Electro Harmonix BASS9 User manual

WARNING: Your BASS9 comes equipped with an Electro-Harmonix 9.6DC-200BI power

supply (same as used by Boss® & Ibanez®: 9.6 Volts DC 200mA). The BASS9 requires
100mA at 9VDC with a center negative plug. Using the wrong adapter or a plug with the
wrong polarity may damage your BASS9 and void the warranty.

BASS9

Bass Machine

Congratulations on purchasing the Electro-Harmonix BASS9 Bass Machine.
Sporting a new algorithm maximized for transposing one to two octaves down
with superior dynamics and tracking, the BASS9 does for bass instruments what
the B9 does for organs, the KEY9 does for electric pianos and the SYNTH9 does
for analog synthesizers: now anyone with an electric guitar can make great
sounding bass! No special pickups are needed, just your favorite guitar, a BASS9
and maybe a bass amp.

GETTING STARTED

For best results with the BASS9—and true bass realism—a guitar amp will work
fine at lower volumes but if you want to get real loud—for example when playing
a gig—we recommend plugging into a bass amp and, for that fingered bass sound,
play your guitar with fingers rather than a pick.

Connect the supplied power adapter to the 9V power jack. Plug your instrument
into the INPUT jack. Connect your amp to the EFFECT OUTPUT jack. Set the DRY
knob to minimum (fully counterclockwise) and set the other top row knobs to 12
o’clock. Select a preset (“PRECISION” is a good starting point) and step on the
footswitch to turn on the LED. Play your instrument and adjust controls to your
liking. For further inspiration, check out the BASS9’s SUGGESTED FACTORY
SETTINGS insert. Make copies of the included BASS9 USER SETTINGS page to
keep track of your favorite sounds and settings.

CONTROLS AND I/O JACKS

DRY VOL KNOB

The DRY VOL knob controls the volume of the untreated instrument signal present
at the EFFECT OUTPUT jack. The DRY knob does not control the volume of the
DRY OUTPUT jack.

EFFECT VOL KNOB

The EFFECT VOL knob controls the overall volume of the selected patch at the
EFFECT OUTPUT jack.

CTRL 1 & CTRL 2 KNOBS

See the preset descriptions on the following pages for details.

MODE KNOB

Turn the white knob to select a bass patch.

INPUT JACK

Plug your instrument or the output of another effects pedal into this ¼” jack. See
Tips 1 & 3 on the following page for more on connecting your BASS9.

DRY OUTPUT JACK

The DRY OUTPUT jack outputs the signal present at the INPUT jack through a
buffer circuit. In either EFFECT or BYPASS mode, the dry signal is always present
at the DRY OUTPUT jack.

EFFECT OUTPUT JACK

The EFFECT OUTPUT jack outputs the mix set by the DRY and EFFECT volume
controls. In BYPASS mode, EFFECT OUTPUT outputs the buffered bypass signal.

BYPASS FOOTSWITCH & STATUS LED

Press the BYPASS footswitch to toggle the EFFECT OUTPUT jack between buffered
BYPASS and EFFECT mode. The status LED lights when you are in EFFECT mode.

PRESET DESCRIPTIONS

1. PRECISION – An emulation of the popular bass guitar standard. CTRL 1

controls the sub-octave, mixing between 1 octave down (counter-clockwise
position) and 2 octaves down (clockwise position). CTRL 2 adjusts your tone
which is modeled after the original instrument’s tone control.

2. LONGHORN – Inspired by the Danelectro

this patch is great for copping baritone style tones. CTRL 1 adjusts the pitch
in half steps from -1 octave (CCW) to unity (CW). CTRL 2 controls a vintage
tremolo effect which increases in depth and rate as the knob is turned up.
Unique ring modulation effects are generated when the knob is turned past 2
o’clock. Also use the Longhorn preset to detune your guitar for metal!

3. FRETLESS – Emulation of both electric and upright fretless basses. CTRL 1

controls the buzzy growl sound of a fretless instrument. CTRL 2 adds a classic
Jaco-style chorus effect which intensifies as the knob is turned up. Pro Tip:
light palm mutes with your right hand produce a more realistic upright sound.

4. SYNTH – A big sounding bass synthesizer modeled after the classic Taurus

synthesizer. Use CTRL 1 to adjust the synth’s note range—in four sections of
the knob—split between octaves and fifths. CTRL 2 adjusts the synthesizer’s
envelope filter range. Higher settings of CTRL2 makes for a brighter and wider
filter sweeps.

5. VIRTUAL – A unique patch that allows you to adjust your bass’s body density

and neck length. CTRL 1 adjusts body density; higher settings produce longer,
piano-like sustain. CTRL 2 adjusts neck length, where the length increases as
the knob is turned clockwise.

®

6-string basses from the ‘50s,

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