The EHX Bass Micro Synth XO verison Review

Chronicle · #1 08-13-2008, 11:27 AM

So i wanted a pedal that sounded different. So I always had my eye on the bass micro synth. Too bad the original was super big. Now that we have a smaller size, I had to order one :]

So when i got it from Vintage sounds, i was kind of upset to see 2 paint chips on the top right and bottom right corners. But that doesn't bug me that much, I can always get some paint and fix it. Steve from TheVintagesound is a nice guy and responds pretty quickly. I recommend him

Anyways, onto the pedal's sounds. My manual didn't come with any suggested sounds for some reason so i had to read what each control does and start from scratch. Which was kind of easy. I just don't know what the Trigger slide does right now because my manual most of had a photocopy accident and the Trigger explanation was blanked out with some scribble or something

But once i got the hang of the slides, it was easy going from there. You can make a ton of sounds from this thing and almost all of them are actually useful.

The other thing that shocked me as well is it is TOTALLY quiet when i'm not playing... don't ask me how... but i turned my amp to 10 oc ( which is like 400w.... ) and i didn't hear a thing! Until i played a note and made the house shake

I'm giving this guy a good spot on my pedal board!....Even though I'm unsure where in the chain to put it...Hmm...

So next up is the Subdecay Prometheus hopefully. We shall see when that comes out

This is the teaser clip. Random settings.
http://media.putfile.com/BMS1

Here's my FAVORITE clip. Such a funky riff

http://media.putfile.com/BMS2-13

Some heavy riff demonstrating the low end capability.
...Oh and harmonics

http://media.putfile.com/BMS3-67

Just some Octave stuff. I change only the Octave and Sub octave slide in the clip.
http://media.putfile.com/bms4

Some Attack delay stuff. Also messing with the Freq start/stop as well.
http://media.putfile.com/bms5

Chronicle · #2 08-13-2008, 03:11 PM

Here's a After and before version of my favorite synth-like riff. The 2nd sound is the lil jovi and br-2. Both sounds with modulated delay.

http://media.putfile.com/combovsbms

Joe Gress · #3 08-13-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

Here's a After and before version of my favorite synth-like riff. The 2nd sound is the lil jovi and br-2. Both sounds with modulated delay.

http://media.putfile.com/combovsbms

Hehe, damage inc?

Oh, and the trigger controls when the envelope kicks in. The lower it is the more volume it takes to trigger the filter. It's kinda like a sensitivity knob on an envelope filter.

Chronicle · #4 08-13-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

Hehe, damage inc?

Oh, and the trigger controls when the envelope kicks in. The lower it is the more volume it takes to trigger the filter. It's kinda like a sensitivity knob on an envelope filter.

Ok i had a feeling that's what it was. Thanks!

And what's damage inc? did i unknowingly copy something?

Joe Gress · #5 08-13-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

And what's damage inc? did i unknowingly copy something?

Ok, I may be totally off my rocker, but the riff in the clip sounds just a little like the opening of Metallica's Damage Inc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjUS4m_mF3s

Eh, just listened to it. I'm crazy.

Chronicle · #6 08-13-2008, 04:38 PM

Hm same idea i suppose. Sounds more computer generated though :]

coreyfyfe · #7 08-13-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

Anyways, onto the pedal's sounds. My manual didn't come with any suggested sounds for some reason so i had to read what each control does and start from scratch. Which was kind of easy. I just don't know what the Trigger slide does right now because my manual most of had a photocopy accident and the Trigger explanation was blanked out with some scribble or something

My manual was the same way, I googled the original manual to read the descriptions and emailed EHX to get the sample settings, they responded pretty quick.

RCCollins · #8 09-04-2008, 11:15 AM

Does anybody else notice a loud pop when you mute a string? I have a feeling mine might be defective - I never noticed this on my original BMS, and I don't hear it in anybody's clips. I'd hate to return this, is there something I'm overlooking?

**bassman314** · #9 09-04-2008, 05:07 PM

I miss my BMS.. I might have topick up one of XO versions.

AS for your signal chain, I always had mine first. It just seemed to work better that way, especially if I was stacking it with other effects.

Although one time I stuck it after A DD-3... set for about 100 ms, decay to infitine.

THAT was an interesting experience..

theNoseBleedKid · #10 09-05-2008, 12:21 AM

How does it compare to the Prometheus?

Chronicle · #11 09-05-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theNoseBleedKid

How does it compare to the Prometheus?

They are two totally different effects. Can't really answer that...

andvari7 · #12 09-05-2008, 09:24 AM

Y'know what? I think EHX is making an XO guitar version of the Micro Synth, and it's basically a purple (instead of green) BMS. Except that EHX doesn't even have it, and Analogman does...

Chronicle · #13 09-05-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andvari7

Y'know what? I think EHX is making an XO guitar version of the Micro Synth, and it's basically a purple (instead of green) BMS. Except that EHX doesn't even have it, and Analogman does...

This is Talkbass. We don't really care

We like our bass versions better. :P

RCCollins · #14 09-05-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andvari7

Y'know what? I think EHX is making an XO guitar version of the Micro Synth, and it's basically a purple (instead of green) BMS. Except that EHX doesn't even have it, and Analogman does...

So you're a guitarist? You should keep in mind that many guitarists actually prefer the BMS to the guitar version - at least that was true with the original sized versions.

FreaqyFrequency · #15 09-05-2008, 09:47 AM

Great review! Nice clips and pictures.

rratajski · #16 09-05-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

So you're a guitarist? You should keep in mind that many guitarists actually prefer the BMS to the guitar version - at least that was true with the original sized versions.

+1 Steph from Deftones.

G****r XO jawn: http://www.thevintagesound.com/store...zer-p-170.html

JanusZarate · #17 09-05-2008, 10:06 AM

Well, I guess we should've expected it.

It won't be long before EVERY old EHX pedal comes back.

I bet everyone's itching for an XO Polychorus...

Joe Gress · #18 09-05-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Well, I guess we should've expected it.

It won't be long before EVERY old EHX pedal comes back.

I bet everyone's itching for an XO Polychorus...

Yep. And the people that will say that the original was still better.

JanusZarate · #19 09-05-2008, 10:27 AM

Heh...

I never understood the "original is better" bit with EHX pedals. IME, the new ones surpass the old ones, with only some minor exceptions.

But hey, if someone's willing to pay $1K for a Big Muff that barely works, used by a forgotten mediocre guitarist in the 1970s who didn't take care of his gear... I won't stop him/her. It's clearly a lost cause.

andvari7 · #20 09-05-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

This is Talkbass. We don't really care

We like our bass versions better. :P

I own the larger BMS, if that helps.