Stompbox Turns Any Guitar Into A Bass

US Electro-Harmonic introduces the BASS9 Bass Machine pedal 09/08/19

The BASS9 is the next in the 9 series of guitar transformation pedals from Electro-Harmonix. A spokesperson told us, "The BASS9 will turn any guitar into a collection of basses like P-style electric, stand up, and synth bass. The impeccable tracking keeps the tone tight and in the groove."

Here's more details in EHX's own words...

The BASS9 Bass Machine transforms a guitar into nine different basses and requires no special pickups, MIDI or instrument modifications. It relies on the same technology powering all EHX 9 Series pedals, like the award winning MEL9® Tape Replay Machine, but features a new algorithm maximized for transposing one to two octaves down with superior dynamics and tracking.

A rotary switch allows the user to select the sound of their choice, as follows:

PRECISION: Pays homage to the iconic Fender P Bass®

LONGHORN: Emulates the Danelectro® 6-string bass, ideal for baritone type tones

FRETLESS: Features both electric and standup fretless basses.

SYNTH: A tribute to the classic Taurus® Synthesizer

VIRTUAL: Lets the user adjust the bass’s body density and neck length for a variety of bass sounds

BOWED: Classic bowed bass

SPLIT BASS: Makes it possible for the guitarist to play bass on the lower strings (all notes below F#3) and chords or melody with the higher strings.

3:03: A polyphonic salute to the sought after Roland TB-303® vintage bass synth

FLIP-FLOP: Inspired by EHX’s Octave Multiplexer, it provides a ’70s style logic driven sub-octave generator that tracks without glitches.

The pedal is equipped with independent Effect and Dry volume controls so guitarists can precisely tune their mix at the Effects output jack, plus an always-active Dry output jack that outputs the input signal at unity gain.

Controls 1 and 2 have been designed to adjust specific parameters for each of the nine programs. For example, in PRECISION, CTRL 1 controls the sub-octaves while CTRL 2 imitates the original instrument’s tone control.

The BASS9 comes equipped with a standard EHX 9.6DC200mA power supply.