EBS Bass IQ

The manual is minimal, but straight forward. A little work and you can get great sounds out of this.

Peavey Cirrus Five works fine with this unit. No noise, strong effects.

Built like a Volvo.

Good website wiith sample sounds and straight forward reviews from bass magazines.

Funk, blues, jazz, rock all sound great. I've been down the pedal route and now have a bunch of near winners that I'm taking to the swap meet. I'll use the proceeds to buy more EBS pedals.

The answer is both 'EASY' and 'DIFFICULT' although there are only two knobs and one toggle switch (sure, that I do not consider a bypass switch in this list). The manual is simple and mostly useless until you clearly understand how this device functions and most of all - 'WHAT DO EXPECT TO GET FROM IT ?'.

Playing with the device along the first day after purchase, this made me frustrated. The sound was poor and effect was not stable when you go to another string and change the pluck strength. I really planned to return it back to the shop next morning. However, next day morning I asked myself: 'May be I want too much from it? what it can really do for me?' made me to look a little bit more into details of how such a device work and how to use it to best fit my playing style, and the result was that I will keep it although I'm not completely happy with it.

A short advise to the manufacturer: YOU MUST provide detail recommendations for the customers how to configure the pedal and instrument in different situation and different playing styles so they could function jointly and make the customer happy. A good example is a one-page manual for Mu-Tron III with a lot of recommendations for different players. This will helps a lot to the customers and will save a lot of time.

At first, this box is VERY DEPENDABLE upon your instrument and most of all, the playing technique (and sure what you play at particular moment). I have the 6-strings bass with active pickups.

Making my guitar to 'coexist' with BassIQ is a very difficult issue. The main problem is that the device always loses tracking when I'm either switching to a higher strings or slightly rotating the on-guitar knobs. I do not need all time 'quacking', I just need it when I pluck the string with some extra power, and this is very difficult to achieve with this device since it is not robust.

For me, the device was absolutely useless until I opened the bottom and set the secret high-bypass trim on the PCB into about 60% position (i.e. 60% of source highs will go to the output). Why did you make this very important regulator 'a top secret' and difficult to access?? THis MUST be available for the user since this is one of the key regulators. Afer I did this, the things started going much better. Otherwise, the sound was absolutely 'fat low' in the switch UP and HIGH-Q positions until I pluck the string with enough force.

In general, the device provides clean enough sound and is very quiet. I have a feeling that it slightly boosts the 'lows' until the filter is opened in the UP position. It can run either after or before the compressor pedal although slightly different acquirements are required. I like to use it as the 1st pedal goind directly into my bass processor without any pre-comression.

I prefer to use this device in 'high-Q' and 'down' positions of the toggle switch. 'up' position is not too bright for me.

Probably, I will pick up another such a pedal after some trial period in order to have two separate settings for the high-q and up configurations.

Again, this device requires you to spend some time (if not saying 'a lot of time') upon your experience in order to understand it and to configure it. In many case it will probbaly require you to develop a special playing technique (string plucking) in order to use it efficiently.

Have no idea so far

Have no idea so far

I would set total rating as 6/10 for this pedal and mostly due to the bad documentation and lack of recommendations from EBS about how to use this device. Also, I think that $250 is too much for this device taking into account the 'price' of your time spent to learn how to use it (Oh, I think that I have EBS to refund my time!!!).

It is easy to get a good sound out of the EBS IQ. I compare this ease of use to other envelope filters I own/have owned. I use this with Fender jazz and precisions. You don't have to change your volume or tone settings on the bass. With alot of other envelope filters I've used you have to add more treble (tone) to hear the filter(s) react, which thins the sound to get an effect. The IQ retains the thick bottom and still gives you lots of filter sounds and does this all at unity gain. Playing technique is very important when using an envelope filter...something alot of players don't understand. The effect is based on your dynamics and touch/feel. There is a basic manual, but experimentation and practice are needed.

I primarily use Fender jazz and precisions into and Eden amp and Eden/Mesa Boogie cabinents. I use an EBS Multicomp - EBS Octbass -EBS IQ -MXR EVH Phase 90. I also own an original Mutron III, Akai Deep Impact and EH USA Bassballs. I've owned a HAZ reissue Mutron III, an Emma Discombobulator, Russian Bassballs, Dod FX 25 and BOSS Touch Wah.THE EBS is the ONLY ONE I found that doesn't kill/thin the bottom end on your typical UP and Down settings. The HI-Q setting does lose just a little bass, but the sweep of the filters/auto wah setting reacts more to the high frequencies. Is it as "WET" as an original Mutron?..NO. But it isn't noisy at all,it is a more modern slightly more hi-fi unit and it is made to be used with electric bass.It blends well with your original bass tone. Alot of filters I find don't work easily in a live band setting but the EBS retains the bottom of your sound. The sounds are just a flick of the footwitch away. By the way the EBs IQ sounds great with the EVH MXR Phase 90 (Liquid Funk). I was also surprised to find that you get some serious sub bass by changing up the settings, like a Dod FX -25 but way more controlable and thicker..great for Reggae. There's alot of different sounds in this pedal and the dam thing is so compact and doesn't need some screwed up power supply.

I own 3 EBS pedals and so far they all work fine. I would be careful of the little toggle switches. (there's an accident waiting to happen).

Excellent!!! I had bought an used Octabass off Ebay and unfortunately it wasn't working. EBS sent me a new circuit board. With service like that I not worried about any thing that might happen.

Sounds great if you know what you are doing. Compact, versatile, easy to use, works great with other effects, retains the original tones of your electric bass. The only negative is that is expensive. I just wish I had bought this before some of the other shit pedals I purchased. Well worth the time to at least testdrive to see if it works for you. Really helps deliver the slap and the funk.

The pedal is easy to use. To get the fastest result I suggest you to check some settings suggested in the manual. Small changes on the settings can make big changes to the sound. As far as I know there's only one version made of this pedal.

I use it with an EBS Fafner amp + different speakers. A Fender P-bas normally. The pedal is absolute noiseless! I like the sound very much. I like to use it with the EBS Multidrive or just use the tubedrive on the amphead. It sounds like Bootsy!

It nerer broke and it feels really reliable. Maby it looks a bit tiny but don't get fooled. It's solid!

I always got fast responding from EBS, when it comes to technical support/questions. Always friendly.

I normally use the pedal when playing funk, but also sometimes when playing more progressive rock. I used to play the Mutron but I gave it a rest. The Mutron eats batteries and breaks down to much. I won't get rid of it but the BasIQ will do the jobb from now on. I've been playing for about 20 years now and like it when things get smaller and easier to carry with me.

Threshold and attack. Not a whole lot to it... You really do have to tweak it though in order to get it do do what you want it to, and I think a compressor in front of it in the signal chain might be helpful. If you're output from string to string is not pretty even, you will have varying degrees of "OW" or "MWAH". This is true of most envelope filters though, and definitely not unique to this one...

I've got to agree with the previous reviewer... I am not crazy about the sound. My main bass is a Lakland 55-94 and my signal path is as follows - bass - Boss PSM - EBS Octave - EBS Bass IQ - TC Stereo Chorus - at that point the loop comes back to the PSM and exits into a Tech 21 Bass Driver which is on all the time. My head is an SWR SM400 and I have an older Goliath 4x10 cab and a Workingman 15. I think part of the problem is that the distorted attack of the Bass IQ is magnified by the Tech 21, but I definitely find the Bass IQ muddy and distorted sounding. I am killing time right now before I bid on an Emma DisCumBobulator. Hopefully, I will like it as much as the previous reviewer. I just bought the Bass IQ a few days ago, and it is probably going on E-Bay tomorrow.

Just got it... my EBS Octave Box seems pretty indestructible, though...

No experience with support.

I am playing in a classic rock band now, but I also play a lot funk and progressive jazz. I was looking for something to replace my beloved Mutron, and I think I will continue looking...

Pretty easy to get started. Good sounds right out of the box, and enough sounds to dial in to keep you busy for hours. The actual sounds you produce, however...

Heres my problem... It sounds too fake... It just has a real digital sound which is surprising with EBS pedals. Compared to other pedals, like a Mu-Tron, or a discumBOBulator (which is by far my new favorite pedal purchased after the Mu-Tron). Ive tried many, many envelope filter and auto-wahs looking for that classic, ideal sound that HAZ came upon with the Mu-Tron. Now I know I shouldn't compare it to other boxes, and rate it compleatly on my opinion, but it sounds horrible! O/10!

Seems alright, but the knobs on EBS pedals seem easy to break off.

Never dealt with them. They seem respectable enough, though.

I was exremely unhappy with the sound, however thats just my opinion, and to someone else it may be the best pedal they've ever heard. I'll give it a 5/10 for that reason.

Quite easy.Great manual.The effect is very sensitive to pick/pluck style.

Sorry! I am afraid that I may be off-setting all the perfect reviews here.I am honestly not crazy about the sounds of this thing.I would give it higher marks if it had only been a lot easier on the wallet.
I think the $200 I paid is way too much.The reason I don't like this pedal is that it is too "modern" sounding for me.Too clean.Maybe perfect for others but not me.I think that overall EBS pedals are geared towards modern "slapp-pop" type players.Also,the "Q" setting on the EBS sucked out a little low end.I admire EBS but I certainly prefer the sound of my ELECTRO HARMONIX USA BASSBALLS.

Perfectly solid little box.Better be for $200!

N/A

Too much cash.Should come with a power supply for that much money but does not.Too clinical and modern.Only seems to respond right when slapped.(which I will NEVER do)Doesn't have that "greasy and aquatic" sound that my EH Bassballs has when lightly plucked.

2 knobs and 1 switch, to get the funkiest sounds around? Can it get better than that? Comes with a manual(1 sheet w/ instructions, sample settings, specs etc...) After 10 minutes of playing, you'll have this unit figured out.

I own a original Mu-Tron III (the KING of all FILTERS), and I really think the BassIQ sounds much better. Being a bass player, I never used the BP, HP switch settings on my Mu-tron III, they sounded too anemic. To be honest, there was only 3 sound that I used on the III, (Up filter w/short, "bwaah" sound - Up filter w/long, "bwaah" - Down filter w/short, choppy, "jwoop" sounds) Everything else didn't fit my taste. BassIQ does all of these sounds great, alittle juicier and much quieter. Best thing is, no increase in gain! Pushing my Alembic thru a Fender Bassman 400 w/410s and 215s cabs is my setup. The BassIQ sounds amazing with them. It definitely has more vibe than my III. The Hi-Q setting on the BassIQ will give Bootsy a run for the money.

Can't help you on this yet, but will have no problems gigin' with it. Only time will tell about the reliability.

Haven't had a need to contact.

I'll give it a 10 for the sounds and ease of use, but $230 for a effect unit is ridiculous!! We bass players have been getting the short end of the stick for years. Everything we own cost double that of guitar players. If my BassIQ was lost or stolen, I'd find it! It costs too much. I'm very picky about my equipment, my sound is ME. The BassIQ and a original Mu-Tron III are the only filters I own and probably will ever own. I would say the Q-Trons comes close to these units in sound, but in a flimsier package. I have only one grip about the BassIQ, it has a adjustable pot located underneath the bottom cover,(this pot adjusts a balance of bypassed, dry signal w/effected signal). I like this feature, it should be on the front panel with a knob. It is a very useful and usable. It should be easily accessed.

First I was a little scared of the pedal: I tried to run my passive bass (SMB-5d pu) into it and just couln't turn the threshold high enough. Next day I boosted my signal with a Boss GEB-7, and those nice liquid voices started to flow immediately!
After 1 or 2 hours of tweaking I learned the tricks of balancing the Threshold and the Attack settings, and from that point it was pure FUN.

My current setup is:
My modded Yamaha with Seymour Duncan alnico humbucker -> Boss GEB-7 -> Ibanez PD-7 -> EBS BassIQ -> Boss DD-5 -> Hughes & Kettner Bassforce XL.
I had some noise in the UP and HI-Q settings, but nothing serious. After some sessions my favorite settings are rapidly opening HI-Qs and DOWNs with low attack times. I never use the UP setting - the other two are way better and more fun to play with.
Using the Threshold I can get really rumbling lows and clear highs which follow my bass' original voice nicely, and don't color it or change it's original shape. Very little differences on the pot produce significant changes, so some tweaking is necessary though.

This baby weights 450 g's, so it's really heavy. Thick metal house, massive bypass switch and durable rubber pots.
I wouldn't dare to drop it - I don't think it would even get a scratch - but I love it sooo much.
The rest: time will tell.

I only had to deal with the local Hungarian dealer, who was really nice and even gave me a discount. :)

I use the BassIQ for what's it's been created - dirty and hot funk, tapping and rumbling grooves. I often feel the temptation to turn it on during rehearsals, but a nice little flavor here and there proves to be better than wanking around with it all the time.
Before buying this I had an envelope filter/autowah marathon - I listened to almost all pedals on the market, and found this to be the nicest among other legends ("big sound - relatively small price"). EBS BASSIQ WAS SIMPLY THE BEST. Now it's my favorite "magic box" to play around. Truely fantastic value.

Easy to get a good sound. The settings are depending on the bass used. A minute and you get it right.

Great sound! I use it with an EBS Fafner (TD 600)amp and there's no problem to get the real Bootsy FOnk sound. I have an old Mutron III that I used for some time and that i liked. The problem was that it sounded terrible and noisy, specially in the bypass-mode and It formally swallowed batteries. I had to get the Mutron modified to be able to play it and it cost me 150$ in 1994.The BassIQ is in absolute topclass in sound and no modifications are needed.

Have had it for some time and it never failed.(The Mutron often did)

Great staff at the EBS company, always helpful!

Perfect for Funk playing. Get the starglasses and jump on the ONE!
Bootzilla is here.....