Aphex 1402 Bass Xciter

Well; there is passive/ active switch, source/ dry switch if you decide to use this as a DI box but basicly there is only four knobs. Two for 'big bottom' and two for 'aural exciter' so it can't be very difficult. All you need is a little time to find the settings that work best. I recuced 'bass' on my amp(Ampeg V4BH) and used the 'big bottom' part of the pedal to create more smooth low end; sounds very nice. On rehearsals I usually 'over-use' the aural exciter part a bit so I can cut through the mix. Playing bass in metal band can be either frustrating because guitars play so big part or very exciting if you can find the right equipment and(this is for some other fellows here) learn to use them.

I give it a ten because we are talking about a pedal here. For a pedal this sounds very good. Not impossible idea to use this in studio too. I only had an idea of how this could sound before I purchased it so I bought it kinda blind folded. However the idea I had became more than true.

I had a bad experience on one show where I used it as a DI box; there was very nasty ground hum that didn't go away whatever I did so I used it before the 'house DI box' and had no more problems. I don't know if this problem was caused by the pedal or was the xlr cable the right type; hence number nine.

I have never contacted them so I don't know.

I've been playing guitar and bass now for 18 years and for my music style(I play bass in a band called To/Die/For which is gothic metal) this is a good match. I'm planning to build a pedalboard and I will most definately purchase Aphex' Punch Factory pedal in first place.

One thing to improve this pedal would be to move the inputs/ outputs on sides instead of 'front'.

It seems that the bypass only works on the 1/4 inch unbalanced out.

The unit seems to do a similar thing to preamp units with EQ (Sadowsky, etc.), but the overall effect is a little different. It looks good on my frequency analyzer and sounds good to my ears. I tried the unit through a Telefunken v-72 and a Distressor and then through an el-cheapo Behringer pre with conversion and it held up well. A great piece of gear for the buck. Amps matter very little in my world.

Don't know.

I play major sessions and live gigs in Nashville, Tn.

This product is very easy to use. You have two sets of controls. The Low Blend and Tone control and the High Blend and tone control. I useually set them in the center and then go from there.

I have an 2003 American Fender P-Bass running through the Ampeg Portabass 250 Head. This is a very clean sounding head that with no effects and give a clean 250 watts of representation of you instrument. The cabinet that this is running through is the Ampeg Portabass 210 (2 Ten inch speakers, 400 Watts at 4 OHMS). I love my setup due to the light weigtedness of it. The reason I sought out the Aphex Bass Aural Exciter is that the bass I purchased has more of a softer classic sound and the Ampeg sound pushes for of the mids rather than the highs and the lows of most of today's Bass Amp manufacturors such as GK or Fender. I wanted not only the warmth of the Ampeg, but I wanted to clarity and articulation from the other style of amplifier. Let me tell you, this Aural Exciter has totally changed my view of my rig. I now have the meatiness of everything that Ampeg has to offer along with the total articulation and big sound of the manufacturors that push more of the Highs and Lows. It is really the best of both worlds. Not to mention that the Ampeg Portabass Series is the lightest bass equipment that you can buy for the power. This does not color the tone of the guitare, it just brings what is there out completely and makes the sound clearer and more articulate. I am actually amazed. It has brought the exact sound I was looking for.

I think this is made well. It appears to be made of metal . It kind of has a gimmicky paintjob, but the blue it pretty cool. I have only had it for a short period of time. You have to take the screws off of the back to get a battery in there, so I strongly recomment getting an adapter. I do not believe that years of screws and unscrewing would be good for the unit.

I have not had to deal with them yet...

I play Funk, Groove, Soul, Blues, Rock, Grunge, Metal. I have been playing Drums, Guitar, and bass for about 15 years. I have a full recording studio using a Roland 24 Bit Recorder as the Central point. I really needed some help in beefing up my tone on my bass rig. If you have an Ampeg Portabass or another "Mid Heavy" Ampeg technology, then this is definitely worth looking at. This is the exact thing that I was looking for. I cannot say enough about the power it has added to my sound. I now really like my rig. I liked it before, but now I love it. Considering my 400 Watt cabinet only weighs 32 pounds and my head weighs 14 pounds, I have no problem hauling my gear. I have a back issue the resricts me from buying larger gear. Now that I have added the Aural Exciter to my setup, I have everything that Ampeg's true instrument representation has to offer as well as the "Active" sound of some of the more complex Amps. If you have passive Pickups on a standard P-Bass, this is something to consider. I would definietly replace it if it were lost or stolen. I believe it is now going to me my main sound.

Very easy to use.It comes with a very good Manual which explains everything.But you will need time to find your ideal sound as every Bass I used with it had to have a different setting.To find the sweetspot as they say.

It adds a bit of hiss as to be expected from a floor pedal.Nothing to be worried about playing live.It has a button at the side which you depress if you have an active or passive Bass.I have it on passive all the time even with an active Bass because it cuts the signal too much when you bypass the pedal.This might not be a problem with a high output Bass.

I have it two months.No problems.

I use a Warwick Thumb Bass and an EBS Drome Combo.I find it enhances the Combo like adding another speaker.Makes everything sound bigger and more transparent.Until I find something better I would buy it again if it was lost or stolen.

If a 60 cycle hum is a good sound, it's easy. If the unaltered sound of your bass is what you mean, that's easy, too. Tha's basically what this unit did for me, other than frustrate to the point of returning it.

My Ibanez Gary Willis Five and my Yamaha Nathan East performed equally as well, actually somewhat better without it.

You can depend on this particular unit to sound like a 60 cycle hum.

I read the manual, couldn't get it to do what had been touted, and took it back for a refund. Didn't feel like getting the runaraound over something like this.

I play blues, jazz, country, rock. Been playing forty years. This was not a good item. Disappointment.

4 knobs, 2 for bass and 2 for higher registers. Ya' play with each set of 2 to get the sound quality you want. There is really nothing to figure out. The instructions are vaque on this. But it's pretty common sense. You've got to use your ears and remember to not add too much effect or you'll ruin the sound.

I have 4 basses, 3 are active and one a passive P bass. The passive P gets most improvement in sound. The active basses are much more tricky to set up with the unit. One bass in particular, with 2 Seymore Dunkin PUs has a loss of sound quality with the use of this unit. My main bass, an Alembic Epic 4 string, once dialed in with the unit, gets a much fuller, ballsy sound at the low end and a clear ringing sound up high. If a little off, however, the sound turns to mush. Sometimes it's better to not use the unit at all, depending on the venue.

So far so good

never had toi call

I purchased the unit because I had difficulty cutting through the mix with 2 loud guitars and 2 keyboards. I was looking for something that would help in this regard. This, along with the addition of an Eden 1 x 15 cab did seem to help.
I don't know if I would replace it if it were lost. But I do like the idea of SOMETHING that adds sparkle to the sound. I might also try a Punch Factory, also put out by Aphex.

Easy to get a good sound, but have the salesguy tell you what the knobs do, or read the instructions.

I play this through a modified MIM jazz into a GK 400 RB. I never really liked the sound of my amp. (I got it in a trade) It was clear but sterile. With this little box its a lot warmer and my jazz has a lot of thump and bottom end. if you turn the lo effects up all the way it gets muddy, but still very deep and bassy. It doesnt boost your signal like a SansAmp bass driver, and makes clean or dirty sounds. and It still sounds like my bass, just bigger and more full.

it seems pretty solid

NA

I use this all the time. I dont hate anything about it. it has an XLR out that can send a wet or dry signal. it does what I want it to.

4 knobs and pick your impedance. If you have ears than this really shouldn't be tough.

The sound quality ranges from good to great ... experiment with placement and your normal tone controls. If you tweek up the aural enhancer to high you will get some noise (duh). What can you say, this thing is designed to do a couple of things, and it does.

My bypass switch sometimes does not engage properly. I don't like the lack of an external power switch, I don't like the fact that you have to take the bottom off in order change the battery, and I don't like the 1/4" jacks being soldered directly to the PC board (any stress could damage the board). All that said, it's aluminum, and (other than the jacks) seems quite durable.

I had a couple of email conversations with their tech support concerning impedance matching the unit to my effects loop (I didn't think that an effects loop should need to run with the unit in passive mode). They discussed the problem, but we never reached any resolution.

This is one of those effects that defy description, if you hear one, you will probably want one, but I cannot begin to describe who or why anyone SHOULD use it other than to sound better, but then again isn't that exactly what you are looking for?

Pretty easy, once you understand that the "Lo Tune" and Hi Tune" are in fact low and high pass filters.

That what these boxes are for: sound quality. I use it all the time now. It has a privilege path in my chain. Everytimes, it brings out a beautiful low end on systems I've play with. This was my alternative to the Aphex 204 rackmount unit. I dont know if it's close but I'm satisfied.

But there is a problem: my G&L (with EMG pickup and circuit) does not allow me to use the Bass Xciter in passive mode where it should be. In this mode there is a noticeable overdrive (more like distortion) when playing normally. I have to switch to active mode and suffer a big reduction in sound level (I have to crank the amp to compensate and deal with the added noise). The only way I have been able to use it with the normal gain was in the effect loop of my amp (Eden) or in the insert channel of a mixer board. For that reason I give it a 5.

Steady for a couple of month.

I have had a respond from Aphex about the distortion in passive mode problem. There was no valid answer other than the usual "check your battery". I would have gladly accepted something like "there is a design problem with the input level section of the 1402 but we will fix it the next generation..." but I guess I'm just dreaming of honest talk.

I will keep the 1402. It gives a beatiful sound and adds that little something I was looking for (great for slap too). I'll have to live with the fact that I know there is a problem with it, but since I have found a way to overcome the distortion problem I guess I'll be Ok...