My small review of the new Electro Harmonix Bass pedals

[Terrorstorm]

Hi there..

I tried all of the new pedals for bass from EHX. So I thought, I'll share my experiences with you.

Well.. let's start with the Bass Micro Synthesizer.

I already had the old version and sold it about a year ago, but missed it since then and when I tried the new one I was in love again... Nothing but sweet (and useable) synth sounds. The smaller size and the 9V ability is a big +. It's also nice that the sliders are easier to move than on the old BMS. The sound: To me it seems even a little bit fatter and more full sounding than the old one, I really don't know, if the circuit design is completely the same. I boutht the BMS...

Bass Blogger:

I didn't like this one. In fuzz mode it sounded a little bit like a bad muff clone. In Distortion mode it was totally undefied and even had such a cheap digital flavour. Even playing with the tone control didn't satisfy me. Turning it too far left cut out all the low end.

Bass Big Muff:

Well, I never played any other Muff, so I can't compare, but the Bass Big Muff was very convincing. In normal mode it sounded good, in Bass Boost and Blend mode it sounded fantastic!!! The great thing with those modes is that you can crank the Tone knob and still have lots of bottom end. I was able to dial in a lot of great fuzz tones from low to medium to high gain..so I bought that thing
I'm waiting for the Way Huge Swollen Pickle Reissue to come out and then compare which one I like better and which one stays...

Bass Metaphors:

My expectations on the Bass Metaphors were really high, so I was totally excited to try it out. But I ended up not buying it. It seemed like the compresser didn't do much more than making things a little bit louder (but I'm no compression expert). The EQ section and blend ability was nice and cound definitely help if you want a secound sound, but it didn't really make the sound better or fatter, like it is the case with the Sansamp (which I owned). A Mid knob would have been nice too! The distortion on it (which is footswitchable) wasn't really my thing. Some bottom end got lost (which you of course can dial in with the Bass control on the unit) and the seemed very thin, a little bit like the Bass Blogger sound. Low gain overdrive was pretty nice, but everything past 12 o'clock sounded crappy IMO. The fact that it also has a DI out is great, but overall the unit didn't convince me to buy it.

Markus

[JayAmel]

Originally Posted by Terrorstorm

Bass Big Muff:

Well, I never played any other Muff, so I can't compare, but the Bass Big Muff was very convincing. In normal mode it sounded good, in Bass Boost and Blend mode it sounded fantastic!!! The great thing with those modes is that you can crank the Tone knob and still have lots of bottom end. I was able to dial in a lot of great fuzz tones from low to medium to high gain..so I bought that thing

+1. Same for me. Exactly what I wanted : the legendary Big Muff vibe without losing the low frequencies.

[Valerus]

Hmm...I need to try out the BBM.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Valerus

Hmm...I need to try out the BBM.

My advice: just buy it. It lives up to the high expectations they set. Don't know about the others yet, but I'm sure to get the new BMS before long.

I fussed around and put off getting one, and once mine came, I regretted waiting.

[jakusx]

I wish EHX would post videos on their site

[McHaven]

I know the Blogger gets a lot of bad reviews, but I absolutely love mine. I think the overdrive is very dependent on the basses you play. It doesn't work well with some of my basses, but some it absolutely rips!

[Terrorstorm]

Originally Posted by McHaven

I know the Blogger gets a lot of bad reviews, but I absolutely love mine. I think the overdrive is very dependent on the basses you play. It doesn't work well with some of my basses, but some it absolutely rips!

nice to hear. Well, I forgot to say: everything i.m.o.
I did only try it with a passive Fender Jazz, so I can't comment on how it is sounding with other ones..

[McHaven]

Originally Posted by Terrorstorm

nice to hear. Well, I forgot to say: everything i.m.o.
I did only try it with a passive Fender Jazz, so I can't comment on how it is sounding with other ones..

Yeah, it doesn't sound too great with my normal Fender. However, my jazz with the amazing Rio Grande pickups sounds great, as does my dual humbucker Gibson. I'll have to post some clips eventually.

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

My advice: just buy it. It lives up to the high expectations they set. Don't know about the others yet, but I'm sure to get the new BMS before long.

I fussed around and put off getting one, and once mine came, I regretted waiting.

Hmm.

What I didn't like about the LBM is that it was just overly messy.

Is this any better than the LBM? I know it's the BASS Big Muff, so hopefully it sounds better.

[judas jedermann]

Originally Posted by Terrorstorm

I tried all of the new pedals for bass from EHX. So I thought, I'll share my experiences with you.

Well.. let's start with the Bass Micro Synthesizer.

The sound: To me it seems even a little bit fatter and more full sounding than the old one, I really don't know, if the circuit design is completely the same.

Markus, I found also new BMS fatter sounding than older reissue. I am really happy with it.

[Thunderscreech]

Originally Posted by Terrorstorm

Bass Big Muff:

Well, I never played any other Muff, so I can't compare, but the Bass Big Muff was very convincing. In normal mode it sounded good, in Bass Boost and Blend mode it sounded fantastic!!! The great thing with those modes is that you can crank the Tone knob and still have lots of bottom end. I was able to dial in a lot of great fuzz tones from low to medium to high gain..so I bought that thing
I'm waiting for the Way Huge Swollen Pickle Reissue to come out and then compare which one I like better and which one stays...

You have renewed my interest in getting one. I'll put it on my list.

[TomServoGD]

Originally Posted by McHaven

I know the Blogger gets a lot of bad reviews, but I absolutely love mine. I think the overdrive is very dependent on the basses you play. It doesn't work well with some of my basses, but some it absolutely rips!

Same mileage here. In 'Drive' mode, it works well to add some subtle drive/grit/etc for my MIM Jazz. However, on my 5-string Stingray, the effect is not so compelling in either Drive or Fuzz mode.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Valerus

Hmm.

What I didn't like about the LBM is that it was just overly messy.

Is this any better than the LBM? I know it's the BASS Big Muff, so hopefully it sounds better.

Well the fuzz tone is similar, but the BBM is (allegedly) closer to the green Russian, while the LBM is (certifiably) somewhere between the US and black Russian muffs, if that means anything to you. If you really don't want a muff sound then the BBM is likely to disappoint.

However, in the dry (blend) setting you can get tone down the "messy", I suppose it would stand a better chance of pleasing you than any other muff out there.

What kind of fuzz sound are you looking for, exactly?

[grygrx]

I've got a video of the metaphores I need to edit. I'll share when it's ready.

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by judas jedermann

Markus, I found also new BMS fatter sounding than older reissue. I am really happy with it.

I should replace my older BMS with the new one, even if just to save space, but the new one doesn't look nearly as cool as the old one.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I should replace my older BMS with the new one, even if just to save space, but the new one doesn't look nearly as cool as the old one.

I like the look AND sound of many different "old school" ehx pedals, but they have slowly disappeared from my board as smaller equivalents have become available.

I can't imagine toting around a huge board with a large-format bass microsynth, deluxe memory man, electric mistress, original clone theory, etc...

not that I wouldn't KEEP some of these for recording or whatever. And I suppose I shouldn't talk since it looks like the Tube Zipper has found a permanent slot on my board (but at least it combines tube OD with a kind of autowah)

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

Well the fuzz tone is similar, but the BBM is (allegedly) closer to the green Russian, while the LBM is (certifiably) somewhere between the US and black Russian muffs, if that means anything to you. If you really don't want a muff sound then the BBM is likely to disappoint.

However, in the dry (blend) setting you can get tone down the "messy", I suppose it would stand a better chance of pleasing you than any other muff out there.

What kind of fuzz sound are you looking for, exactly?

I use and love the Electronix MessDrive Hybrid +.
With that, I can get "vintage", subtle fuzz or like buzzsaw synth fuzz.

But before that, I had the LBM and I liked it, but it wasn't refined enough. It was in other words...messy.

I actually tried a russian out at my local shop and i liked it. So maybe I'll try one of these out one day.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Valerus

I use and love the Electronix MessDrive Hybrid +.
With that, I can get "vintage", subtle fuzz or like buzzsaw synth fuzz.

But before that, I had the LBM and I liked it, but it wasn't refined enough. It was in other words...messy.

I actually tried a russian out at my local shop and i liked it. So maybe I'll try one of these out one day.

I have the original messdrive and it is excellent, very useable. They hybrid looks great too but I prefer the original to be honest - I'm not much into "modern" "scooped" fuzz sound - I like the creamier midrange fuzz.

But if you liked the Black Russian you tried (which is arguably better for bass than the LBM), then I have a feeling you would like the BBM. It has a ballpark-similar sound, and is more flexible and adaptable to bass (plus it's more compact and 9V powerable).

[FlawLaw]

The thing I don't like about the Bas Micro Synth is that it cuts off sustained notes. I am wondering if any of you have been able to add sustain to the pedal by combining it with the new Bass Muff or are can I make adjustments to the sustain in another way?

[selfblessed]

Any clips if the BBM?