More than ever, pedal builders understand that guitarists aren’t the only ones looking for new dimensions in sound. Consequently, the number and variety of effects for low enders grows each year. One long-standing member in this society of pedal builders is MXR. Thanks to their extensive product line, they’ve played a part in some of rock’s most memorable music for decades. And with Jim Dunlop at the helm, MXR Bass Innovations has produced a number of bass pedals that have garnered high praise from players over the years. Looking to continue on that success, they recently introduced their latest effect for bassists—the feature-packed Bass Chorus Deluxe.
Time Tweakers and Stereo Shifters
The Bass Chorus Deluxe is powered by
“bucket-brigade” technology, an old-school
approach of taking the signal and passing it
through a series of capacitors. This methodology
to sound transmission is meant to
create a unique and musical delay that keeps
the original notes up front and shifts the
secondary signal into a more supportive role.
Delving into the aqua-blue Bass Chorus Deluxe is simple, as the dials and switches are logically arranged and clearly marked with their function. The standard intensity, rate, and width knobs are there, but MXR also included additional features not found on many chorus pedals.
Attentive to the bassist’s primary role in an ensemble, MXR installed a crossover (x-over) switch. This decreases modulation at 100 Hz—focusing the chorus in the mid to upper ranges—and is meant to preserve the fundamental notes while delivering just the right amount of effect. A sweet little gift sitting to the right of the x-over switch is the flanger button that MXR placed onboard for the occasions when a player wants more intense modulation. And those who like the option of being able to add warmth or top-end edge will certainly find the separate bass- and treble-boost/cut knobs a nice bonus.
For bassists who like to hear and feel their effect, MXR provided a head-swaying feature inside the Bass Chorus Deluxe. It’s an internal switch that toggles between true-bypass and a TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) stereo-hardware-bypass mode. The stereo mode allows a player to plug in a Y-splitter cable to divide the signal and connect to two amplifiers, thereby permitting the modulation effect to shift from left to right.
Dr. Chorus and Mr. Flange
For my initial go, I sent the Bass Chorus
Deluxe into a Phil Jones D-600 head connected
to a pair of Glockenklang Space
Deluxe 112 cabinets. Equipped with a 1966
Fender Jazz, I started out by experimenting
with the sample settings provided in
the manual. Sting fans can cop that spacey
bass sound in “Walking on the Moon” by
configuring the controls to the hilariously
labeled “The Po Po” mode. The “John
Francis” setting is a tribute to everybody’s
favorite bridge-pickup bassist, and it creates
a clean effect that veers towards Jaco’s chorus
heard in many of his live recordings. And
“Fixation Blvd.” is MXR’s aptly named tag
for the control setting that goes after Simon
Gallup’s sound on “Fascination Street.”
As I moved on to concoct some custom choral creations, the Bass Chorus Deluxe delivered a controlled chorus effect with a mild amount of saturation. Variances in the rate and width never seemed to be overpowering, but instead wrapped the bass notes in a swirling sheen. With all of the dials at their fullest, the pedal created a throbbing, quivering timbre that might work well for bassists wanting to capture the vibe of a Hammond B3.
The flanger mode is an awesome addition to the Bass Chorus Deluxe, and it can go from whooshing to wacky pretty easily. I was able to conjure up some very cool tones with the pedal’s responsive knobs, ranging from a Duff McKagan-esque Use Your Illusion era bass sound, all the way to making the neck pickup on my ’66 Jazz sound like Darth Vader. In fact, the latter discovery sparked my inner nerd so much I couldn’t resist plugging a microphone into a Digitech Whammy pedal, setting it to the octave-down mode, and sending that signal into the flanged-out Bass Chorus Deluxe to get me even closer to the voice from the dark side.
Ratings
Pros:
Thoughtful features, easy to use, excellent flanger.
Cons:
The chorus might be too dry for some tastes, x-over switch takes away too much effect.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$169
Company
jimdunlop.com
Lost in Space, Safe in the Studio
The Bass Chorus Deluxe drew mixed
results in a live situation. While performing
with an R&B/fusion band, I placed the
pedal in between the same Jazz bass and a
Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 that was
paired with a Glockenklang Quattro 410.
While the Bass Chorus Deluxe gave bass
lines a delicate, atmospheric texture during
quiet moments in jams and slower ballads,
the effect seemed to have a tendency to get
somewhat lost in the mix at medium to
loud volumes. The bass itself stayed present,
but the chorus was having trouble doing
the same. Engaging the x-over button took
away even more and made the effect almost
non-existent onstage. Cranking the knobs
brought out the expected warbling bass
lines, which were audible at higher volumes,
but that sound was a little extreme for this
particular application. Instead of removing
the Bass Chorus Deluxe from the signal
chain, however, a press of the flanger button
saved the day. It functioned well at all volumes,
and I ended up keeping the pedal in
that mode for the rest of the show.
Despite some volume issues onstage, the Bass Chorus Deluxe performed quite well in the studio. In both chorus and flanger mode, the controlled environment allowed all of the pedal’s characteristics to come through. It gave a pickup-equipped German upright a smearing, moody vibe, and put a Nash P-style bass on the mothership with some throbbing, flanger-induced funk.
The Verdict
MXR Bass Innovations prides itself on
producing products by bass players, for bass
players. And the onboard features of the
Bass Chorus Deluxe exemplify this ethos.
What was most impressive was that no matter
where the dials were placed, the Bass
Chorus Deluxe still preserved the original
signal. Its primary effect could be considered
the “white tea” of chorus pedals—clean
and smooth with subtle flavor. Some might
argue that its chorus effect leaves something
to be desired, but either way, the flanger,
EQ, and stereo option offer a lot of upside
to the Bass Chorus Deluxe. So if you’re
seeking a pedal that serves up a clean chorus
that preserves your primary bass tone—and offers up some cool extras—the MXR
Bass Chorus Deluxe might have a spot on
your pedalboard.
That’s not to say Gibson hasn’t been making some killer basses for almost as long—because they have—though a number of them have been a bass version of an existing guitar in their line. Gibson has kept busy on the bass front over the last couple of years, but it’s the new incarnation of the EB that could break the mold about what a Gibson bass can be. It’s got a totally new body style, a pair of newly designed pickups, and a vibe that’s all its own.
Elements of Style
When I initially pulled the curvy bass out
of the included hardshell case, the instrument
that was revealed just didn’t quite
shout Gibson. The new body shape for the
EB—which the company says draws inspiration
from their SG—actually has little resemblance
to other basses with the EB moniker.
Its shapely cut seems to draw more flavor
from a few models outside the Gibson line,
including some sort of reversed-horn Mosrite.
While the satin finish of the EB is also available in creme, ebony, or fireburst, our test bass was done up in Gibson’s fourth option, au naturel. And in contrast to the dark red-tortoise pickguard, the clean and simple finish highlighting the grain of the ash body pushes the vibe of a classic, woodsy instrument from the early ’70s.
A 34"-scale maple neck is glued to the body and is topped with an unbound rosewood fretboard and 20 medium-jumbo frets. And moving up the neck took me to the traditional and recognizable headstock that houses a quartet of 20:1 Grover tuners, letting me know I was indeed checking out a Gibson. The EB appeared to be put together well: I didn’t detect any finish blemishes, the neck matched up in the pocket cleanly, and all the hardware was installed nice and tight.
User-friendly for intonation and string-height adjustments, this big bridge also excels in vibration transference.
Getting a strap on the 8-pound bass and myself into the standing position, the feel of the EB was comfortable with its 12" fretboard radius and middle-ground 1.6" nut width. And it was weighted nicely with no hint of the neck wanting to do something it shouldn’t. As I explored the landscape up and down the semi-chunky neck, both it and the fretboard’s topside felt smooth and pit-free, and around back the satin finish was inviting. But while sliding my cupped hand up and down the sides of the fretboard, however, I did find a number of sharpish fret edges along the way, sharp enough to tear up a paper towel with just a couple of passes.
Anchoring the EB’s strings is not the 3-point bridge we’re used to seeing from Gibson. Instead, they outfitted the EB with a full-contact, top-load bridge from Babicz. User-friendly for intonation and string-height adjustments, this big bridge also excels in vibration transference. Even with the instrument still unplugged this was evident—not only to my ears, but my body as well.
Aforementioned similarities to other basses seem to end when you get to the EB’s electronics. Newly designed by Gibson luthier Jim DeCola with the intention of providing both power and versatility, the passive pickups loaded into the EB bass are a pair of beefy alnico 5 humbuckers. Pretty straightforward, they share a master tone pot and each of the pickups has its own volume control. However, each of the volume knobs is also a push/pull control, which allows swapping from humbucker to single-coil tones via a pop of the black top-hats.
Ratings
Pros:
Classic looks. Capable of handling numerous styles. Decently priced for a U.S.-made bass from a revered brand.
Cons:
Neck pickup on its own is a bit dark and muddy. Some sharp fret edges.
Tones:
Playability:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$999
Company
gibson.com
EB Tone Home
Ready to hear what this recently minted
4-string sounded like plugged in, I set the
EB up through a Gallien-Krueger 800RB
matched with a TC Electronic RS410 cab.
With the GK’s EQ set relatively flat, I
started out by soloing on the neck pickup
with its volume knob rolled to 10 and the
master tone at about 3. I was hit with a
wall of thick and dark gravy-esque bottom
end, but some quick tweaking was
in order as it was a bit too muddy for
any meaningful articulation. Rolling the
tone knob to about 6 and blending in the
bridge pickup’s volume about halfway got
me to a nice, rich and smooth sound with
defined mids—spot-on for taking on ’70s
classic rock or punk, to thick blues runs
and whatever else between. And switching
the neck pickup to single-coil mode with
these settings did add a bit more girth and slicing kick to the tone. The notes were articulate, even with the thick bottom end
the EB delivered when I hung out on the
fretboard’s lower landscape.
Almost disengaging the neck pickup and leaning heavily on the bridge pickup’s volume takes you to brighter territory and where you want to be if slap and pop is your game. And while the EB’s tone isn’t blindingly bright or biting here, there’s plenty available for covering funk, dance, and anything else in need of more aggressive punch and definition. There was just a hint of hum when soloing the bridge pickup with the coil tap engaged, but for the most part, it was relatively minimal. And blending in the tapped neck pickup swallowed any hum considerably. As much as I liked the humbucker tones, I did find myself favoring the tones with both pickups coil-tapped and adjusted to pull most of the sound from the neck.
The Verdict
Whether you’re a long-time Gibson bass
fan or a bassist who, for whatever reason,
has shied away from the company’s 4-string
offerings in the past, the EB is worth taking
a look. The dressing work on the frets was
a little disappointing, but overall, the bass
was put together well. The classic vibe of
the EB and the versatile tones it’s capable
of delivering make it a solid option for all
types and levels of players, be it an intermediate
looking to make a move up, or an
addition for a regularly gigging player.
Actually, at just less than a grand for a U.S.-made, set-neck bass with quality appointments from Gibson, just about any player should feel pretty good about what they’re getting for the coin. And though the EB is most definitely a bass that leans towards rock and darker sounds overall, its sublime design and spectrum of achievable tones—which is a lot wider than, say, a T-bird—will allow it to sit in on a variety of gigging situations.
Seventh Heaven
The ingredients in the Special 7’s sonic
brew begin with the two-piece alder body,
which is capped with a beautiful book-matched,
flamed maple top. The woods
have been subjected to Vigier’s drying process,
where the wood is dried for three years
before the body sections are cut and the
pieces joined. Once the body is completed,
Vigier applies a thin varnish that’s given a
five-week minimum curing time.
Crafted from wood that goes through the same drying process as the body, the hard maple neck is bolted to the body and reinforced with carbon fiber, which improves tuning stability, helps counter the pull of a seventh string, and makes the neck particularly resistant to changes in humidity. With this design, the neck should require little adjustment over the life of the guitar. The neck’s 24-fret maple fretboard sports stainless steel fretwire, as well as a specially hardened and removable Teflon nut. A zero fret ensures proper action across the fretboard.
Vigier also chose top-quality hardware for the Special 7. In place of traditional string trees, a custom string-retention system moves with the strings during play to prevent binding. Heavy-duty Schaller locking tuners not only hold the strings securely in tune, but also add mass to the headstock, which may result in more sustain.
Vigier’s proprietary 2017 model tremolo system might be the most impressive bit of kit on the Special 7. The floating design pivots on needle bearings instead of knife edges, which can wear out over time with heavy usage. Vigier test the bearings by turning them up to 10,000 times a minute—which makes it rather unlikely you’ll ever wear them out during your lifetime.
For pickups, Vigier decided to use the same set of DiMarzio Blaze pickups and 5-way switching that are featured in their Supra 7 model—specifically, a 15.8k DP700 humbucker in the neck, a 13.7k DP701 single-coil in the middle, and a 20.8k DP702 in the bridge. And while those output ratings might seem hot for anything but hard rock and metal, they extend the low-end range and help deliver the detail and clarity that can make the difference between average and great-sounding overdrive tones. Vigier also added the momentary kill switch that’s sported on their Ron Thal DoubleBfoot signature model, and it’s stealthily hidden, yet easily accessible, right above the volume knob.
Specialized Tone
I could tell I was in for a treat when I discovered
that the Special 7’s action, intonation,
and tuning were absolutely perfect
right out of the box. A lot of guitars need a
tweak or two after shipping, but thanks to
Vigier’s precise engineering and meticulous
design, the Special 7 played perfectly—and
this guitar came all the way from France.
The guitar also has great resonance when
you strum it unplugged, and the matte-finished
neck has a silky feel that plays
effortlessly.
If you’ve never played on stainless steel frets, you might feel like your fingers are sliding around on a skating rink. This slinky feel is great once you’re used to it, but these frets have a very slippery feel compared to traditional nickel fretwire, and you’ll probably benefit from playing with a little extra looseness in your fretting hand. In fact, bending notes on this guitar feels so unrestricted that it’s easy to miss the target completely and take them well past the intended pitch.
Ratings
Pros:
Flawless build. Detailed, robust tone with tight lows on
the low B. Effortless playability.
Cons:
Attack and high end might be too strong
for some. Pricey.
Tones:
Playability:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$3,495
Company
vigierguitars.com
Plugged into a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, the guitar sounds huge and delivers tones that have a sharp, smooth, and distinctive attack. Digging hard into the low-B string with a jumpy single-note riff, the attack grew sharper and more focused, helping the Mesa deliver wallop after vicious wallop of heavy, detuned tones. And even extreme levels of gain failed to adversely affect note definition—even with chords that stretched over all seven strings. Nor did it diminish the punch of the low B’s super-taut bottom end.
The virtually frictionless stainless steel frets make long runs up the fretboard feel effortless, and individual notes ring with great sustain. The kill switch comes in handy for percussive passages in the middle of runs or for dramatic, sputtering finishes when bending the notes to oblivion.
The Special 7’s Blaze pickups have a bright tonality and they match very well with darker-sounding amps like the Mesa I used for this review. In particular, the neck pickup excels in clean environments, but it can also apply a warm sting to the upper midrange in mildly overdriven blues-rock applications.
Through a brighter Fender Twin, the high-end clarity of the Blaze pickups is magnified, and I often dropped the guitar’s tone control to soften the hi-fi edge. Even pulling back the treble, however, leaves a tone that’s detailed, deep, and supremely lush.
The Verdict
Vigier’s exacting standards and performance-car approach to guitar building has
earned accolades from players throughout
the world, and the Special 7 is sure to
enhance the company’s reputation among
7-string devotees. The Special 7’s tone, playability,
and flawless build elevate the guitar
to a level of all-around performance that
few companies can touch. Unfortunately,
this level of quality comes at a boutique
price. But if you haven’t been satisfied with
any of the current crop of 7-strings on the
market today, this is one that may be worth
saving for.