Getting
two sounds with only one bass
When performing with one bass, the challenge comes down to achieving a
greater palette of sounds to address the various musical styles required
when playing covers or creating new musical landscapes. This is partially
addressed with two channel amplifiers, but playing with one bass still
forces a compromise with respect to EQ control and limited access to boost
settings for soloing - Bassbone solves both problems. When only one bass
is connected, the Bassbone converts to a two-channel controller with a
foot-switch to toggle between channels. Channel-1 drives your amp directly
with regular settings while Channel-2's ultra powerful 3-band EQ lets you
shape alternate sounds from thunderous deep bass to solo-cutting power
mid's. Bassbone also includes a power boost section that acts on either
channel, giving you four completely different settings with one bass! Finally
– real control when you play!
Bringing in effects and taking them out when not in use. Another major
concern for bass players is bringing effect pedals in and out of the signal
chain. Bass frequencies are the most powerful and demanding of any signal
path. This is why bass amplifiers generally require two to four times more
power than the accompanying guitar amplifier. The same law of physics also
applies at the electronic circuit level. This forces circuit designers
to make decisions such as compromising dynamic range versus noise, using
higher quality parts versus saving money and so on. The problem with most
9-Volt effect pedals is that they do not have sufficient power handling
to produce clean, solid bass. As these are typically not true-bypass designs,
bass players are forced to compromise by keeping these effects in the signal
chain even when not in use. This causes the signal to degrade and adds
noise. Bassbone comes to the rescue with a separate effect send-and-receive
loop that can be activated with a simple foot switch. The effects loop
can even be combined with the boost circuit, so cool effects such as flanging
or chorus can be instantly kicked in for solos.
Performing with no amp at all!
When performing in small ‘coffeehouse’ gigs, bringing an amplifier
may be cumbersome. The bass is often plugged into a direct box and then
fed directly into a mixer which feeds the house speakers and stage monitors.
Although this set up can get you by, it just does not sound right. The
problem is the mixer’s EQ center frequencies are tailored for general
purpose (I.E. microphones for voice, percussion and instruments) and as
such, the bass player is unable to achieve a ‘real’ bass sound.
Bassbone gives back control. The Bassbone is essentially a 2-channel bass
pre-amp with a built-in balanced XLR output for the mixer. This means that
the EQ controls have been designed specifically for bass guitar frequencies
so that you can get great sounds easily. This also means that you can connect
the Bassbone to your mixer and have total control over your sound going
through the PA. Because the XLR out is post-effect, all changes such as
channel selection, EQ, boost and effects are all sent to the mixer. It’s
like having your own personal sound engineer!
Staying in tune
Just like effects pedals, tuners can cause havoc, robbing your sound of
dynamics and tone, even though one cannot argue the tremendous benefits
of having a tuner plugged for on-the-fly adjustments. Until Bassbone, you
were either in tune or being tuned out! The Bassbone’s 'always on'
tuner output has been optimized to accentuate the fundamental frequency.
This reduces 'needle wobble’ making tuning faster and easier. For
silent tuning, the Bassbone’s power booster can also be set to zero
to act like a mute. This way, with a single foot action, the main output
can be turned off while tuning.
Taking control of your bass
Whether you are playing in the studio or performing live, being in total
control of your instrument is a critical factor in achieving a better performance.
Bassbone was developed to address the real needs of bass players and to
provide them with a tool that is at once flexible and practical, while
opening the door to a greater array of sounds and textures. Ultimately,
the Bassbone helps to spur the creative process of making music.
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