. The size and layout of the pedal is probably the best thing about it, as it is very small and the jacks are on the top. Great for those of us who like to cram as many pedals as possible on a pedalboard. The rubber bottom that you can remove to get to the battery is kinda awkward.

Sound Quality : 6
Originally bought this for my electric violin pedalboard, but also checked it out on my guitar rig. Used in conjunction with a whole slew of different pedals, a Peavey Ecoustic 112 (violin) and a Motion Sound KT-80 (guitar). Fairly warm flanging, with the unique feature of the rise and fall being asymmetrical. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to make up for the biggest drawback of this pedal, namely the swooshy hiss when it's on. You can have the cleanest signal going to it, and it still hisses. Didn't keep it for long.

Reliability : No Opinion
Like I said, I didn't keep it for very long, so I have no idea about it's longevity.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Didn't deal with them.

Overall Rating : 6
Been playing violin for over 30 years, noodled with the guitar for several years but got serious about it the last 3-4. If I'd kept it long enough to be stolen, I'd replace it with an Ibanez FL-99, which is exactly what I did. For $85, you'd expect it to be a bit quieter. Rather disappointing.


Product: Guyatone FL-3 Flanger
Price Paid: US $65-70
Submitted 08/14/2002 at 01:06am by Alvin
Email: a_cheung1017 at hotmail<dot>com

Ease of Use : 10
2 nobs, Rate and Depth. 1 switch for intensity. Easy as hell. It is very very easy to use.

Sound Quality : 9
I am a vintage and boutique effect collector. I bought this flanger cause it looked real cool. I thought it would sound like a piece of junk but no! It is very very well made!!
I use Gibson Les Paul customs, juniors, 52 telecaster, Ibanez with Dimarzios... I use it through JCM 800 , Fender Twin Reverb, Dr Z Route 66... The distortion I normally use it with is a Proco Rat 2, the best "normal" distortion. This thing is silent. I use it too get Van Halen or Rage sounds. It is very very warm and can be extreem!! I was surprised!! It beats my vintage MXR or Ibanez flangers. Nearly as good as my ADA but ADA is still the best!! I really thought it was a great deal!! It also uses a Panasonic MN3207 analog IC chip (now out of production). Analog chips are always the best!!

Reliability : 9
Hard core metal. Battery cover is a little anoying but I never use it with 9v batteries. Has a 9v power plug.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never done anything with them...

Overall Rating : 9
I do Vintage Rock, Alternative Rock... ANd also my own stuff. It is a cool effect. Afterall fangers arn't that useful... If it was stolen, I might buy another one if I feel like it. If I didn't have my ADA Flanger and I lost this one, I would DEFINITELY buy a new one. It is so small and still so amazing sounding! I wish it had one more control for Regen. Compared with MXR or Ibanez, this is better. Even my vintage ones. OBVIOUSLY better than Boss!! Anything is better than Boss!! It is only a little more expensive too!! Might as well spend $20 more on a really good effect than save $20 and get a piece of shit! They will stop making these with analog chips(Panasonic MN3207 analog IC chip) soon so quickly get one!! These chips aer not made anymore! They will be digital soon!! Quick!! Grab one!!

Page: 1 2 (Show 10 | 25 | 50 | 100 reviews per page) Showing 1 - 10 of 16 reviews

Email: webmaster@harmony-central.com | © 1995-2009 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved.