Many bassists of varied music styles
have found a use for chorus in their
arsenal. That “underwater” tone can be
heard in everything from ’70s fusion to ’80s
New Wave, ’90s grunge, and modern rock.
In a market full of chorus pedals, Tech 21
offers a versatile option with the Bass Boost
Chorus, which provides the tones of classic
chorus effects while solving some the issues
that often arise when applying chorus to
bass frequencies.
Sea Change
Tech 21 believes that because most chorus
pedals are designed for guitar, the resulting
tones can be brittle and thin, with an
unpleasant warbled effect when used with
bass. By introducing a Detune control that
adjusts the secondary pitch of the signal,
Tech 21’s Bass Boost Chorus is able to
provide chorus without that queasy-feeling
modulation or loss of bottom end. The
Detune control creates a thicker chorus
effect, while preserving the fundamental
characteristics of each note. The pedal also
has a Multi Voice switch that incorporates
a third voice to detune, providing a wider,
three-dimensional chorus effect. The Mix
knob allows you to control the amount of
effect in the direct sound, while the Tone
knob enables you to dial in brighter or
mellower flavors. The handy Boost knob
ensures that the overall output does not
diminish when the pedal is engaged. The
Bass Boost Chorus also includes the standard
Speed and Depth controls found on
traditional chorus effects.
Chorus Ahoy!
As I set up for my maiden voyage with the
Bass Boost Chorus, it seemed as if Tech 21
was inviting my bass on a nautical journey
with the underwater graphic
on the metal casing. A glance
inside the casing revealed
a well-organized interior,
with solid pots and clean
solder points. There is also a
user-friendly, no-screw battery
cover that provides easy
access to the 9V connector.
I plugged the Bass Boost
Chorus into the effects loop
of a Glockenklang Soul head
with two Space Deluxe 1x12
cabinets. Using a Dingwall
Z3 5-string, I experimented
with the sample settings provided
in the manual. Settings
titled “Cure Bass” and
“Hooky” were very accurate
in emulating edgy alt-rock
bass tones, particularly when
wielding a pick. Soloing the
bridge pickup and using
the “Jaco Fretless” setting
effectively executed the sound made famous
in Pastorius’ classic “Continuum.” These
settings (along with seven others) provided
hours of fun and inspired chorus creations
of my own. Extended-range bassists will
also be pleased with how the pedal handles
notes on the 5th string.
The Bass Boost Chorus proved its worth
in live situations. While the Speed and
Depth knobs created chorus effects similar
to other pedals on the market, the other
features enabled it to do a lot more than
that. Manipulating the Detune, Level, and
Multi Voice functions created thick choral
textures while preserving my bass signal in
the mix. The Tone knob provided nice variances
in brightness: Boosting it, I was able
to create glorious crunch when playing with
a pick, and cutting it warmed up the sound
when playing fingerstyle.
The Verdict
If you’ve been frustrated with the performance
of other bass chorus pedals, the
Tech 21 Bass Boost Chorus may just be the
solution. It provides functional modulating
options that work well with vintage
and modern basses, as well as signal boosters
that will assist in defending your sonic
space. It may be on the pricier side of the
pedal spectrum, but its features are worth
the extra loot. If you play in a cover band,
use a lot of effects, or desire another dimension
to your bass tone, dive in and check
out the Bass Boost Chorus.
Buy if...
you seek an intuitive, great-sounding chorus pedal for electric bass.
Skip if...
you’re on a budget or loathe this polarizing effect.
Rating...
