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In this article we’re going to be discussing the best synthesizer pedals for bass, that exist in 2021.
However, before we discuss each of the products featured within the list, we’re going to briefly mention what exactly a bass synth processor is, and how it works.
Therefore, let’s get started!
What Is A Bass Synth Pedal?
Bass Synth Pedals are effect processors that help emulate the sound of a synthesizer.
Upon the effect pedals activation, the output signal of the bass guitar is manipulated by the synth pedal, changing the overall sound.
Bass synthesizer pedals can be used within a live performance setting, i.e on-stage, as well as additionally in the recording studio.
Unlike other more mandatory pedals, such as bass eq pedals or bass compression pedals, a recording studio may not be able to replicate this synthesized sound using studio processors, and therefore the bass synth unit must be used.
What Does A Bass Synthesizer Pedal Do?
As previously mentioned, a bass synthesizer processor will help emulate the sound of a synthesizer, this is done through manipulating the input analog bass signal.
Depending on the user’s interface settings that are active on the device, the bass signal will be processed and outputted. Bass synth pedals are more commonly placed within the middle of a signal-chain.
So without further ado, what are the best bass synth pedals of 2020?
Bass Synthesizer Pedals
- Zoom B1on Bass Effects Pedal
- DigiTech Dirty Robot Stereo Mini-Synth Pedal
- Boss SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer Pedal
- Electro-Harmonix Blurst Modulated Filter Pedal
- Zoom B3 Bass Guitar Effects and Amp Simulator
- Electro-Harmonix Synth 9 Synthesizer Machine
- Moog MF101 Moogerfooger
- Boss ME-50B Bass Multi Effects
- Future Impact Bass Synthesizer
- Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synthesizer
Zoom B1on Bass Effects Pedal
FEATURES
- Small bass effects pedal unit by Zoom
- 100 onboard DSP effects
- Phaser, Modulation, Delay Looping, Octaver, Filtering, Pitch Shift, Chorus, Overdrive, Booster, EQ, Compressor, Noise Gate, etc
- Up to 5 DSP effects can be used simultaneously
- In-built Tuner and 68 Drum samples
- Accessible foot-switches for ease of use, especially on stage
- Fairly inexpensive
- USB connectivity to connect to PC/Mac, for recording in any DAW.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- 1 x 1/4″ jack input
- 1/4″ jack output
- Runs on 4 x AA batteries, AC adapter included, also USB bus powered
- Dimensions : 6.1″ x 5.8″ x 1.7″ inches
- Weight : 0.83lbs
SUMMARY
The Zoom B1on is the least expensive multi-effects bass processor featured within this list. Although you can pick this device up for an extremely affordable price, it certainly provides value-for-money, with over 100 on-board DSP effects, which include synthesizer emulations, phasers, modulating and filtering, you can hear some of these synth-like sounds at 0:48 seconds and from 2:10 onwards.
Therefore, if you’re on a budget, this may well be the unit that suits you requirements. However, before you decide, take a look at the video demonstration of the unit in action, so that you can hear it first-hand. Do bear in mind that the video demonstration is limited by the video camera/audio recording quality.
DigiTech Dirty Robot Stereo Mini-Synth Pedal
FEATURES
- Synthesizer processor for bass and guitar with True Bypass
- V1/V2 toggles between 2 unique synth voices
- V1 : Warm tone with envelope sweeping for a classic analog synth sound
- V2 : Vocal formant effect for talkbox and vocoder-style sounds
- 360 degree Interface knobs for merging between Sub, Square and Octave soundscapes
- Built-in engine modulation for vibrato and chorus effects
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- 2 x 1/4″ jack input
- 9v Battery; DC Power Supply needed – not included (Buy on Amazon)
- Dimensions : 2″ x 2.65″ x 4.4″ inches
- Weight : 1.0lb
The Digitech Dirty Robot is suitable for the musician on the slightly lower budget; It’s built for both Bass Guitar and Electric Guitar use, making it great if you’re looking for a instrument-versatile synth processor. The pedal has two main synth voicing, which can be controlled by the toggle switch at the top of the unit, these can then be further edited through the 4 interface knobs.
Again, the disadvantage of using this unit within a live environment is that its presets cannot be saved. However, for someone on a budget, this is a nice pedal.
Boss SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer Pedal
FEATURES
- Rugged and compact bass synth unit, in metal casing
- Buffered Bypass
- World’s first highly compact bass synthesizer processor
- 11 DSP variations of pulse, square and saw synthesizer waves
- A number of interface functions including, Mode, Decay Rate, Frequency/Resonance, Effect/Direct.
- Control LFO rate and signal filter cutoff via the Roland EV-5 expression pedal (sold separately) – Buy on Amazon
- Designed specifically for Bass Guitar
- Includes 5 year Manufacturers Warranty
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- 1/4″ jack input
- Utilizes latest DSP technology
- 9v powered, AC adaptor is sold separately (Boss SYB-5 9v power adapter – Buy on Amazon)
- Weight : 1.2lbs
- Dimensions : 5.9″ x 3.7″ x 2.6″ inches
SUMMARY
The Boss SYB-5 offers an extremely strong and portable solution for the bassist that wants an effects pedal that will last, making it ideal for live-performance environments considering its size and durability.
Boss are renowned for making high-quality effects pedals, and so you can also rest assured that this will satisfy your synthesizer-emulation needs… And the 5-year warranty really hits this point home, highlighting their confidence in all of their products.
Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synthesizer
Features
- Bass guitar synth stompbox with True Bypass
- Tough Die-Cast Metal chassis
- 10 sliders to control different effect variables including Trigger, Sub-Octave, Guitar, Octave, Square Wave, Attack Delay, Resonance, Start Frequency, Stop Frequency and Rate.
- Designed specifically for Bass Guitar
Technical Specifications
- 1/4″ jack input
- 96DC-200BI power supply included
- Weight : 1.2lbs
- Dimensions : 4.75″ x 5.75″ x 2.5″ inches
The Electro-Harmonix is the most expensive synth processor on the list, but it really has the capability to reproduce many of the most popular lead synthesizer sounds; The 4 main synth voices include sub octave, guitar, octave and square wave, which can be further modified with envolope and filter sweep controls, giving you that personalised bass sound.
The only downside to this pedal is simply that you cannot save patches, which means that you will have to manually change settings to get a different sound… making it a little more unsuitable for live performances in comparison to other processors.
Electro-Harmonix Synth 9 Synthesizer Machine
Features
- Guitar & Bass Synth Pedal by Electro-Harmonix
- 9 Synth presets for users to choose from, including Obx, Profit V, Vibe Synth, Mini Mood, Ehx Mini, Solo Synth, Mood Bass, String Synth, Poly VI.
- CTRL 1 & CTRL 2 knobs control additional effects, filters (envelope depth), voice intervals and much more
Technical Specifications
- 1 x 1/4″ jack input
- 2 x 1/4″ jack outputs (effect out and dry out)
- 9V battery power supply included
- Dimensions :7.2″ x 6.0″ x 3.1″ inches
- Weight : 1.1lbs
The Electro-Harmonix Synth 9 Synthesizer Machine is a synth processor for bass and guitar. It has 9 main synth presets to choose from, with 2 control knobs to introduce additional envelope filters and other effects.
Electro-Harmonix Blurst Modulated Filter Pedal
Features
- Synth emulation/LFO pedal suitable for Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, etc with True Bypass
- Wave shape options for different core sounds, with additional filtering options for ultimate personalization (Blend, Resonate, Rate, Range)
- LFO (Low Frequency Oscillation) modulated in a stomp-box
- Ability to create dynamic frequency sweeps
- Tap tempo button & Rate know to control the speed of the LFO
Technical Specifications
- 1 x 1/4″ jack input
- 2 x 1/4″ jack outputs (effect out and expression pedal out)
- 9V battery power supply included
- Dimensions :7.2″ x 6.2″ x 3.2″ inches
- Weight : 1.54lbs
Moog MF101 Moogerfooger
Features
- Synth emulation/LFO processing
- Three sections (Envelope, Drive and Filter)
- Envelope
- Amount : Adjustment of the input signal’s envelope sweep on the frequency filter cutoff
- Smooth/Fast : Switch between envelope response
- Mix : Control the amount of crossfade between filtered and unfiltered signal
- Drive
- Level : 3 colour LED
- ENV : LED to display the Envelope Voltage strength
- Bypass : LED to show if the filter is on or being bypassed
- Filter
- Cutoff : Varies frequency cutoff (spans over an 8-octave range)
- 2-pole/4-pole : Choose between bright (2-pole) and deep (4-pole) filter frequency response
- Resonance : A control that varies the filter response shape, from oscillation to lowpass
Technical Specifications
- 1 x 1/4″ jack input
- 1 x 1/4″ jack outputs
- 9V battery power supply
- Dimensions :14.0″ x 6.0″ x 7.0″ inches
- Weight : 4.15lbs
Essentially this is a filter processing unit; However, as you can see from the video demonstrations, you can get some great synth-like sounds from this. It’s a large unit, and heavier than other processors that we’ve featured… But it’s all worth it when you hear the unit in action.
Boss ME-50B Bass Multi Effects
Features
- Reliable multi-effects pedal unit from Boss
- 23 knob controls for ultimate personalization
- Easily accessible and redily assignable foot switches (3) and expression pedal (1)
- Plenty of on-board effects including
- Drive/Synth, Filter/Tone, Compressor/Limiter, Wah, EQ, Octave, Overdrive, Loops/Drum patterns and much more.
Technical Specifications
- 1 x 1/4″ jack input
- 1 x 1/8″ stereo input
- 2 x 1/4″ jack outputs
- 1 x headphone output
- 6 AA batteries – Does not include power adaptor but you can get that here (Buy on Amazon)
- Dimensions : 8.0″ x 14.0″ x 18.0″ inches
- Weight : 10.5lbs
Zoom B3 Bass Guitar Effects and Amp Simulator
Features
- Multi-effect bass effects pedal/audio interface
- Great layout, with accessible stomp-box footswitches, knobs and LCD screens
- Easy to create presets, organise and assign them to banks
- Updated DSP effects processing unit (ZFX-IV)
- 99 effect types and 100 user preset banks
- Includes amp emulation with 12 amp models to choose from
- 40 drum patterns to play to
- USB connectivity to connect to PC/Mac, for recording in any DAW.
Technical Specifications
- 1 x 1/4″ jack input
- L & R 1/4″ jack outputs
- Balanced XLR output for DI
- Runs on 4 x AA batteries, AC adapter included, also USB bus powered
- Dimensions :7.8″ x 13.0″ x 3.5″ inches
- Weight : 3.75lbs
