Electro Harmonix BASS9

A pedal designed in the spirit of EHX's "9" series

The BASS9 continues the legacy of Electro-Harmonix's polyphonic pedals in the "9" series, known for their ability to transform a guitar signal into credible and immediately usable instruments. Here, the goal is clear: to give guitarists access to true bass roles without annoying latency or complex setup. Compared to traditional approaches (monophonic octavers, synth tracking, MIDI solutions), the BASS9 relies on a direct and musical conversion, specifically optimized to lower the spectrum and maintain a natural playing feel.

Who is the BASS9 for, and in what situations does it make a difference?

The BASS9 is aimed at guitarists who want to write, record, or play bass lines without changing instruments. It's a formidable solution in the home studio for quickly sketching a track, doubling a rhythm part, or thickening an arrangement without bringing out a bass. On stage, it becomes a creative tool for duo or trio setups, "drop" passages similar to baritone guitar, or transitions where the guitar must temporarily cover the low end.

It suits both intermediate musicians and advanced users: the controls remain simple, but the possibilities are broad once you work on rhythmic placement, right-hand attack, and Dry/Effect balance. Style-wise, it feels at home in rock, pop, funk, electro, indie, and anything requiring a clean low-end foundation or synth bass textures.

Controls, modes, and mixing logic: simple but very effective

The heart of the BASS9 is its rotary selector giving access to 9 programs. Each program is not just a fixed "preset": the CTRL 1 and CTRL 2 knobs adapt their functions depending on the selected sound to shape the bass character. A clear example: in PRECISION mode, CTRL 1 adjusts the sub-octaves while CTRL 2 acts as a tone control inspired by the original instrument.

To integrate the effect into your pedalboard without losing your playing identity, the pedal offers independent Dry volume (guitar signal) and Effect volume (bass signal). This allows you to dial in a subtle mix (guitar attack + bass body) or, conversely, switch to an almost exclusive bass sound. Finally, the Dry output is always active and delivers the input signal at uniform gain: handy for sending the guitar to a guitar amp and the effect to a dedicated chain (bass amp, mixer, amp simulation, etc.).

Sound

The BASS9 stands out with a polyphonic response designed to remain musical on chord playing, double-stops, and more "guitaristic" lines. Depending on the chosen program, you move from a round, familiar electric bass to more characterful textures (fretless, bowed) or outright electronic sounds (SYNTH, 3:03, FLIP-FLOP). The feel is both tight and flexible: the low end gains mass while retaining articulation suitable for pick playing, palm-muting, or fast patterns.

To get the best out of the pedal, it's often effective to manage string muting carefully, favor precise playing, and adjust the Dry/Effect mix according to context: more Effect for a full bass role, more Dry to reinforce a rhythm part without masking the guitar.

Technical specifications

Effects	Bass	EQ	Tone
Technology	Digital	Type	sector
Format	Pedal	Use	electric bass

PRECISION	tribute to the classic P Bass sound	SPLIT BASS	bass on low strings (notes below F#3), chords/melody on high strings
LONGHORN	emulation of a 6-string Danelectro-style bass, ideal for baritone textures	3:03	polyphonic tribute to a vintage synth bass like the TB-303
FRETLESS	fretless electric bass and double bass	FLIP-FLOP	sub-octave generator inspired by an octave multiplexer, with a vintage "logic" character
SYNTH	tribute to the Taurus bass synth	Required power supply	9.6V DC
VIRTUAL	adjusts body density and neck length to vary timbres	Consumption	200mA
BOWED	bowed double bass