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,

®

6. BOWED – A classic bowed bass sound with adjustable attack. CTRL 1 controls

sub-octave mixing between 1 octave down (CCW) and 2 octaves down (CW).
CTRL 2 adjusts the bow’s attack speed, as you turn up the knob, the attack
speed slows. The attack effect is fully polyphonic.

7. SPLIT BASS – This patch provides a sub-octave effect on all notes below

F#3—the F# found at the fourth fret of the D-sting on a standard guitar. It
does not pitch shift notes above G3. This allows a guitar player to play bass
lines with the lower two strings of a guitar and chords or melody with the
highest three strings. CTRL 1 adjusts bass tone by adding upper harmonics
as the knob is turned clockwise. CTRL 2 provides an envelope filter/auto-wah
effect on all notes you play. As you turn CTRL2 up, the wah effect intensifies.
Pro Tip: turn up the DRY knob to hear your guitar signal.

8. 3:03 – A polyphonic emulation of one of the most sought-after vintage bass

synthesizers. CTRL 1 adjusts the filter’s envelope sweep depth or total range
while CTRL 2 sets the envelope speed. Pro Tip: use the guitar’s volume knob
as a sensitivity control for envelope triggering.

9. FLIP-FLOP – Inspired by the Electro-Harmonix Octave Multiplexer, this patch

provides a ‘70s style logic driven sub-octave generator, except the BASS9
tracks without glitches! CTRL 1 handles sub-octave, mixing between 1 octave
down (CCW) and 2 octaves down (CW). CTRL 2 adjusts the frequency of a
synth-like low-pass filter.

NOTES AND SPECIFICATIONS

 Buffered bypass
 Input impedance: 1M
 Output impedance (for both output jacks): 500
 Current draw: 100mA

TIPS ON GETTING OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM THE BASS9

1. The BASS9 is generally best used as the first pedal in an effects chain. Place

distortion, modulation, delay, and reverb effects after the BASS9. The unit
will not perform well if placed in the effects loop of a guitar amp.

2. Much of the BASS9’s tone is dependent on your guitar’s original tone. Try

experimenting with different pickup positions and tone settings to add more
versatility to your bass sounds. Different picking styles such as finger and
thumb picking, picks, hammer-on, etc. will have a major impact on the bass
tone produced by the BASS9.

3. Avoid placing a distortion or overdrive in front of the BASS9, which could

muddy up the input signal and cause the tracking to be unstable. If you
want to add overdrive or distortion, place it after the BASS9.

All third party trademarks referenced by EHX remain the property of their respective
owners. Any references to such trademarks herein is simply to identify the corresponding
third party goods and is nominative fair use under the trademark law.

- WARRANTY INFORMATION -

Please register online at http://www.ehx.com/product-registration or complete and return
the enclosed warranty card within 10 days of purchase. Electro-Harmonix will repair or
replace, at its discretion, a product that fails to operate due to defects in materials or
workmanship for a period of one year from date of purchase. This applies only to original
purchasers who have bought their product from an authorized Electro-Harmonix retailer.
Repaired or replaced units will then be warranted for the unexpired portion of the original
warranty term.

If you should need to return your unit for service within the warranty period, please contact
the appropriate office listed below. Customers outside the regions listed below, please
contact EHX Customer Service for information on warranty repairs at [e-mail] or +1­718-937-8300. USA and Canadian customers: please obtain a Return Authorization

Number (RA#) from EHX Customer Service before returning your product. Include  with
your returned unit  a written description of the problem as well as your name, address,

telephone number, e-mail address, RA#, and a copy of your receipt clearly showing the
purchase date.

United States & Canada

EHX CUSTOMER SERVICE
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
c/o NEW SENSOR CORP.
55-01 2ND STREET
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Europe
JOHN WILLIAMS
ELECTRO-HARMONIX UK
13 CWMDONKIN TERRACE
SWANSEA SA2 0RQ
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

To hear demos on all EHX pedals visit us on the web at www.ehx.com
Email us at [e-mail]

FCC COMPLIANCE

Note:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:



Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.



Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.



Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.



Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment under FCC rules.

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The CE logo indicates that this product has been tested and shown to conform
with all applicable European Conformity directives.