RENOWNED bass gear maker EBS has three new low-frequency tools, which the Swedish company is launching at the NAMM Show 2019 in Anaheim, California, this Saturday (Jan 25).
Tempting bassists are the Billy Sheehan Ultimate Signature Drive pedal, the Reidmar 502 amp and MicroBass 3 preamp pedal.
The Ultimate Drive pedal (retail US$249.99) builds on the bassist’s first EBS signature pedal released in 2013 – the new one has more features as well.
According to EBS, the pedal splits the signal into two parallel paths – one clean and one with distortion – to emulate running the sound through two different bass rigs at the same time. “The two Clean and Drive Level controls decide how you set the mix and melt the paths together. For a tighter, more defined sound you can engage the built-in compressor.”
The Phase Inverter switch brings back more low-end to the drive channel while the Boost foot-switch kicks up the drive gain a notch when needed; the new Hi or Lo Frequency Filter will move the whole frequency spectrum of the Tone filter up or down, to extend the capabilities of the pedal.
The Reidmar 502 (US$549.99) is a Class D lightweight amp stable down to 2-ohm loads, allowing you to drive two 4-ohm cabinets at once. EBS is keen to emphasis that the 502 delivers what it promises, unlike other amps in the 500-watt category.
“Due to EBS’ soft-clip design, the Reidmar 502 makes efficient use of all the power at hand. That means more punch and a lot less compressed sound than with lightweight amplifiers using automatic limiters to prevent clipping. It keeps the bass tone from sounding muddy and preserves the lows on higher volumes.”
The 502 also features EBS’ onboard compressor, a balanced XLR recording output, effects loop, and headphones output.
The MicroBass 3 (US$349.99) is an “analogue multi-tool for bass players, a two-channel preamp “built exclusively with premium components, and engineered by EBS in Sweden with technologies from the famous HD360 and Fafner II amplifier designs,” says the company.
“Run the Clean and Drive channels in series or parallel. Use the dual balanced XLR-outputs to tap the signal post and pre EQ at the same time. With 10 Mohms input impedance, it handles any type of bass – passive, active or with piezo pickups.”
There’s a built-in tuner and an onboard compressor, similar to the one found on several EBS amplifiers, and everything in the circuitry is analogue.
All three products will begin shipping in February.
