3 Leaf Audio
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusical instruments
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008)
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington
Key people
Spencer Doren
ProductsEffects units
Website3leafaudio.com

3 Leaf Audio is an American manufacturer of boutique effect units for electric bass & guitar.The company, founded by Spencer Doren and operating from Seattle, Washington,[1] started with the Groove Regulator pedal, an envelope controlled filter effect inspired by the Lovetone Meatball.[2] All of the materials fabricated for the pedal units are sourced from American manufacturers. Each batch of pedals released is a limited edition run, utilizing unique colors, graphics and enclosure finishes. 3 Leaf Audio is primarily a one-man operation.[3]

History

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3 Leaf Audio began as a hobby project for Doren during his high school years. The project originally started from a desire to get bass tones he could not achieve from already existing gear. As interest in his products grew he began to outsource printed-circuit-board (PCB) fabrication and enclosure machining, while still maintaining his role as the final assembler.[4]


Effect pedals

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An assortment of various 3 Leaf Audio pedals.
Top row left to right: Proton V3, Wonderlove V2, Chromatron, and Proton V4.
Bottom row left to right: DOOM 2, Octabvre MKIII, Octabvre Mini, Octabvre MKIII, and DOOM 2 (Re-voiced)
Pedal Year Notes Total Units Released
Groove Regulator 2008 Modeled after Lovetone Meatball 465[5]
Groove Regulator 2 (GR2) 2010 Replaced feedback knob with wet/dry knob (feedback -> internal trimpot) 315[5]
Proton 2011 455[5]
Wonderlove 2012 710[5]
Proton V2 2012 1025[5]
Wonderlove V2 2015 600[5]
Proton V3 2015 1000[5]
Chromatron 2018 300[5]
Proton V4 2020 900[5]
Pedal Year Notes Total Units Released
Octabvre 2014 500[5]
Octabvre Mini 2016 710[5]
Octabvre MKII 2017 800[5]
Octabvre MKIII 2020 900[5]
Pedal Year Notes Total Units Released
(You're) DOOM 2013 600[5]
DOOM 2 2019 600[5]
DOOM 2 (Re-voiced) 2023 977[5]

Add some note regarding HGM DOOM 2

Pedal Year Notes Total Units Released
PWNZOR 2012 Optical compressor 120[5]
The Enabler 2013 Bass preamp with EQ and DI 300[5]
Little Black Box 2014 Clean boost 99[5]

Notable musicians using 3 Leaf pedals

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Rob Derhak's moe. pedalboard as of February 2024
  • Tim Lefebvre, touring and session musician: noted for being the inspiration of the "Octabvre" pedal line, as well as working with Doren to create the "Tim-tuning" switch available on later itterations.[6]
  • Henrik Linder, bassist for Dirty Loops: utilizes the Octabvre MKII and the Proton V3.[7]
  • Rob Derhak, bassist for moe. and Blue Star Radiation: Newer layout of his pedalboards sport the Chromatron, Octabvre MKII, DOOM and Proton V3.[8]
  • Ryan Stasik, bassist for Umphrey's Mcgee: As of April 2015, Ryan was using the DOOM, Wonderlove, Little Black Box and Octabvre pedals.[9]
  • Ian Martin Allison of Scott's Bass Lessons: Touring and session bassist known for favoring DOOM 2 and Octabvre pedals for synth bass tones.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ "3Leaf Audio Groove Regulator". Reverb. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  2. ^ "3 Leaf Audio GR2 Envelope Filter Review". Guitar Interactive Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  3. ^ "About". 3Leaf Audio. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  4. ^ "Spencer Doren of 3 Leaf Audio & Pike Amplification". YouTube. New York Bass Works TV. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Releases". 3Leaf Audio. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  6. ^ "Tim Lefebvre". Equipboard. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  7. ^ Scotts' Bass Lessons (2024-01-01). The most INSANE Pedalboard? w/ HENRIK LINDER (Dirty Loops). YouTube. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  8. ^ "Rob Derhak moe. pedalboard (Feb 2024)". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  9. ^ 3 LEAF AUDIO (2024-01-01). Ryan Stasik (Umphrey's McGee) Pedalboard Walkthrough - April 2015. YouTube. Retrieved 2024-11-03.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Ian Martin Allison". Ian Martin Allison Official Site. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  11. ^ Scott's Bass Lessons (2024-01-01). The 10 Greatest Synth Bass Lines Through History (and how to get the sounds). YouTube. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
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